Gears of War 3

The third and most anticipated Gears of War hit shelves late 2011. The steroid-laced macho-men, who are the Cogs, are back to fight the lambent and save humanity. I feel the need to put a disclaimer here; I am a huge Gears fan. However, I'm not sure Gears 3 lives up the the hype and standard of previous Gears games (at least in terms of single player).

The first thing I noticed when I booted this bad boy up was how detailed and beautiful it is to look at. I applaud the time and effort it must have taken to render this game. However, I would advise anyone who plays Gears 3 to install the game on their hard drive to make it run smoother. I noticed when some of the bigger monsters came on screen the frame rate slowed down slightly.

Many people say that the Gears of War games are not that deep and have a weak story. I thought differently for the first two games. Gears may not have had the most complex story, but I have always been compelled and invested in all the characters. However, in Gears 3, I think it's the story that holds the game back. For the first time in the Gear's world I felt uninvolved. The game doesn't focus on the main characters the whole time. I can't tell you how much I don't care about Jace. He is probably the flattest character in the whole series. When the game does focus on the main characters, like Dom, it feels like the Gears of old, which is a huge plus. Also, it does a great job of bringing the nostalgia of the first Gears game to the audience; I almost cried at one point.

Where the game stumbles is in the weak story telling. In a game this epic and on this huge of scale, some of the missions felt small, pointless, and repetitive. I never felt like I was saving the world and I never really had a sense of urgency.

All that being said, it is still a Gears game and the mechanics and gameplay are as solid as ever. As usual, the player needs to use the unique cover system to fight their way past the lambent and locust.

So, for the single player story mode I would give Gears 3 a rating of 8.0 out of 10. It's still a sold game but lacks the heart of the first two.

Multiplayer

The multiplayer is a huge part of the Gears of War games, helping to cement the longevity of Xbox live. Many people complained about the multiplayer in the second game, however, I thought it was fine. This time though, Gears of War 3 has its own dedicated servers to help with host issues. While this helps, it's still not perfect. There will be lag in about 1 in every 50 games, which is still a great improvement but slightly annoying.

The new beast mode is a great addition. However, it is not as robust as horde mode. The retro lancer now has a bayonet like spear on the end, great for charging people.

Also, I love how stunning the maps look and how each one has their own vibe.

Something really smart was making the team death match mode based on the number of re-spawns. I've noticed that more online players pick each other up when they are down, truly embracing the "brothers 'till the end motto".

Overall, the multiplayer is some the best times I've every had. I've spent more time in the Gears of War multiplayer than anywhere else.

The multiplayer gets a solid 10 out of 10 from me.

Therefore the average of both the single player and the multiplayer is a. . .

9.0out of 10

On a side note, I think that the Gears of War franchise has some of the best trailers ever. I've put them here for your viewing pleasure.

this easily kicks the crap out of the first game, it's much more intense and the campaign is extended which makes it even more fun, the more the better am I right?, and the chainsaw kill is just as insane too, in addition to blood flying everywhere when you're chainsawing locust, their intestines also fly out and splatter onto the screen, hell yeah lol, and of course you can still see the locust's insides after you've dismembered them with the lancer or blown them to bits with the shotgun or the hammer of dawn, and their heads still explode when you blow them off with the sniper rifle. gears of war 3 is the most insane video game ever and yes it does top splatterhouse lol. I highly recommend this game to anyone who loves insanely gory action games

This game is ridiculously awesome.

Not only did the games story get taken to a new level but so did the weapons, the characters, and the monsters of the game. I will not go into details of the story for those who have not played the Gears games but in order to grasp the full emotional story, you need to have played the first two games. There is non stop action and sweet ways of killing the enemies. You can shoot from across the map or get up close and personal with the enemies, whichever you prefer. The online co-op campaign portion is sweet and you can rock 4 people at the same time on it.

Just, stop reading this and either go out and buy it, or if you have it already, turn off your computer, fire up your xbox and start killing.

Amazing!

I'm not a big Gears of War kind of guy as it is. I played the first one and it just didn't keep my attention at all. I think it was the whole third person shooter thing that bothered me. Anyway, I had no intention on buying this game and I still don't. But I was at my buddy's dorm room for a few days and I played it out of complete boredom. I must admit, the graphics are fantastic. Even though i'm not a Gears fan, I definitely can at least see WHY people like it. Personally, I just think everyone thinks this game is amazing because it was a huge anticipated game and it just spread like the plague. Kinda similar to why everyone voted for Obama because he's black (lmao). But hey, if you like 3rd person shooters and love the other gears, I'm sure you'll dig this one. The campaign was a little boring... but the graphics were incredible. Probably a good game just to have id say.

10 out of 10 - The War Ends, but the Scars Remain

The final act of the original trilogy didn't just deliver. It exploded. Gears of War 3 is where everything culminates - the brotherhood, the war, the pain, and the faint glimmer of hope. It's bigger, more refined, and far more emotional than anything that came before it. And somehow, it still hits just as hard today.

Story: The Final Push

The world of Sera is on the brink. The Locust are fractured. A new threat - the Lambent - is spreading like wildfire. Humanity is all but shattered, and Delta Squad? They're tired, broken, and desperate. But they're still fighting.

Marcus Fenix, once the reluctant soldier, becomes the unshakable leader. But it's Dom Santiago who rips your heart out.

Dom's sacrifice at Mercy - his final stand to save the team - is one of the most emotional moments in video game history. No dialogue needed. Just music, memory, and fire. The moment defines what Gears is really about: sacrifice, love, and loyalty.

And yet even as the game devastates you, it gives you hope. Marcus confronting his father. The truth about Imulsion. And in the end, after all the bloodshed, peace - earned, not given.

Gameplay: Peak Gears

By this point, Epic Games had mastered their formula. The combat is flawless.

Refined cover and movement mechanics make every gunfight feel smooth and brutal.

New weapons like the Retro Lancer and the One-Shot add even more variety.

Lambent enemies change the battlefield with unpredictable behavior.

Squad-based tactics feel tighter, more intelligent.

And the pacing - from massive battles to quiet, character-driven moments - is pitch-perfect.

Multiplayer & Horde 2.0

If Gears 2 introduced Horde, Gears 3 perfected it.

Horde 2.0 added fortifications, upgrades, and a real sense of progression.

Beast Mode flipped the script - play as the Locust and tear through humans.

Versus Multiplayer was fast, tactical, and endlessly competitive. Classics like Checkout and Thrashball became iconic.

Characters: The Heartbeat of Gears Marcus is hardened but deeply human.

Dom is still grieving and searching for peace.

Cole Train brings energy and nostalgia.

Baird provides dry humor and intellect.

Anya finally becomes a soldier, not just a voice in your ear.

The supporting cast - Jace, Sam, Dizzy, Hoffman - each leave their mark. Gears 3 made sure every death meant something.

Visuals & Sound

This is the best the original trilogy ever looked. The environments - war-torn cities, underground labs, sunlit shores - are gorgeous and haunting. The Lambent glow with twisted beauty, while the Locust still look terrifying.

The score is unforgettable. Dom's final scene, the final credits - they aren't just music. They're eulogies.

Why It's a 10 An emotionally crushing yet hopeful narrative Incredible gameplay refinement and balance Top-tier co-op and multiplayer experiences Legendary characters given real closure A satisfying, cathartic ending to a beloved trilogy

Final Verdict

10 out of 10. Legendary. A farewell done right.

Gears of War 3 is the perfect capstone - the heart, soul, and spirit of the franchise in one brutal, beautiful package. It doesn't just end the war. It honors every moment, every scar, every loss that came before it.

You don't walk away from this game feeling like you just played another shooter. You walk away feeling like you lived through something. Something heavy. Something worth remembering.

Delta Squad. Brothers to the end.