Developer: Microsoft
Publisher: Epic Games
Genre: Shooter
Rating: M (For Mature)
Number of Players: 1 (Xbox Live varies)
Expected Release: November 7th, 2006

Be sure to check out the gallery, here.

Details on the storyline are still emerging, but a few things have become clear on the story behind Gears.  Sera is the location for the battles; a human city that is supposed to be in the crux of an era of peace and prosperity.  Unfortunately, the peace and prosperity is quickly interrupted with the emergence of the locusts, whom we really don’t know too much about other than their insatiable thirst for killing humans.  Gamers will be put in control of one Marcus Fenix, a rough and tough military guy who must save the world. 

Levels feature multiple paths to completion, based upon the relative difficulty you want to run through.  Hopefully, this will keep the single player refreshing and replayable; games like Quake and Prey lacked that feature.  In addition, the advent of true co-op gaming experiences should help bring the game’s storyline into a true multiplayer experience.  To add a competitive flair, only the gamer with the best statistics can grab the achievement in co-op for that level. 

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The weapons cover the basics; a pistol, shotgun, rifle (with ever popular chain saw), sniper, a few turrets, and the still ambiguous ‘Hammer of Dawn’.  Grenades are somewhat unique with their throwing style, it remains to be seen how well they work in gameplay. 

Possibly the first thing people notice when watching game footage, screenshots, and trailers, are the absolutely beautiful graphics.  The environments are complex, beautiful, and foreboding.  Character models are detailed and rugged; physics and movement appear spot on.  The structure of gameplay, and heavy emphasis on using cover allow some camera angles that aren’t often found in shooters.  In fact, the camera work from simply running, crouching, and shooting to the infamous chainsaw were beautifully executed in the playable footage displayed at E3 and since.
 
In addition to co-op over Xbox live, Gears of War will feature a full-fledged multiplayer side, with up to a modest size of 4v4 gametypes over ten multiplayer maps.  The game isn’t exactly Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter, nor will it be anything like Quake.  Expect a slower style of gameplay and limited amount of lives.

Pictures are worth a thousand words, and since video footage is comprised of a series of pictures, getting an idea for the architecture style and impressive visuals in Gears is as easy as checking out some of the released clips, including the recent TV spot.  Or you can bite your nails until emergence day and snag one of the special edition versions with a hard-cover art book and collector’s tin.  On the other hand, the only things collector’s tins seem to collect are dust particles; standard copies of the game should be available within a few days after the 7th.  As one of the hyped titles out this season, it will be exciting to see if the creators of the Unreal Tournament series can bring the magic to the Xbox 360.