When Microsoft’s marketing machine gets a hold of a product, there is no turning back. And when MS started showcasing the Xbox 360’s Gears of War, it brought a huge opportunity and an equally huge pile of stress to the Epic team. Hype is a double edged sword; it gets the word out on a product, but also creates soaring expectations. To say the least, Gears was subject to massive hype in the gaming world, and every new screenshot, video, or word from the developers became subject to scrutiny. Fortunately, despite the immense pressure bearing down on them, the Gears team managed to live up to the hype and produce one of the best games of the year. As it passes the 1 million sold mark, Gears is without a doubt a “must have” title for 360 owners. It tops the list of high profile titles this holiday season.

Microsoft positioned Gears to do the impossible, an attempt to soften the excitement of new hardware with a piece of software. Based on the messages I have been receiving, and discussion among the DPAD staff, excitement on the PS3 and Wii hardware hasn’t in any way diminished, but Gears of War does really hold its own. A quick look at my friends list on Xbox Live reveals the vast majority of those gaming are on Gears. So among 360 owners, the game has clearly found a large market. But what makes the game great? Is it worth getting a 360 for? Where does it fall short?