With all the hype built up around Gears of War, it needed to be a Halo killer in order to live up to hype. Although it being a Halo killer is debatable, largely due to the large difference between these two games, few will argue that Gears of War is one of the best games of 2006.

The Gears of War Storyline is one of the few parts of the game that is less than superb. You play as Fenix, a prisoner who gets called upon to help kill the Locust, who are emerging from the ground. The rest of the storyline is poorly put together through cut scenes and gameplay. The confusing storyline is soon forgotten and becomes insignificant during the actual gameplay.

Gears of War can be split up into two categories: Single Player and Online Multiplayer. The Single player features five acts, divided into chapters that are available to be played alone, or entirely with another person with the co-op mode, either online or on the same television set. The game also offers three difficulties, of which the hardest one is geared mainly toward co-op for completion. Surviving in Gears of War depends on the player’s ability to cover behind virtually everything in the game. While in cover, the Left trigger can be used to aim and shoot, or Fenix can blind fire, leaving him in cover, but diminishing his accuracy. Although there aren’t an abundant amount of weapons to be used, all of them are unique and useful. None of which is more satisfying than the lancer, which sports a chainsaw that can be initiated with the B button, and start a gory cut scene that fills the screen with blood.

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Gears of War attempts to achieve variety, but the length of the game prevents it from doing so in certain parts. There is only one time in the game in which the player can operate a vehicle, and it is not very satisfying. The enemies in the game are also lacking, only offering three bosses, the Berserker, which is satisfying at first, but becomes part of the routine the next time. The Corpser barely attacks which does not bring satisfaction when defeated. The last boss, General Raam, is the only memorable boss, partly due to the amazing cut scene after his death.

That is not to say that Gears of War has no variety. As stated before, an endless amount of covers are available, which makes every play through uniquely different. The Berserker on the train offers one of the many intertwined puzzles that add to the variety as the object is to lure the Berserker onto the last train platform and press a button to disconnect the platform and watch the Bersker fall to his death. Other minor puzzles involve shooting propane tanks to survive, and pushing a car on fire.

Another part of the Single Player that is rarely used is the Command System. Fenix can order the other COG members, but it offers few commands which are mainly useless.

The part of the game that Gears of War truly shines in is the Online Multiplayer. There are three game types available: Warzone, Execution, and Assasination. The level design and the shear amount of people online leaves little to be desired. There are already two new maps which were released in January in a Patch. The release of the maps paint a bright future for the Multiplayer in Gears of War in the years to come.

The only part of online that has some disappointed is that the makers of the game stress the importance of fairness to the point where they don’t allow friends to play together in ranked matches by not offering any options to invite or displaying the host name. The makers do not want stacked teams playing against players who have never met each other. However, Player matches are available, which do allow for friend play.

Although the graphics are a minor part of the game, they are one of the best of any game ever. Epic reportedly made Microsoft upgrade the 360 when it was in development in order to get Gears of War to look the best it can. The level design is unique and the details put into the game are visible at every point, even during the darker levels.

Gears of War is a must have for every 360 owner who wants an enjoyable game that will not collect dust due to it's replay-ability and online play.