Gears of War

[Andrew, Killer Bee]

Anyone playing it? High nines on IGN and Gamespot, and a ten at 1up. It's not released over here for another couple of weeks and I'm tossing up importing it. Goddamn, it looks pretty.

[Julius Seeker]

Interesting, there might be an Xbox 360 in my household by this winter. Though I am not much for Space Marine games (Xbox seems to have like 90 of them =P). The 360 game I am really looking forward to is the new Banjo Kazooie, if there were more games like that on the system, I would fall in love with it =)

And now for an off topic rant on certain reviewers:

Anyways, 1up.com has received some praise from people here. It does have a lot of great articles. Even still, I have found is actually a very lowsy website when it comes to reviews (similar in a way to RPGamer). Though IGN has been guilty a few times for similar things, they scored Rogue Leader too high, they scored Shadow Hearts WAY too low (it was at least an 8.0 game and they gave it a 5.5), but normally I find that IGN (and Gamespot too) get it right. Now RPGamer, I always disagreed with them, but it was their Tales of Phantasia review that really made me laugh at them, they said the original SNES version was better than the GBA and PSX version, don't make me laugh =P The SNES version had a good concept, but it altogether kind of blew. The GBA and PSX versions really improved upon the actual game. The problem that I have with 1up is that it seems like they don't actually play the game. When you read a review at IGN or Gamespot, you know they have played the game through or extensively (though sometimes not in every case, I got this feeling with their Shadow Hearts review, same with their Tales of Phantasia review, though it did seem like they put at least 30 hours into it, whereas the guy at RPG Gamer spoke as if he turned it on and died in the first dungeon, then proceeded to lie about how good the SNES version, that he never played, was). Well yeah, for the most part, I trust the people here at the Shrine the most =P

On 1up, I just remember scanning the reviews, they gave Scarface a 6.4 and then right before had given Test Drive an 8.2, what the hell? They're on crack if you ask me. Also, they gave Final Fantasy 12 a 9.1 and Bully a 10.0, they're on some serious crack. So anyways, RPGamer and 1up, they have articles I like, but when it comes to reviews, they're laughable =P

[Blotus]

It's fucking awsome, Drew. Graphically the game is every bit as impressive as you've seen and heard. Once you get over the initial shock of how great it looks and sounds you'll find the gameplay is incredibly tight.

When you get it (no "if"s), I'd reccommend trying it on the Casual difficulty setting for the first act as there's a pretty steep learning curve. I started on the Hardcore difficulty and got my ass handed to me no less than fifteen times during the first act. But then again I was a little too gung-ho and took taking cover for granted. It's absolutely essential in Hardcore.

Anyway, I'm only on the second act now and it rules. Played one online deathmatch and it was lag free and a lot of fun. You pretty much HAVE to stick with a teammate so you can revive each oter. Did I mention the chainsaw bayonet???

[Kupek]

The number at the end of a review is generally meaningless. What the reviewer actually has to say is much more important.

[Zeus]

Lotus and whoever may have it, I just got a copy of the Limited Edition, so we should set up a time to play online together

[Eric]

I've heard nothing but amazing things about this game.

[Blotus]

Just let me know, Zeus. I'm available most nights. Tonight would even work (Sunday).

[Andrew, Killer Bee]

Well, I've put cash down for the import and now just need to wait for it to arrive. 1 to 14 working days. If it gets released over here (release date is the 23rd) before my imported copy arrives I am going to cry.

[Zeus]

I'll send ya a voice message when I have the time, Lotus. Gotta get some wifey time in first today :-)

As for the rest of you, if you have the game, we could try and arrange a game for us all sometime.

As for a personal review, this is a pretty fun-ass game (especially when you pay Platinum Hits price for the Limited Edition 2 days after its release, but enough story-telling :-). I've currently finished Chapter 2 and will start Chapter 3 later tonight. It's third-person view but basically an FPS. It's much more strategy-based than your standard FPS. You try to just go in and shoot up the world and you're finished, even on Casual (Easy). That doesn't mean there's less action in the game, it's just the you have to be a little smart about it. I kinda like that as it isn't too intrusive with the strategy a la GRAW and not just a run-through kill-everything-in-sight-without-hiding game like the vast majority of the FPSs I've played. It is quite linear, you really can't go the wrong way even if you tried, but that's not necessarily a bad thing IMO. It's all about the experience of the play-through and the atmosphere and story along the way, which is definetely top-notch. They basically took Halo-like and Halo-level story and game, added in more strategy to the fighting, and made it more linear so you don't waste time just running around. It really does feel like a 360 Halo with a different storyline, which isn't necessarily a bad thing.

And the game is absolutely gorgeous, no doubt about it. The Wii will likely not be able to do graphics like this and the PS3 will likely take a while to match it. I can't imagine how sexy it looks on an HD TV....wow. And the best part is it's not shy in putting a decent amount of enemies on the screen. It's no Dead Rising with 100 zombies at once, but you'll regularly get 6-8 independantly moving, thinking enemies. They're good enough shots and hard enough to kill that it's enough of a challenge.

Thumbs up from me.

[bovine]

i don't know where you gamertag sharing thread is, but i joined the 360 club and have no friends on my friends list (IOU one frowny faced emote). If anyone wants to engage in a match of gears or GRAW or just trade pinatas, I am up to the challenge. Gamertag = serialbovine


Also, STFU Viva pinata is awesome, I think that I have actually played it the most..... played about 2 hours of gears, 5 minutes of geometry wars, 4 hours of pinata, and haven't even cracked open GRAW or Kameo (that one's for the girlfriend..... she has also played about an hour of pinata)

[Blotus]

I've been playing Zelda almost exclusively but I hope to get back into Gears at some point soon. Watch out for the grenade tagging, Bovine.

[Julius Seeker]

I'm waiting until Banjo Kazooie comes out, if it is anything like the original, I know I will love it.

[bovine]

gears map pack hit today for anyone who still plays it. There was a round I played with you guys a while ago, and that was pretty much my entire gears online experience as I haven't played it online since.

[Zeus]

gears map pack hit today for anyone who still plays it. There was a round I played with you guys a while ago, and that was pretty much my entire gears online experience as I haven't played it online since.

In September it will be free, I'll get it then