Gears Of War Member Review for the Xbox360

alrighty... my first review here. i feel so professional. 

graphics- honestly i think its the one of the best...if not the best looking game out there. this is excluding PC games. not because i hate them or biased or anything, but because i have a shitty computer, so i can't really compare PC graphics, also, your visual quality greatly depends on the funding you dumped into your beast of a PC. i have dumped very little. anywho, the first thing i notice about GOW graphics is the scope of things. when you get outside on some of the levels and see the archetecture tower above you really is a sight to behold. the detail on the character models is very impressive. the lighting of the muzzle flashes, the occasional locust hand flying out from an explosion, and the incredible rain effects really help to pull you into the action.

sound- not as clean sweeping as graphics but still good.. the music is ok. its not bad, but its no john williams. custom soundtracks however solve that, making it a minor quibble. sound effects are done well overall. gun sounds, explosions, gory soundeffects, both locust and human voice acting (in my opinion) are done well. the "boom" yelled out by the boomer locust is one of my favorite touches.

gameplay- the main premise of the game is to find cover, bust out and pop some caps, then hide again before being torn up. sure it seems like a one trick pony, but its like a pony who can fly, and has rocket launchers...and a margarita, and maybe some cool shades. whatever, the point is its still fun. the game really hits its stride on the higher difficulties especially on co-op (more on that later). if your careless you will get killed, forcing to to frantically try to move from cover to cover for a better line of fire, all while under fire. its intense. its frenzied, and its fun. the controls suit the game very well, although its apparent this isn't a close quarters type of game (" arrggg, i can't rotate fast enough!!! whats that behind me?!?") the "sticky" nature of the A button isn't to much of a problem. you hit aA to "stick" to walls for cover, then A again to release. it works, but the problem is when it works when you don't want it to. sometimes i want to roll (also A) out of the way, or maybe even sprint (yup....also A) away, not prop myself up against a wall like a firing squad victim. a small annoyance but it won't break the game...maybe just a few controllers. the length of the game is maybe a bit to short. it seems about average by todays standards (games are getting way too short these days) but it would've been nice to see a few more acts. 2 at the least. all in all though, a very enjoyable single player experience.

multiplayer-alrighty, the clincher for some of you. here goes. the multiplayer i think seems incredible at first, and it is, but you soon see it in a different light, though still a beautifully rendered, normal mapped light. i'll just throw out my gripes with it. 1. all the weopons have a one hit kill ability except the pistol, but you can drop someone rather quickly with enough accuracy. this makes encounters with people quick and sometimes cheap. think your gonna chainsaw that dude? nope, shotty to the face! think your gonna shotty his face? nope! grenade in your butt!! wanna try grenading too? nope! orange beam from seemingly nowhere killed ya! then frustration sets in. now all of you can sit there and tell me i suck thats why i get killed all the time, but save your breath, iv'e been on both sides of the equasion, both killing and getting killed in cheap ways. 2. why is it only team deathmatch, and deathmatch A and B versions? i know its only 8 players and small maps, but hey...maybe respawns, or some kind of node protection? hell even CTF. mansion seems perfect for a game of base defending. the positives... just as in the single player, multiplayer can get intense. with a team of freinds, or some very team work oriented players, matches can become intense, strategy laden affairs. flanking, cover fire, sniper cover, smoke grenade usage, it all comes into play and makes playing with freinds highly enjoyable andworth all the other problems. lastly, co-op is fantastic, and MUST be played if you have a partner. even splitscreen is a viable option if need be. flanking with a buddy and working out plans of attack is great fun. at its peak when the difficulty is turned up. it makes team work all the more neccessary and satisfying. iv'e also experineced little to no lag on my co-op online experiences. multiplayer, occasionally, but its generally lag free.

verdict- i think an A- is a cozy little spot. its not the be all end all game it was made out to be. it will not make you forget about all other shooters out there. and it is not a reason to own a 360, though it is a HUGE plus. its a fun, intense, visually orgasmic romp through a wartorn world. one that i can't wait to visit again in a sequal. oonly one request... NO GODDAMN VEHICLE WITH A FLASHLIGHT CRAP. jebus that level sucked anus.