Gears of War
Gears of War is a third-person shooter built around a cover system, where players duck behind obstacles and use tactical fire to advance on enemies. The signature weapon is an assault rifle fitted with a chainsaw bayonet, and a timed reload mechanic can grant a brief damage bonus or jam the gun if mistimed. The five-act campaign can be played solo or in two-player co-op, and a competitive multiplayer mode supports up to eight players split between the two factions. It was the first game in the Gears of War…
A brutal, beefy shooter that rewrote cover combat, though its story is mostly shouting.Kit · Sadkitty Games
Loved
- Cover system still feels great
- Active Reload adds skill to every reload
- Superb co-op campaign
Not so much
- Thin story and characters
- Dark, grey visuals feel samey
Play it if co-op fans who want tough, crunchy third-person firefights.
Skip it if players who want a smart story or bright, varied worlds.
No cheat codes
Gears of War doesn't have cheat codes. The tips and secrets below are the next best thing.
Play it better
- Hit the reload button again when the marker lands in the white zone for a faster, more powerful Active Reload.
- Never stay in one cover spot too long; enemies flank and throw grenades.
- Stay in the light during Kryll sections, as they shred anything in the dark.
- Berserkers are blind, so stand still and use sound to lure them, then hit them with the Hammer of Dawn.
- The Torque Bow kills most enemies in one hit if you charge it fully.
Hidden in plain sight
Tap a secret to reveal it.
Trivia
- Its 'Mad World' TV ad with the Gary Jules cover became one of gaming's most famous trailers.
- It was the flagship showcase for Unreal Engine 3.
- Cliff Bleszinski was lead designer.
- Marcus Fenix is voiced by John DiMaggio, also the voice of Bender in Futurama.
