Gears of War

GamesFirst! ( ) (100%)

Gears of War is an incredibly impressive game. Already it has achieved 2 million sold worldwide which speaks to the appeal of violence. But in regards to the game's balance and design it says that people do appreciate good games with mature appeal. It's also extremely fun and satisfying. Gears of War is not only the killer-app for the Xbox 360 and a system seller, but it's one of the best games to come out all year.

1UP (A+) (100%)

You can always find reasons not to give a game a review score of 10. Control issues (Gears of War has that). A.I. problems (that, too). Bad dialogue or storytelling (yes on both). Linear levels, online lag, limited modes (yup, yup, and yup). But as I was playing through the game, I found one consistently good feature: It was constantly impressing the hell out of me.

Stuff Magazine / stuff.tv (10 out of 10) (100%)

If you own the 360, this is the game you should be playing right now. And if you don't have an Xbox 360, you might consider buying one for it. You'll get the added bonus of laughing at all those fanboys waiting in line to buy a PS3.

Totally Gaming Network (10 out of 10) (100%)

In summing up GoW has been a long time coming, but I think most people would reflect and agree that the time taken for us to actually get this game has been well used and we truly have one amazing game to get down and dirty with. GoW is therefore a must buy and certainly deserves its place in your gaming collection on the Xbox 360.

GamesAreFun.com (GAF) (10 out of 10) (100%)

In the end, though, these problems never really take away much from the overall game. The sheer fun you will have playing through the game is very high, if you're into shooter games, and for shooter fans Gears of War really is a must-own title for the Xbox 360. It's probably the best game released this year to date for shooter fans, and it's going to take quite an accomplishment in game design to overcome it in the future.

Official XBox Magazine (10 out of 10) (100%)

Though Gears of War’s story poses more questions than it answers, that shouldn’t distract you from delving into the game’s weighty and rewarding mechanics: the deeper you dig, the more satisfying the gameplay becomes. And who knew those flashy graphics, which are easily the best that 360 has mustered yet, would just be the icing on top? From the deliberate combat pacing to Sera’s ruined surface to grizzled hero Marcus Fenix himself, one thing remains true throughout the brilliant Gears of War: It’s what’s inside that counts.

GamerDad ( ) (100%)

Gears of War is Microsoft's "Halo" for Xbox 360. It WILL sell consoles, and deservedly so. However, for a family-based gaming experience, it's definitely not appropriate. The game is based on a violent struggle between humankind and truly horrendous aliens and is full of swearing, blood and all out combat. There is an option to tone this down, but it's still an incredibly violent game that you should seriously consider before allowing even your teenage kids to come anywhere near it.

Gamer.nl (10 out of 10) (100%)

Epic heeft de verwachtingen waar weten te maken, petje af dus. Halen deze game, want zo lekker als dit kom je ze niet vaak tegen. Een tien is misschien hoog, maar vergeet niet dat perfectie niet bestaat. Vermaak bestaat daarentegen wel, en Gears of War is het levende bewijs daarvan.

PlayDevil ( ) (100%)

With all said and done Gears of War has got to be one of the best Xbox 360 games out right now and possibly in the future as well. This game delivers on all fronts and has successfully lived up to the enormous hype that has been placed upon its shoulders. This game has it all; great sound, great visuals, and a great story. What more can you ask for? If you haven’t already gone out and picked up this game, I advise you go and do it right now. Go. Go Now. You have to pick up this game, for I assure you will not be disappointed with it. Plus it will help you bide your time while you are waiting for Halo 3 or possibly Gears of War 2. One can only hope.

Gameplanet ( ) (100%)

For all of those players that have been hankering for the best third-person shooter on the Xbox 360, look no further than this.

UOL Jogos ( ) (100%)

Com razão, "Gears of War" chama atenção pelo visual, pois se trata de um novo patamar para o quesito. Mas também tem conteúdo, com um sistema que equilibra magistralmente ação e tática, extraindo o melhor dos dois mundos. O melhor fica reservado ao modo cooperativo. Por outro lado, o multiplayer competitivo tem um foco muito restrito, que, apesar de divertido, fica aquela sensação que poderia ter sido melhor explorado. Apesar disso, o título é um forte candidato a jogo do ano.

GameSpy ( ) (100%)

No matter. There's only one other game that I've got to play this year that I can imagine coming close to being this much fun -- and you'll see what that is in a few weeks. But for right now, I'm smitten with Gears of War and all its glorious, horrific violence, blood and anarchy. Move over Master Chief, 'cause Marcus Fenix will kick your bony ass all over town.

Jive Magazine (5 out of 5) (100%)

Like any other 360 game, Gears of War does have online capability and co-op mode. Because of the nature of the game, cooperation is critical. Saddle up with a bad partner and you’ll experience many failed objectives. Compared to other online first shooters, like Halo, Gears of War falls into the standard category.

EmpireOnline.com ( ) (100%)

From a visual standpoint, Gears Of War is, in a word, stunning. By far the best looking game on the market today, everything about the game oozes quality and the intense action is relentless from start to finish. A selection of superb online modes (including the ability to play through the whole campaign cooperatively over Xbox Live) round off the package perfectly, making Gears Of War the only true must-own title on the console to date. The second generation of 360 games officially starts here.

GamePro (US) ( ) (100%)

Gears of War may be big and dumb, but it's fun - the video game equivalent of a Jerry Bruckheimer film, maybe. Even calling Gears "fun" doesn't quite seem to do it justice. The game glows in a revelatory way we haven't seen since God of War and Resident Evil 4. If nothing else, it's infinitely more engaging and suspenseful than this year's crop of by-the-books FPS games, and is likely to sell more than a few consoles for Microsoft.

G4 TV: X-Play ( ) (100%)

All told, Gears of War is doubtlessly the best game in the short life of the Xbox 360, and might very well hold that title for a long time, maybe even after the release of Halo 3. It’s also reaches the pantheon of one of the greatest games of all time, only to be surpassed someday by its superior sequels. Or at least we hope so. Microsoft’s got a real thoroughbred in its stable and we expect them to let us lucky gamers ride this baby for years to come.

Video Game Generation (10 out of 10) (100%)

Simply put, Cliffy B. created a game that managed to infuse spectacular graphics, an excellent combat system, and an amazing experience on all levels with a soul. This is not only the best game on the Xbox 360, but I would put it up there as one of the best games of the generation and of all time.

PGNx Media (10 out of 10) (100%)

Gears of War is the best game available on the Xbox 360 and the likely winner of 2006’s Game of the Year award. Every Xbox 360 gamer owes it to his or herself to pick this game up. It nails everything from the gameplay to the graphics.

EL33TONLINE ( ) (100%)

The shooter genre is one that has captivated gamers since Doom first stole the limelight on the PC four score and seven years ago. Ever since developers have endeavored to enhance the genre, and whilst there have been some true gems across the consoles, there have been all too many lackluster titles flooding the market. Fortunately, the inspired crew from Microsoft Game Studios managed to put their collective creativity into delivering a fresh third-person perspective experience whilst not compromising on the essential supply of guns and ammo. We praise them for giving entertainment starved gamers worldwide a meaningful way to pass their Christmas vacation.

Digital Press - Classic Video Games (10 out of 10) (100%)

As a full package, Gears of War is everything the hype made it out to be, and somehow eclipses those expectations. It's not just one of the greatest action games ever created; it's one of the best from any genre available, going back to the era of Pong. Gears of War is a new standard, and it's hard to move on to anything else after feeling the impact of this beast.

Xboxygen ( ) (100%)

Ce n’est pas tous les jours qu’un jeu de cet acabit sort. Nouveau standard de qualité, titre ultime du moment, Gears of War additionne les qualités à tous les niveaux, et met une énorme pression sur les développeurs du monde entier pour les jeux à venir. Tout amateur de jeu de tir se doit de le posséder, et le jeu est suffisamment bien conçu pour que même ceux qui ne sont à la base pas fans de ce type de jeu y jettent quand même un œil…Gears of War est bien la bombe attendue.

Snackbar-Games.com (5 out of 5) (100%)

The graphics are amazing, and the 15-20 hours of gameplay each time through will keep you busy for a while. Killer app? In my eyes probably not, but the sales numbers tell quite a story, and it seems that many people would say that it is. If I had spent 400 dollars on my Xbox 360, 60 bucks on Gears of War, and whatever other expenses you might incur when first getting a 360, I can't honestly say that it'd be worth it for this one game. Don't get me wrong, Gears of War is a great game and is one of if not the best on the console right now, but I don't think it could justify buying an entire system. If you like shooters, if you like action, if you like having to use your brain a little bit when killing hordes of enemies, this is most certainly going to satisfy your need.

Gaming Target (10 out of 10) (100%)

Gears of War towers over the competition as the de-facto shooter for today’s discriminating gaming audience. The loftiest of production values married to one of a kind graphical fidelity, all wrapped up in astounding, innovative and exciting gameplay that shooter fans will die for make GoW a true AAA title that not only lives up to, but surpasses its massive hype. And considering the heights the hype reached, that’s no small feat. The magnificence of this title can’t be overstated and while you will find detractors out there, you can rest assured that they’re dead wrong, or possibly insane. Gears of War is the killer app for the Xbox 360, and a defining moment in action gaming. Don’t miss it, whatever you do.

Video Game Critic, The (A) (100%)

Otherwise I love Gears of War. It raises the high water mark for combat games with its exceptional polish and innovative gameplay. It's kind of hard to imagine how Microsoft could even improve on this thing.

FZ ( ) (100%)

Få spel har varit lika hypade som Gears of War, men till skillnad mot många andra spel som inte når upp till hypen så levererar Epic en titel som bara måste upplevas. Rent tekniskt står den i dagsläget på något av en egen nivå och spelmekaniskt bryter den också till viss del ny mark. Detta är ett smörgårdsbord för den redan actionfrälste men även de som tidigare haft lite svårt för spel av den här typen bör ge det en ärlig chans. Visst det är "bara" ett actionspel där filosofiskt dravel och kryptiska budskap har ställts åt sidan, men det spelar absolut ingen roll. I grund och botten är spel till för att underhålla och det var länge sen jag hade lika kul med ett spel som jag haft med Gears of War

Maxim Magazine ( ) (100%)

If you go to the game store next week hoping to score a PS3 and get turned away, pick up this badass little fucker of a game instead. Scientific studies have shown that the simple act of inserting Gears of War into your 360 automatically makes you 8 percent cooler. It's true! Look it up! And Gears, quite frankly, is infinitely better than anything the PS3 has to offer at this point. The game stars ex-con Marcus Fenix, a 'roided-up bad ass who wields plenty of hardware, including a chain saw, and he's not afraid to use it. The duck-and-cover gameplay mechanics bring some strategy to bear on the proceedings, but overall this game is about getting up-close and personal with alien scum, grabbing them by their alien lapels, then showing them their alien intestines before they die.

GotNext ( ) (100%)

I'm not going to lie and say that Gears of War is without its problems, but I'm also not going to deny that it's not the best console shooter of all time. The multiplayer modes may be comparably slim, your A.I. squad-mates may be some of the dumbest in the history of A.I. squad-mates, and the vehicle section of the campaign mode may put you in a bad mood for a few minutes, but the whole package is so unbelievably awesome that it'd be a sin to have an Xbox 360 without a copy of this Epic masterpiece in rotation.

Gaming Nexus (A) (100%)

Easily one of the best game of the year. Gears of War has raised the bar of what gamers should expect in future next generation games.

Video Game Talk ( ) (100%)

If you own a 360, you will have wasted your money on the system if you don't purchase Gears of War. If you don't own a 360, then Gears of War is the reason to buy one. This is that must-have, system selling game that people will be talking about for years to come. It's simply too damn good. I am proud to give Gears of War DVDTalk's highest ranking for video games: Video Game Talk Collector Series.

HonestGamers (Staff reviews only) (10 out of 10) (100%)

Then you leap into battle, weaving around giant stalagmites and long-broken down mining equipment to try and avoid shotgun blasts, chainsaw melee attacks and explosive-tipped bows that deal explosive dismemberment upon contact. Dance around these shots to unload your machine-gun clip into the un-armoured section of your targets or snipe away their protective helmets and deliver a gory head-shot, promising a quick death and a small shower of blood and brain fragment. No time to gloat; spin around and face the next threat. Always surging, never slowing, never letting up.

videogamer.com (10 out of 10) (100%)

Slight problems with the checkpoint system when playing alone aside, it's hard to see how another game could come along and better what Gears of War does. Played with a friend, on Hardcore, Gears of War is simply an astounding game. Yes, it has the best visuals ever to grace a video game, but it's how these are used to create an intense shooter that make it so good. Add in the best competitive online experience on the Xbox 360, and there's little doubt that Gears will be remembered as a true classic. And true classics only deserve one thing.

AceGamez (10 out of 10) (100%)

Gears of War is simply a phenomenal game - one that is very difficult to describe, but once you pick it up and play it, you'll know exactly what they were trying to say. It does live up to the hype and it does match Halo in terms of a superb campaign and a ridiculously addictive online mode. If you're struggling to find a killer game for your Xbox 360 then look no further - unless you're under 17 of course!

Games TM (10 out of 10) (100%)

It may not reinvent the wheel, but hell, we like our wheels round. In a year's time this may feel old hat, but that says more about the industry than it does the game, because right here and right now, Gears Of War couldn't feel more vital. Some will see the future, some will see the past; we just see a truly great game.

Game Shark (A+) (100%)

A lot of Gears is derivative, from the Pitch Black light gimmick to the sassy black sidekick to the "Saving Private Ryan cam" to the way the score apes James Horner's Aliens soundtrack. But Gears of War feels like a game built out of homages rather than creative bankruptcy. These bits of Warhammer and Aliens and Doom are veritable archetypes for gamers. And none of them gets in the way of Gears' obvious priority: gameplay. This is what counts, and this is where Gears of War proves that although it comes in a comfortably familiar wrapping, it can still be exciting, new, and unique.

Thunderbolt Games (10 out of 10) (100%)

All in all, Gears is just the thing the Xbox 360 needs right now. While it suffers from some minor problems- the single-player campaign is woefully short- it's just too damn good to miss. The dark storyline isn't fantastic, but the way it's presented certainly is. Gritty characters with a rare touch of humanity, intense combat that will leave you breathless, and some great multiplayer modes are sure to keep you hooked until the inevitable sequel comes along. If you can handle a bit language and blood, GOW is the best thing you can play on the 360, by yourself or with friends. Oh, and did I mention it looks absolutely incredible?

Yahoo! Games ( ) (100%)

Even just spectating a match is exciting, watching both teams ducking and bobbing behind cover as they advance upon each other. The inclusion of the chainsaw weapon, not to mention gib-tastic headshots, curb stomping and a variety of other gory deaths make each kill a bone-crunchingly visceral experience. The netcode is superb; we barely noticed any lag even when playing against US opponents. And praise the creator, there's even a working server browser - none of that crappy matchmaking rubbish that doesn't work in Australia, folks.

UGO (UnderGroundOnline) (A+) (100%)

We knew that someone was going to make a Halo killer one of these days. We just didn't think it would be Microsoft. Gears of War is one of the best looking, and best playing, games I've ever had the privilege to review. If you own a 360 and don't pick up this game sometime before 2007, you deserve a hearty kick down a flight of steps.

Game industry News (GiN) ( ) (100%)

Gears of War is truly an epic masterpiece, no pun intended. Just recently it was announced that it has surpassed Halo 2 as the most played game on Xbox Live. It was also announced that the series will be made as a trilogy, so I’ll be looking forward to seeing how the trilogy ends up. I just hope I won’t have to wait six years and purchase an Xbox 720 to play it!

Game Chronicles (9.9 out of 10) (99%)

If you own an Xbox 360 then you, your life, and your system will not be complete until you own this game. Gears of War is a milestone, a legendary achievement in gaming that only comes along once in a very long time. With game quality visuals, and sound design increasing with just about every new title that ships, the fact that Gears of War manages to make such a huge leap forward only emphasizes just how innovative this game truly is.

eGames (9.9 out of 10) (99%)

No dobra. Gears of War to gra na dziesiątkę, czy coś trochę poniżej tej strategicznej noty? Hmmm... Szczerze mówiąc zastanawiam się nad tym od kilku dobrych dni. To, że ta recenzja pojawia się w serwisie exGames.pl troszkę później niż na innych poświęconych grom nie wynika z mojego lenistwa, lecz z chęci dogłębnego przeanalizowania wszystkich za i przeciw, które pozwoliłyby mi określić tą grę jako rewelacyjną. Pokażcie mi inną reckę pisaną po kilkudziesięciu godzinach spędzonych z GoW, po przejściu gry na najwyższym poziomie trudności. Dlatego też to co czytacie jest takie wyjątkowe, a ocena wystawiona nie pod wpływem nagłych emocji, lecz po głębokich przemyśleniach.

Finalboss (9.8 out of 10) (98%)

Graficamente é o game mais impressionante já feito para um console até o presente momento, contando com uma parte sonora de arrasar e muita ação. Apesar de curto e pecar em uma bobeirinha aqui e outra ali, Gears of War é realmente estupendo, tornando-se praticamente obrigatório para os donos da caixa branca. Indiscutivelmente bom.

411mania.com (9.8 out of 10) (98%)

I think that it’s pretty safe to say that a new dominant franchise has been born. It’s rare that a game makes such a positive impact in its debut release. I have no doubt that Gears of War is going to be mentioned in the same breath along with franchises like Halo, Metal Gear, and Resident Evil as the most ‘money’ franchises. A great debut for Gears of War, and a very promising future.

Planet Xbox 360 (9.7 out of 10) (97%)

Epic and Microsoft have really done something awesome here and we, as gamers, should be grateful. This game is one of those unique titles that will stand the test of time and go down in history as the “system seller” of the Xbox 360 in the year 2006. There are a few things that I hope will be fixed the next time around such as the longevity of the game and some very small multiplayer weaknesses, but the good outweighs the bad so much I don’t even remember what I don’t like about the game. I logged onto Xbox Live just a few minutes ago and never since I owned my Xbox 360 have I seen so many people on Live at one time, all playing the same game. It’s going to be a while before I pick up another game and get the experience I just had over the past few days, but that’s not a bad thing, greatness takes time. There is a reason they are all playing it; it’s the best thing out there right now on our beloved white box, go buy it soldier.

Gamernode (9.7 out of 10) (97%)

For all of its issues, they just don't seem matter in the big picture of Gears of War. It's difficult to really describe what exonerates the game from being considered a lifeless, average game. Maybe it's the stunning visuals, or the satisfaction from chainsawing your opponents into chunks of flesh or the unparalleled sense of realism. It has its problems just like any game, but the experience of playing Gears of War is undeniably incredible.

XboxZone (Australia) (9.7 out of 10) (97%)

GOW is quite simply the embodiment of "next-gen" offering a visual feast previously unseen on a gaming console. Gameplay is fresh and addictive through a beautifully orchestrated covering system, engaging SP campaign, spectacular COOP and robust MP. Playing this game on Insane difficulty with a friend on Live will be one of those moments you look back on in time. The MP has some glitches and weaknesses to iron out, but these can be sorted through patches and overall support from Epic and are only minor blemishes on an otherwise fresh, fun experience. Things are looking very bright for the 360 with this new franchise delivering on all fronts and it is with no hesitation that I say this is a must have title.

Gamer 2.0 (9.7 out of 10) (97%)

Gears of War is unquestionably one of the best games of 2006 and the best shooter to come out this year. Creating an exhilarating experience for gamers online, offline, single-player, or with a friend, Epic Games did a hell of a job developing a gem of a game and one to keep an eye on as the Xbox 360 vies for holiday season supremacy following the release of the PS3 and Wii. With a Gears of War sequel undeniably on the drawing board (knowing how Microsoft likes to treat its successful franchises), one has to ask if the Xbox 360 is big enough for both Master Chief and Marcus Fenix.

FileFactory Games / Gameworld Network (97 out of 100) (97%)

Gears of War excels for so many reasons it is impossible to count them all. Aside from the obvious things like graphics and gameplay, there numerous little touches like the roadie run and character dialogue that push it over the edge into video game greatness. If there is any notable flaw to be found with the game it would be the storyline that feels more like a prologue than an actual episode.

GamingExcellence (9.7 out of 10) (97%)

In the end, it's almost too easy to talk almost anyone but the most jaded (or fuddy-duddy) of gamers into trying, and loving, Gears of War. As a game, it's slick, atmospheric, fun, memorable and easily replayed over and over. As a product of a hype campaign, it is one of the few productions to not only live up to it (a feat in itself) but actually surpass it. As much as we all expected to love Gears of War, it was hard to really know what to truly expect from it. A new twist on the shooter genre, amazing graphics and a top-notch presentation are only the starting points for a game that stands, bar-none, as the next-gen title to beat in the future. GoW also marks the first time I've re-read the back of a display box and felt like there wasn't a word of a lie therein. Believe the hype; Gears of War makes good on everything it set out to do and then some.

411mania.com (9.7 out of 10) (97%)

2nd review Gears of War is an amazing game. Sure, it might have a few flaws, but Xbox 360 owners should be quite happy with this exclusive title.

Kombo.com (9.6 out of 10) (96%)

Gears of War resets the bar for what is expected of a next-generation title. The gameplay is fresh, exciting, and surprisingly nuanced, the graphics are gorgeous both technically and artistically, and the online play is incredibly addictive. Unquestionably the best game on the Xbox 360, a major contender for game of the year, and quite possibly the game that will forever define the Xbox 360.

Xboxdynasty (XD) (9.6 out of 10) (96%)

Nicht umsonst haben Millionen Spieler auf der ganzen Welt auf den Emergency Day gewartet. Nicht umsonst wurde um dieses Spiel so ein immenser Hype gemacht. Von der Grafik, über die Storyline, bis hin zur Spielbarkeit besticht Gears of War in allen belangen und sorgt für reichlich blutigen Spielspaß.

GameSpot (9.6 out of 10) (96%)

Gears of War is a game that capitalizes on all of the promises made by the next generation of gaming. It looks more than a few steps beyond what consoles have been doing to this point, and the gameplay is supremely fulfilling from start to finish in all of its various modes. While there have certainly been plenty of similar shooters before it, the game's great weapons, amazing graphics, and absolutely thrilling action make it stand out from the pack in a big, big way.

XboxAchievements (96 out of 100) (96%)

It's a rarity that a game gets as much hype as this game got, and even more rare that it lived up to that hype. Even 6 months after its release it's still going strong. This day in age, that's a lifetime for an online shooter. In the tradition of Goldeneye and Halo, this is a game for the ages.

JustPressPlay (9.6 out of 10) (96%)

After all is said and done, Gears of War appears to have dodged the hype-train and has answered the expectations asked of it. While the story isn’t Shakespeare and the dialogue resembles what you would hear in an 80’s action movie (personally, I’m okay with it), Gears of War delivers an intense and memorable experience for anyone that owns an Xbox 360. Tight controls, amazing graphics and a fun, easy to play multiplayer experience help put Gears in the running for Game of the Year in 2006.Bravo, Epic Games. You have taken severed spines, charred limbs, vulgarity and have put it all together to make something simply beautiful.

VicioJuegos.com / uVeJuegos.com (96 out of 100) (96%)

Qué decir que no se haya comentado ya en estas cinco páginas, así que, seremos breves: Todo usuario de Xbox 360 debería tener Gears of War en su juegoteca. Si no eres poseedor de la consola de Microsoft, te estás perdiendo la oportunidad de jugar a una auténtica obra maestra.

Game Over Online (96 out of 100) (96%)

A franchise is born. Is Gears of War a perfect game? No. It's short, at about 8 hours in length, and the last level and a half seems abrupt. I still feel like there's a rail sequence missing when the squad tears away from the mansion in the APC (you'll know what I mean when you play the game). It also doesn't necessarily take the third-person shooter to new heights. What it does, however, is present one of the best looking and sounding games whose gameplay is as polished as it gets, with intense shootouts, exciting boss battles, and sleep-depriving online play. If you don't own an Xbox 360 yet, Gears of War is reason enough to buy one. It is quite simply one of the best games of the year.

TeamXbox (9.6 out of 10) (96%)

Unlike many "event" games that come and go, Gears of War lives up to the hype surrounding it, and while it's not perfect, it's impossible not to want more. While the storyline is lacking in a few areas, the gameplay itself is exciting and intense, although hardcore players might want to up the difficulty a bit. For many, the game's strength lays in its multiplayer options, both cooperatively and competitively. If you can keep from letting out a whoop after you curb stomp a buddy, you're a stronger man than I. Finally, the Xbox 360 has the killer app that everyone's been waiting for, a game that should be shown to anyone who doubts the system's power. OK, now that that's out of the way, let's talk about Halo 3...

Netjak (9.6 out of 10) (96%)

It's a rarity finding a game that sticks every reviewable aspect, and Gears is one of those games. Graphics, sounds, and most importantly, the gameplay-- this game has everything going for it, and it lives up to nearly every bit of the hype it jammed down our throats. Even with the minor bugs and hang-ups that come with all other games, I was amazed by what I was playing. To not have this game in your Xbox 360 game collection is like a form of self-punishment. There's no doubt in my mind: Gears of War can easily go down as one of the greatest video games ever created.

Cheat Code Central (4.8 out of 5) (96%)

Is Gears of War a perfect shooter? No, there are more than a couple flaws that blemish an otherwise perfect package, like the quirky controls, the iffy ally AI, and the lack of variety in multiplayer. But Gears trumps all previous console games, including the fabled Halo franchise, for its production values and addictive multiplayer. This title will have a greater impact on 360 owners than Halo did on the original Xbox. If you are reading this and haven’t picked up your copy, then slap yourself silly and run to the nearest electronics store as fast as you can.

XboxAddict (9.6 out of 10) (96%)

Gears of War is a brilliant game. The visual presentation sets the bar for console games to come, the game play is thrilling and very rewarding, and the online aspect will keep people playing again and again. All this serves to make Gears of War stand out from its competitors, sending a challenge to companies currently developing similar titles by slapping them across the face.

Atomic Gamer (96 out of 100) (96%)

Gears of War raises the bar for action games and gives the Xbox 360 its first true killer app. From the magnificent visuals, orchestral music, and classical architecture, to the sci-fi storyline, beefy-looking characters, and violent and bloody action, the game sometimes feels like a fascinating exercise of extremes. In the end, all of it put together really works. With a fully-featured cooperative mode with true online play and plenty of other online modes for competitive play, this one will most definitely hold your attention for quite a while. Can this game possibly get 360 owners to finally stop playing Halo 2 online and start seriously looking at something else? It remains to be seen whether it really does happen or not, but my money is on "yes".

GameCola.net (9.6 out of 10) (96%)

This is a fantastic game—the best I’ve played for the Xbox 360 so far—and it sits proudly among the best shooters of all time. If you own an Xbox 360, you absolutely should have this game. If you don’t, then you should track down a friend who has one and play a little co-op with them. Either way, you will not be disappointed.

GameSpot China (9.6 out of 10) (96%)

《战争机器》取得了游戏技术上的杰出成就，但除了美轮美奂的影音表现，它本身也是一款超炫的动作游戏。

Extreme Gamer (9.5 out of 10) (95%)

Gears of War is one of the most impressive games that have come out in recent years. Gears of War can boasts in every aspect of its design. From the impressive visuals, to the intense action and atmospheric world, Gears of War is a system seller, and a great accomplishment from the Epic team. If you don't already own Gears of War, you need to bump this innovative shooter up to the front of your 'must have' list. Gears of War, really is as good as the hype demands, and worth every moment you invest with it. Gears of War might just be the new Halo Microsoft is looking for.

Game Informer Magazine (9.5 out of 10) (95%)

My expectations for Gears of War were quite high coming into this review. Every time I got time with the game over the past year, I couldn’t help but find myself smiling with glee and dreaming of it often in the days that followed. So, to put it lightly, I expected the finished product to not only deliver a ton of water-cooler moments, but also one of the most intense roller-coaster rides in video games.

ZTGameDomain (9.5 out of 10) (95%)

In the end Gears of War is everything we could have hoped for and so much more. The single-player campaign is full of lots of “wow” moments that will have you talking about them for days and the option for co-op throughout the entire game is a definite plus. I can see myself playing this game for a very very long time right next to classics such as Halo 2. Epic has given Xbox 360 owners a reason to cheer and with the possibilities of future content downloads and plenty of Locusts to frag online gamers should be happy to own Microsoft’s console this holiday season. More than worth the wait and it definitely lived up to the hype; highly recommended for anyone who enjoys great games.

GameLemon (9.5 out of 10) (95%)

In spite of these truly grievous inadequacies Gears of War remains the best new game I have played all year. The graphics are incredible (even in standard definition), and to call the gameplay addicting would be an understatement. This game is so great it may actually be crucified, so play it soon. If you have an Xbox 360 just go and buy it. Go.

Gamezine (19 out of 20) (95%)

Gears of War arrive sans forcer à se hisser au sommet des meilleurs titres Xbox 360. D’une beauté à tomber par terre, le jeu est un pur concentré d’action, sauvage et immersif comme rarement un jeu avait su l’être. Mais comme toutes les bonnes choses ont une fin, le jeu est un peu trop court, même si le Live ou le réseau local ne cesseront de vous amuser. Fruit d’un vrai travail, le hit de Epic est donc une valeur sûre, que je vous recommande chaudement pour ce Noël.

OMGN: Online Multiplayer Games Network (9.5 out of 10) (95%)

Gears of War is the best game to come out for the Xbox 360 so far, hands-down. It is reason enough to buy an Xbox 360 if you do not have one already. In fact, not owning an Xbox 360 is a poor reason for not owning this game. It will be a tough act for Halo 3 to follow.

IGN Australia (9.5 out of 10) (95%)

Considering the immense hype behind Gears of War, there was a scary potential for it to not live up to expectations. We can happily report that not only has it met these expectations, it has surpassed them. We haven't had this much fun playing a shooter since… well, we can't quite remember the last time a game was this good. At least not in the scream-into-your-headset, blast-that-bad-dude-in-the-face kind of way that Gears delivers. It's a masterpiece that redefines what 360 gamers, and gamers in general, expect from the next-generation.

Deeko (9.5 out of 10) (95%)

What's more, the coop is only a small portion of the online package. The game also ships with three online versus modes and the typical bevy of Live-powered stat-trackers, true-skill ratings and leaderboards. Most astonishingly is that the online mode doesn't sacrifice anything: unlike GRAW, Splinter Cell: Double Agent and many of the other online shooters, the multiplayer portions of GOW sacrifice nothing in order to get online. Each and every character model, animation, weapon and pixel is perfectly replicated with a trouble-free implementation, and all this while maintaining the guise that the 360 barely has to work at all. This refinement of play and performance is something that doesn't happen over night: this is the direct result of that extra year of development.

Meristation (9.5 out of 10) (95%)

Aún así es un título que no está exento de fallos, algo inevitable, y GOW peca de tener una campaña algo corta -o quizá se percibe así por el intensísimo ritmo y la necesidad de no querer que se acabe- y, en cuanto a la experiencia por Xbox Live, de no incluir soporte para bots en los enfrentamientos -un paso atrás con respecto a otros shooters dentro de la consola- junto a un corto número de variantes. Seguramente estas imperfecciones acabarán corrigiéndose en la secuela, cantadísima tras la conclusión que muestra el final del juego. Hasta entonces -o hasta Halo 3- nos quedan muchas horas frente al que es, hoy en día, el mejor título que tiene Xbox 360 en catálogo.

DreamStation.cc (9.5 out of 10) (95%)

If you're looking for a new game to buy and haven't already picked up what is destined to be Game of the Year I highly suggest you do so now. If you're mature enough to buy Gears of War then it's a definite must have for your Xbox 360. This is what the next generation of gaming should be.

Softpedia (9.5 out of 10) (95%)

Many people compare Gears of War with Lost Planet: Extreme Condition and yes, they are similar, but I can't really tell which game is better. Gears of War is a launch title, packed with goodies and adored by the fans because it brought something new to the bored console fans. Lost Planet used the same recipe as this game did, so it didn't get all the credit it deserved. Graphically speaking, Gears of War is better than Lost Planet, but in terms of gameplay, I have to say that the second is more fun to play, while GOW targets the serious gamers, more focused on in-game achievements than fun.

GameZone (9.5 out of 10) (95%)

Gears of War delivers the compelling experience that Xbox 360 fans have hoped it would since day one. If you currently own a 360, you should know that this game is why. Buy it now.

360 LIVE (9.5 out of 10) (95%)

(...) Um es auf den Punkt zu bringen: es müsste schon mit dem Teufel zugehen, sollte sich der Mehrspieler- Modus nicht binnen kürzester Zeit zu einer der meistgespielten Herausforderungen auf Xbox-Live entwickeln. Und der Einzelspieler-Modus? Zu schade, dass nach zehn bis zwölf Stunden alles schon wieder vorbei ist — oder vielleicht auch nicht, das Ende gibt sich da ein bisschen vage. Aber anders als beispielsweise bei »Halo 2« wiederholt sich bis dahin nichts. »Gears of War« ist ein etwas kurzes, dafür aber ungeheuer intensives und packendes Vergnügen . Außerdem lohnt mehrmaliges Durchspielen. Allein schon, um auch noch die Gamerpoints für den erst nach dem Finale aktivierten Schwierigkeitsgrad »Insane« abzugreifen. Wir wären jedenfalls überrascht, wenn uns in zwei Jahren nicht eine Fortsetzung von »Gears of War« auf die 360 käme. Dann hoffentlich ganz offiziell in Deutschland.

GameNorth (95 out of 100) (95%)

There are a couple words that can sum up the Gears of War experience, and those are Guns and Chainsaws. I’m not talking about separately, either. Guns. Chainsaws. Together. Read that again. It’s as awesome as it sounds.

GamingIllustrated.com (94 out of 100) (94%)

Gears of War has become the favorite console game here at Gaming Illustrated because it’s the best shooter ever released on a console. The multplayer battles we’ve had going 2v2 on the LAN have been nothing short of competitive mayhem, and the XBox Live support promises the game to last us for a long, long time. The graphics and gameplay of this title are absolutely phenomenal, and overall, is a no-doubt about it Editor’s Choice award winner for quality.

New Age Gaming (94 out of 100) (94%)

It truly is a Mad World (such a hip reference to the awesome Gears of War cinema trailer) we gamers live in. When a much-hyped game such as Gears of War actually delivers, it rocks the very foundation of your hyperbolic cynicism. Hopes were impossibly high and yet, Epic somehow managed with all its might to just make it, slapping the hopes with an eager high-five and an unabashed butt-wiggle.

TalkXbox (94 out of 100) (94%)

Believe the hype. GoW is everything Epic Studios said it was going to be. It’s a very exciting game to play, whether it be single player or co-op. The online battles are always competitive and leave you wanting more. The audio of the game is somewhat standard, but shines in the voice work. Outside of the busy A button, the controls of the game are smooth and easy to catch on to. If you plan on playing online, get ready to play for hours on end, as it is extremely hard to put the game down. An overall excellent game, we can only hope that Epic releases a sequel or two.

IGN (9.4 out of 10) (94%)

Gears of War is a must-have game, pure and simple. Epic has effectively created a new gaming universe, and the rich story of planet Sera holds its own with the likes of Hyrule, City 17 and the Mushroom-friggin'-Kingdom. A game so gorgeous, both visually and aurally, that is this fun to play comes along only a handful of times a console generation.

Jolt (UK) (9.4 out of 10) (94%)

Gears of War isn’t a masterpiece of innovation: it’s a masterpiece of fun. It prides itself on doing everything it needs to right. The ridiculous hype is more a product of Microsoft’s pride in what Cliffy B and his team at Epic have created in order to showcase the true capabilities of the Xbox 360. It won’t last you forever and your mother won’t approve of its visceral content, but you will enjoy Gears of War. As Cole would say: “Yeah! Woo! Bring it on sucka: that’s my kinda shit!” Indeed.

ActionTrip (94 out of 100) (94%)

As usual, it all comes down to my initial opinion; Gears of War is, overall, a fantastic game. I enjoy LAN parties and I love Capture the flag, but you can bet I will be playing GoW just as often, if not more.

Gamers' Temple, The (94 out of 100) (94%)

There’s really no reason not to go out and get Gears of War unless you truly do not enjoy shooters. My minor issues or disappointments with the game are probably inflated a bit by the fact that the rest of the game is so good. That fact that there’s not all that much wrong with the game has me already anticipating the inevitable sequel.

Xbox Front (94 out of 100) (94%)

'Gears of War' macht von der ersten Minute an einen Heidenspaß. Ob nun im Story-Modus oder in Teamkämpfen via Xbox Live, die wüste Ballerorgie macht eine sehr gute Figur. Einzig und allein die etwas kurze Spieldauer im Einzelspieler-Modus und an wenigen Punkten schwächelnde K.I. dürften für eine brummige Stimmung sorgen. Das Missfallen wird aber weites gehend durch die verschiedenen Wegpunkte, die man innerhalb der Areale wählen kann, ausgemerzt. Der standfeste Multitplayer-Modus und die Tatsache, dass es auch kooperative Missionen via Xbox Live in das Spiel geschafft haben, bringt dem Spiel eine ordentliche Aufwertung in den positiven Bereich.

NZGamer (9.3 out of 10) (93%)

If you have an Xbox 360 and you like to shoot things, buy this game. If you like to shoot things and you’ve been sitting on the fence about getting an Xbox 360, this should convince you to “jump in”. Everyone else, however, might want to look at renting this game first to make sure it’s their cup of tea. It comes highly, highly recommended, but only to people who are fans of the shooter genre.

Game Freaks 365 (9.3 out of 10) (93%)

There is a lot of fun to be had with Gears of War despite the short 6-8 hour campaign. I personally found the ending to be rather premature/predictable and could have been dragged out into another level, but many people seemed to be fine with it. Increasing the difficulty to Insane however will extend the campaign another 2 hours easily from battling tougher gunfire. The co-op and multiplayer really hit the nail on the head and will keep players hooked for years to come. Gears of War does not bring anything truly groundbreaking to the table, but it puts some already great elements together in a fantastic package. I’m sure it will earn a lot of Game of the Year votes from the gaming media, yet I believe that Gears of War may take a back seat to Elder Scrolls IV, which totally changed how amazing AI can be in a video game. But if you are looking to add a killer game to your line up this holiday season, Gears of War is your ticket.

JagoGame.com (9.3 out of 10) (93%)

Bagi para pemilik Xbox 360, game ini sangatlah layak, kalau tidak ingin dibilang wajib untuk dimiliki. Di lain pihak, rasanya game ini juga cukup bagus untuk menjadi pemicu kita membeli Xbox 360. Bahkan tidak tertutup kemungkinan bahwa Gears of War kelak akan menjadi pengganti seri Halo sebagai icon Xbox. Suatu hal yang sangat layak bagi game yang sangat bagus baik dari segi visual, audio dan juga gameplay-nya.

IC-Games (93 out of 100) (93%)

I suppose Sony thought Microsoft were doing them a favor when they and Bungie conformed that Halo3 would not clash with the launch of PS3. Instead in a slick move Gears of War was on the calendar for a November release next to PS3, and oh my! Microsoft really were only ever concerned about their own gamers as Gears of War should be enough to dissuade any potential PS3 buyer into purchasing an XBOX 360. As it happens the European PS3 release date slipped to when Microsoft and Bungie scheduled the release of Halo3. Will it better Gears of War? They've got a hell of a task to do so. Has Gears of War begun a new trilogy in the XBOX chapter to take the reigns from Bungie as the new flagship title for 360? Did Gears of War end on a cliffhanger for another chapter? Watch this space....

Deaf Gamers (9.3 out of 10) (93%)

Gears of War may have disappointed many when its original release date (the Xbox 360’s launch date) was delayed but few could be disappointed with how the game has turned out. It’s already sold over a million copies and is many people’s choice for game of the year. There’s already talk of the game becoming a trilogy and why not? It’s obviously a winning formula that Epic Games have here and it truly deserves to be expanded upon. If any Xbox 360 game can be called a ‘console seller’ then it’s Gears of War and it’s no surprise that the game is already being offered as part of a customised bundle by certain retailers.

Fragland.net (92.5 out of 100) (92%)

Gears of War is one of the few games that even after a never-seen-before hype manages to fulfill its promises almost completely. The graphics are the best in videogames, the co-op is genius and the gameplay is challenging and nicely brutal. Even more; the chainsaw in GoW is the most fun weapon since the Pheropods and Gravity Gun from Half-Life 2. But it's not all positive: the multiplayer isn't groundbreaking, the game is finished pretty quickly and the storyline as such isn't worth much. Despite these small cons, for me, Gears of War is, save for Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter, the best game on Xbox 360.

Mygamer.com (9.2 out of 10) (92%)

This is one of very few titles I can say that you can play over and over again. Alternating paths provide contrasting views of the story from every angle. Sometimes taking a step back or giving yourself cover for a few seconds will give you insight on how to approach an already played area in a new way. The online modes never grow dull as you find you can alter your plan of attack each time you hit up a new matchmaking session.

Total Gaming UK (92 out of 100) (92%)

Gears of War was supposed to be THE game which defined Microsoft's dream of HD quality console gaming. We've been waiting for its arrival for far too long, but now it's finally here.

Game Vortex (92 out of 100) (92%)

Gears of War lives up to the hype and delivers. It may not do too many original things, but it shakes things up enough that it feels new and fun.

Defunct Games (92 out of 100) (92%)

Are there games so good that they make you buy a whole system just to play them? If so then Gears of War is certainly one of those games. If you're the type of person who has been waiting for the PlayStation 3 then Gears of War may be enough to give you some serious doubts. Not only is it the best looking action game ever made, but it's also a stunning example of how exciting a game can be. If you already own an Xbox 360 then you have no excuse not to buy Gears of War, it's an amazing experience that everybody should go through at least once. It's not without a few minor flaws, but there's no question that Microsoft's biggest action game of the year is also one of the best games of the year.

Gaming Age (A-) (91%)

Gears of War is the next-gen game to get in '06, if only for the incredible graphics and production values. It has a few gameplay quirks and the story is nothing to write home about, but in this case, the spectacular visuals easily trump anything and everything else. Get it!

Worth Playing (9.1 out of 10) (91%)

GoW was the reason why I bought an Xbox 360 when I first laid eyes on it. Am I happy with what I got the day GoW dropped? For the most part, yes. Is there room to grow? Absolutely. Whether it is chainsawing or curb-stomping kids online, GoW is a fun game in all respects. I just wish Epic distributed their efforts more evenly because that would have pushed GoW that extra little bit to make it an all-time favorite.

Game Revolution (A-) (91%)

At least, that’s my story and I’m sticking to it. Whatever else it is, a bomb, a killer app, or the death of Sony, Gears of War is a terrific video game from one of the best studios in the industry. It’s a little easy to die and a little hard to get into a good online match, but the eye polishing graphics and brawny gameplay form a powerful polymer, gluing your hands to the controller, getting you hopelessly caught in the Gears of War.

GamingTrend (543 out of 600) (90%)

Gears of War is obviously Microsoft’s flagship title for the holiday season, and in that regard it does not disappoint. Somehow, this title has managed to meet and exceed the mounds of hype that have been heaped upon it. The voice acting, visuals, and overall level of polish make Gears of War a must-buy for any fan of the genre. If you haven’t purchased this game already, you should seriously ask yourself why, but you should ask as you are in line buying it. Why are you still reading?!

Games TM (9 out of 10) (90%)

[Online review] The community is generally decent, with a good mix of stoned Americans and hyperactive teenagers, lacking the hatred of Halo 2 but also the enthusiasm of F.E.A.R. A comms bug that affects latecomers is a pain, as is the inability to alter game types and maps from the lobby, and the occasional mild lag can make games against the US tough, but this is an online triumph. The next big Live thing? Oh, you'd better believe it.

TTGamer (9 out of 10) (90%)

Gears of War is finally showing what the Xbox 360 can do. It has taken a year but this really is the first game to shine on the Xbox 360. The game does have its problems, but the fact remains that even with these in mind, it is an unbelievable gaming experience that will have you gripped from start to finish.

Video Games Daily (9 out of 10) (90%)

Gears of War didn't grab me right away but the more I played it and the better I got at using the cover system the more I wanted to play it, and by the time I finished I was sad to see it end. More games should be like this. This is an atmospheric, tense and beautiful dance in space marine armour that knows just how much to give you to leave you wanting more.

Gamestyle (9 out of 10) (90%)

In fact, the only real fault that Gamestyle can find with the game is that its multiplayer mode doesn't feature enough variety - a great disappointment. While Execution is great fun, a capture the flag or objective-based game type would add team play mechanics to get everyone involved and working together, perhaps defending a base against an opposing team. Any other minor niggles, such as the odd skipping cutscenes and brevity of the single player campaign, do little to dispel Gamestyle's love for Gears of War. If only more multiplayer modes had been created, Gears of War would be regarded as the perfect Xbox Live game.

PAL Gaming Network (PALGN) (9 out of 10) (90%)

One of the Xbox 360's best moments to date. Gears of War trades off innovation for the sake of high-class production, solid gameplay and enjoyable combat. A must.

Jeuxvideo.com (18 out of 20) (90%)

Si Gears Of War ne constitue pas une date dans le monde du jeu vidéo, le résultat final est difficilement critiquable tant la mise en scène sacralise l'action non-stop, parfois au détriment d'une certaine diversité, mais toujours pour le plaisir du joueur. Impossible de ne pas prendre parti pour ces bidasses d'un autre temps d'autant qu'il semble bien que leur mission ne fasse que débuter. Partez devant les mecs, on vous couvre en attendant un nouveau plan de bataille.

GameCell UK (9 out of 10) (90%)

Gears is a hugely important title for Epic Games and the 360 itself, and a strong advertising campaign coupled to its undoubted quality means it’ll surely sell extremely well and build up a strong fanbase in the same way that Halo did. The only flaws in its heavily armoured skin are a mild feeling of repetition from time to time, and a solitary and rather tacked-on driving level that was both unnecessary and well below the quality of the rest of the game’s acts. You almost feel like some games have driving sections in just because vehicles were such an integral part of Halo – which remains the benchmark for this type of game. When you analyse Gears closely it doesn’t have a great many original ideas of its own, but the overall quality of design means that everything from the use of a cover mode to darkness as a game element or even just the inclusion of co-op play have seldom, if ever, been done better. Go buy it, it’s top gear.

3DAvenue ( ) (90%)

Gears of War is finally showing what the Xbox 360 can do. It has taken a year but this really is the first game to shine on the Xbox 360. The game does have its problems, but the fact remains that even with these in mind, it is an unbelievable gaming experience that will have you gripped from start to finish.

Daily Game (9 out of 10) (90%)

It's not nearly as epic as we would have liked, but the gameplay provides some fantastic moments and introduces some new aspects to a mainstream shooter. The graphics and online co-op are simply phenomenal.

Xbox World Australia (XWA) (90 out of 100) (90%)

Gears of War does exactly what it promised to do – have jaw dropping visuals, strong presentation, fluid gameplay, and integrated multiplayer (co-op at any time). Perhaps we're not justified in asking any more than that and to tell the truth all else is forgotten as soon as you get thrown into the game. Bring on the sequel!

Bordersdown (9 out of 10) (90%)

Despite these minor hiccups Gears of War is as much a reason to own a 360 as Oblivion was and more besides. In fact, it is just as much a reason to subscribe to Xbox Live as Live Arcade. Appropriately billed by some as a third-person tactical action/horror shooter it is frighteningly good. Although what's really scary is to think what things will look like with a few more years' development time and the know-how to push the hardware even further. As the end-of-game Locust narrator states, humans were destined to destroy. Although sometimes they can create glorious worlds too.

Video Game Talk ( ) (90%)

Is the game worth the retail price tag? For folks without the benefits of Xbox Live Gold, I'd have to say no. The single player campaign takes approximately 7 to 8 hours on Casual and 10 to 12 on Hardcore, either of which easily done in a rental period. For everyone else, it's a no-brainer purchase. Without a doubt, the online co-op integration is nearly flawless and Versus multiplayer matches are absolutely addictive. If any multiplayer shooter has the gall to dethrone Halo 2 from the most played multiplayer list, it will be Gears of War; for a short time anyway. In any case, Gears shouldn't be missed by any Xbox 360 owner. Shooter aficionados, Sci-Fi fanatics, and even the most casual of 360 players will find Gears to be the most entertaining, involving game on the Xbox 360 in 2006.

Boomtown (9 out of 10) (90%)

As ever, getting sucked into the hype vacuum can prove a precarious business for any gamer, although miraculously, Gears manages to pull off everything that I’ve been looking forward to since its debut. Yes, it’s not innovative by any means, but its true what they say; if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it, and these Gears stick to a well-oiled mechanism. Gears of War is an absolute blast of a game, and, judging from recent industry ramblings, certainly not the last in the series. If there’s one game you have to buy this Christmas, it’s unquestionably this one. Gear up soldier.

Computer and Video Games (CVG) (9 out of 10) (90%)

And if it weren't for the mortal nature of our sore and battered fingers, we could probably carry on typing for many more words. There's plenty more to discuss - the COG tags littered around for your collecting pleasure, the vehicle sections that have you smashing through the streets and the most gorgeous rain we've seen in a game. But we'll leave that for you to discover.

All Game Guide ( ) (90%)

While Gears of War is a little lean in places, the satisfying action and sumptuous visuals will help you forgive the game's shortcomings and embrace its ability to entertain.

Darkstation (9 out of 10) (90%)

In the end, Gears of War quite possible could be the best game the Xbox 360 has seen thus far in its short lifetime. Gears of War has all of the makings of a great game, with gorgeous visuals, fantastic gameplay, and just one of the most entertaining shooters of a long time. Gears of War has everything that makes up a great game plus much more. If you have a 360, there is no reason why you should have Gears of War along with it.

MS Xbox World (9 out of 10) (90%)

The flaws and annoyances aside presents a game that pushes all the right buttons and I think it is this factor that the game should be revered. It’s fast, furious and very much challenging and these are the things that as gamers we expect from action games. If you like shooters and are an action fan and perhaps even if you don’t then Gears of War is certainly a game worthy of being in your collection. At the end of the day there are fewer great games on any system than mediocre ones and so when a great game does come around it is imperative that gamers get involved. No doubt there will be a Gears of War 2 at some point in the distant future and so this first game in the series should well establish itself as a very popular one indeed.

Console Monster (90 out of 100) (90%)

Even those with different consoles really need to check out Gears of War because so many people will be really missing out if they just dismiss this game just because it is on a rival games console. Epic have shown in the Unreal franchise that they know what they are doing and they always support their games and Gears is no exception. More Gears content is on the way and more Gears games are already being talked about. I would happily push this game onto the same throne as Goldeneye and Final Fantasy etc, and as long as Epic live up to their name and support Gears of War, it will be around for a long time to come.

Good Game (9 out of 10) (90%)

I think the game really involves the player and requires some thought. The weapons are fun to use and the controls are easy to get used to. It’s a shame it’s only available on XBOX 360 and I did find the graphics pretty contrasty on my small TV. I think this would look awesome on HDTV. I’m going to give it 9/10 chooks

Gamervision (9 out of 10) (90%)

With all the Hype around Gears of War, Microsoft and Epic Games had a lot to live up to. They have done that and more, crafting an innovative and intense action game that succeeds on every level and sets the bar for future next-gen shooters.

Xbox Gazette (9 out of 10) (90%)

Gears of War ne révolutionne peut-être pas le genre action-tir, mais il apporte toute une série d'innovations intéressantes en terme de gameplay, qui s'avère vraiment excellent. Si le jeu n'est pas exempt de défauts, on pense surtout à une durée de vie un peu juste en mode campagne, et à un multi améliorable, tout ceci est vite oublié face à la réalisation plus qu'exemplaire, la très bonne jouabilité, l'intense campagne solo doublée de l'excellent mode coopératif, et un jeu en ligne très plaisant. Un incontournable pour tous les amateurs de jeux de tir ou action, à classer dans les meilleurs titres de 2006 et qui s'impose comme nouvelle référence graphique sur consoles.

GNT - Generation Nouvelles Technologies (9 out of 10) (90%)

Gears of war est une réussite sur tous les plans, c'est LE titre que tout le monde attendait, il s'approche de la perfection comme aucun jeu de la Xbox 360 et même si sa durée de vie est courte, on peut facilement imaginer qu'il va y avoir des mises à jour disponibles sous peu sur le XboxLive. Incontestablement le meilleur jeu d'action de la console de Microsoft, un poil au dessus de GRAW.

Lens of Truth (9 out of 10) (90%)

Gears of war will keep you on the edge of you seat, mainly due to the realistic enemy AI. Each encounter feels unique and unscripted, watching the enemy flank and use cover like a highly trained and coordinated assault team. There are some minor glitches in the game that leave you ready to drop kick you controller, but considering how many hours of gameplay and satisfaction you will have with Gears of War makes them easy to overlook.

Bit-Tech (9 out of 10) (90%)

Gears of War has changed the face of console gaming. If you were wondering if it was worth buying a high definition TV to go with your Xbox 360, take a look at GoW running on a decent screen and you’ll be digging your credit card out in no time. Not only is this the best looking console game I have ever seen, the control method, the gameplay, the animation, the sound effects and the atmosphere are all straight out of the top drawer. I’m sure that some people will find the fire/cover routine dull after a while, but if you really get into the fluid movement, the swift reloads and the general carnage that’s constantly surrounding you, I guarantee that hours will fly by before you know it.

USA Today ( ) (90%)

Xbox 360 fans in search of a gorgeous but gory game, and one that combines tactical action with horror elements, will love fighting though this challenging adventure. Play through the game once and it unlocks an incredibly difficult mode, with even meaner enemies.

Inside Hotwire 3D (9 out of 10) (90%)

Gears of War is clearly one of the best-looking games in 2006 and it could even rival Halo 3 for the graphical achievements and awesome gameplay. It’s only a matter of time before it starts winning awards such as Game of the Year under its belt. For FPS fans, you really can’t go wrong with this game. It’s almost like a puzzle and shooter hybrid, relying on quick thinking and tactics. There is no other shooting game like it out there until Halo 3 comes out. It’s definitely worth the price and it has definitely earned respect among magazine editors. With such game coming out for the Xbox 360, Microsoft will gain momentum for market advantage. But it’s still early to tell with Sony delaying a few their good launch titles. Anyway, if you are looking for an intense FPS title for Xbox 360, then this is one game you shouldn’t miss.

Gamers.at (89 out of 100) (89%)

Bombastische Optik, grandiose Inszenierung, Blut in Hülle und Fülle, Xbox360-exklusiv und in Deutschland verboten. Gibt es über Gears of War eigentlich noch mehr zu sagen? Unbedingt wenn es nach uns geht! Aber nicht nur weil es Spaß macht gute Seiten an einem Spiel aufzuzählen, sondern auch weil "Gears" nicht nur Stärken hat!

Christ Centered Gamer / Christ Centered Game Reviews (89 out of 100) (89%)

After playing through the game twice and playing every multi player mode, this is the obvious choice for the best Xbox 360 game available. Unlike most other games, it managed to live up to the hype. I was very satisfied with my $60 purchase, normally I’m one of those people who wait a while before buying something new but after seeing a trailer for it on Xbox Live I couldn’t help but going out and buying this the day it came out. I just hope that Epic works harder on the story for the sequel. If the story was better and you could prevent the disturbing language you hear online then this game would be perfect. I recommend this to anybody over the age of 13 however keep in mind that it’s rated M. I hope this review is helpful to anyone considering a purchase of this game.

VGNZ (88 out of 100) (88%)

On the Xbox 360 Gears of War is less of an adventure game and more a straight up action title for genre fans. The ‘environmental cover’ gameplay is repetitive and has been seen before, particularly in Kill.Switch for the PS2. However, it hasn’t been attached to a final product that has looked so pretty, sounded so vibrant, offered so many good design ideas and multiplayer options or had as much depth. There are a few minor flaws and the plot is secondary to the action, but Gears of War sticks to its guns (literally) and offers what it’s supposed to – clean, unadulterated, visceral combat. If you like the sound of that, Gears of War is for you. It’s that simple.

Diehard GameFan (8.5 out of 10) (85%)

Gears of War is one of the best titles to come out all year, not just on the 360, but at all. The narrative is a little weak at times, and lack of variety hurts the presentation in some respects, which keeps it from being higher, sadly. But don’t let that bother you; if you’re at all a fan of the shooter genre, you NEED to own this and love it lots. Much respect to Epic Games for this, and I’m honestly heavily anticipating a sequel.

Armchair Empire (8.5 out of 10) (85%)

I suppose what I'm really saying, is that if you're an action fan, you should be playing Gears of War.

GameCritics.com (8.5 out of 10) (85%)

But enough of that. The game looks, feels and sounds great, that's all that anyone really needs to care about. I'm not being facetious. Even during the multiplayer, it's fun just watching people play the game. And that's where Gears of War's lasting legacy is-debuting the third Unreal Engine, which will be utilized by dozens of other architects in the near future. We've never seen anything like this game, but we'll be seeing plenty of its DNA very soon.

DarkZero (8.4 out of 10) (84%)

Gears of War never set out to reinvent the third person shooter - it just refined parts of it to the point of near perfection. Unfortunately there are still many facets of the game that are rough round the edges. GOW has its faults, there is no hiding that fact; but under the right circumstance most of them are surpassed. Nevertheless it would have being nice of Epic to include a few more small tweaks to sort out the notable nagging problems. In the end “this year’s big game” could not live up to the hype - but when you think about it the bar was set so high it was an impossibility that anyone could do so. It was a damn good try though.

Play.tm (83 out of 100) (83%)

As we look over the swirling wisps of black smoke and try to ignore the smell of chard flesh that lingers in our nostrils we can hopefully agree that Gears of War should not be marked down for the brevity of its SP campaign. Even if you have no access to Live and for some reason have no interest to play the game through a second time, the sheer spectacle of that campaign game should be enough to leave one feeling satiated after besting the final nemesis, Ramm. If you do have access to Live, or a just a friend with some spare time on their hands and a willingness to experience Gears of War with you, then the game soars to even greater heights. However, I am going to give one score for this game and in my opinion it thoroughly deserves.

Eurogamer.net (UK) (8 out of 10) (80%)

In a sense, Gears of War lives up to expectations in that it's one of the most intensely beautiful-looking games ever made, but is one that plays by the rules in the gameplay stakes. If you want to gorge on a next generation audio-visual feast then Gears of Wars is a king's banquet. But what of the gameplay pudding that Peter Moore so often reminds us that he likes? The proof, he says, is in the eating, and in this case Gears of War sticks to a well-worn recipe.

Gameplay RPG (8 out of 10) (80%)

Un gameplay savamment pensé, une vitrine technologique inégalée et un background de qualité... Des ingrédients qui font rêver ? Gears of War - Emergency Day l'a fait ! Certes, l'histoire reste classique, mais l'univers est sensationnel : combattre une horde d'aliens dans une ville à l'architecture proche de celle de Londres, quelle jouissance ! Vous l'aurez compris, ce titre est une tuerie qui mettra tout le monde d'accord, même les plus réfractaires au genre et ici, en Occident, l'unanimité est de rigueur. Proche du hit, Gears of War est LE jeu Xbox 360 de cette fin d'année (après Viva Pinata, bien entendu).

Good Game (8 out of 10) (80%)

Well, despite its apparent flaws, Gears of War knows its strengths and concentrates on them. Even though its not an FPS, FPS players will love it due to the elements that are just plain badass. I found the ending a bit disappointing, but its probably the best 360 exclusive title I've seen so far, 8/10 from me.

Edge (8 out of 10) (80%)

Gears Of War exists for two very simple, very sound reasons. One, as a showcase for the potential of Unreal Engine 3 and two, to demonstrate the power of 360 one year in. And it amply achieves them both: Microsoft will be more than happy to have this running on demo pods next to PS3's Resistance, just as Epic has been happy to have it centrestage at every Microsoft-sponsored event for the past 18 months. But for all the excellence on show, there's no shaking the sense that this is a game that does everything that was asked of it, but nothing more.

GameCritics.com (8 out of 10) (80%)

Call me a jaded critic, a wet blanket, or anything else, but I'm not going to be dazzled into submission by stunning visuals and overlook a core game design that doesn't impress—but I do give credit where credit is due. My hat is off to Epic for bringing back a completely engaging style of play that hasn't been in vogue (or even possible) for quite some time. Its significance is not lost on me, and I'm hoping with both fingers crossed that the opening co-op salvo Gears of War unleashed is merely the start of a continuing trend.

Gaming since 198x (4 out of 5) (80%)

Pour peu qu'on ne soit pas allergique aux gros bourrins testosteronés, Gears of War est une ode à la violence la plus brutale, un hurlement primaire de bonheur, une sorte de film de la Cannon des années 1980 où les héros sont des fascistes encore plus pourris que les méchants, mais un formidable défouloir.

Eurogamer.fr (8 out of 10) (80%)

Dans un sens, Gears of War tient toutes ses promesses dès lors que c’est un des jeux les beaux jamais crées, mais il s’en tient strictement aux règles établies au niveau du jeu lui-même. Si vous voulez vous gavez de merveilles audiovisuelles de dernière génération, alors Gears of Wars est un festin de roi. Mais qu’en est-il du gâteau que représente le jeu en lui-même et dont Peter Moore nous rappelle si souvent qu’il est son plat favori ? La preuve ultime, dit-il, est dans la dégustation et de ce côté-là Gears of War s’en tient à des recettes usées.

Factornews (8 out of 10) (80%)

Gears of War est une incontestable réussite. Véritable vitrine technologique, aussi bien de la console de Microsoft que du tout nouveau moteur 3D d'Epic, le jeu n'oublie pas de proposer un gameplay bien fignolé, offrant des affrontements intenses mais jamais bourrins. Quel dommage que l'aventure se termine aussi vite, et que finalement l'action peine quelque peu à se renouveler. Il reste heureusement des modes multijoueur bien fournis pour étoffer un peu le contenu, et notamment un excellent mode coopératif permettant de revivre l'aventure avec un pote. Quoi qu'il en soit, malgré ces quelques défauts plus ou moins importants, il serait juste criminel de passer à côté de ce titre : Gears of War est bien la killer app que tout possesseur de Xbox 360 attendait.

RealVG (6 out of 10) (60%)

So is Gears of War good? Yes and no. It offers a fairly hectic combat experience which doesn't particular offer much in the way of depth but can still pack an interesting if ultimately lacklustre punch. If you like generic scifi then by all means pick this up, but I like originality and clever thinking in my games, and Gears doesn't offer this. The online mode is really the best part of the game, so if you don't have an Xbox Live Gold Account then you're really better off saving your pennies. That said, the game is only £17.99 at Play.com at time of writing, which is not a bad price to pay for what there is.

Background N/A

Tous les ingrédients sont réunis pour vous faire aduler cet univers de malade mental, ce gameplay de folie, cette réalisation aux petits oignons.