This game goin to rock, goin to play this for a long time to. This game will keep me playing for a while until halo3 rolls around. Thank God i pre-order my copy cant wait.
X06: Gears of War Multiplayer Hands-On
By
Justin Calvert, Executive Editor
We go four-on-four in the latest playable version of Epic Games' much-anticipated shooter.
BARCELONA, Spain--After Microsoft's X06 press conference this evening, those of us who were lucky enough to attend the event in person were herded into a small fleet of coaches and driven to an evening event at a not-quite-as-secret-as-usual location. Three of the location's five floors were devoted to live entertainment, food, refreshments, and the like, while the remaining two afforded us an opportunity to get our hands on some upcoming Xbox 360 games. One of the first games we made a beeline for, predictably, was Gears of War, which we were able to play alongside seven other attendees on three different multiplayer maps.
Although other multiplayer modes will likely be available in the finished game, the work-in-progress version of Gears of War that we checked out today offered only four-on-four team deathmatches. We got to play as both COG soldiers and as Locusts during our time with the game, and for the first time we had an opportunity to check out some of the different skins that are available for each faction. The default skins look like regular grunts, with functional-looking armor, shaved heads (for the humans at least), and very few distinguishing features.
Fighting alongside three players who are all using the same default skin isn't jarring in any way, but there's definitely something neat about being in a squad where everybody looks different. Before each round gets underway, you can use the bumper buttons on the Xbox 360 controller to choose a skin. Our preferred COG skin made us look like an officer of some kind, with a different uniform, a black hat, and dark face paint. When playing as a Locust, we opted for a character who was wearing his armor under a robe that flowed quite convincingly when we moved.
The first of the three maps that we played on was Gridlock, which is the same map that we played at the Electronic Entertainment Expo earlier this year. Like all of the maps that we've seen to date, Gridlock isn't very big, but it features no end of environmental features to take cover behind. Stairwells, burned-out cars, and archways are the cover spots of choice, though we couldn't find a single location that could be considered safe enough to camp at for any period of time. It seems the maps have all been designed in such a way that there are at least two routes into every potential camping spot, meaning that you'll be forever looking over your shoulder if you choose to remain in one place for any period of time. Another great incentive to keep moving are the weapons that spawn in certain places periodically--the rocket launcher in the middle of the Gridlock map is a great weapon, but attempting to reach it is always risky business.
After spending some time with Gridlock, we checked out two previously unseen maps, titled Canals and Mansion. The layout of Canals felt a lot like Gridlock, except that the burned-out cars were replaced with boats and debris from old bridges. We also spent much of our time on this map up to our knees in water, though that didn't have any impact on the gameplay. Mansion, on the other hand, felt quite different, though it's conceivable that it was more as a result of its visuals than of its actual design. Set in and around a partially ruined mansion on a dark and rainy night, the map's exterior and interior locales felt very different, and although we preferred it outside in the rain, what remained of the mansion's interior was where a lot of the action ended up happening. One of the notable features of the mansion interior are destructible items that you're only safe behind for a short period of time if your opponent decides to unload some ammo into them, such as couches.
One of the most popular weapons during our time with Gear of War was, predictably, the chainsaw bayonet that's mounted on the assault rifle as standard. The chainsaw takes a few seconds to warm up, but once it's running you can one-hit kill any enemy that you get close to. Other weapons that we started each round with included a pistol, a shotgun, and some very effective (and great-looking) smoke grenades. You'll use the directional pad to switch between whichever four weapons you're carrying, and if you decide to pick up a new weapon that you find, it will replace the one you have equipped.
When you die in a Gears of War multiplayer game, which won't happen nearly as often once people figure out that it's really not that much work to revive fallen squadmates if you reach them in time, you'll enter a spectator mode. As a spectator, you can choose to watch the rest of the match either from a vantage point that gives you a view of almost the whole map or from an over-the-shoulder camera following one of your colleagues. We got to see some great chainsaw bayonet kills as a spectator and also witnessed a one-on-one battle at the end of a round that went on for so long that it was eventually declared a draw. This happened not because the two players weren't filling each other with lead at every opportunity, but because they were both very good at taking cover to restore their health. We're tempted to say that the speed at which your health restores when you're in cover is a little generous right now, but if it were slowed down it might be detrimental to the game's pacing.
Gears of War is currently scheduled for release in early November. We look forward to bringing you more information as soon as it becomes available.
By
Justin Calvert, Executive Editor
Justin's youth was largely misspent playing Commodore 64 and Amiga games. He left the UK's Official PlayStation Magazine to join GameSpot in 2000, believes that he's one of the best Speedball 2: Brutal Deluxe players in the world, and puts HP Sauce on everything.
118 comments
Multiplayer sounds good, even though its just 4 on 4. It would be much better if it was 8 on 8 or 12 on 12, like in Battlefield 2: Modern Combat and F.E.A.R.
Bdehnert2008 "take it easy on the capslock there pal...anyway not all of us are as rich as your parents and cant afford two systems so we align ourselves with what is best for us. " my bad on the caps crybaby, anyway "my parents" LOL you're lost dude, i've been living on my own for years, and i understand about not being able to afford more than one system, if you had actually read my comment you'd have seen i wasn't talking to those who choose because they can't afford both, i'm talking about the biased people who sit there and talk crap about whichever company they oppose without even having played the games that company has to offer. P.S. if you don't make enough money to afford what you want then that's a totally different issue Bdehnert2008
take it easy on the capslock there pal...anyway not all of us are as rich as your parents and cant afford two systems so we align ourselves with what is best for us.
i OWE NOTHING TO SONY OR MICROSOFT. I LIKE GAMES, DOESN'T MATTER WHAT SYSTEM. AS SOON AS YOU ALIGN YOURSELF, ALL YOU ARE REALLY DOING IS KEEPING YOURSELF AWAY FROM THE GREAT GAMES THE OTHER SYSTEM HAS TO OFFER. LOOK FORWARD TO SHOOTING YOU ALL IN THE HEAD ON GoW!
LoL. Everyone wants an XBOX 360 now. I don't blame them. Just look at all the neat stuff Microsoft is offering this holiday season. No disrespect to the folks at Sony, but I'll own a PS3 when it is worth owning. In the meantime, Epic bring on Gears!
Gears of War is going to be tooooo fun to play...Cant wait for those nights when I am going to be up killing that game...
Gears and XBOX LIVE Dam this means war baby!!! Halo meets Ghost Reacon and you got GEARS OF WAR! XBOX ! nobody dose it better!
Man i hope there will b enough copies....relly dont feel like goin down to the store all hyped up jus to find myself waiting another month for it.
this game looks dank. hopefully it will make me wanna LAN like Halo 1 did. oh, and try to ignore the people who are being jerks about the PS3, they dont know what they are talking about. im glad that i have a 360, i prefer the box over the playstation, but the ps3 is going to be excellent too. people need to realize that it's a personal choice and nothing else.
This game is one of the main reasons to buy an xbox 360. I got a chance to play the multiplayer portion of the game (in a theater on the big screen) and all I have to say is, this game is hands down going to make for some awesome LAN parties. Just the energy and intensity of playing with your friends is going to be awesome. The hype for this game is well deserved.
word to your mother redfop!!!! Ima Box man for life, so F*** everything else!!!! close minded, maybe!!! owner of the best next-gen system, absolutely!!!!
HOLY FLYING COWS FROM OUTER SPACE!!! All of you, please please please stop making fun of each other's consoles, what does it do? Also, if you actually MUST insult each other, then get to the piont and say why it is worth insulting your victims, and hey, I am a major Xbox 360 fan, and I personally appreciate microsoft products more than sony ones, but when gamers from my side of the fence can't even conduct themselves on a forum, sometimes I just want to switch over to playstation. Personally, I am really looking forward to Gears of War, it looks fairly original, and the gameplay looks like great fun. The only thing I didn't like as much, was how on one of the more recent videos, all of the enemies where dying the same way, regardless of where they where shot.
ok 1 everyone on gamespot that i have talked to **** hates the PS3 i agree with CJ u guys just go and play ur little DVD player... oh what wait the PS3 isnt just a DVD player? hmm... thats weird considring there spending 1000 dollars on a DVD player and like 200 for games.... well anyway u guys just go watch ur movies on ur FANCY DVD player and stop hating on all the other console just cuz they own u
Note to PS fanboys: Shovel a huge sack of donkey ****!!!! Quit hating on the 360 just becuz your Piece O' S*** 3 ain't out yet!!!! If you pay close attention to articles written in gaming mags, even the devs say that the Xbox360 will look just as good as the Piece O' S*** 3. They say that even with DVD-9 disc, there will be no problem fitting all the lusciousness of 360 games on one disc. Some devs even go to the lengths of saying that they prefer and think that developing for the 360 is better/easier than that of the Piece O' S*** 3!!!! So, hush your little mouths, and get the tears ready for The Box to pwn your Piece O' S*** 3!!!!! PWNED!!!!!
This game alone makes me want a 360.............and a kick ass surround system, tv, bean bag and such >.> After seeing mass effect I really want a 360 now :|
This game looks really good, and it is not another boring re spawn like Halo. I like Halo but ever game that comes out is the same. This game looks more realistic because people don't want to die so they will play with caution. This also causes players to play more as a team. Can't wait fo a good game to finally come out for the 360.
Good not another boring re-spawn like Halo, don't get me wrong Halo is great but I can only take one type of respone games. It is more realistic when there is no respone. People play carefully and play more as a team. Can't wait for this title to be released.
Cant wait this game is goona ROCK. Plus the 10hrs campaign depends on route u take on the game. Of course i want some hard action im gonna take the hard route. the online is goin to be fun 2
I'm a bit worried that the developers never seem to want to showcase the single player aspects of Gears of War, only the multiplayer. They just gloss over the campaign saying "about 10 hours worth of playtime" which usually means 6-7 hours for most people. I hope this game isn't another Halo 2 with a mediocre single player experience and an awesome multiplayer setup. Because I don't play many games online with my crappy internet connection. I see this game turning into another Halo 2. For some that will be great, for others like me it means a rental.
I will buy this game and a Xbox360 and Live..And you all shall know i whas like no to this game and all..But efter the trailer I saw that whas enough for me to say I whant that game now..You all shall know too that I whas a Sony PS3 fanboy in to the bone..Well my brother whas right whit the Xbox thing..*sigh*..Now this is the first game of any Xbox i buy..I think it is good start...This game looks like/feels like a God of War style game to it that what i think..
This game might be the first killer app for the 360. And it will be 10 hours of next gen sweetnesss.
no last gen is quality over quantity next gen is quality...and lots of it. lol whats wrong with renting the game and completing it in ten hours. because you can buy the game and have 10 hours of RAGING FUN THAT IS BETTER THAN COKE....... nope im gonna say rental but ill buy it for the multiplayer if anything
cypher50 Let me get this straight: Super Metroid was only 10 hours if you went EXTREMELY slow and yet that game is a classic but because GoW will take about 10 hours then it is automatically rental? For the last time people, IT IS ABOUT HOW THE GAMEPLAY IS...if GoW is incredibly fun for 10 hours then I am sure that it will be great to play over again and I am sure that multiplayer will hold you up for a very long time. BTW, speaking for many older gamers who have jobs and various obvious responsibilities & hobbies, I am SO glad that not every game takes 20-40 hours. Sorry but many game stories can be told in a much shorter time and there is no need for repetitive levels just to extend the length of a game (i.e. Halo). What he said. Next gen is about quality over quantity- and overcharging for DLC. :P
I've said it all along,Gears of War will out sail ever thing that is entertainment this holiday season.
Sounds like it shaping up very well. I love TPS's, and as long as it doesn't play like Conflict Global Terror, it can't go wrong. Plus, I have faith in Epic.
"It seems the maps have all been designed in such a way that there are at least two routes into every potential camping spot, meaning that you'll be forever looking over your shoulder if you choose to remain in one place for any period of time" Hallelujah. Campers...get run.
I sincerely hope they have modes where you can re-spawn...if I wanted to spectate for the rest of the match after I get killed I'll play CS instead...Is it just me or does this game sound more and more like a GRAW clone? (except for the chainsaw) My 360 looks like it may be going up for sale if Lost Planet doesn't end up being that impressive....I'm tired of all these mediocre games > :(
GOW, FEAR, Splinter Cell: DA and R6: Las Vegas is the ultimate lineup that will be keeping me busy for countless hours. This is going to be a kick @SS holiday season for the 360.
Gears of war is shaping up well. But they havn't mentioned much of the single-player. I was hoping to see some single-player demos:(
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Game Info
- Release Date: Nov 7, 2006 (US)
- Release Date: Nov 6, 2007 (US)
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