Inside Gears of War
Gears of War® shined bright when designer CliffyB demonstrated it live at Microsoft's pre-E3 press briefing, but a deeper demo at Microsoft's E3 booth revealed many of the game's mechanics. If you're wondering just how this visual masterpiece plays, now's your chance.
Separate Paths
Though it may belong to a hardcore genre, Gears of War keeps the casual gamer in mind. Better yet, it does so in a subtle and immersive way. At the beginning of each level, you have a choice between taking an easy path and a difficult one. Not only is the explanation in-game (a comrade explaining two options), it also represents additional content.
The private theater for Gears of War at Microsoft's E3 booth.
After easing your way into the experience by playing through the easy sides, test your mettle on the more difficult paths and never feel like you've played through the areas before.
Context Sensitive
Standing out in the open is likely to get you killed in Gears of War, as you must properly use cover to survive. With Gears of War's context sensitive A button, you won't sweat memorizing button combinations. The A button will:
- Slam you into cover, literally. As CliffyB points out, having to walk up and engage cover just doesn't make any sense, so as you approach cover in Gears, tap the A button to slide and make immediate use of cover.
- Once you're in cover, pressing up and A to vault over cover (if possible) and immediately engage the next cover opportunity.
- When you're out in the open, tap A to engage a roll maneuver to evade enemy fire.
- When taking cover on the side of a doorway, activate a "swat turn". You'll spin from one side of the doorway to the other, helping avoid fire.
The entrance to Microsoft's E3 mini city, and home toGears of War.
Reload Skill
Ripping a magazine free and replacing it in the midst of combat is no easy task, and Gears aims to simulate that. In fact, you need to time the action to reload successfully. Do well and it's no problem; do poorly and you actually cause your gun to jam. Time it perfectly and earn a bonus with a temporary damage boost.
Move or Shoot, Not Both
Though Gears of War clearly showcases a sci-fi experience, its roots are in tactical, realistic combat scenarios. Therefore, running and gunning makes for some seriously erratic shooting. Stop, aim, shoot, and then move on, lest you waste ammo.
That saw on his gun isn't just for show … and he means business.
Point of Interest
Gears of War presents a focused and well paced cinematic experience, and nothing ruins that faster than having to explore every switch and button in an effort to find that elusive trigger to open a door. Gears introduces a "point of interest" button that comes up on screen, allowing you to immediately interact with the needed item.
Gears of War may offer drool-worthy graphics, but it's good to see that the mechanics have received equal attention, making for not just a great looking title, but a great playing one as well.
Article by Ryan Treit
