Difficulty:

Just Right

Time Spent:

10 to 20 Hours

The Bottom Line:

"All it's cracked up to be"

Where to begin...

The gameplay was absolutely incredible. The controls were tight and the movement was very fluid. I felt like I was controlling an actual person instead of a game character. The shooting was superb, as well as the aiming and reloading mechanics that we all love so much. The cover mechanics are just as good as they have always been, if not better. The gameplay was one of the strongest aspects of this game.

Graphics:
In a word: INCREDIBLE! This is one of the best looking games I have seen on the 360 so far. The character animations were excellent, and the voice acting was superb. I was also amazed by the lighting affects during the cutscenes and even the high quality lighting in-game. Shadows reflect off of weapons and people, as well as the environments; and this can add drama and tension in certain cutscenes.

Story:
In my opinion the best in the series. There were a few moments that really hit home in the game (without giving away any spoilers). Definitely worth a look.

Overall, I would HIGHLY recommend this game to anyone that owns a 360, even if you have not played any of the gears games yet. It is an extremely fun ride, and it took me a bout 9 hours to complete. In addition to the campaign, the horde and beast modes are amazing and are bound to take up a few more hours of your time as well. Completely worth a purchase!