Gears of War 3 is almost out, and reviews from professional game critics are coming in droves. Giant Bomb and Joystiq awarded the game a perfect 10 score, with the latter website calling the game a "powerful elegy, a close to a series that has done much to define this console generation."
On the lower part of the review spectrum, Escapist Magazine gave the game an 8.0 score and panned it for its "lingering flaws" like the lack of variety and depth among characters. They also said that its monotonous tone "holds the game back from being as great as it otherwise might have been."
Fans of the game needn't worry, however, as it surpasses every single standard set by the previous games in the epic Gears of War series.
10
giantbomb.com review
Gears of War 3 is a fantastic follow-up that answers important questions about the nature of the Gears universe while backing it all up with an even bigger, better multiplayer suite.
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joystiq.com review
Gears of War 3 has left me with a parallel set of emotions. On one side, it represents a powerful elegy, a close to a series that has done much to define this console generation. It's a melancholy thing, seeing a solid conclusion for characters that a lot of us liked despite ourselves, that make themselves even more understood in the end. But Gears of War 3 does it with respect and grace, and even subtlety, for a fantastic experience from start to finish. And it bestows a postscript of one of the most full featured, fun, and polished multiplayer experiences I've ever played. Gears of War 3 has finally kept the promise the series made six years ago, and then some.
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thekoalition.com review
Gears of War 3 is the best game in the series and one of the best games of the year. It’s a damn near flawless game with its only fault being that the gameplay was a bit more of the same. Overall, this is a game that needs to be in your collection or disc tray by next week. The game comes packed with new and classic multiplayer and cooperative modes that will keep you and your friends engaged for months to come. I will certainly be playing this game three months from now.
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guardian.co.uk review
Gears Of War 3 is a robust gaming package. Aside from the multiplayer and campaign modes – the latter of which can also be tackled in co-op or in arcade mode – this game is filled to bursting with unlockables; ribbons, skins, weapons – everything players need to establish their online shooter credentials.
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digitalspy.co.uk review
While Gears of War 3 has plenty of back-of-the-box features that undoubtedly stand out, whether it's the four-player campaign, the superb upgrades to Horde, and a hefty amount of post-release content you'll expect in terms of maps and community updates, it's the great bump in visual quality, the diverse and engaging campaign that never lets up, and a universe that finally catches your interest that impresses the most. Gears of War 3 could have quite easily become a predictable and by-the-numbers sequel, sticking to familiar mechanics and obvious additions, but pleasingly it does so much more.
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gamingbolt.com review
The culmination of the last 2 games has finally built up to Gears of War 3, where you learn much of the past to help you understand the current, which has been a mystery until now with an 'Epic' campaign and online/co-op features that make this the ultimate bundle.
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origin.avclub.com review
Tables are turned on human forces in the Beast multiplayer mode, which emulates the returning Horde mode from Gears 2. Instead of controlling humans facing waves of monsters, players seek to pulverize the characters they’ve played through the trilogy. Beast does nothing to support the war-weary narrative, however, because seeing this war from the enemy perspective is far too much fun.
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teamxbox.com review
Gears of War 3 lives up to the hype and then some! Every mode on display has its own merits and the ranking system tying everything together will make you want to come back for more. The team at Epic really wrote some excellent banter between the characters and moments in the campaign are some of the most touching I’ve seen on the platform. Gears of War 3 is a must own and chances are once it gets a hold of you it will be hard for you to let go. The wave of new releases coming this October better look out because some of the toughest competition is already on store shelves.
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gaming-age.com review
So basically, I like Gears of War 3. It's a great shooter and a great video game in general. It caps off the trilogy extremely well, perhaps better than any recent video game trilogy that I can think of. I'm nearly positive somewhere down the line you'll get another Gears game of some kind, but I do have my doubts that it will feature anyone present here. Sure, a big enough check can wipe out all sorts of continuity, but it's nice to think that even a franchise knows when to call it quits. If the series ends on this point, at least it picked on hell of a high to go out on.
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oxmonline.com review
For the longest time, the Halo series has been the answer to the question, "Why should I buy an Xbox?" Frankly, Master Chief's franchise is the reason our platform exists. But while the future surely holds great things for Spartan 117, right now, the evidence is indisputable: Gears of War 3 is the ultimate realization of the Xbox 360 console, much in the same way Halo 2 was for the original Xbox. It maximizes the hardware's horsepower; boasts a fully featured, seamless online experience that serves up both competitive and cooperative gameplay; and it's enduringly replayable online or off. Quite simply, Gears of War 3 leaves no stone unturned - it's everything a triple-A blockbuster should be. Good luck getting the disc out of your console for months to come.
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planetxbox360.com review
The Gears of War series has been a fan favorite since 2006 and the characters that everyone knows and loves is sadly coming to the end of the trilogy. It most certainly won’t be the last Gears game from Epic with its record breaking pre-order sales. So to send Delta Squad of in grand fashion, Epic Games set out to make Gears 3 one to remember. The delay from the April Launch to the September Launch gave Epic the time to study numbers from the Beta and put the Icing on the Cake with Gears 3. The story perfectly written by Karen Traviss and is a great bookend to the Delta Squad trilogy. With addition of dedicated servers to the Competitive Versus Multiplayer on the console, Epic sets the bar for the other multiplayer games releasing this Holiday Season and for years to come. The revamped Horde 2.0 and the debut of Beast Mode set Gears of War 3 as the best of the series to date. Epic delivers a masterpiece that will be in line for several Game of the Year nominations early next year. Gears of War 3 is the game all Gears Fans have dreamt of since playing the first title back in 2006, but rest assured Gear Heads this is not a dream it’s a reality. If there is one Xbox 360 game you should purchase this year make it the masterpiece from Epic Games that goes by the name Gears of War 3, if you’re disappointed you probably should pick-up the next copy of that poppin Justin Bieber album.
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gameblog.fr review
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gamerstemple.com review
You would need a good reason to say you missed or didn’t like Gears of War 2, but Gears of War 3 has few, if any, weak points. Maybe it caters a bit to the more casual gaming audience, but not to the extent of Gears 2. Unless you have taken an oath to reject violence in your entertainment, there is no reason to skip Gears of War 3 – it has everything you could ask from a shooter and does them all with first class polish. If the Gears franchise has come to an end, it goes out on top of its game.
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extremegamer.ca review
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gamefocus.ca review
There are gamers out there that complain about “tacked-on” multiplayer components. The most recent example that I can think of is Mass Effect 3 (a game we haven’t actually seen yet, so complaining isn’t quite fair), and last year’s Bioshock 2 and Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood. What we have here, with Gears 3, is the exact reverse. Gears of War 3 is a multiplayer game, with a single-player game tacked on to it. As I mentioned, this disc would be sufficient for its price if only Horde and Beast Mode were included. While the storyline of the campaign is passable, it is certainly not the focus of the game. I consider this a good thing, because it allowed Epic to really sink their time and resources into the multiplayer modes. Horde 2.0 is the best multiplayer experience going right now, and Beast Mode isn’t far behind. While there is no noticeable upgrade to the graphics from Gears 2, it is still gorgeous to look at, and overall it’s brighter than its dark and depressing predecessor. All that being said, Gears of War 3 is a must-have for the Xbox 360 owner. It’s a great cap-off for the trilogy, but it’s a shame that we may never see another Gears multiplayer experience ever again (Ed Note: Yeah, right...). So grab some friends, some snacks, and get your Horde on!
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xbox360achievements.org review
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gamingtarget.com review
While the Gears of War 3 campaign will be better remembered for its variety and pacing than dramatic heft, it’s the send off the Gears series deserves; one with enough content to keep it in our minds and disc trays for months to come. Whether you’re craving some closure on the saga of planet Sera, or simply want as much multiplayer bang for your buck until Modern Warfare 3 arrives, you owe it to yourself to play Gears of War 3.
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gamingexcellence.com review
So while Gears of War 3 might not be the ending every player was hoping for, I believe it's the right ending in many ways. Many questions are answered, but there is enough story left to tell for a prequel series to be made down the road. You'll definitely laugh, you might cry, you'll spill a lot of blood, and you'll have a hell of a good time unless you're actively trying not to. No game is going to please everyone, but Gears 3 pleased me.
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gamespot.com review
From the taut Versus competition to the two great cooperative modes, Gears of War 3 delivers immensely entertaining experiences on both sides of The Locust War. But the real triumph is the campaign, a masterpiece of exciting gameplay and emotional storytelling that stands head and shoulders above its predecessors. Even if you don't remember where you were on Emergence Day, this is one adventure you won't soon forget.
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Video Review
game-over.com review
Gears of War 3 is without a doubt the best installment in the Gears of War franchise. The single-player campaign is near-flawlessly executed and the multiplayer suite is as robust and impressive as any game on the market. Gears of War 3 is a AAA blockbuster is every sense of the word. It’s a game no self-respecting fan should be without. If this indeed the swan song for Marcus Fenix and the rest of Delta Squad, it’s a ballad for the ages.
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gamesaktuell.de review
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armchairempire.com review
For anyone who wasn’t taken in by the story or multiplayer features of the first two games, Gears of War 3’s miniscule additions probably won’t win you over. That said, there are few gamers with a pulse who would pass up such a meaty package as this, filled to the brim with co-operative and competitive modes, an action-packed campaign that is both thrilling and exhausting to the senses, and a nearly endless amount of collectables in the form of medals, ribbons, challenges, and the rewards obtain thereon. For a series known for addictive nail-biting shootouts as well as breathtaking visuals, this third and possibly final act to the Xbox 360’s first mega blockbuster is a fitting end to one of the most definitive multiplayer experiences in our current console generation.
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tbreak.com review
So what Gears of War 3 provides is not only a technical refinement over its predecessors in terms of gameplay style and mechanics, it also provides a richer experience with different co-op modes with multiple levels of depth within each mode. The single player story is given its fair share of plot and character development with some really memorable moments. And even once you’re done with the various co-op modes, the multiplayer will keep you busy for years to come, because there is quite literally no other game that provides a “Gears” like experience.
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gameover.gr review
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ausgamers.com review
Gears 3 is filled with plenty of wow moments not just visually but also in how the story is driven to its climatic conclusion. It's more deftly handled than previous Gears where there was often some confusion with key elements and this time around events unfold smoothly. It's a relief then that the gameplay effectively drives you through the story rather than just sticking with it to get the ending. Sure there is a little superfluous switch flicking, but much less in previous games, even though it's a near 12-hour campaign. Simply put, Gears 3 is hands-down the best of the series, an amazing conclusion to a fantastic trilogy and one of the most well-executed games of the year.
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mondoxbox.com review
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worthplaying.com review
With Gears of War 3, Epic has delivered a worthy send-off for Marcus Fenix and the rest of Delta Squad. Player complaints from previous titles have been addressed, there is more multiplayer content than ever before and the story delivers a satisfying conclusion. In many respects, Gears of War 3 is everything you could want a Gears game to be. Don't hesitate on pulling the trigger.
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multiplayer.it review
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meristation.com review
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totallygn.com review
Gears of War 3 is a really incredible game. It has definitely made it on my personal short list as a “Game of the Year” contender. Epic promised that this would be the best game yet and they delivered in every way. The campaign is a cinematic masterpiece and it was great to finally get some answers that we have had since the first two titles. I will definitely be going through the campaign on multiple occasions as I go through it with different groups of friends on co op. The multiplayer is a whole lot of fun and will keep fans busy for a very long time with all of the different modes. Gears of War has always been a very graphically impressive franchise and this latest iteration continues that trend. The graphical fidelity in this game is amazing and some of the scenery was pretty awe inspiring. The delay that this game suffered simply made sure that the development team was able to give it an insane level of polish. Epic really seems to have nailed how to get the most out of the Xbox 360 hardware and it shows with each new release. The bottom line is this: If you own an Xbox 360 Gears of War 3 is one of those games that you must own.
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3djuegos.com review
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vandal.net review
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gameinformer.com review
Gears of War 3 doesn’t do anything radical, not that anyone expected it to. Only the staunchest Gears haters will find much fault here, though. This is the best execution yet of an idea that spawned one of the biggest modern franchises in all of gaming. What’s not to love?
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xboxaddict.com review
Hands down Gears of War 3 is going to bring you not only one of the best stories you ever went through, but one of the best and most addictive multiplayer experiences ever to hit consoles. If you haven't played Gears of War 1 or 2, then do yourself a favor and play through them first because to jump right into Gears of War 3 first is robbing you of one of the greatest gaming journeys you will ever have. From the amazing story, beautiful graphics and sound, to the innovative new multiplayer, Gears of War 3 has not only set the bar, but turned it sideways and shoved it right up the competition's @$$.
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thesixthaxis.com review
Gears of War 3 is the best in the series. While it doesn’t make generational leaps in terms of its visual presentation, and the multiplayer modes are more evolution than revolution, it adds a whole new layer of emotion to the dynamic. Gears has always been the best third person cover-based shooter available but now it rivals most other modern games in terms of narrative, characterisation and empathetic attachment. Put simply, it’s a brilliant end to one of the finest trilogies in gaming.
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videogamer.com review
Few games offer up as much as Gears of War 3, and even fewer manage to do it this successfully. This is quite easily the best Gears of War yet, weaving excellent core mechanics together with the renewed perception of an ever-maturing developer. Once again, Epic has successfully iterated on a series that most other developers are still desperately trying to imitate.
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ign.com review
Gears of War 3 represents state-of-the-art design and gameplay where you become the king badass among a gory world of bad-asses. Every third-person, cover-based shooter from here on out will likely be compared to Gears 3, and it provides a fitting and poignant-- if sometimes cheesy -- closing chapter to the trilogy.
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eurogamer.net review
While the performances are a far cry from Uncharted's standards, we get to see a side to Marcus Fenix in particular that does at last breathe convincing humanity into this elephant-skinned hard man. As thickly as some scenes layer it on for emotional impact, the moment I found most affecting is over before its impact has fully registered. There's probably a lesson in there. Gears of War 3, then. In its multiplayer, all you could have reasonably asked for; in its visuals, new heights reached, while cracks of old age are papered over; in its story, a fitting conclusion; and in its campaign, though short of the consistent brilliance of its predecessor, a mostly rousing and memorable spectacle.
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escapistmagazine.com review
Whether critics like it or not, Gears of War 3 will be a success for Epic, and a well-deserved one. Despite some lingering flaws, the gameplay is fantastic in both single and multiplayer. A big part of the game's audience won't care about the lack of variety or depth among the characters, but the monotonous tone still holds the game back from being as great as it otherwise might have been.
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destructoid.com review
No matter what you think of Gears of War 3 -- when it's all said and done, if you're a fan of the series, you'll leave the game with no doubt in your mind that Epic Games appreciates your love.
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