Xbox 360 Critic Reviews

It answers questions. It leaves things in a dramatically different place than they were at the start of the game. If this were to be the final game in the Gears franchise, it'd be a satisfying place to leave things.

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.

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.

It's almost impossible to overlook this third episode. Pushing the boundaries even further, the solo campaign is a satisfying conclusion to the story. In terms of multiplayer, it's obvious that Epic delivers the best episode yet, both in terms of fun and richness. Overall, it's more accessible, all the while keeping enough details for the hardcore to enjoy it, in solo play, co-op, or competitive play. For what more can one ask?

It comes packed with visceral gun-battles, ear-splitting explosions, bucketloads of blood and you use a good old-fashioned control-pad to play it. Oh, and it's also one of the best games released all year.

Gears of War 3 is the game all Gears Fans have dreamt of since playing the first title back in 2006.

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.

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.

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 narrative setting is nearly as potent as the gameplay.