The Good
Exciting, emotional, and eminently satisfying campaign
Beautiful locations enrich story and gameplay alike
Fortifications make Horde mode more strategic
Switching sides in Beast mode is brutal fun.
The Bad
No tutorial for Beast mode.
Gears of War has always done brash well, and this game is no exception. A salty new female squad member named Sam gives Baird a run for his sarcastic money, and the Cole Train barrels along, full steam ahead. Some of his lines are groan-worthy, while some are genuinely amusing, and the same holds true for many characters in the game. Regardless of whether you cringe or chuckle, the dialogue does a great job of creating a sense of camaraderie that bonds both new and old members of Delta Squad into a cohesive unit. Their fraternal connection makes you feel like you know the characters well, and sets the stage for the outstanding campaign to come.