Will Tuttle, Editor in Chief: So Nathan, you had a chance to spend some time with the Gears of War 3 multiplayer beta last weekend at PAX East. I saw it at an event a few weeks ago -- and while I'm not typically the type to get all excited about shiny graphics, the new-and-improved visuals were the first things that really jumped out at me. What did you think of the visual fidelity that the team at Epic Games is squeezing out of Unreal Engine 3?
Nathan Meunier, Contributing Editor: I've played through the past two Gears of War games, which are already pretty impressive in the visual department... but Gears of War 3 is definitely a sight to behold. "Shiny" describes it well, at least once you wipe the blood spray off the screen. From the get-go, the graphics have a nice gloss that's balanced out and enhanced by gorgeous lighting effects. Our gory romp through the multiplayer beta played out across the ruins of an old abandoned town that offered a great mix of sunny courtyards and dark interiors, all drenched in dynamic lighting that cast shadows across the map. It's sexy stuff.
Will Tuttle: Sexy is a very good way to describe it. As you mentioned, the world actually a good deal of sunlight this time around, as well as some much-needed splashes of color. I really dug one of the levels I played, which featured bright green grass, and colorful flowers blowing gently in the breeze. You mentioned that the map you played took place in an abandoned town; did anything stand out that made you think we can expect anything different in terms of map design? I was a big fan of the avalanche level in Gears of War 2. Hopefully we'll see more dynamic stages in Gears 3.
Nathan Meunier: If anything, I think the stage I played showcases Epic Games' willingness to venture a little further out of the gray doom-and-gloom box, and let the multiplayer carnage unfold across slightly prettier and more varied locales. I found a lot of cover to duck behind and corners to skirt, which made picking off opponents and falling back to avoid fire a common tactic. Layout-wise, the old town featured a mix of tight areas (with lots of buildings to pop in and out of), different terrain heights, and some open areas to spill blood across. And boy, a lot of blood got spilled.
Will Tuttle: Yeah, I'd say blood is one thing Gears of War 3 has no shortage of! Switching gears a bit, did you get a chance to check out any cool new weapons?
Nathan Meunier: To be honest, I wasn't paying close attention, with all the chaos and firefights eruption across the battlefield -- you know, between trying not to get chainsawed in half, stuck with a grenade, or used as a meat shield. But in the two short King of the Hill matches I frantically gunned my way through, I picked up a few new death-dealing goodies. The heavy-duty Retro Lancer packed a mean punch, but the regular bayonet attached to it was a little too stabby for my chainsaw-oriented tastes. The sawed-off shotgun, on the other hand, offered a delightfully devastating point-blank blast, but it wasn't that helpful against a half-dozen troops armed with machine guns. Each weapon has a tradeoff, though some were a lot more noticeable than others.
Will Tuttle: I agree about the sawed-off shotgun; that thing is straight-up nasty at close range. I always felt like the standard shotgun (which is also in the game) was a bit underpowered at times, especially when your target got within spitting distance. With the sawed-off shotgun, that wasn't an issue, although the range on it is practically non-existent. I'm a big fan of the new and improved Hammerburst, which allows for first-person iron sight targeting for the first time in the series. It works really, really well in mid- and long-range combat. I'm not sure if you saw the new One Shot either, but it's essentially a sniper rifle that fires artillery rounds. I like the way it's balanced, as it needs some time to warm up before the shot finally launches. Once it is, well... let's just say it's messy.
Let's finish this bad boy up with a look at the game modes. Did you get a chance to play anything fun?
Click above for more Gears of War 3 images.
Nathan Meunier: Now that you mention it, I did get my hands on the One Shot briefly, and the results were indeed gory. As for game modes, I played a few matches of the updated-and-improved King of the Hill mode. The area we needed to capture started out in the center of the map, resulting in a bloodbath as opposing teams clashed violently in the first round of volleys. But the capture point also moved around the map at a regular clip, so weaker teams had a sporting chance to nab the goods when the ring relocated, instead of having to steadily hammer away at heavily encamped foes in the hopes of breaking through. The speed of the ring also increased as the bloodfeast moved into sudden death. It kept the action fast-paced and frantic... just how I like it.
Will Tuttle: I loved that too, especially as the pounding musical cues ramped up right at the end. I really like the new Team Deathmatch mode that replaces Warzone and Execution as the game's primary multiplayer mode. Each team starts with 20 lives -- a number that gradually dwindles as people die and respawn. This type of TDM isn't exactly new, but it's a lot of fun and provides for some memorable moments as the team counters get closer and closer to zero. Cheering on my last remaining squad mate while he took down the other team's final four survivors was just as much fun as playing. That's the mark of some truly good multiplayer.
