Gears of War 3(Xbox)
Price: $59.99
What’s it about?
The latest entry in the story that began two games ago, the COGS are back and the gears they are a turnin’. GOW3 comes back with new characters, new enemies, new weapons and a whole lot of gritty, over the shoulder action. As one of the tent pole franchises that holds up the big top that is Xbox, a lot of love, sweat and, once you dig in, blood should be expected. Just like the date we had with that Twilight super fan.
How does it look?
Outstanding. Gears has always opted for a heavily stylized look and GOW3 is no exception: Marcus and his fellow COGs are just as craggy and wide-jawed as ever and game levels, while expansive, keep you on a linear playing field as you tackle wave after wave of Locust enemy. For the first time ever in the Gears series, four player co-op is available via Xbox Live, a much welcome addition that makes playing through the story a much more enjoyable experience. We haven’t seen cooperation like this since the last official Maxim Elephant Walk that totally didn’t happen at all actually, seriously, never.
Is it any good?
Microsoft doesn’t disappoint. This is easily the best Gears of War game to date, building on everything that came before but adding some shiny new bells and whistles to both the campaign and multiplayer modes. It should keep fans happy until MS figures out how to approach and execute the next GOW, no small endeavor. Additional multiplayer options (like Beast Mode, where you play as the Locusts), a new strategic focus in Horde mode, changes and upgrades to your arsenal (like the Silverback Mech suit and the Retro Lancer), they all comes together for one helluva satisfying experience. The bottom line is, there’s only one place to see the end of the Gears story that we all started half a decade ago, and this is it.
Out of ten?
9. Robust multiplayer options, tight gameplay and a story chock full of characters you know and like, this is the best Gears game ever.
If I like this, what else will I like?
Halo Reach, Warhammer 40K: Space Marine, A badass Gears of War 3 Special Edition Xbox
F1 2011(Xbox, PS3, PC)
Price: $59.99
What’s it about?
Racing! This year’s F1 game is only the second game in the Formula One series of games and follows up last year’s F1 2010. This year’s edition shifts the focus to multiplayer gaming, with new co-op championships and split screen modes. The game’s tagline, “Be the Driver, Live the Life, Go Compete,” are words to live by in F1 2011. Go compete? Don’t mind if we do.
How does it look?
Standing on its own, F1 2011 has some interesting aspects of the racing lifestyle that don’t make it into other racing sim games. Unfortunately, for all the detail on and off the track, it’s hard for F1 to hold up against the heavy hitters of the genre, namely GT5 and Forza, two games where painstaking detail is a foregone conclusion. Still, there are wonderfully rendered tracks and cars here that you just won’t see elsewhere and, if we had to choose between mediocre graphics on the Lotus Team’s F1 car or nothing, we’ll definitely take what’s behind door number one.
Is it any good?
The racing dynamic is tightly implemented and ripping through a massive race is good fun. F1 has always had a strange spotlight shining on the PR aspect of a racer’s life and, even though it’s an interesting approach to the racing lifestyle, it’s still a head scratcher for us. Look, Codemasters, we wanna go fast, we don’t wanna worry about misspeaking in front of the press.
Out of ten?
6. Mediocre graphics and racing are only made up for by an interesting approach and filling a hole that no other racing game plugs. If you simply can’t get along in life without taking your F1 fandom to the living room, then this may be for you.
If I like this, what else will I like?
GT5, Forza3, public speaking fails
Supremacy MMA (Xbox, PS3)
Price: $49.99
What’s it about?
The nitty, gritty underground of MMA. Supremacy is a game that, ostensibly, takes everything you like about UFC fighting and wipes away that pesky idea that UFC is a recognized sport with moral standards. Seriously, notice how UFC doesn’t actually show up in the title (or anywhere in the game)? That’s called a workaround, and the end result of it is a game that’s chock full of titties, blood and broken limbs that Dana White would never condone.
How does it look?
Fighters have a glazed look, an odd phenomenon that’s either the result of poor programming or an unyielding need to make everything feel like it’s covered in sweat, and neither option is very appealing. The game does offer up an interesting battery of stages where you can fight and the fighting, though not as polished as other MMA games, includes elements that officially sanctioned games can’t, like blood and the shudder-inducing snap of broken bones.
Is it any good?
Meh. We expected more of an MMA game with so much promise but, in the end, Supremacy doesn’t differentiate itself enough from the officially sanctioned UFC games out of THQ’s corner. We like the ambitious outlook they took by including women, strip clubs, bone-shattering submissions and the rest, but when the fighting system comes off lackluster, the whole house of cards seems to topple. We guess we’ll just have to keep training until UFC Undisputed 3 rolls out in early 2012.
Out of ten?
4. Blood and guts and titties don’t make for a good fighting game, good fighting does. We love MMA but the only love we’re giving to Supremacy is a kiss with a fist.
If I like this, what else will I like?
UFC Trainer, EA MMA, Unsanctioned Fights.