To be completely honest, I went into this review thinking that this would be just another of those games that had been badly ported to PC in the hope of making a few extra dollars by riding on the success of an earlier console release. I was however, thoroughly wrong.
Keeping it simple has been the key to ensuring unabated action at all times. The interface is clean and clear. The player has no specific health bar or level. Instead a red skull bearing gear begins to appear in the centre of your screen if you start taking too many hits. Once you've removed yourself from harm's way, the gear of death will slowly fade as you recover and prepare yourself for more punishment.
It seems that the days of games which allowed you to miraculously carry eight or more heavy weapons, without a thought for the resulting back strain injury, have well and truly capitulated to the laws of physics and reality. Two main weapon slots are available, along with a side arm and chain-slung grenades, each displayed in the top corner of the screen along with its corresponding count of available ammunition.
A definite pack mentality is evident in the tactics of the Locust Horde. They swarm from “emergence holes” in large numbers and attack with brute force from all sides. While this doesn't involve the complicated AI algorithms and calculations that other games may require, it doesn't need to. The formula fits the story and environment perfectly. In any case, you'll be too busy running for your life to wonder what it is that the enemy are thinking.
While I wasn't able to compare the PC and Xbox 360 version side by side to check, it seemed the AI and difficulty had been ramped up a little to suit the PC's more accurate mouse and keyboard control method, and successfully ensure that the fun factor wasn't lost in translation.
Several different multiplayer options are available, including up to eight-player “versus mode”, but by far the most fun is the co-op game. While limited to only two players, it's a perfect recipe for shouting, chaos, mayhem and good times, as you conspire to apply devious tactics to suppress and out flank the enemy. The addition of beer and loud music are essential to consummate the co-op experience.
The "King of the Hill" multiplayer mode is new for the PC version, along with three new multiplayer maps, and all previously released downloadable content from the Xbox 360 version. There's also a game editor allowing those with a creative bent to try making their own maps. And that's not even mentioning the five extra chapters which have been added to the campaign - clearly Epic has tried hard to add value to the PC version.
Given the expectations I carried into the game, I was ultimately chuffed with how it turned out. Many hours of giggling good times, intense keyboard mashing and mouse wiggling culminated in a grin from ear to ear.
If I had to pick holes in the game, it would be trivial nitpickery. The cut scenes seem to go on forever when all you want to do is get back to shoot shoot kill maim! Then there's the characters who look so jacked up on ’roids they’re only a red cape and sandals away from defending Sparta. And I couldn’t help but notice the streets of ‘nondescript future city’ were peppered with what look to be 1980’s Mitsubishi L200s.
However, these gripes and any others I could write about will never detract from what is a glorious celebration of guns and violence. With that in mind I think it appropriate to mention that this game is not recommended to players under the age of 16. Not even if they work part time in an abattoir.
So, if you enjoy a fast paced, full action shooter, Gears of War on the PC is definitely a great addition to your collection.
