Gears of War 3

 Xbox 360
User Score
8.1

Generally favorable reviews- based on 2035 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1,606 out of 2035
  2. Mixed: 244 out of 2035
  3. Negative: 185 out of 2035
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  1. Limpert
    Sep 21, 2011
    10
    Story driven game = Gears of War?

    Sorry, but you must be kidding. If someone buys any of the three Gears of War-Titels for the story, you've got something wrong. Seriously. This game is about action and having a damn good time. Because Gameplay wise everything was told before, i decided to add some information for the owners of a 3D-TV. First of all, the 3D Mode of Gears is gorgeous.    Story driven game = Gears of War?

    Sorry, but you must be kidding. If someone buys any of the three Gears of War-Titels for the story, you've got something wrong. Seriously.

    This game is about action and having a damn good time. Because Gameplay wise everything was told before, i decided to add some information for the owners of a 3D-TV.

    First of all, the 3D Mode of Gears is gorgeous. You cant compare the quality of Gears's 3D effect to any other existing 3D title for the xbox. It pushes 3D on a complete new level. I own a PS3 and played all popular 3D titles so far (Killzone 3, Resistance 3, Crysis 2, Super Stardust HD and so on), but Gears 3 does not have to hide itself, compared to the PS3 3D effect.

    The depth, especially when you are in cover, looks amazing and the texture resolution and framerate are superb, compared to other 3D titles of course. everything runs smooth.

    So if you are looking for a superb action game with a very good 3D support, give this game a shoot!    … Expand
  2. WesAdair
    Sep 21, 2011
    10
    Gears of War 3 in my book is epic! All of them are great games, and have changed the gaming world much like Halo has. As I played through this last installment I realized not much has changed from the first Gears. We are still fighting the same enemy (Even though they glow) we still have the same characters, and same game play. I know a lot of critics are saying it's nothing new, but to meGears of War 3 in my book is epic! All of them are great games, and have changed the gaming world much like Halo has. As I played through this last installment I realized not much has changed from the first Gears. We are still fighting the same enemy (Even though they glow) we still have the same characters, and same game play. I know a lot of critics are saying it's nothing new, but to me that's the charm of it! I feel like it's been one long journey that's finally come to an end in the best possible way! Great ending to a fantastic franchise.… Expand
  3. UrbanCucumber
    Sep 21, 2011
    10
    I have never seen a more detailed and fun game in my entire life. Horde, beast, versus, campaign. Gears fans will be spending lots of time on this beauty.
  4. bobbyb43
    Sep 22, 2011
    10
    This game is out of this world! The story is actually awesome. The game play is tight. I have lost many hours of sleep these last few night because I couldn't put it down. Epic nailed it on this one. Don't take my word for it almost everyone who has REALLY played it loves this game. The only bad review by users I've read are from resistance 3 fan boys who have not even played it but haveThis game is out of this world! The story is actually awesome. The game play is tight. I have lost many hours of sleep these last few night because I couldn't put it down. Epic nailed it on this one. Don't take my word for it almost everyone who has REALLY played it loves this game. The only bad review by users I've read are from resistance 3 fan boys who have not even played it but have nothing better to do while they wait on a patch for that bug filled pile of garbage! GOW 3 gets it right in every way possible. A must play for all gamers.… Expand
  5. Ali1247
    Sep 22, 2011
    7
    The story had so much potential but it could have been executed in a much better way I would have enjoyed the story and gotten into it if it wasn't for this poor execution the bad humour and the lack of seriousness among the characters really ruined it for me. The characters from the previous 2 games return along with some new characters but I just could not get myself to care for or takeThe story had so much potential but it could have been executed in a much better way I would have enjoyed the story and gotten into it if it wasn't for this poor execution the bad humour and the lack of seriousness among the characters really ruined it for me. The characters from the previous 2 games return along with some new characters but I just could not get myself to care for or take any of them seriously because of their bland and annoying personalities specially the buff male characters who look like freaks of nature and mutated themselves. The campaign was fun and they have made some improvements over the gameplay but it is still very linear with its share of frustrating moments and still way to short for the wrap up of the triology but I still enjoyed it and the EXP system is really a great addition and exactly what the previous two games needed in the campaign and the new weapons are also unique and fun to use. The multiplayer is definitely much better than the one from Gears 2 they have added new modes and reworked the Horde mode and they are all really fun and much more strategic than repetitive and boring.. The online multiplayer for the campaign which allows a 4 player Co-Op is really cool however playing the campaign with offline multiplayer with a friend by your side with the awful split screen can be really frustrating. The graphics are just amazing it is nice that despite being out for so many years the 360 is still not showing its age. The game's voice acting is fine but could have been alot better and realistic. Also I still did not see that many changes in the Single player from Gears 2 this game it still feels more like it predecessors. Overall I think Epic Games took 2 steps forward and 2 steps back in my opinion don't get me wrong I still think this is a really good game but I think it is getting overpraised because as the ending of a 5 year triology it is a little disappointing. 7.5/10.… Expand
  6. Rammsoldat
    Sep 22, 2011
    7
    Where to start. Multiplayer is better than ever and i feel that the game is worth the purchase on the strength of that alone. The maps are well designed and the weapons are fun and match a nice variety of playstyles wich has bred a fair amount of discontent from the hardcore fanbase who are used to only having 1 type of player to deal with.

    Story mode falls on its face a little. With any    Where to start. Multiplayer is better than ever and i feel that the game is worth the purchase on the strength of that alone. The maps are well designed and the weapons are fun and match a nice variety of playstyles wich has bred a fair amount of discontent from the hardcore fanbase who are used to only having 1 type of player to deal with.

    Story mode falls on its face a little. With any story i feel the toughest part to nail down is a satisfying ending and gears of war 3 pulls the old "i win button" one wich is a fairly large cop out in story telling. There were some great parts of the story to play through such as defending anvil gate but its a bit short and some of the plot is a bit daft.

    I give the game 7 out of 10 based largely on multiplayer, the story itself has good characters and not alot else and seeing as its haf the game its underpreforming brings the overall score down for me.    … Expand
  7. Pherball66
    Sep 20, 2011
    10
    Excellent game so far. The graphics are top notch and has the same gameplay as the previous versions but with differnt weapons and modes. Like evrryone else has said, horde mode is great.
  8. GargolaDeLaLuna
    Sep 21, 2011
    10
    There is a difference in a bad game and being bad at the game. Since gears of war 1 i loved this game but 1 had a HUGE multiplayer learning curve. If you did not shotgun or pick up a special weapon you were out of luck. It was all about quick reflexes and bounces of the wall. So to start I will explain the differences I see in multiplayer that makes it perfect. First off the movement, toThere is a difference in a bad game and being bad at the game. Since gears of war 1 i loved this game but 1 had a HUGE multiplayer learning curve. If you did not shotgun or pick up a special weapon you were out of luck. It was all about quick reflexes and bounces of the wall. So to start I will explain the differences I see in multiplayer that makes it perfect. First off the movement, to say only guns and maps changed is idiotic and blind, go play gears 1,2, and then 3 and you will see a major diffence in the smoothness of the movement. From roadie running to aim to getting behind and off cover and overall movement it's amazing. Going from extremely slow matchmaking based off host to a little better in gears to dedicated servers in 3? Extremely fast matchmaking and virtually lag less game if your connection is decent. There is no gun in the game that you can not use. Gears 1 was mainly shotgun. Gears 2 was a little weaker shotgun,explosive, and sniper. Gears 3 adds a lot stronger rifles to make it almost necessary to work as a team as apposed to lone wolf making it a lot more accessible to new players while keeping it balanced for the day 1 players. They went from a gloomily dark color palette and added brighter colors easily distinguishing locust and cog. The graphics are amazing and the detail is incredible. And to complain about 45$ Day 1 DLC it is weapon camo, it has no impact on the game. They are doing it to fund the dedicated servers. The gears multiplayer is the most balanced I have ever experienced but it does take time to grow on you. Repetitive dying might annoy you, i sure was making me not play the first one for months. But the day you can bounce off walls and do a pop shot you will feel a challenge to get better and a game that takes great developed skill to be a great player, overall offering a better experience that the way easier shooter games of this generation. There is a reason this franchise went from my most hated to my favorite, it takes time to grow on you. The single player is great especially this third one adding four player coop making it a way better experience. The lambent add a great challenge and the feeling a hopelessness adds Dalton to the wound in the falling gears universe. The holy s**t moments are bigger than ever and the lines are as enertainina as the first. Horde 2.0 is a great experience adding the tower defense portion add greater depth with boss fights adding a greater challenge. The money incorporation adds customization and ability to re buy in if you die and a end points makes a reachable goal that will prove a challenge on insane dificulty. Beast mode is a great spin on the horde where you play as the locust. It is fun but my once complain about this game is that beast mode is extremely short but not much to besmirch my score for the fact the everything else add such great play value that this game will keep you entertained for month. All 10 maps 9 new are destined to be classics. My advice for you is to give this game a try and keep playing because it will grow on you. Thank you Epic Games for making this the first time a hyped up game actually surpasses what I expect. Forever live the gears universe!!… Expand
  9. kratos42585
    Sep 21, 2011
    10
    Anybody who rates this game less than a 10 is retarded the gameplay is so tight the story compelling and multilayer is a blast by far the best gears game out there and one of my top ten games of all time and I've been playing games for twenty years.go buy it now!!!!!
  10. MWMWMW
    Sep 24, 2011
    9
    This game is excellent. The single player campaign is superb and fun despite being wrapped in a throwaway, groan-inducing story. For those who are complaining about the story; I don't quite know what you were expecting. The multiplayer modes are a lot of fun and exceedingly well balanced. As a long-time Gears of War 2 multiplayer, I can see why there is some controversy around the changesThis game is excellent. The single player campaign is superb and fun despite being wrapped in a throwaway, groan-inducing story. For those who are complaining about the story; I don't quite know what you were expecting. The multiplayer modes are a lot of fun and exceedingly well balanced. As a long-time Gears of War 2 multiplayer, I can see why there is some controversy around the changes that have been made to multiplayer. The multiplayer feels less strict, with tighter controls and it really emphasizes the need to work as a team. I think a lot of the complaints around GOW3 multiplayer basically centers around GOW2 fans who can't use the same old bag of tricks. The ranking system also seems to work a lot better now too, so some of these players who are upset about getting beaten could just have found themselves with a new class of opponent.

    For many of the GOW3 multiplayer games, players with good map knowledge and tactics won the games every time. The teams with the most organized attack plan (whether on purpose, or by accident) constantly dominated.

    Nitpicks.
    I find that there is some weird stuff happening around interacting with players/bots that are downed. You seem to need to be in JUST the right place to revive them, or to use them as a shield or execute them. I have lost a few matches as I was fumbling with the controls to use a guy as a shield but couldn't quite get it right.

    Despite these minor issues. This game is very well made and one of the highest polished games I have ever player. The whole presentation oozes quality and perfectionism.

    Great Job EPIC

    The multiplayer bots seem to have been upgraded as well. While still not the same challenge you get from human players, they WILL kill you if you are careless or make a mistake. On every server I've played on so far, any bots playing have held their own and were not "gimmes," or (much of) a weak link in any team.

    This game is huge. Even after completing the single player campaign on "Hardcore" (a step I wish I could just skip, and go straight to Insane), I still feel like I have only scratched the surface.    … Expand
  11. ConnorK
    Sep 20, 2011
    10
    Gears of war 3 is amazing it surpasses gears of war 2 in almost every way possible. The very few problems that the series has had in the past has been fixed like: the connection is better than before, the pacing of the game is just right. Theres plenty of different modes to play like: campain(with co-op up to 4 people), verses, beast mode, horde. Theres alot to unlock from skins on yourGears of war 3 is amazing it surpasses gears of war 2 in almost every way possible. The very few problems that the series has had in the past has been fixed like: the connection is better than before, the pacing of the game is just right. Theres plenty of different modes to play like: campain(with co-op up to 4 people), verses, beast mode, horde. Theres alot to unlock from skins on your weapon to characters, the achievements and challenges are fun but also challenging to get. This wont be a game youll get bored of in a weekend infact ive been playing gears of war 2 up until now and thats been like what 3 years?! This game is perfect if your a fan of gears of war this game will deliver all you want and more.… Expand
  12. xXRenTyrellXx
    Sep 20, 2011
    10
    An epic conclusion to an epic series! Gears of War 3 is by far one of 2011's strongest releases. Highly entertaining game play, a great multiplayer that will keep you going for a long time, and an epic story to finish one of the greatest game series-Ever.
  13. 13years
    Sep 24, 2011
    6
    GOW3: My single player experience.

    Game is now more Zombie type, than a scifi horror. The melancholy, dark, sad, sort of depressing tone in the first game is replaced by jokes, sarcastic jokes, and more sarcastic jokes. I mean it when I say EVERY spoken dialog by every character is a sarcastic joke. It gets old super quick. GOW3 lacks any suspense. No creatures of the night, no    GOW3: My single player experience.

    Game is now more Zombie type, than a scifi horror. The melancholy, dark, sad, sort of depressing tone in the first game is replaced by jokes, sarcastic jokes, and more sarcastic jokes. I mean it when I say EVERY spoken dialog by every character is a sarcastic joke. It gets old super quick.

    GOW3 lacks any suspense. No creatures of the night, no scary encounters, The first game even had lots of "wholly **** moments. GOW3 instead gives you zombies waves. Then fails to provide any real risk or thrill factor with these zombies. They die with one hit, they don't grab on to you, they move at normal speed. Where is the ripping your gun away from you? Or having the zombies jump on you and you have to shake them off? Even the missions lack any sense of urgency. Where is the 3 minute countdown? Or defend the base for 15 minutes? Where is the LIMITED AMMO!!!! While the level design is amazing, the battle fields look great, with lots of room for fights, lots of great places to stick and move, but GOW3 has moved away from this tactical type game play. In the first Gears game, you had to out flank turrets, move quickly cover to cover, the grub also (on the harder difficulties) were quick to charge your cover, jump over and try to instant kill you. GOW3 is pretty much setup at one location, cover shoot, cover shoot till everyone is dead. No need to move forward to advance your position.

    Great suspenseful moments in the first Gears game, where the Grub is climbing over the barricade forcing you to switch from your lancer to quicker melee weapon are non existence in GOW3.

    This game is designed to be played by 4 people, akin to the whole Left 4 Dead Zombie horror game. (Which explains a lot)

    But there is not 4x times the enemy on the screen 4x the action, 4x amount of stuff going on. You don't need to have some of your team flank the enemy while you move up and one guy hangs back with a sniper. As before when you take some damage you will have the option to be revived. Except now you have 3 other team mates to do it. Sometimes, you literal cannot be killed. Start firing, get taken down, get almost instantly revived, repeat. My first run, playing on Hardcore, I barely had to use the cover system, and with instant revive from my teammates you almost don't need it.

    ALSO, because you have 4 people playing, the designers felt that those times where you died by explosion, head shot, curb stomp, or the infamous Torque Bow have to be turned down if not gotten rid of. This takes away a lot of risk, thrill and difficulty in the game. In the first Gears game, the sound of a Torque bow being charge up followed by the sound of the explosive arrow hitting something, was a nerve wracking experience. That weapon made you take notice, and move a little different. Now I take the damage, maybe if iâ    … Expand
  14. Snowbau5
    Sep 21, 2011
    10
    This is strictly a Multiplayer review:
    Gears 3 multiplayer is easily the most accessible for new players, I myself are a Gears Veteran, but I can see that EPIC have made some drastic changes to the MP, to encourage new players to the series and at the same time, keep that fine line between Hardcore and Casual. EPIC have done a tremendous job with Gears 3, they have eliminated the 4 major    This is strictly a Multiplayer review:
    Gears 3 multiplayer is easily the most accessible for new players, I myself are a Gears Veteran, but I can see that EPIC have made some drastic changes to the MP, to encourage new players to the series and at the same time, keep that fine line between Hardcore and Casual. EPIC have done a tremendous job with Gears 3, they have eliminated the 4 major issues with previous games:

    1) Host advantage
    2) Lag
    3) Overpowered Bots
    4) Balance with Weapons

    One of the negatives of this game is that there aren't enough maps or new game modes for Multiplayer but EPIC have already confirmed that future DLC maps are coming soon. My other negative is the Sawed Off shotgun, the gun requires no aiming and skill, it needs a significant "nerf". But these issues are very minor, it's easy to avoid a Sawed Off, it's like avoiding a Chainsaw from the Lancer.

    10/10 EPIC, the introduction of Dedicated Servers has made Gears of War 3's hit detection flawless!    … Expand
  15. a9footD0NG
    Sep 23, 2011
    5
    1 step forward, 2 steps back. that's where GOW3 stands against its predecessors. this is essentially the exact same thing, except the devs believe they have improved the graphics by splashing an annoying level of bloom lighting on everything, to the point where it looks washed out and burns your retinas. in all honesty, i truly believe the graphics from the first game, back in 2005, are1 step forward, 2 steps back. that's where GOW3 stands against its predecessors. this is essentially the exact same thing, except the devs believe they have improved the graphics by splashing an annoying level of bloom lighting on everything, to the point where it looks washed out and burns your retinas. in all honesty, i truly believe the graphics from the first game, back in 2005, are still better than this "updated" version. not because i believe myself to be a purist, but because that's just that way i actually see it. and the A.I. is even worse than before. how is this possible? time after time you sit and watch one of your NPC teammates dancing a jig with a NPC locust. it looks pretty stupid. also, there is pop-in, where if you look around the map fast enough, you will see white boxes suddenly fill in with a texture. seriously? artifacts like this are still present? even with an additional 5 months to polish? then there's the dialogue. this is writing fit for a Micheal Bay movie, not much substance or nuance, so they fill the void with harsh language and explosions. awesome. every character is a complete douche-bag, ESPECIALLY the new female characters. it's like they have to out douche the biggest douches in the universe in order to be invited to the COG house for hell / rush / pledge week. speaking of which, the female characters are so out of place in a game like this. i'm calling it the worst addition ever, it's absurd. a 90 lb woman soaking wet beating a 500 lb locust in the face until it explodes? really? this is NOT a pleasing end to the trilogy. the entire storyline is convoluted and trite. big guys grunt here, and then they grunt over there, someone spouts off a lowest-common-denominator remark to appeal to the Jeff Foxworthy / Larry the Cable Guy / Jeff Dunham crowd, then some woman starts gruntin like she's been getting testosterone treatments without all the nasty facial hair and body mass increase side-effects. i guess i'm just REALLY let down when it comes to the champagne. and by the way, the lambent is a blatant rip-off of Halo's flood. just throwing that out there because it is. so overall, weak level design, unlikable characters, Micheal Bay style action, lame storyline, and **** A.I. make for a complete borefest, of which even the addition of new weapons and the Silverback mech suit can't alleviate. MP is pretty tight though, much better than GOW2, but still, not as good as GOW1. horde 2.0 is still pretty fun, and is in fact much better than the original. i'm glad they decided to throw bosses at you, from previous games, after the 10th wave. it gets super intense. beast mode is just ok. it's not nearly as exciting as horde. but it's something different.

    one other small grip i have about this game: you used to be able to kick dead locust all over the place after you blew them away. what happened to that? now they just shrink away and disappear. i know it's a minor thing, but i LOVED doing that, just rolling around in a pile of gibs. but anyway, you could say that i'm mostly disappointed with this game. once again i bit, due to effective marketing hyperbole.

    next time Epic, please assume your fan base aren't slobbering, hyperactive, knuckle dragging tweens. it wouldn't kill you to make a game EVERYONE can enjoy.    … Expand
  16. THE_COCONUT_MAN
    Oct 4, 2011
    6
    The co-op elements in this game are exactly the sort of thing most mainstream games are missing in todays market, Beast Mode and Horde are worth the price tag alone and you'll never run out of things to do.
    My main complaint however, is the campaign. I have never felt so alienated by a franchise title to which i have become a patron to. It seems like im playing GoW4 rather than GoW3, with    The co-op elements in this game are exactly the sort of thing most mainstream games are missing in todays market, Beast Mode and Horde are worth the price tag alone and you'll never run out of things to do.
    My main complaint however, is the campaign. I have never felt so alienated by a franchise title to which i have become a patron to. It seems like im playing GoW4 rather than GoW3, with all the unexplained, un-introduced new characters, (i assumed they were a bunch of "red shirts", but was sadly mistaken) setting and location not to mention the complete lack of locust. I heard that alot of this was explained in the 19 comic books that Epic released, but I feel that the finale of the franchise should not ride so heavily on cross-media. Without trying to spoil too much, I was greatly disappointed with the games conclusion, which seemed all too rushed and convenient. Im not saying that they should of killed off all of the characters, but I would of liked the game to stir some emotion rather than cliche in its closing hour.    … Expand
  17. Tolmar
    Sep 25, 2011
    5
    I bought this game with high hopes. I loved the storyline of the first two, but the third part left me feeling very disappointed. The endings of GoW and GoW2 were spot on IMO, but I felt that the ending to GoW3 was not the epic cinematic experience one would expect at the conclusion of story involving the fate of humanity. Plot references felt contrived and convenient and there was noI bought this game with high hopes. I loved the storyline of the first two, but the third part left me feeling very disappointed. The endings of GoW and GoW2 were spot on IMO, but I felt that the ending to GoW3 was not the epic cinematic experience one would expect at the conclusion of story involving the fate of humanity. Plot references felt contrived and convenient and there was no emotional depth, nothing to reinforce the previous two games.

    Game play is the same as the others, along with the repeat and rinse maps. Running from one section to another, you will certainly know when to expect a Locust attack. I was hoping for something new in the game play, so I was disappointed with how similar to the other games each level felt. The campaign arcade mode was interesting for a short while, earning points for position on a high score table.

    Multiplayer faired better. I'm not a fan of competitive multiplayer, so I always turn my attention to co-op. I loved beast mode, laying waste to the Stranded and the heroes of GoW, but horde mode was excellent. In Horde mode you earn cash to build and repair defences which hinder the locusts as they try to wipe you out. My only problem with horde mode was that it was somewhat easier to kill the locusts at normal difficulty. XP can earned in campaign and carries through to multiplayer and, every so often, your friends may jump in and help you at any time.

    Overall GoW3 doesn't offer anything new over GoW and GoW2 that would warrant forking out £40. In some ways it is a missed opportunity to close a terrific story. For me, horde mode in GoW2 feels more hectic than in GoW3.

    So 5/10 from me.    … Expand
  18. DirtyMexicans
    Nov 15, 2011
    3
    I cannot understand how this game is good. Like, it is just Gear oF War 2 with better graphics and a worse storyline. After Gears 2 I couldn't play another Gears of War, Gears of War 3 offers the same generic gameplay. I cannot not understand what makes Xbox 360 users so dull and boring.

    Gears of War 3 has a average story, with the characters being unlikeable and 1 or 2 of them feeling    I cannot understand how this game is good. Like, it is just Gear oF War 2 with better graphics and a worse storyline. After Gears 2 I couldn't play another Gears of War, Gears of War 3 offers the same generic gameplay. I cannot not understand what makes Xbox 360 users so dull and boring.

    Gears of War 3 has a average story, with the characters being unlikeable and 1 or 2 of them feeling like they shouldn't even be in the game

    I can be stuffed talking about this game, it was all generic and just wanted to put the controller down and play any other game then this. Dissapointment. Really thought it would get me back into Gears of War, but it failed with its same gameplay mechanics as Gear 1 and 2, not fun.    … Expand
  19. zyryx
    Sep 22, 2011
    5
    I wanted to like this game, but I'm only reminded of what I hated about the first one and why I didn't buy the second one. Overall a fail. Multiplayer is simply frustrating. I'm sure the things I hate are what everyone else loves. The sprint effect, the random "bouncing" when taking damage that makes it near impossible to adjust your fire on target. The sounds are horrible, when you hearI wanted to like this game, but I'm only reminded of what I hated about the first one and why I didn't buy the second one. Overall a fail. Multiplayer is simply frustrating. I'm sure the things I hate are what everyone else loves. The sprint effect, the random "bouncing" when taking damage that makes it near impossible to adjust your fire on target. The sounds are horrible, when you hear the enemy they sound like they are right behind you even if they are halfway across the map. I know why they made these features this way, as a way to artificially raise the tension of the game, but do shooters really need this? Versus mode needs more options for games, like the ability to have uneven numbers of players on teams, though I guess that's what they included horde mode for.Overall it's just too simplistic, two dimensional, and lacking compared to shooters like COD. If you loved the first two I'm sure you'll love this one too. I wish I had saved my money.… Expand
  20. pcf87
    Nov 16, 2011
    3
    WHY GEARS, WHY!!! The makers had three years to work on this game and what they did was take gow2 and made it worse. The new beast mode is fun for only two plays and the multiplayer isn't nearly as fun as it was in gow2. The makers decided to take out guardian (which was the most played playlist in gow2) and replace it with team deathmatch which is not nearly as fun. The maps are worse andWHY GEARS, WHY!!! The makers had three years to work on this game and what they did was take gow2 and made it worse. The new beast mode is fun for only two plays and the multiplayer isn't nearly as fun as it was in gow2. The makers decided to take out guardian (which was the most played playlist in gow2) and replace it with team deathmatch which is not nearly as fun. The maps are worse and the campaign loses your interest off the first mission, the only good part about this game is that they added a few more guns and horde has significantly improved.… Expand
  21. KyleCrase15
    Sep 25, 2011
    8
    This is an overall great game. I would recomend it to anyone. There are a few things that bug me tho that a normal gamer may not even notice. The multiplayer can be glitchy. I often find myself playing as Marcus when I chose Carmine as my character and it can get annoying. Also I didn't get to keep any of my Beta unlocks because I was unaware that you needed your saves to keep them, IThis is an overall great game. I would recomend it to anyone. There are a few things that bug me tho that a normal gamer may not even notice. The multiplayer can be glitchy. I often find myself playing as Marcus when I chose Carmine as my character and it can get annoying. Also I didn't get to keep any of my Beta unlocks because I was unaware that you needed your saves to keep them, I assumed multiplayer unlocks were saved online as they should be. So you cant play multiplayer at a friends house because you need your saved data. My only other complaint is the campaign script. Cheesy, corny punch lines one after another. Its hard to take the characters seriously at times. Besides those few minor issues, this is a great game. The multiplayer gameplay is unmatched fun and the variety of ways to play online means for endless fun. Horde, Beast, Versus, and Arcade modes give you plenty of hours of fun gameplay. Not to mention, there is nothing more satisfying then blowing and enemy to bits with one shot from your Gnasher. The campaign is very gripping and will keep you on the edge of your seat the entire time with many plot twists and unexpected turns of events. Overall this is an incredably fun game and if you dont have it yet, get your a$$ up and go buy it.… Expand
  22. Weyland
    Oct 6, 2011
    6
    Repetitive.. no options to really play with other than a couple skins you can unlock & some really lame characters you can get access to use. Graphics are really nice though & it is full of silly one liners! but i really really wish i did not get talked into this game. :(

    Way over hyped!!
  23. RubberDucky
    Sep 25, 2011
    10
    The perfect Xbox game. Perfect way to end the series, and a game I will play for years. Multiplayer is very improved and very enjoyable, and the single player is still very satisfying... and the four player co-op works great!
  24. MadCap1987
    Sep 25, 2011
    9
    After the previous gears title this instalment is a true return to form.

    It ticks all the boxes needed for a truely great gears of war sequal, frantic 3rd person shooter gameplay, check, amateur chainsaw meat sculpturing, check, necks the size of oak trees, check. Then adds a ton of gameplay fixes and tweaks from gears 2 and adds even more stuff you never even knew you wanted but can    After the previous gears title this instalment is a true return to form.

    It ticks all the boxes needed for a truely great gears of war sequal, frantic 3rd person shooter gameplay, check, amateur chainsaw meat sculpturing, check, necks the size of oak trees, check. Then adds a ton of gameplay fixes and tweaks from gears 2 and adds even more stuff you never even knew you wanted but can never again live without, massive meat cleavers of death? yes please! Mechs made from solidified awsomeness? Please sir i want some more! Beast mode and 4 player co-op campaign? Too right!

    But wait, theres more.
    The campaign is probably the most fun ive had playing a video game since i played cod 4 way back in the day, its extremely well paced and balanced, theres always new stuff being thrown into the mix to keep it fresh and interesting and the story is arguably the best gears story yet, with the addition of 4 player co-op campaign, the most epic moments known to man and some truely heart wrenching moments to puncture through the violence and straight into your soul, you got yourself a damn fine campaign to enjoy.

    Multiplayer has been beefed up, ironed out into a chrisp responsive ultra smooth strip of chrispy bacon made of whole grain gaming goodness. Fresh outa Mr Blazinskis oven and ready to be devoured and enjoyed.

    every single tiny little problem that plagued gears 2's multiplayer has been fixed, there is never a second where you dont have 100% control of your charector and the dedicated servers ensure that the action never skips a beat.

    The multiplayer is now more accesable and deeper than ever, the addition of team deathmatch with respawns has really opened up the multiplayer experiance to those inexperianced gears noobs out there.

    New additions to the game modes are beast mode, where you play as the locust as you sabotage the pitifull humans defences and bend them to the will of the hive mind, 4 player campaign co-op as i mentioned, team deathmatch, as i also mentioned and beast mode which has been revamped and now includes the ability to build fortifications with the cash you have earned slaughtering your enemys.

    So yeah, if you dig gears or shooters in general id say that the single player and multiplayer modes more than justify you parting with your cold hard cash, i will say one thing before i go though, fear and respect the sawed off! It can be your best friend or your worst enemy.

    See you online    … Expand
  25. Jarbas6
    Sep 26, 2011
    10
    Just finished it, it's awesome. The story is a book to read - what an end to the series. Beast mode is fun and cash and boss battles adds to Horde is great and improves it. Great matchmaking - so far I have not waited longer than two minutes to find a match, and it's rare to pass one minute. I haven't tried 4 player co-op on campaign, but it almost asks you to play with a friend or more -Just finished it, it's awesome. The story is a book to read - what an end to the series. Beast mode is fun and cash and boss battles adds to Horde is great and improves it. Great matchmaking - so far I have not waited longer than two minutes to find a match, and it's rare to pass one minute. I haven't tried 4 player co-op on campaign, but it almost asks you to play with a friend or more - which is good. Altough if you haven't liked Gears 1 and 2 you won't like it, it's an AWESOME GAME. Didn't think twice to give it 10/10.… Expand
  26. DeSelle
    Nov 21, 2011
    4
    I really liked Gears 1 and Gears 2 but this game feels like a bad blockbuster. A bad storyline that is told in a lot of boring cut-scenes, SFX are great and a lot of stuff gets blown up but you really don't care. You don't ever get the feeling that you really know what you're doing or event that it really matters as it is really, really easy. Gameplay is repetitive. I would say that 8-10I really liked Gears 1 and Gears 2 but this game feels like a bad blockbuster. A bad storyline that is told in a lot of boring cut-scenes, SFX are great and a lot of stuff gets blown up but you really don't care. You don't ever get the feeling that you really know what you're doing or event that it really matters as it is really, really easy. Gameplay is repetitive. I would say that 8-10 hours for a campaign is also too short but it certainly felt like I played longer. Next...… Expand
  27. SonnyFlowers
    Oct 11, 2011
    5
    Gears of War 3's tiresome chest-beating final chapter comes out along side sloppily unearned emotion, a detestably shallow multiplayer mode, and a disappointing "pay for the whole story" model that is frankly antiquated and behind the times. Itâ
  28. DragoonUS
    Jan 4, 2012
    1
    The silly narrative, childish sometimes. the completely stupid succession of events that try to driven the history, the poor characters of personality. Poor art direction some times feels like a cartoon, I was in the mood for good action game but even with all my good will wasn't possible to enjoy that silly game.
  29. RandomCriticDan
    Mar 20, 2012
    8
    Story mode was interesting, though quite a few plotholes were evident, primarily the appearance and disappearance of characters throughout this game. Multiplayer, Horde and Campaign have all improved from the second game.
  30. vgmkyle
    Aug 17, 2017
    10
    Gears of War 3 may seem like more of the same, but it's GoW perfected -- and any true fan of the series can attest for this. The presentation and layout of the game happen to be the most impressive package available from a third person shooter perspective. Even the DLC is desirable content that diversifies the game as a whole and makes it more attractive than it already is without anyGears of War 3 may seem like more of the same, but it's GoW perfected -- and any true fan of the series can attest for this. The presentation and layout of the game happen to be the most impressive package available from a third person shooter perspective. Even the DLC is desirable content that diversifies the game as a whole and makes it more attractive than it already is without any additional modes/maps.… Expand
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Awards & Rankings

5
#5 Best Xbox 360 Game of 2011
5
#5 Most Discussed Xbox 360 Game of 2011
4
#4 Most Shared Xbox 360 Game of 2011

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
91

Universal acclaim - based on 96 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 94 out of 96
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 96
  3. Negative: 0 out of 96
  1. GameCritics
    Jan 18, 2012
    65
    Rather than the perfect end to a thrilling series, it seemed like the developers were afraid to take real risks with either the story or the gameplay of Gears 3.
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  2. DailyGame
    Dec 12, 2011
    85
    Gears of War 3 is a solid game and likely worthy of the praise it's received. I just happen to think it falls a bit flat.
    Read full review
  3. Xbox World 360 Magazine UK
    Dec 2, 2011
    90
    An unmissable, unbeatable offering. [Dec 2011, p.95]
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