Gears of War

 Xbox 360
User Score
8.4

Generally favorable reviews- based on 3029 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2,457 out of 3029
  2. Mixed: 306 out of 3029
  3. Negative: 266 out of 3029
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  1. Ztride
    Jan 22, 2012
    8
    Set in a dark but interesting world, with well thought-out game-mechanics in the form of the cover-system, sprint, melee, reload bonus etc, this is a good overall game.
  2. Cazanator
    Aug 27, 2013
    8
    The game that helped put the Xbox 360 on the map, Gears Of War is one of the most unique 3rd Person Shooters you can possibly play. For a game to have come out back in 2006, it is a testament to the game and the GOW series that it is still memorable.

    A summary of the plot is that it is set 15 years after the events of E-Day when a horde of mysterious enemies called the Locust attacked    The game that helped put the Xbox 360 on the map, Gears Of War is one of the most unique 3rd Person Shooters you can possibly play. For a game to have come out back in 2006, it is a testament to the game and the GOW series that it is still memorable.

    A summary of the plot is that it is set 15 years after the events of E-Day when a horde of mysterious enemies called the Locust attacked the world which puts Humanity on the brink of extinction. You play as Marcus and to put it as simply as possible, you must defeat the Locust, or is it as simple as that?

    It is one of the best, if not the best 3rd Person Shooters I've played. I can't think off the top of my head any game other than the sequels to really stand out any more than GOW, an important factor is the excellent cover system which is the main substance for the action in the game.

    If you have never played Gears Of War and you want to get into a new series, than this is the perfect game for you.

    8/10 Brilliant    … Expand
  3. Iky009
    Oct 20, 2016
    8
    I remember I played Gears for about 20 minutes and not enjoying it, I was wrong, the game is cool, it has an interesting plot, good characters, a gameplay frantic action, and not counting the final boss that is very insane (damn General Raam a very great pdf). It's a good game.
  4. Vanpire73
    May 2, 2014
    8
    Played this not long after it came out and enjoyed the hell out of it. Every 3rd person game that came out after it copied and pasted it's cover mechanics. Great graphics atthe time and tight gunplay. Grumble all you want about the dick jokes, but gameplay trumps all and I happen to be the type of guy that enjoys a good fart from a distance.
  5. SilentSputnik
    Feb 8, 2013
    8
    This game has always been extremely overrated, but the cooperative campaign is plenty of fun. The multiplayer is certainly a disappointment. It's simply not fun at all.
  6. savagejoe444
    May 29, 2013
    8
    This game made me become a Gears fan and I'll never forget it! The difficulty is crazy, easy feels like normal, normal feels like hard, and hard feels like impossible, but I was easily able to forget those problems and enjoy the game the way I wanted!
  7. WyattTheAwesome
    May 30, 2013
    8
    Gears of War was a unique experience and the sole reason I bought an xbox 360. It's just a one of a kind experience. Gears 1 is heavily online based and that's where most of its replay value is, but the campaign is still awesome. Back to the online, it can be frustrating to hop on and play Gears multiplayer if you've never played before, so it's not user friendly multiplayer, but itGears of War was a unique experience and the sole reason I bought an xbox 360. It's just a one of a kind experience. Gears 1 is heavily online based and that's where most of its replay value is, but the campaign is still awesome. Back to the online, it can be frustrating to hop on and play Gears multiplayer if you've never played before, so it's not user friendly multiplayer, but it definitely worth every penny.… Expand
  8. LostNexusGamer
    Jun 22, 2014
    8
    Not the best game on the 360, but one you can enjoy. The purpose of this game was to give 360 gamers a well-crafted experience in 2006 and the game didn't disappoint. This game was the creator for the covering system in most 3rd-person games now, and is one reason why this game did set standards. The game may have been one of the fist 3rd-person shooters of the generation, but it didn'tNot the best game on the 360, but one you can enjoy. The purpose of this game was to give 360 gamers a well-crafted experience in 2006 and the game didn't disappoint. This game was the creator for the covering system in most 3rd-person games now, and is one reason why this game did set standards. The game may have been one of the fist 3rd-person shooters of the generation, but it didn't bring anything new really. It feels like the common shooter, and in my opinion lacks some deep storytelling campaign wise. I have personally not played the multiplayer, but I'm sure it was one of the best during its time.… Expand
  9. joaopontesvaz
    May 29, 2014
    8
    Graphics: 8.8 Sound: 8.0 Gameplay: 8.0 Fun/Story: 8.0

    A good game but in my opinion too straight to have better score. Graphics are very good with good textures.
  10. Vinylspinners
    Oct 26, 2014
    8
    It's funny looking back at all of the Gears reviews here. Seems so long ago, but this was the first game that made me realize that a new generation had come. There ain't much wrong with the first outing for this great franchise. Looking back its hard to score it, especially since there is a lot of nostalgia. The single player still stands up well although the chances of finding a mp gameIt's funny looking back at all of the Gears reviews here. Seems so long ago, but this was the first game that made me realize that a new generation had come. There ain't much wrong with the first outing for this great franchise. Looking back its hard to score it, especially since there is a lot of nostalgia. The single player still stands up well although the chances of finding a mp game are slim to none. A classic.… Expand
  11. BaronMonaco
    Jul 1, 2016
    8
    Gears of War is THE franchise of the Xbox 360 but did it aged well ?
    First let me say that this review concern only the campaign as the multiplayer for the 360 version is dead by now.
    Technically the game was astonishingly beautiful when it came out, really ahead of its time, but the lack of colours will still make you think that you're playing with a "sepia filter" that can be annoying    Gears of War is THE franchise of the Xbox 360 but did it aged well ?
    First let me say that this review concern only the campaign as the multiplayer for the 360 version is dead by now.
    Technically the game was astonishingly beautiful when it came out, really ahead of its time, but the lack of colours will still make you think that you're playing with a "sepia filter" that can be annoying by today standards, but really if I didn't know it I'd never guess the game is from 2006.

    Concerning the gameplay once again when the game came out there was a lot of innovations (cover system, great IA) but its unpolished and by now we've see much better, the cover system doesn't respond perfectly every time, the enemies need way too much bullets and the feeling with the weapons is pretty much the same for each gun. Concerning the game design its pretty good and there is a nice rhythm between each situation .

    But the big disappointment for this game it's its story beside being very short (6 hours top), it's pretty bad, the characters are bad-asses cliche with stupid dialogs, 0 backstory etc. And that's why the game didn't age well, the graphics are logically outdated, the gameplay is unpolished and a lot of other TPS (including Gears sequels) do better and the story is simply not an argument.

    So if you're asking yourself if the game is worth a purchase today, the answer is still yes because you can find it pretty cheap and it's a good TPS so if you like the genre and want to try this famous title go for it. But if you're looking for a good story or only the best in the genre, you can find better.    … Expand
  12. rhysmyself
    Sep 6, 2015
    8
    Played this through on the XBOX One (backwards compatibility with the 360) on split screen co op campaign, very good couch co op shooter and great to be able to play on revised controllers.

    Game play mechanics for a console shooter were very good, graphics looked great, sound was engaging and overall an awesome experience. Story was lets say minimal, but the focus of the title is the    Played this through on the XBOX One (backwards compatibility with the 360) on split screen co op campaign, very good couch co op shooter and great to be able to play on revised controllers.

    Game play mechanics for a console shooter were very good, graphics looked great, sound was engaging and overall an awesome experience. Story was lets say minimal, but the focus of the title is the game play. Campaign is a little short (5-7 hours), but actually worth playing through of different difficultly settings. Bugs and glitches (crash, loss of function, sound event disappearing) happened about 5 times each play through decreasing my overall score.    … Expand
  13. apollw
    Sep 7, 2021
    8
    O início de uma das maiores franquias da Microsoft, um jogo revolucionário pra sua época, com a história bem interessante e uma jogabilidade viciante.
  14. Termin8ter
    Nov 15, 2017
    8
    11 years later, Gears remains a fun, solid action title. Good story, fun gameplay, and solid graphics. Though Gears 2 beats this in terms of story and Gears 3 beats it in gameplay, this is still a good game.
  15. Epik_Ninnja
    May 24, 2015
    8
    At nine years old, it still holds up as a fun shooter. I first played this game a couple years ago (when it was a Games with Gold game) and I enjoyed the single player thoroughly. Some parts were a bit frustrating and the shooting didn't feel quite varied or exciting enough at times, but I would say the single player is a solid 8/10 overall. The guns are fun, the mechanics work wellAt nine years old, it still holds up as a fun shooter. I first played this game a couple years ago (when it was a Games with Gold game) and I enjoyed the single player thoroughly. Some parts were a bit frustrating and the shooting didn't feel quite varied or exciting enough at times, but I would say the single player is a solid 8/10 overall. The guns are fun, the mechanics work well (switching cover, etc.) and it's very gory! The multiplayer is fun, too, but I'm not a huge fan of it. I'd give multiplayer a 7/10. Basically, it is what it looks like: an action-filled ultra violent game with stereotypical soldiers. It's fun, though, so therefore it's a good game.… Expand
  16. kvnd
    Dec 26, 2019
    8
    It was already a fun game to begin with but it was also the first time I ever witnessed a gun with a built in chainsaw...

    that's tuff
  17. overlordofgeek
    Dec 17, 2017
    8
    One of the best games of the XBox 360 IN. story, mechanics, level designs, the game is really nice. the characters are not bad. a tps shooter that I can recommend.
  18. TatsMcGee
    Sep 8, 2018
    8
    When I initially bought my Xbox one of the franchises that I really wanted to play was this one, Gears of War. I’ve known for a long time how iconic the Gears franchise is so its been on my bucket list for a long time. So I bought Gears 1, 2 and 3 with the sole intention of sitting down and playing all 3 and eventually playing the 4th iteration as well.

    If you’re like me and have never    When I initially bought my Xbox one of the franchises that I really wanted to play was this one, Gears of War. I’ve known for a long time how iconic the Gears franchise is so its been on my bucket list for a long time. So I bought Gears 1, 2 and 3 with the sole intention of sitting down and playing all 3 and eventually playing the 4th iteration as well.

    If you’re like me and have never played a Gears of War game before its a third-person cover shooter with a strong emphasis on the cover. The reason why its a strong emphasis on the cover mechanic is because although Gears isn’t necessarily the first they popularized it. Almost every Third-Person shooter post Gears of War has a cover mechanic. This makes Gears of War one of the most influential games of all time.

    This is a game that I think has aged very well. I have really enjoyed the shooting which feels tight, the cover mechanics work very well, the active reload is great and I wish more shooters would use that. I don’t know why that didn’t become popular. The story its self is okay and I look forward to playing 2 and 3 just so I can get to know the characters a little better.    … Expand
  19. angelss_13
    Jul 6, 2017
    8
    La jugabilidad es increíble. El arte es más que bueno. La historia y la música... transmite muy pero muy poco. Si buscas un multijugador adictivo, no busques más.
  20. auditbadger
    Sep 26, 2018
    8
    I think that this is truly a unique game and I would recommend that if you are a fan of this type of genre then I think you should give this game a try.
  21. PedroRC19
    Oct 3, 2018
    8
    E um dos grandes do Xbox 360 e inicio a grande franquia GOW, acho que consegue entrar facilmente nos melhores exclusivos do Xbox 360, é aquele jogo que se você tem xbox 360, você deve jogar.
  22. Mindurbidniss
    Apr 6, 2023
    8
    There's a reason this games considered a classic. From the moment you not it up it pulls you into an adrenaline rush of an action title. The controls haven't aged well at all, but when you take into account when it released, the cover system was the way to go back then. There's also gore galore, and if you have a buddy, some awesome co-op to be had here. Gears of War is an excellent, funThere's a reason this games considered a classic. From the moment you not it up it pulls you into an adrenaline rush of an action title. The controls haven't aged well at all, but when you take into account when it released, the cover system was the way to go back then. There's also gore galore, and if you have a buddy, some awesome co-op to be had here. Gears of War is an excellent, fun time with friends or alone.… Expand
  23. MLR_9902
    Dec 17, 2019
    8
    An amazing game with few flaws. It made the 3rd person shooter popular, with it's great and unique gameplay and enjoyable story.
  24. Lagmion
    Sep 26, 2019
    8
    I'll be frank, the game didn't age well. I admit it was revolutionary at it's time, but in 2019 it feels like most of the third person shooters. But it's not a bother, because I know it was one of the first ones, and it shows.
    The story and the mechanics are simple. The gameplay it's quite repetitive, but it's somehow enjoyable enough to keep you going. Yeah, maybe I couldn't play more    I'll be frank, the game didn't age well. I admit it was revolutionary at it's time, but in 2019 it feels like most of the third person shooters. But it's not a bother, because I know it was one of the first ones, and it shows.
    The story and the mechanics are simple. The gameplay it's quite repetitive, but it's somehow enjoyable enough to keep you going. Yeah, maybe I couldn't play more than one act per day, but this didn't diminish my enjoyment. I played on hard mode, and boy, they meant it at that time when you selected hard mode. 2 hours of my life were spent on the last boss, because instead of a tactical shooter, it was like a clos-call puzzle game for me. One missed bullet, and my chances of beating it were done for. It was simply madness, and I wouldn't recommend hard mode if you just want to pass through the game like butter, because not only the last boss was hard, but other areas felt like I was the only one of my team who wanted to finish them.
    Speaking about teammates, they're simply retarded. I know the A.I. wasn't top notch in 2006, but I swear to you, on hard mode, they didn't make any difference. Their guns were basically shooting blanks, I bet the enemies would laugh for days in real life at what damage my teammates were dealing. They weren't funny, they were frustrating most of the times, and it lowered my emotional attachment to the characters, because I couldn't help myself but feel glad if one of these dimwits died.
    But the characters, pushing aside the gameplay, are good, not extraordinary, but good enough. What made me say this is their pure synergy, the bromance visible in every cutscene. These guys are big guns wielding hulks. You can't help but feel badass throughout your entire play.
    The world and lore is simple to understand. It had straightforward levels with little spaces to explore for collectibles and ammo supplies, but I would not advise exploration if you're not a completionist, because most areas are stale, and you would enjoy much more viewing the scenery and level design rather than seeking cog tags. If you want more details about the world, you can read the comics or simply play the other games, because they give you enough details for the main plots. That's what I very much enjoy about this game: everything about it is straight to the point, it focuses on every aspect which it presents and nails most of them. I can't say it's ambitious, but from what I've read on the web, for its time it was, so that's commendable too.
    This is one of those games with cheesy one-liners, simple plot threads and characters, and satisfying gory gunplay. I couldn't take the stress for another playthrough, but I would say the first one is essential for a modern gamer. You can see everywhere how Gears of War was one of the pioneers of the genre, and although it has flaws, it convinced me to play the sequels, and it was absolutely worth it.    … Expand
  25. yangfanhong
    Nov 24, 2020
    8
    Gears of War is a good game. But unfortunately the shaking camera makes me dizzy.
  26. soldar
    Jun 26, 2020
    8
    Excelente campaña con grandes personajes, tanto como protagonista como antagonistas, pero peca de que hay demasiada munición repartida
  27. PatitoCosmico67
    Jul 29, 2020
    8
    Juego muy innovador, creando tendencia en gran parte de shooters, puro musculo gráfico,con una historia bastante entretenida, pero seguramente habrá envejecido bastante mal.
  28. YaelCruzz
    Dec 15, 2020
    8
    Es un muy buen juego, aunque el modo historia es repetitivo y muy poco entretenido, tuve la oportunidad de jugar el online, y fue una maravilla cuando estaba vivo, actualmente ya esta super muerto y nadie lo juega, GG por su online.
    Muy buenas mecánicas aunque el juego sea muy lento.
  29. Ackyduc
    May 29, 2021
    8
    This game is one hell of a time to play through. The graphics, while not great, still hold up surprisingly well to this day, the gameplay is also quite fun, and it has a pretty good story. One of my problems is the environment. Everything is grey and brown. I know that is the point of it, but it takes away a bit from the experience for me. Second problem is the mission length. Each missionThis game is one hell of a time to play through. The graphics, while not great, still hold up surprisingly well to this day, the gameplay is also quite fun, and it has a pretty good story. One of my problems is the environment. Everything is grey and brown. I know that is the point of it, but it takes away a bit from the experience for me. Second problem is the mission length. Each mission can easily last over 30 minutes, which makes them a chore to crawl through. It certainly isn't a groundbreaking experience, but if you are a fan of shooters it's worth a try.… Expand
  30. zezeljmare
    Jun 26, 2021
    8
    EN:
    The beginning of a great franchise. Personally a much better franchise than the HALO series. Co-op mode is insanely fun. The weapon is great and gives different opportunities to kill opponents.

    SRB:
    Početak jedne sjajne franšize. Lično mnogo bolja franšiza od HALO serijala. Co-op mod je ludo zabavan. Oružije je sjajno i daje različite mogućnosti za ubijanje protivnika.
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Awards & Rankings

1
#1 Best Xbox 360 Game of 2006
1
#1 Most Discussed Xbox 360 Game of 2006
2
#2 Most Shared Xbox 360 Game of 2006

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
94

Universal acclaim - based on 88 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 88 out of 88
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 88
  3. Negative: 0 out of 88
  1. Yahoo!
    90
    The hallmark of Gears' weapon design is the balance of powerful tools with critical, exploitable weaknesses, and it's executed with real finesse.
    Read full review
  2. 1UP
    100
    Each stage is memorable...They all combine for an unforgettable adventure through 36 hectic, desperate hours of a group of soldiers' lives...A visual and visceral masterpiece.
    Read full review
  3. TeamXbox
    96
    If you're a graphics whore, you absolutely, positively need to pick this game up. To say that Gears of War features "next-gen graphics" is a gross understatement. It's got the most impressive graphics ever seen in a video game, and the stellar art direction only makes it more beautiful.
    Read full review
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