By Ian Rapoport
Staff Writer
Videogame developer People Can Fly has added their unique spin on the loved “Gears of War” franchise, but the newest installment, “Gears of War: Judgement,” doesn’t quite live up to the hype.
“Gears of War: Judgement” is the fourth installment in the series and the first one to be developed by People Can Fly, who developed 2011’s first person shooter game, “Bulletstorm.” The “Gears of War” series has set a benchmark for third-person shooters with its gory, tactical combat and thrilling campaign. Although “Judgement” can’t live up to the quality of its predecessors, it brings innovative design choices to the series.
“Gears of War: Judgement” is a prequel to the previously released trilogy and is set on the fictional planet of Sera, where humanity has been united under the Coalition of Armed Guards to fight against an evil species of underground monsters known as the Locust.
The player assumes the role of the members of Kilo Squad, which include series regulars Damon Baird and Augustus Cole, as well as newcomers Sofia Hendrik and Garron Paduk. The squad stands trial for disobeying orders while it was stationed in the city of Halvo Bay. Then the game plays out with a series of flashbacks, as all the members of the squad provide their testimonies of the transpired events.
Visiually, “Gears of War: Judgment” is a beautiful game. The textures and lighting are top-notch, and the game has a varied color pallet. Each area of Halvo Bay is distinct, including war torn streets and a lavish, luxurious academy. The game’s graphic realism is truly a jaw-dropping experience for the player.
But “Gears of War: Judgement,” is greatly hindered due to the fact that it is a prequel. The storyline tries to be suspenseful but has a false sense of importance, primarily because players know what happens in the next installments of the series.
The “Gears of War” series is renowned for its shooting gameplay, and People Can Fly upholds this reputation by making small tweaks that largely benefit the game overall. Weapons can now be switched with a quick button tap and grenades have been mapped to the shoulder buttons, meaning players can use them on the fly. There is also a new emphasis on verticality, meaning the player can now leap off buildings and generally navigate the terrain more easily. These aspects greatly speed up combat and make gameplay more fluid.
“Judgment” introduces a new multiplayer game mode, “Overrun,” which proves to be a fantastic addition to the game. In “Overrun,” one team plays as the humans that protect a series of emplacements from the opposing team of Locust. Each side has multiple classes to play as, such as “medic” and “engineer” for the humans and the massive spider-like “corpser” for the Locust. The players are forced to work together and take advantage of what each class offers, creating exciting engagements in which smart tactics and cohesive teamwork become necessary for success.
“Gears of War: Judgement” is a fun and unique game. People Can Fly brings some fresh ideas to the series with declassified missions that nicely complement the already-superb gameplay nicely. There are, however, problems in the campaign. Anyone looking for a fun third-person shooter will be happy and content, but “Judgement” does not provide any of the substance that was present in the original series.
“Gears of War: Judgement” is rated M for mature and now available for the Xbox 360.
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