Gears of War 3 Multiplayer Beta & Remembering the Campaign (ya there's a campaign)

The rest of the lucky few who pre-ordered Gears of War 3 got through the multiplayer gate today, and here's what I think: In a word? BUYAKA!!!! That's Jamaican for 'BRAAP BRAAP!!!!!' and that's Jamaican for 'absolutely spiffing!!!'. This is an amazing iteration of the Gears multiplayer platform. After all the palpitations and hyperventilation I settled into the game with my GOW Clan and kick butted...and got lots of kick butting.

First scintillating presages of boom thwackery

By now you've read all the reviews, and really what more can be said right? Well I have two main points

 1. If it's this good, the final version should be beyond spectacular

I mean it. The weapons are exciting and powerful - everyone one will have a favourite but I love the Retro Lancer. It's rugged, powerful and the bayonet  charge is the most intuitive attack action in the game, followed by the vaulting kick. But the maps are really great from the textures and layout to the delicious detail. Most folks prefer Checkout, and now I understand why. It's compact (which makes for exciting combat) but more so it's easy to navigate. Trenches, Thrashball and Old Town are equally as good, but require more teamwork and skill. That's the central reason for the general consensus on Checkout. I think after a while preferences will change to maps that have more dynamism, like Trenches and its sandstorm and multi-leveled landscape. Overall the battles feel more fierce, smoke grenades are smokier, ink grenades are inkier and everything feels harder and more war-like. Awww yissssss.

Epic will have lots of feedback to work with and mine would be this: while most like Checkout now, resist the temptation to use it as a template for other maps. I didn't initially like  Pavilion (Gears 2) because its layout caused teams to lose touch and scatter. But that is part of the challenge - manage the terrain and your team. Now, I love Pavilion, as my own skills improved along with teamwork. Generally, Epic must be careful about what they listen to and ignore. But the great thing is these are only 4 maps! I'm excited because there will be tons more to choose from and likely more surprises and innovation in the weapons department too. 

What is clear is that Epic is paying attention to detail. Other clever additions, like fairly audible footsteps warning you of an oncoming enemy/bayonet charge, make the game less about chance and more about combat and skill. Good job. 

2. If the multiplayer isn't perfect, we'll still love it, and remember: THERE'S A CAMPAIGN TOO!!

Cliffy B made a point to reiterate how much it means to Epic to 'get it right' with the multiplayer. And we appreciate that. But any Gears fan will tell you that Gears is not a multiplayer; it's a story. What made me most excited about the multiplayer is the possibilities it telegraphed for the campaign. Based on the weapon-play, landscapes and environments and continuing excellent character design - this campaign will truly be the bashment to end all bashments (that's Jamaican for 'bashment'). 

Michael B. Jordan, the new Drake...I mean Jace

Gear Heads consider the integrity of the story, the consistency of design of the universe, the voice work and the appropriateness thereof to character design and the ultimate outcome of the story (which is being set up for Dom to die in my opinion). The recent announcement that rapper Drake won't be playing Jace Stratton, was a bit of a curveball after all the publicity around Drake and the role. It doesn't seem to have caused any ripples, but Gear Heads will be paying attention. Actor Michael B. Jordan will be giving his voice to the Gears character. 

I know Epic hasn't forgotten about the campaign, but all the focus on the MP could suggest it's taken a back seat. It shouldn't. There's a 4 way campaign to look forward to, and if Epic has been paying attention to what games like Dead Space and Mass Effect have been doing, they'll give us more than a deleted scene; they'll give us subsequent DLC that keeps us playing the campaign over and over, or at least gives us something new to engage us outside of the MP and a couple new maps. The new chapters and characters introduced in Mass Effect and Dead Space were master class moves. Pay attention Epic. What happens in the campaign will affect how the franchise is viewed as well. Epic has gameplay down, we trust them to give us that in the campaign. But these characters are heros to Gears fans now. What happens with them will be just as important, if not more than the MP. We can get emotional about the Squad (no I didn't cry when Dom euthanised his wife, why would you think that!). 

Nuff said. I've pried myself away from the Beta long enough!

Gears-3-Multiplayer-Beta-Limbo is Almost Like Waiting-on-My-iPad 2-Limbo

Yes I am in Limbo with, arguably, two of the most wanted items of 2011. 

Precious metal

I pre-ordered my Gears 3 a few days back, just to see if I could, by some miracle, enjoy the MP Beta that started, officially, on April 18 for Bulletstorm Epic Edition owners. Now the risk I took is that I'm currently in the UAE, and we are kind of off the map when it comes game launches etc - it may not even be available in our region. But the benefit of being overlooked is that sometimes they don't block access. If I get a code it will be sent via email tomorrow, the 21st of April (and I can join the festival of blood spatter on the 25th!). 

Admittedly, I was really tempted to see how I could nab my friend's copy of whatever it was he nabbed that allowed him to play the Gears MP Beta on the 17th (ahh bootleg world where would we be without ye?)! But I thought - I really shouldn't. But (and there's always a but), if I don't get the code tomorrow...I think I really should. But that's just a thought, nothing more! I am a law bitin' citizen. Wish me luck, I made this sacrifice for all UAE Gear Hedz, but this is longest wait ever, followed only by...the longest wait ever: iPad 2 delivery. 

Toying with our emotions...nnnnnyah!

The iPad officially arrived at UAE Apple resellers and dealerships just about a week before the iPad 2 was launched in the US. But the 'grey market' in the UAE had the iPad at the exact moment it launched everywhere else - same for the iPad 2, but for more than twice the price. So, I was not going to service the grey market, because I have grey matter. Buying it from the UK and getting it shipped here will likely cost less than the bloated costs here, and that's including my smart cover and avi adaptor! Still the price one pays for such prudence is equal to the gestation period of a 20 pound baby that's three months overdue. It's been a tough pregnancy. The hot flashes, the nausea, the irritability, the frantic and obsessive checking of email and due date. 

Not just for me though. Judging by the over 2,000 posts and 300,000 views of 'iPad 2 Shipping' thread on Apple's community support site - there's a lot of iPad anxiety and iPad envy going on. The begrudging inner twitch at those who have enjoyed successful deliveries and share with cavalier glee about the wonderful times they and the new addition to their family share. Sigh.  I would not want to be Rob the customer service guy right now (thanks for the update Rob) cause he get's the brunt of all the pent up resentment at the perceived neglect of delivery room staff. 

Anyway, I wait impatiently and with much nervous energy for the advents thus! Of course, after all the excitement, I'll have to go through it all again for Gears 3 in September, and maybe, the iPad 3...in September. Rumours abound. 

Jah guide.

UPDATE:

I got the Gears 3 Beta code just now, but have yet to try it out on XBox Live. I have been told that it can only be accessed by VPN, but I don't know how to get that done on the XBox yet. If anyone has any suggestions....