Gears of War 3 Beta Impressions – Should you play it?
As most of you blood-thirsty gamers may know, the Gears of War 3 beta will be available on the 18th. We here at TheParanoidGamer are already playing it (which is a lot if I may add) and ready to give you a full impression on the most anticipated beta of the year.
The beta contains four maps with three game-modes. Here you’ll find a breakdown of how all the maps, game-modes, and weapons play out and you’ll find out if this beta live up to the potential that Epic has stirred. Then you’ll find our overall impressions of Epic’s beta of their third installment after the jump!
Maps
Thrashball
This map is set in a fantasy sport, Thrashball stadium. It is a classic one team spawns at A and the other team spawns at B map and they fight it out in the center. There are two side passages the playes can take on this small map, one being up a long staircase where you’ll find a great lookout on the map for sniping or you can use the Mulcher that also spawns there with you. The other side passage is underground in a tunnel for some CQB. This side is really only used in KOTH though when a hill is placed there. There is also a huge scoreboard in the center of the map and if the rope holding it is shot, it will fall onto the map killing any unlucky victim under its shadow.
This maps plays out very well in KOTH and Team Deathmatch. It’s definitely the best map in the beta for KOTH with all the hills being in strategical and fair locations. Unlike other maps, the hills aren’t placed a mile away making a good hike until you actually get there. Unfortunately though, the spawns are the worst in the beta on this map, but that doesn’t mean it’s game breaking, just a nuisance. Where the teams spawn, it’s very easy to camp there and kill them as the spawn. This becomes a huge problem in Capture the Leader. [All game-types are explained below] Overall though, the map is great and my personal favorite.
Trenches
This map is the most linear in the beta, with a U-shaped map and a bunker-like hill in the center of the ‘U’. It can be controlled by power weapons if you let either team get hold of them. There are Mortars, Mulchers, and One Shots on this map [All weapons are explained below], so beware of the power weapons. This map also has a cool effect to it. At random times in the map, a sand storm will take place making the whole map CQB with you only seeing two feet in front of you for around thirty seconds. It brings a level of creativity to the map and a little bit of fun in between the main action.
This map is also great for KOTH and Team Deathmatch. In KOTH, the hills are placed just as strategical as Thrashball, but unlike Thrashball, the spawns are just fine.
Old Town
This map is the opposite of linear. There are many passageways the players can take to flank their opponent in many different styles. Power weapons are not really an issue on this map, it’s just mostly your lucky Lancer and Shotgun. There are many open areas on the map making for some good ‘ol Lancer/Hammerburst duels, instead of the usual Shotgun battles. This map plays well and by far the best in spawns.
Team Deathmatch and Capture the Leader are the best gametypes for this map. In CTL, there are many different routes you can take to flank the enemy leader making for an interesting game. In KOTH however, it can be a little of a nuisance to travel a long distance to hills because of the labyrinth-type map. Some of the hills are also defend fairly well, making it more of a luck of whoever gets to the hill first and can claim the defense position. The map overall though is fun and hectic and probably the best for Team Deathmatch.
Checkout
This map is set in a grocery store with cover at every footstep and interesting places on the map. As every map in the beta, it’s asymmetrical and fits the grocery-scenery quite well. There spawns are named after your usual sections in a grocery store and there is even a security alarm that goes off every once in a while.
This map plays out well for Team Deathmatch and Capture the Leader. In CTL, there are two choke-points you can carry the enemy leader or defend your own in, making for some interesting gameplay. In KOTH however, the hills are in very odd locations, not as odd as Old Town, but enough to make it not one of the best for KOTH in the beta. The map is fun though and like every map in the beta, different and fresh.
Gametypes
Team Deathmatch
Team Deathmatch has changed a little bit from Gears of War 2. Now instead of worrying for your own ass in terms of losing lives, you now have to worry about everyone else surviving. Each team has a pool of 20 lives, when the team runs out of those 20 lives, they lose. And as all the game-types in the beta, the first to 2 wins, wins the game. Any teammate can drain that number if you’re not careful and don’t do your part. But don’t worry, if a teammate keeps on dying one-too-many times, they will have longer waits on spawning and will always spawn behind their teammates in hope they’ll do better. This is a nice and refreshing take on the classic slayer game-type and when there is 1-3 players left, it can make some wild moments, spectating or not.
King of the Hill
KOTH brings a new twist to the famous game-type. Hills randomly change from location to location and you if you stand in the hill for a good amount of time, you will lock as your team and will no longer have to stand in it to gain points. You do though have to defend it because the enemy team can claim it as their own by also standing in the hill for the same amount of time as you. The first team to reach 170 points wins the match.
Capture the Leader
In this game-type, one man from each team is designated the leader and you must protect him. The leader cannot die, he can only be down and once he’s down, the opposing team must grab him and use him as a shield for a set amount of time to win the match. This brings a nice level of offense and defense to Gears of War and by far the most creative game-type in the beta.
Weapons
Lancer
This is the iconic Gears of War weapon with a chainsaw as it’s addition. It first like a regular assault weapon and if you get close enough, you can chainsaw your foes in half making for a glorious kill.
Hammerburst
This is the secondary assault weapon that fires similar to a bolt-action. It doesn’t hold a chainsaw, but it does fire a powerful kick of bullets and is the first gun in Gears of War to have iron sights.
Retro-Lancer
This is a new addition to the series. As Epic tells us, it’s the first prototype of the Lancer and back then, they used bayonets instead of chainsaws, weird huh? This gun is mostly used for medium-close quarters combat and what makes this gun so special is the bayonet. Once you hold ‘B’, your player will charge with the bayonet sticking out and if you run into a foe, it will instantly kill them for a nice show as you carry their dead corpse in the air with a bayonet sticking through their gut. And did I tell you this game’s great for kids!
Gnasher
This will most likely be your most used weapon. This is the standard shotgun and if fired closed enough, you will kill any enemy in one shot into smithereens.
Sawed-Off Shotgun
This is the second new piece of arsenal to Gears of War. Like the Gnasher, it’s a shotgun, but instead, it’s more powerful close-range (much more powerful), and weaker in other distances. The reload time is also the longest on this gun than any other in the beta.
Boltok Pistol
This is your standard pistol for the game. You won’t see yourself shooting this often, unless you’re using someone as a meat-shield. It holds a powerful kick, but it’s usually better to use other weapons if you have ammo for them.
Smoke Grenade
Once thrown, it will stun any opponents in its range and leave a cloud of smoke for a good amount of time for very strategical purposes.
*All above weapons listed are the ones that are available for you to spawn with. The below weapons are only available to pick-up on the maps.
Digger Launcher
This is a new and inter sting weapons. Once fired, a missile will go underground leaving a violent dirt trail. Once it reaches it destination that you decided once you fire the weapons, the missile will shoot out of the ground exploding anyone in its proximity.
Boomshot
This is the most powerful weapon in the game. You fire a huge exploding missile to a target to kill it instantly. It’s very easy to aim/use and powerful in anyone’s hands.
Longshot
This is the sniper rifle of Gears of War. It’s takes a level of skill to use efficiently and if you manage to score a headshot, you’ll have a nice reward of an exploding head on your screen and a decapitated enemy standing for a few seconds in disbelief.
Gorgon SMG
This weapon is great for quick and close combat. It fires rapidly like any SMG and can down an enemy rather quickly.
Mulcher
This is a powerful machine gun and if you get caught in the it’s cross-hairs, most likely, you won’t survive. It’ll tear any enemy apart in a matter of seconds and be prompt up on any cover for even more efficiency. This is not the gun you want to charge your new bayonet at.
Mortar
This is probably the most complicated gun to use, but still not hard to figure out. It fires a large amount of mortars from the sky on the area you select. In order to select a designated area, you have to hold ‘RT’ down and you will see a bar-like image on your screen. The higher the bar/longer you hold ‘RT’, the farther the mortar shots will go and vice-versa. This weapon is powerful if used correctly and can eliminate a whole team if you’re lucky.
One Shot
This is like the Sniper Rifle x10. It’s a huge weapon and once you aim down your sights, you will zoom in very far making your view limited, but if you manage to hit an enemy, rest assure he will be dead no matter where you hit him. But as a downside, once you are aiming the weapon, a large red and visible laser will show everyone where you’re aiming.
Torque Bow
Much like in Gears of War 2, this is a bow-and-arrow style weapon and quite hard to aim. If you manage to hit your target with your bow, a few seconds will past and the bow will explode killing anyone its touching.
Scorcher
This is your average flamethrower. If you use enough fire on your enemies, you will burn them to death. And sometimes in the beta, your victim will do a horrifying scream for around 10 seconds. Little on the annoying sound, but funny nonetheless.
Frag Grenade
This is the average grenade in the beta. Once thrown, any person in close proximity will explode into an oblivion.
Ink Grenade
Once thrown, it will leave a cloud of ink rapidly depleting any players health as long as they are in it. This is mostly used to block off paths that are unwanted to cross.
Incendiary Grenade
This grenade will kill anyone with a direct impact, burning their flesh for an interesting show. It also leaves a pool of fire in that location burning anyone who tramples over it.
In the multiplayer, you can pick which character you would like to play as. The beta has a wide range of COG soldiers and Locust, which most have to be unlocked by doing specific in-game tasks. That is not the main thing to unlock though. Here are the beta unlockables and how to receive them and if you unlock them, all of those unlockables will be available for you in the retail version.
The Gears of War 3 beta will be available on Apr. 18 for Bulletstorm: Epic Edition Owners and on the 25th for anyone who pre-ordered Gears of War at participating retailers.
Overall Impressions
The Gears of War 3 beta proves what Epic has been saying, that they are ready to give us the best multiplayer possible. As history tells us, the Gears 1 & 2 multiplayer had its faults, but with Epic adding dedicated servers and their passion to give their fans what they’ve been asking for, this beta is not what we asked for, it’s better. Epic found the exact level of balance to give us flawless play with each weapon having its benefits and faults. The Gnasher has finally been perfected along with the flow of movement and cover.
Epic not only proved themselves, but they have outdone themselves. The Gears of War 3 beta is an answer to all the fans and newcomers alike. So, to answer why you’re reading this, should you play it? Well, I honestly don’t even know why you’re still reading this. Rev up your chainsaws and join the fight, we’re all having a hell of a ride!
ManAnimalX
April 17, 2011 @ 5:00 pm
Ok, so after these slickers refund me 4the waste of $$$, DLC, on the last 2mediocre experiences, ….maybe when the game is under $20bucks, maybe then , ill forgive them, NOT!!!, 2bad EPIC, you and all the other slickers with greasy pockets full of $$, at my expsense…..Can Kiss it!!!…..Ive already moved on……lol GOW is now for the 10yr-18yr old crowd, their butt, never seems to hurt enough, they can take it, lol
Jack Knowles
April 17, 2011 @ 6:27 pm
I’m really glad about the dedicated servers, I’ve been playing the beta for hours now and I just can’t stop. This could be my next go-to game now rather than call of duty or halo.
The single-player of the franchise is what really pulls me in though. The story may not be the best and the characters may not be as fleshed out as they should be, but the overall feel and epicness to the campaign missions and the way everything pulls together just feels so damn awesome everytime I play it.
I can’t wait till September now and the beta has definitely pushed me over the edge in putting down a pre-order for the game!!!
ClearConscious
April 17, 2011 @ 8:15 pm
Dedicated servers are awesome, aren’t they? 😉