I've been playing games since I was a young boy with my dad, watching him on the PC playing this Stealth fighter game from 1987. I remember the FPS genre popping up in the early 90's and they were very crude and not that fun to play. The first FPS that came along which changed everything was Half-Life. It just had such an amazing atmosphere, controls and story telling that other games in the genre didn't have. Now Gears of War was revolutionary like Half-Life but for me it was that game which just changed the genre forever. It innovated and brought such a great atmosphere, along with launching the 360 console to the big time. It revived the TPS genre for me and was the first one I remembered liking since Max Payne. I think we all can agree the TPS genre wouldn't be anything like it is today without Gears and making the cover system and UE3 standards in the industry.
I loved everything about this game because it starts you off on this big immersive linear journey in such an epic way. You're roaming around this wrecked city and the game is just stunning. It's the first game I wanted a movie based on other than Half-Life and I want other genres of games set in the same universe. Theres no real amazing story but like an action movie, it doesn't feel like it ever needs it. I just felt like I was a soldier in the Army, fighting off aliens to protect the Human race and this was just one battle in the main story.
The game is like one continuous path for the most part, which is what I love about it because you really feel immersed in exploring the city. The most memorable moment for me was when you meet this sort of like checkpoint camp, where you has to get permission to enter at the gates. You're then walking in your grouping, having a chat to the people who were defending that point and working out the situation. You see how beat up people are and I dunno it's just one of them amazing immersive down times points like in 28 days later, when the guy meets the first survivors and they spend the night in that underground shop.
The graphics were amazing for their time but I really like them for an artistic point of view. They just remind me of all my fave films like Alien, Terminator and games like Half-Life etc etc. I just love this type of setting and the sounds are all spot on and the music is great. Just the whole presentation never lets up, apart from rag dolls feeling like they weigh lighter than feathers.
The Multiplayer can be fun with friends but it isn't the games strong point, especially on the PC. Theres no dedicated servers so there aren't very many games going on, you'll always find one but you aren't spoilt for choice. Also it's only 4 v 4 and you kinda wish'd they made a full on multiplayer with 32 players or something.
I can't recommend this game enough. As time goes on the gameplay will seem more and more dated. However the amazing setting will always appeal for the Post Apoc or Sci-Fi fans out there. The Single Player game is really long compared to a lot of other TPS and by the end of it you'll feel like you've been on a real journey and that's exactly how Half-Life makes you feel at the end of it.
