Gears of War is overwhelming. It's also deceptively simple to control. Our boot camp kicked off deep inside the Microsoft booth, where we were tossed in a 4 vs. 4 team deathmatch battle that was both humbling and amazing.

GOW is extremely polished in its current state. During our 30 minute play session we did not detect a moment of slowdown. The one glitch that occurred with some frequency (2-3 times) was getting stuck in cover mode -- but it was easy enough to break away. Character models, animation, lighting, and sound are already a step above any current Xbox 360 game, as they should be.

The game's true brilliance is its gameplay. The core strategy revolves around cover, which has never been better implemented than in GOW. If you don't use cover, you die. Half of the thrill is reaching that perfect cover point, racing low to the ground, camera bobbing, as you roadie-run for your life, bullets whizzing overhead.

GOW is a game of strategy; of pinning opponents and flanking. But don't assume the pace is slow. Combat is quick and brutal. Down an enemy, and reach him before his teammate can revive him, and you can stomp his face into the ground. Or better, plant your chainsaw into his chest.

The energy inside of the GOW showroom was electric. War cries and victory cheers filled the tiny space. Something special was taking place, and we can't wait for that to be shared with the entire Xbox 360 community.