Gears of War previewed
by James Ransom-Wiley 
{ Oct 2nd 2006 at 5:25PM }
Eurogamer has big hopes for Epic's Gears of War, posting a glowing preview of Microsoft's darling. You'd be hard pressed to comb out new details from the write-up, but Eurogamer does confirm what others have reported: intuitive gameplay and purdy visuals. The only issues that could hold this one back are the beefy-guy art style and predictable dialogue. Looks like Gears has already been stamped with Eurogamer's seal of approval.See also:
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Knoxximus @ Oct 2nd 2006 5:32PM
O RLY?
KBeat @ Oct 2nd 2006 5:37PM
I agree with the beefy-guy art style being a knock against the game. The character designs don't do anything for me. However, if that's the biggest knock on the game, then GoW is gonna be huge, because the rest of the game if flat out gorgeous.
KBeat @ Oct 2nd 2006 5:39PM
Post #2 should read:
the rest of the game IS flat out gorgeous.
Darn typos.
reguy @ Oct 2nd 2006 5:41PM
*reguy goes around the office picking up items*
sweet..... i'll take that.... ammo.......ammo....
kokernutz @ Oct 2nd 2006 5:44PM
beefy-guy art direction would influence me into BUYING the game. the dude from dead rising is HOT and is getting me to buy a 360.
4th dimension god @ Oct 2nd 2006 5:41PM
would they have prefered spiky haired tranny looking anime male characters?
Wulkar @ Oct 2nd 2006 5:49PM
YA RLY.
Les Doodis @ Oct 2nd 2006 5:53PM
Is that really their biggest gripe? That the characters are beefy? Give me a break. They would have preferred some Nicole Richie types?
This game will rock. And if it doesn't, I will cry.
Cage @ Oct 2nd 2006 6:17PM
"would they have prefered spiky haired tranny looking anime male characters?"
Posted at 5:41PM on Oct 2nd 2006 by 4th dimension god
Exactly what I was thinking. Not enough Japanese anime I guess...
Kite @ Oct 2nd 2006 11:33PM
This is interesting cus I've listened to a few of their podcasts and they seem to be fond of lampooning bad games with the typical british wit. If they approve then gow should be pretty decent
ill trooper @ Oct 2nd 2006 6:46PM
The 'beefy lunk' look is pretty lame I think. I'm open to a good game, so I can get over it if that's the case, but it's just so silly looking.
All you other guys: Ask yourself why you need to type something so 180 degrees polar of someone if you don't agree - Just because I don't like the ultra-'manfriend' looking bodybuilder beefy lunkheads of Gears of War does not mean I want 'Nicole Richie/spikey hair/tranny' characters instead. But I guess this is the internet, where there is no in-between for some folks.
funkonaut @ Oct 2nd 2006 7:21PM
Kratos could kick beefcake's ass any day of the week.
Character designs are definitely sucking on this one. I dunno... It's got that big Hollywood Mad Max remake directed by a big-budget rookie that's been appointed by the studio feel to it. Kinda like The Fast and the Furius.
Cage @ Oct 2nd 2006 7:24PM
"The 'beefy lunk' look is pretty lame I think."
"Character designs are definitely sucking on this one."
TRANSLATION
"I'm very intimidated by them. I mean...they look like the football players that picked on me in school. Their muscles scared me. (I'm actually a little attracted)"
??? @ Oct 2nd 2006 7:29PM
Yea, they look humorous as hell with peanut heads and way oversize beefcake bodies/armor. They need to throw in a few of those fat broads with the horned helmets and spears like you see in those cheezy Nordic operettas to balance things out. Makes you wonder if those underground beasties are actually laffing their bug-shitters off. First time one of those peanut heads says:"duh....doi?" I'm tradin er in! lol!
Les Doodis @ Oct 2nd 2006 7:35PM
@10:
Sorry, instead of "Nicole Richie," please insert one of the following options:
A) Richard Simmons
B) Michael Jackson
C) Kevin Federline
D) Queen Latifah
Hope that gives you a greater selection and makes you less offended.
lolftwbbqwtf
JJ @ Oct 2nd 2006 7:38PM
ya know no one is really knocking the game, they're just commenting on how some of them dislike the beefy character look and probably would of preferred a more normal looking marine type character.
That's HARDLY a knock on the game. Some of you fanboys (cage, 4th dimension) need to calm down a bit. Just like some don't like the eunuch look of some anime characters, some dont like the big body small head look of others. They're both extremes in terms of design, but one isn't better or worse than the other.
Those statements are hardly something to get all defensive over. Jeez guys.
Kenofthedead @ Oct 2nd 2006 7:46PM
What did they want instead of beefheads?
Take a look at what average marine (in any country) looks like. Something like that, as opposed to steroid-men.
FOX @ Oct 2nd 2006 7:46PM
I think the look has a great American Comic Book feel.
I am so sick and tired of the same old anime theme for every video game. The art direction should include more than a contest to see who can develop the biggest gun-sword for a skinny white anime guy to hold.
Les Doodis @ Oct 2nd 2006 7:54PM
I should really move on, but will post again.
I can see that some people might prefer a more "normal-looking" individual like the characters in GRAW. However, this is a sci-fi, bad-arse space marine game, where you're fighting gruesome monsters from beneath the planet's crust. Is the character design a bit unrealistic? Yes. Is the game's entire concept a bit unrealistic? Yes. Now accept it, realize that it looks great, and move along.
JPRacer @ Oct 2nd 2006 8:13PM
I really like the design style of the characters and think it fit well with the rest of the game.
biohazard @ Oct 2nd 2006 8:20PM
personally I think the character design is a nice change of pace, and as others have noticed, it's giving a nod towards Warhammer 40K.
dsub @ Oct 2nd 2006 9:00PM
I think the art style is more of just Epic's Style. The characters and environments really have a sort of Unreal Tournament feel to them. Don't you agree?
LordMinogue @ Oct 2nd 2006 9:25PM
Take it or leave it, IMO. This discussion is lamer then grade schoolers flaming the Arbitor on the Bungie.net forums.
LaughingTarget @ Oct 3rd 2006 9:39AM
Uh, maybe because people who are able to perform combat duties ARE large, physically fit people? Skinny people like Cloud or Kratos couldn't possibly exist in an actual military environemnt. They simply would be unable to carry the equipment or have the stamina to keep up with the big, beefy guys.
Seeing these guys blow away aliens is far more believable than watching Tidus blow away aliens. There is no way anyone can possibly stop to apply skini lotion and lather, rinse, and repeat on a battlefield.
ill trooper @ Oct 3rd 2006 4:00AM
Wow, Cage, you take this really seriously...
...From behind! HAR
Gareth Jones @ Oct 3rd 2006 7:33AM
What makes me laugh is that while all you bitches are whining about the look of the characters not being realistic because the heads are a little too small compared to the bodies, you seem to have accepted that an equally-beefy alien race has been living deep inside the planet for years and has risen after a fictional human war without question. You've accepted the latter as you realise that this is a game - it's not real. Yet you whine like stuck pigs that the characters aren't real. Just wtf?
Go and get laid.
d510r9 @ Oct 3rd 2006 8:39AM
Everybody is talking about shields and health blah blah blah but but this is a "Third Person Shooter". Has nobody stopped to think about the camerman and sound guy? They get no health packs and no cover. All I'm saying is think about the other guys in this war.
Basheron @ Oct 3rd 2006 10:25AM
This is traditional Epic artwork, why would anyone be suprised? And who in heck is griping about beefy art style? Maybee the localized version for Japan will have more hair gel and emo?
foobob @ Oct 3rd 2006 11:57AM
"spiky haired tranny looking anime male characters"
LOL! true, true! still, far more creative...
Gears of War @ Oct 3rd 2006 12:39PM
"spiky haired tranny looking anime male characters"
what are you talking about there is more than that in the game
broseph @ Oct 3rd 2006 4:30PM
"I'm very intimidated by them. I mean...they look like the football players that picked on me in school. Their muscles scared me. (I'm actually a little attracted)"
Translation:
I'm huge meathead and if you don't like what I like I'm going to park my H2 on your head.
Lilant @ Oct 3rd 2006 6:09PM
Speaking of character design, am I the only one who played Enchanted Arms and within the first 5 minutes said: "What the hell is going on with Makoto?" I think I will take the beefcakes.
Doom3 @ Oct 4th 2006 1:29AM
Ok Beefy looking...LOL
The main guy reminds me of the guy that was in the NFL and quit to fight in Iraq only to get shot and killed in friendly fire. I know cause I though about using his likness for a character also.
I think the look thats getting on your nerves isn't nessarilly the beefy look. It's the uninspired fireman armor they are wearing. Now if the game tool place in a volcano (which would actualy be cool) I wouldn't mind it. The fact that when you saw it you didn't go oh shit thats cool ass hell! I mean I've followed this art from the concept art and they wanted to do a Samuri type look but I guess they wanted an american feel to it? Actauly I like the way they built the personailty of the other characters except for the finished build up (tehy did get a writer to do this one right?). Yet it still seems so concervative. Plus too are there no bad ass girls? The game is a good show case game for the xbox360 engine wise but even Ut2004 has more personality design wise. I mean Why not give then the exposed foot ball gear look and make them tackle the monsters...LOL EA ambulance style...LOL That would be funny.
Game play.. I think the arcade Socom crowd are going to love it. They could care less about cool looking characters, But with peter moore doing a halo this may give epic a hard kick to the balls. And it may not but I'm sorry, you could give Mbison and Sagat a gun and it would be way funner running around as them...LOL
I've seen Epic getting this critique alot latly... If it's not high polygon uglies or high polygon football players wearing fire fighter future tech armor it's some thing else. I wondering why some of there guys arn't turned loose to create the sickest game they can. They got a great team and lots of skill but where are they great creators(wild imaginations)? LOL you guys may think that the japanese are only into making homo looking guys but you have to remember Solid snake, any one from that series, any character from a Street figther game, or hell any mech from japan looks way more fierce than these guys... To sum it all up the game is basicly a engine show off game yet no one will be looking forward to the franchise because there is nothing cool about the game other than the engine. Come on epic you guys need to take some risks. Hd doesn't equal cool... and you know it... Other wise we all know you would be bashing every one elses uninspired games.
With that being said I hope Ut2007 will have characters we hate to see die and ones we love to see die... Instead of generic person number 512.
It's funny how you all bash japanese artist yet they dominate the market you love. The whole Emo thing is lame... If you want some thing to go away then let it die thing bring it up like the 70s. Yet Even emo can not help this game stand out. To say that this art is ok is the same reason why this game will never sell over there(japan) and the same reason you won't be buying the resin statue of it.... Now even though his stories sucked alittle...LOL Tod you know who of spawn and god father of image comics knows american character design... Now if he made the characters for this then we wouldn't be complaining... Man I've seen so many good artist but I wonder why most of the american artist are so concervative? Or lack coolness... From Sym mead to Frank loyd wright we've had some good artist but I guess this Is why Kojama says video games will never be or isn't art...
Oyeah the real reason why the characters look the way they do is because of the engine limitations... yes as high powered as the HD system are there are still a reasonable polygon count to keep in mind... Normal maps can only take you so far just ask any Doom3 artist and they had Jeff Unany working on that one.
If your tired of art like this here some thing different...LOL Panzar.com... Even though they are hulking over weight brutes they are pretty cool...