XGC Brittany
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Gears of War® may be the most anticipated game ever to be released for Xbox 360™: With its breathtaking visuals and heart-pounding combat, it represents the most powerful sensory assault next-gen gaming has to offer. There is a mountain of intense gameplay to be found here, and you aren't likely to live through many mistakes, so pay attention.
The Locust Horde is out to slaughter you, but if you take the following tips to heart, you'll have the edge you need to slaughter the Locust instead.
Points of Interest
Gearsdoes a phenomenal job of keeping you pointed in the right direction. Simply press Y and you will automatically look at the nearest point of interest. Just don't forget to use it. Press Y to see where the button is for opening a door, to find a crater the Locust are swarming from, or even to find another soldier calling for help.
Preemptive Grenades
The Locusts literally crawl out of the ground from Emergence Holes, craters that access their tunnels. If you spot one of these Emergence Holes, you have just a few seconds to get a grenade or two into the hole before the Locusts begin to emerge. If you time it right, you can cause massive damage to a group of enemies, and make it a lot easier to pick off the leftovers.
Mobile Cover
When taking cover behind a burnt out car, you can repeatedly tap X to push it forward, creating wonderfully mobile cover. This is especially valuable (and often vital) at night time, where the cover can also acts as a torch, keeping the swarms away.
Essential Cover
To be clear: You cannot play GoW the way you played Halo® 2, standing out in the open and firing away. Learning to properly use cover is the most essential skill you must master in Gears. Every moment of combat should be spent taking advantage of cover, and when you're not behind it, you must be looking for it.
Success in Gears of War hinges on your effective use of cover, but the game works with you to take advantage of it quickly and comfortably. To leap over your cover and run ahead to the next, simply press forward and hold down the A button. Spin to new cover on your left or right by pressing in that direction and holding A again.
Taking Damage
Gears of War uses a health system similar to Call of Duty® 3 and Halo® 2. When you see a bloody symbol (called the Crimson Omen) start materializing in the center of your screen, back off. If the symbol becomes solid, you die. If you take cover, however, your health will re-charge. Once your screen is clear, you're good to go.
Chainsaw Rarity
Yes, it is great fun to use your chainsaw on an enemy and unleash all its gory glory, but you should only use it as a last ditch effort, not your primary attack method. Attempting melee attacks leaves you particularly vulnerable to the Locust's own vicious melee attacks. Remember to rev the chainsaw using the right trigger before making your attack.
Target Acquisition
The destroyed beauty look of the game combined with the bulky armored suits of your comrades can often make distinguishing between friends and foes a difficult task. However, there's a simple solution. Your targeting reticule will turn red when it passes over an enemy. If it stays white, you know to keep your finger off the trigger. This helpful rule of thumb applies to multiplayer as well.
Machinegun Nests
If you encounter a heavy machine gun nest, always make it your first priority. Simply killing the enemy manning the gun will not eliminate the threat. A replacement can easily take his place. Your fellow soldiers can keep the gunner busy while you flank him. There will often be a good path of attack if you look carefully. Finally, whenever possible, man the gun yourself to take out the remaining enemies.
Squad Tactics
The A.I. that controls your teammates is excellent. They will kill with deadly efficiency, and often provide excellent distractions and cover for you while you take out the enemy. Always keep their positions in mind as you determine your attack strategies.
General Orders
Once you have your own squad, you'll have the opportunity to relate simple orders to the men under your command. It can be easy to focus on the combat and forget this ability, but ordering your men to regroup or focus an attack can make the difference between life and death. This can be especially useful for flanking tactics. Order your soldiers to lay down fire while you sneak around the enemy and take them out from a better angle.
There are many layers to the combat in Gears, but if you keep these basics in mind, the intuitive nature of the game should help you through the rest. Just watch out for those Locusts.
The Locust Horde is out to slaughter you, but if you take the following tips to heart, you'll have the edge you need to slaughter the Locust instead.
Points of Interest
Gearsdoes a phenomenal job of keeping you pointed in the right direction. Simply press Y and you will automatically look at the nearest point of interest. Just don't forget to use it. Press Y to see where the button is for opening a door, to find a crater the Locust are swarming from, or even to find another soldier calling for help.
Preemptive Grenades
The Locusts literally crawl out of the ground from Emergence Holes, craters that access their tunnels. If you spot one of these Emergence Holes, you have just a few seconds to get a grenade or two into the hole before the Locusts begin to emerge. If you time it right, you can cause massive damage to a group of enemies, and make it a lot easier to pick off the leftovers.
Mobile Cover
When taking cover behind a burnt out car, you can repeatedly tap X to push it forward, creating wonderfully mobile cover. This is especially valuable (and often vital) at night time, where the cover can also acts as a torch, keeping the swarms away.
Essential Cover
To be clear: You cannot play GoW the way you played Halo® 2, standing out in the open and firing away. Learning to properly use cover is the most essential skill you must master in Gears. Every moment of combat should be spent taking advantage of cover, and when you're not behind it, you must be looking for it.
Success in Gears of War hinges on your effective use of cover, but the game works with you to take advantage of it quickly and comfortably. To leap over your cover and run ahead to the next, simply press forward and hold down the A button. Spin to new cover on your left or right by pressing in that direction and holding A again.
Taking Damage
Gears of War uses a health system similar to Call of Duty® 3 and Halo® 2. When you see a bloody symbol (called the Crimson Omen) start materializing in the center of your screen, back off. If the symbol becomes solid, you die. If you take cover, however, your health will re-charge. Once your screen is clear, you're good to go.
Chainsaw Rarity
Yes, it is great fun to use your chainsaw on an enemy and unleash all its gory glory, but you should only use it as a last ditch effort, not your primary attack method. Attempting melee attacks leaves you particularly vulnerable to the Locust's own vicious melee attacks. Remember to rev the chainsaw using the right trigger before making your attack.
Target Acquisition
The destroyed beauty look of the game combined with the bulky armored suits of your comrades can often make distinguishing between friends and foes a difficult task. However, there's a simple solution. Your targeting reticule will turn red when it passes over an enemy. If it stays white, you know to keep your finger off the trigger. This helpful rule of thumb applies to multiplayer as well.
Machinegun Nests
If you encounter a heavy machine gun nest, always make it your first priority. Simply killing the enemy manning the gun will not eliminate the threat. A replacement can easily take his place. Your fellow soldiers can keep the gunner busy while you flank him. There will often be a good path of attack if you look carefully. Finally, whenever possible, man the gun yourself to take out the remaining enemies.
Squad Tactics
The A.I. that controls your teammates is excellent. They will kill with deadly efficiency, and often provide excellent distractions and cover for you while you take out the enemy. Always keep their positions in mind as you determine your attack strategies.
General Orders
Once you have your own squad, you'll have the opportunity to relate simple orders to the men under your command. It can be easy to focus on the combat and forget this ability, but ordering your men to regroup or focus an attack can make the difference between life and death. This can be especially useful for flanking tactics. Order your soldiers to lay down fire while you sneak around the enemy and take them out from a better angle.
There are many layers to the combat in Gears, but if you keep these basics in mind, the intuitive nature of the game should help you through the rest. Just watch out for those Locusts.