Clash of the Next-Gen Titans

The Multiplayer

Multiplayer matches are a key component to Gears of War, and it shows. The interface is slick and efficient and -- aside from a questionable decision to not allow parties in ranked online matches -- it's highly effective for online matches. The new game types are solid, too, with an emphasis on ultra-tight tactical shootouts.

Resistance's 40-man multiplayer breaks new ground, technologically.

Resistance's 40-man multiplayer breaks new ground, technologically.

Online is also a key strength for Resistance, but in a different way altogether. Matches top out at a staggering 40 players, and the game's sprawling maps are more than enough to contain these epic battles. Game types lean more towards the standard fare, with deathmatch and capture the flag, but the massive game sizes and innovative weapons add a nice spark.

VERDICT:

Tie. Gears offers ultra-intense survival matches, but supports only eight players. Resistance matches are faster and shallower, but support up to 40 (!) players. Internet performance in both games is exceptional. Since Resistance multiplayer leans more towards large-scale action, and Gears emphasizes team cooperation and tactical maneuvering, it's difficult to measure them equally. You may be better off choosing whichever style suits you best.

The Innovation

Gears of War, contrary to some reports, actually takes some sizeable strides for the action genre. It doesn't really do anything "new," but it smoothly blends ideas like blind fire, cover-to-cover, flanking and other tactical elements into a third-person shooter. And with rapidly-loading maps and a straightforward weapon selection, you can focus more on honing your gameplay skillz and less time on watching progress bars or figuring out how some exotic weapons work best. Active Reload, where you can get a damage bonus if you time it right, is also nice touch. And did we mention that the game also looks quite nice?

The tactical combat in Gears of War is a welcome change.

The tactical combat in Gears of War is a welcome change.

Outside of its outstanding arsenal, Resistance doesn't do much to advance its genre. One exception is the multiplayer mode, which pits regular humans against Chimera (who can see through walls when in a special Berserker mode). On the whole, it's a well-crafted game with plenty of merit, but a groundbreaking title it is not.

VERDICT:

Gears of War cleverly combines Halo's "30 seconds of fun" gameplay loops with a tactical, stop-and-pop combat style -- and it doesn't get old, thanks to a constantly changing set of locations and challenges. Resistance is an excellent shooter, but outside of its wacky arsenal, it is straightforward and relatively predictable in its execution.

Conclusion

In case you weren't keeping score, that's 2 wins for Resistance, 2 wins for Gears of War, and 2 ties. Each one is a clear winner in one category. But we're giving the nod to Gears of War. It has a certain X factor that can't be denied and, as a package, presents one of the most impressive console shooters to date. It has that let-me-play type of gameplay where it's almost painful to watch and not get in on the action. That said, the gap isn't as wide as you probably expected. Hopefully Sony can manufacture enough PS3s to fill those 40-man multiplayer sessions, and it sounds like Epic wants to continue its traditional post-release love with new maps and whatnot. So at least for now, it's Gears.

Comments [0]

post a comment

Post a Comment