Gears of War III lauded for storyline, emotional impact
The third and decidedly final game in the "Gears of War" saga was met with rave reviews by gamers and art aficionadoes alike. Epic Games, in a continuation of its "gameplay and story over graphics" ideology, brings to a complete closure the touching tale of Marcus Fenix- a grizzled war veteran whose gruff exterior hides a heart of gold- and Dominic "Dom" Santiago, his longtime friend whose search for his missing wife carries him through one bleak cityscape after another. Critics have praised the game widely, including the phrase "the most important interactive experience this year" uttered by Roger Ebert. The greatest praise, however, came from the players themselves.
"Honestly, when Dom finally found Maria, those poorly-rendered tears streaming from his eyes felt so real," said Geoff Ralsche, 13-year-old Gears fan and Shakespeare reader. "And then Marcus just sort of leaned on his gun and gave this little speech about the importance of love on the battlefield. I never knew twenty-six words spoken in such a gruff voice could hold so much meaning."
Jack Thompson, noted gaming advocate, pointed out the game's use of parables and references to real history to show war's brutal side. "This game hardly glorifies violence," he said. "It shows the ugliness of war, the toll it takes on the souls of the characters the game portrays. It does for combat what Grand Theft Auto did for crime and hard life on the streets."
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