When the game arrived I entered directly into the multiplayer and have evening played the campaign, and what can I say ... it's definitely anders..nur not better. Let's start first with the campaign:
Having heard of the questionable decisions that affect the multiplayer, I still thought: Well, at least there will again be a hammer campaign with a memorable moment, cool sayings and one probably one or the other interesting background information related to the characters. Complete None! The campaign is so disappointing and storytelling underground! It is throughout the main campaign, no feeling on Gears, even though just the E-Day has so much potential to transport and to clarify fronts to present the enemy in his cruelty and the players to give drive to make him the Gar of emotions. Nothing.
Who should not know the campaign is told in flashbacks, or you play the statements of the accused Kilo Squad Member (Baird, Cole, Sofia and Paduk) after. At times yes for itself a good idea ... but unfortunately shockingly poorly implemented. Here you have the chance but had so much variety to bring into play, by the action only very loosely linked and you act jumps to more interesting facts could have done! No there is nothing! For this, the characters are introduced not even properly and character development is also not available! I'm really nobody expects the technical story of video games and especially in Gears masterpieces, I have Gears 1 already have been sufficient, 2 and 3 class was well! But Judgment acts just very very cobbled together and choppy. This is further enhanced by this star rating that you have to look at every 5 minutes and a complete cast of the "story". This is an arcade Gears and try not even to hide. Cutscenes are limited to 95% on: "We are opening a door together" and speak a -Even for GoW- relationships silly sentence. the antagonist of the game, which bears the name Karn is an absolute joke and keeps comparing against General Raam, Skorge or Myrrah not even stand in the approach. Apart from the sequence known from the trailers you see namely nothing from him. Everything is so predictable in the game and running the same pattern from:
-We Are entering a complex
- "Maaaaaden !!!"
-We Shoot down everything
-Sterneinblendung
-Türsequenz
-We Are entering a complex
- "Maaaaaden !!!"
...
Much more there in the main campaign can not be seen. Familiar food, familiar opponent, familiar surroundings. No mini tasks, no driving or flying sequences, nothing. Just run around and shoot. Rounding out the worst and uninspirierensten Boss Fight the Gears series. Absolutely lame end. On the plus side, the enemy AI actually forcing the now often strongly pushed, flanked and really from cover. Thus, the countless battles become really intense, as it announced EPIC and PCF.
What surprises me, is that the small included 1 1/2 hour campaign "Aftermath" actually creates to again allow Gears Feeling emergence and the game campaign Technically saves for me even before total failure. Evil tongues say yes, it had been here for a retained GoW3 DLC campaign and if I'm honest, I'm of the same opinion.
During this 1 1/2 more storytelling and above all a change is necessary as during the entire 6-7h main campaign! This little side story Gears is not constantly interrupted by this star system and provides 2-3 varied moments, and more and better dialogue. It was just fun to play and fits seamlessly into the GoW3 campaign and actually answered sometimes one or another question!
The graphics are admittedly again a superb, looks to my mind actually still a tick better than Gears of War 3 and the lighting effects are lonely peak. the changed key layout works in my opinion very good and fits perfectly with the increased game speed. Gameplay also usual immaculate and you wonder how you actually could sit in the sand the matter.
Now we come to Multiplayer:
First, I wonder who is actually sitting in this development studios in the executive suite and makes the decisions !?
The low adoption of Locust from the Versus multiplayer modes is a slap in the face of every fan. The low adoption of Horde mode is also an equally incomprehensible step, but it was doing to the favorite mode of many players !? How many times I have read in forums that people wanted to set the game only because of "Horde" and Epic this customer base has been lost through the mutilation of this game modes. Applause!
The game comes standard with 4 multiplayer maps, all of which look good, can play well and are therefore also quite varied. That there are only 4 maps, is for me personally not a criticism, because the maps are so gigantic that per Map quite fit in at least 2 maps the old Gears parts. The different levels also bring a lot of variety to the game and you have to feel really move 100% free on the Map for the first time. Good maps in my opinion. Make the new weapons on me all reasonable impression for me no weapon is too strong or out of place (vorallendingen the Breechshot is an absolute blast and it's a fun to play). The people who had been through the removal of DBNO (Down but not out) anxiety, the multiplayer is becoming a pure Rifle game that I can beruigen, all modes in which I have played, remain an absolute Gnasherfest! the Bulletspongig is still a major problem and I think is still getting donated a patch.
(Hope I at least). The so-called. Two piecing (ie the melee attack) has become ridiculously strong and the only weapon that I would consider to be overpowering in fact become the Scorcher, who really takes care of the opponents in blink of an eye! (I'm curious about the upcoming patch) .The new Free-for-All mode makes a lot of fun and plays very fast, action-packed and enjoyable. Tactics is in this part of Gears unfortunately completely flutes by the very high tempo. The only exception is the new Overrun mode which brings quite addictive with it (assuming you play with several people). The Overrun mode is like a hybrid of Beast and Horde forces and to achieve too good teamplay and communication to its destination. How long does the motivation remains at the 4 maps is sometimes an open question, because you have developed an ideal strategy for 2-3 passages on each map and little unpredictable happens. But in April is already a free DLC and we will continue fed!
Conclusion: Even with the many criticisms is Gears of War Judgment far away to be bad and certainly has its positive sides! Gampelay, graphics and new modes can quite convince, unfortunately there is a lack of strong Atmossphäre both on and offline (Locust Forever!) If I had to say never thought when someone of anything to do with Gears has devoured, but have absolutely one does not have this part!
UPDATE 05/04: I have again the overall evaluation of this game reduced because of the following:
It was never about to revolutionize Gears, but only around quick moneymaking and the opening of the game for the casual market. It's really disgusting to watch how far it has come. Gears was the MP always a game for core gamers, in which you had to play to learn, was better and only the skill was crucial. With Judgment is now every beginner to shoot the most experienced players Gears overboard able. Why is there no more DBNO? Why only a starting gun? Why is there no Locust in MP? Why not Horde mode? Why the Active D-Boost was removed? Why is the campaign so catastrophic? Why is this two-Piecing returned? Why this ridiculous little Char rooster? Why Epic has not heard from the outset on the veterans Gears fans? Those who actually play the game, for years, the true fans, who put all their money in the weapon camos, backgrounds, player photos or DLC, simply because it was them, the game worth it? The forums are cooked with petitions to save the game before release yet, but Epic wanted quick money and did not care about what the real fans want, have brought the Gears to where it is today. The receipt Epic has now received with catastrophic User Score reviews (Metacritic) and patch to patch to be published. In the official Epic Games forum, developers are now more recently gone back to cozies and have already said in a roundabout way that they had made some mistakes. However, this does not stem from insight, but rather the fact that the Judgment sales and online player numbers fall rapidly and see Epic / PCF wegschimmen their cases. This hypocritical "Fanservice" has prompted me to assessing further reduce!
