Gears of War 3
Click Here to Learn More About our Reviews
Gears of War 3 is the final episode in a trilogy that has defined an entire genre of video games. The first Gears of War, when it released in 2006, refined and popularized the idea of cover-based shooting, a concept that had only previously been used once (in Kill.Switch on the PS2). This is a gameplay concept in which the player presses a button to take cover behind something, and while in cover the game’s controls center around cover-based actions (aiming over cover, blindfiring over cover, walking along the cover, etc.). Now, pretty much all third-person shooters use this method.
(Warning: The following contains spoilers for previous Gears of War games.)
This is humanity’s final stand. The Locust, the strange beings that erupted from the ground of the planet Sera all those years ago, have pushed humanity to its limits. But now, after the humans have destroyed their own final stronghold to deal a decisive blow to the Locust horde, both factions are being brought to their knees by a new threat: the Lambent. These creatures are infected Locust that seem to be overtaking the entire planet, and it has brought both human and Locust alike to the brink of extinction. But after receiving a message from Adam Fenix, the presumed-dead father of the protagonist, Marcus Fenix, there may yet be one hope for humanity. But survival has always come at a great cost in this war, and there’s no telling how many more will give their lives in this last-ditch attempt to prevent the extinction of the entire human race.
This last entry in the Gears of War trilogy is definitively the last chapter in this story, and aims to be bigger and more epic than either of its predecessors. However, being the dark and gritty war story that it is, that also means there is plenty for parents to be concerned about (thus, the M rating). So what should you be looking out for in this, humanity’s final stand?
What Parents Need to Know
Violence
Gears of War has always emphasized violence. These games are brutal and graphic, and the third installment is no exception.
Gears of War 3 is played from a third-person perspective. The gameplay is centered around the aforementioned cover-based gameplay mechanic; the player takes cover behind whatever is on the battlefield and fires at various enemies from it with a variety of weapons. Blood splatters when a character or enemy is shot, but that is the mild stuff. This game has an assault rifle with a chainsaw bayonet; when someone revs it up next to an enemy, they rip right through them, blood splattering all over and the one being chainsawed splitting into two pieces. When someone is blown up by a grenade, they fly into multiple pieces. When someone is killed with a shotgun at point blank range, there is no getting out of there in one piece.
Most brutal, however, are the executions offered in the game. When a character (friend or foe) takes too much damage, they will go down, left helpless but to crawl to safety unless an ally revives them. At this point, it’s up to the downed player’s enemies to kill him before that can happen. This can be done simply by kicking them, but that wasn’t enough for Epic Games, who included over 20 unique finishing moves depending on the weapon used. This ranges from relatively mild (swinging the sniper rifle like an axe and bringing it down on the player) to rather gory (ripping off an enemy’s arm and beating them to death with it) to pretty disturbingly graphic (sticking the flamethrower in their gut and firing so their insides are roasted and fire jets out of their mouth). These executions are the most graphic Gears has to offer.
It should be noted, however, that there is an option to turn off the blood and gore; these executions will still happen, but there will be no blood or dismemberment in them or any other part of the game if this option is selected.
Language
-
- The F-word is used throughout the game.
- The S-word is used throughout the game.
- The word “damn” is used throughout the game.
- The word “bitch” is used throughout the game.
- The word “ass” is used throughout the game.
It should be noted that there is an option to turn off the offensive language.
Sexual Content
All characters spend almost the entire time in battle armor; there’s nary a nude character or even revealing outfit in sight.
When the player visits a Stranded outpost (people who see the government and military as oppressive and make their way in this ruined world rather than fighting back), once or twice a character will offer to trade supplies for one of the female characters. This is refused or even completely ignored each time.
Spirituality
Nothing here.
Misc.
There is a new game mode in Gears of War 3 called Beast mode, in which the player is put on one of the multiplayer maps and spends limited resources on Locust beasts in an attempt to destroy the human outpost placed there. This is purely a multiplayer mode, and does not reflect any sort of support or even story relevance for the player’s role as the Locust.
Reviewers Thoughts
I went into this hoping for two things: a satisfying end to the trilogy’s desperate tale, and a vastly improved multiplayer that fixed the many pervasive issues of Gears of War 2. The result is a bit of a mixed bag.
The story was great. Yes, it still falls prey to many of the clichés the series is known for (namely being a game about burly manly men brutally killing burly manly creatures with their burly man-muscles), but this one continues in the tradition of the second one by trying to pull at our heartstrings a bit more, and certainly succeeds. It does a far better job than the previous games at truly making the atmosphere desperate and hopeless, and develops the characters far deeper, even breaking the most resolved of the men who, based on their trope, simply don’t cry. It also has one exceptionally emotional scene with possibly the best use of music in a video game I’ve seen in a while. It’s not perfect by any means (new characters are brought in but underdeveloped, for instance), but it wraps up the story and all its loose ends, so we can confidently say this story is complete, and satisfyingly so.
The multiplayer is certainly improved over that of the second. Gears of War 2 was an infamously buggy, laggy mess with countless balance issues and tons of glitches less-honorable players loved to use to their advantage. Gears of War 3 takes the balance issues but leaves the glitches, creating a smoother and more enjoyable experience, but still offering those annoying moments when a player uses a woefully overpowered weapon to kill you unfairly. Horde mode (where you play as humans on a multiplayer map and defend from increasingly difficult hordes of enemies) has been improved and expanded, and is far more enjoyable for it. Beast mode is also entertaining, offering use of some of the most iconic beastly enemies in the franchise. And through all these modes, a variety of ribbons, medals, and achievements give the player reason to keep coming back long after they’ve finished the game’s story.
So yes, Gears of War 3 is a very well-designed and enjoyable game, but it’s also one that is best enjoyed by a mature adult. The language and violence are rather intense, and certainly not intended for younger audiences. Just like with movies and books, some video games simply aren’t made for children, and this is one of those. Use your judgment, but I would recommend keeping this one out of reach until your children are mature enough to handle it.
Jonathan McKee
Jonathan McKee is the author of over twenty books including the brand new The Guy's Guide to FOUR BATTLES Every Young Man Must Face; The Teen’s Guide to Social Media & Mobile Devices; If I Had a Parenting Do Over; and the Amazon Best Seller - The Guy's Guide to God, Girls and the Phone in Your Pocket. He speaks to parents and leaders worldwide, all while providing free resources for parents on his website TheSource4Parents.com. Jonathan, his wife Lori, and their three kids live in California.
Recommended To You
Jeromesic
March 21, 2025 at 11:37 amalo 789 dang nh?p: alo 789 – alo 789
Georgetom
March 24, 2025 at 4:33 ammy canadian pharmacy: InterPharmOnline – buy drugs from canada
Jamesjiz
March 24, 2025 at 4:59 ammexican pharmacy online store: Mexican Pharm International – Mexican Pharm International
MonteMap
March 24, 2025 at 5:06 amMexican Pharm Inter mexican pharmacy online mexican pharmacy online
WillisLutle
March 24, 2025 at 9:29 amhttps://mexicanpharminter.shop/# mexican pharmacy online store
Jamesjiz
March 24, 2025 at 10:33 amMexicanPharmInter: mexican pharmacy online order – mexican pharmacy online store
Georgetom
March 24, 2025 at 11:01 ammexican drug stores online: reliable mexican pharmacies – buying from online mexican pharmacy
MonteMap
March 24, 2025 at 2:15 pmorder medicines online india india online pharmacy store cheapest online pharmacy india
Arthurwef
March 25, 2025 at 11:33 amhttp://mexicanpharminter.com/# reliable mexican pharmacies
pharmacy in canada
MonteMap
March 25, 2025 at 12:19 pmbuying from online mexican pharmacy Mexican Pharm International MexicanPharmInter
Jamesjiz
March 25, 2025 at 1:57 pmlowest prescription prices online india: online medicine shopping in india – lowest prescription prices online india
WillisLutle
March 25, 2025 at 5:44 pmhttps://interpharmonline.shop/# canadian pharmacies that deliver to the us
Jamesjiz
March 25, 2025 at 9:56 pmmy canadian pharmacy review: certified canada pharmacy online – online pharmacy canada
Howardslutt
March 25, 2025 at 11:04 pmonlinecanadianpharmacy 24: highest rated canadian online pharmacy – canadian pharmacies
DwayneLah
March 26, 2025 at 12:46 amcialis without a doctor prescription TadalafilEasyBuy.com TadalafilEasyBuy.com
TerryErose
March 26, 2025 at 5:58 amhttp://tadalafileasybuy.com/# TadalafilEasyBuy.com
GregoryAnter
March 26, 2025 at 6:05 amTadalafilEasyBuy.com: TadalafilEasyBuy.com – cheapest cialis
KennethLus
March 26, 2025 at 6:28 amhttp://tadalafileasybuy.com/# cialis without a doctor prescription
Williamben
March 26, 2025 at 6:56 amKamagra: kamagra kopen nederland – Officiele Kamagra van Nederland
DwayneLah
March 26, 2025 at 10:25 amGeneric100mgEasy buy generic 100mg viagra online buy generic 100mg viagra online
TerryErose
March 26, 2025 at 11:54 amhttps://kamagrakopen.pro/# Kamagra
GregoryAnter
March 26, 2025 at 12:05 pmkamagra 100mg kopen: kamagra 100mg kopen – Kamagra Kopen Online
Williamben
March 26, 2025 at 2:05 pmkamagra jelly kopen: kamagra kopen nederland – Kamagra Kopen Online
TerryErose
March 26, 2025 at 5:49 pmhttps://kamagrakopen.pro/# Kamagra
GregoryAnter
March 26, 2025 at 6:02 pmKamagraKopen.pro: Kamagra Kopen – kamagra gel kopen
DwayneLah
March 26, 2025 at 8:07 pmGeneric100mgEasy buy generic 100mg viagra online buy generic 100mg viagra online
Williamben
March 26, 2025 at 10:01 pmGeneric100mgEasy: buy generic 100mg viagra online – Generic100mgEasy
KennethLus
March 27, 2025 at 12:52 amhttps://generic100mgeasy.com/# Generic 100mg Easy
GregoryAnter
March 27, 2025 at 1:24 amBuy Viagra online cheap: Viagra online price – over the counter sildenafil
Williamben
March 27, 2025 at 3:33 ambuy generic 100mg viagra online: sildenafil over the counter – Generic 100mg Easy
TerryErose
March 27, 2025 at 7:41 amhttps://tadalafileasybuy.shop/# Generic Tadalafil 20mg price
DwayneLah
March 27, 2025 at 7:55 amGeneric100mgEasy buy generic 100mg viagra online buy generic 100mg viagra online
GregoryAnter
March 27, 2025 at 9:14 amViagra online price: Viagra generic over the counter – Generic 100mg Easy
Williamben
March 27, 2025 at 9:33 amGeneric 100mg Easy: Generic100mgEasy – buy generic 100mg viagra online
TerryErose
March 27, 2025 at 2:12 pmhttps://kamagrakopen.pro/# kamagra kopen nederland
KennethLus
March 27, 2025 at 2:34 pmhttps://kamagrakopen.pro/# Kamagra Kopen
Williamben
March 27, 2025 at 2:57 pmKamagra Kopen: Officiele Kamagra van Nederland – KamagraKopen.pro
GregoryAnter
March 27, 2025 at 4:27 pmbuy generic 100mg viagra online: Generic 100mg Easy – order viagra
DwayneLah
March 27, 2025 at 7:22 pmTadalafil Easy Buy TadalafilEasyBuy.com Tadalafil Easy Buy
Williamben
March 27, 2025 at 8:14 pmbuy cialis pill: cialis without a doctor prescription – Tadalafil Easy Buy
TerryErose
March 27, 2025 at 8:36 pmhttp://tadalafileasybuy.com/# cialis without a doctor prescription
GregoryAnter
March 27, 2025 at 11:38 pmGeneric100mgEasy: Generic100mgEasy – Generic 100mg Easy
Williamben
March 28, 2025 at 1:43 amBuy Cialis online: Tadalafil Easy Buy – TadalafilEasyBuy.com
TerryErose
March 28, 2025 at 2:58 amhttps://tadalafileasybuy.com/# Tadalafil Easy Buy
GregoryAnter
March 28, 2025 at 6:38 amOfficiele Kamagra van Nederland: Officiele Kamagra van Nederland – kamagra 100mg kopen
DwayneLah
March 28, 2025 at 6:50 ambuy generic 100mg viagra online buy generic 100mg viagra online Generic 100mg Easy
Williamben
March 28, 2025 at 8:50 amCheap generic Viagra online: buy generic 100mg viagra online – Generic 100mg Easy
TerryErose
March 28, 2025 at 9:08 amhttps://kamagrakopen.pro/# kamagra 100mg kopen
GregoryAnter
March 28, 2025 at 1:26 pmTadalafilEasyBuy.com: cheapest cialis – TadalafilEasyBuy.com
TerryErose
March 28, 2025 at 3:12 pmhttp://tadalafileasybuy.com/# Tadalafil Easy Buy
KennethLus
March 28, 2025 at 3:42 pmhttps://generic100mgeasy.shop/# Generic 100mg Easy
DwayneLah
March 28, 2025 at 5:55 pmbuy generic 100mg viagra online Generic100mgEasy Viagra online price
GregoryAnter
March 28, 2025 at 8:12 pmbuy generic 100mg viagra online: buy generic 100mg viagra online – Generic100mgEasy
Jessedib
March 29, 2025 at 2:35 amпин ап: https://pinupkz.life/
Williampaics
March 29, 2025 at 2:46 amпин ап казино зеркало – pinup 2025
DwayneLah
March 29, 2025 at 7:59 amcialis without a doctor prescription Cialis without a doctor prescription Cialis without a doctor prescription
Williampaics
March 29, 2025 at 8:58 amпин ап казино – пин ап казино
Jessedib
March 29, 2025 at 9:14 amпин ап казино зеркало: https://pinupkz.life/
Williampaics
March 29, 2025 at 3:09 pmпин ап казино – пин ап казино зеркало
Jessedib
March 29, 2025 at 3:58 pmпинап казино: https://pinupkz.life/
Williampaics
March 29, 2025 at 9:18 pmпин ап зеркало – пин ап казино официальный сайт
DwayneLah
March 29, 2025 at 9:58 pmbuy generic 100mg viagra online Generic100mgEasy Generic100mgEasy
Jessedib
March 29, 2025 at 10:34 pmпин ап: https://pinupkz.life/
Williampaics
March 30, 2025 at 3:18 amпин ап зеркало – пин ап
Jamesmig
March 30, 2025 at 4:50 amпин ап казино зеркало – pinup 2025
Jessedib
March 30, 2025 at 5:12 amпин ап казино официальный сайт: https://pinupkz.life/
DwayneLah
March 30, 2025 at 9:20 amGeneric100mgEasy Generic 100mg Easy buy Viagra online
Williampaics
March 30, 2025 at 9:39 amпин ап вход – пинап казино
Jamesmig
March 30, 2025 at 11:22 amпинап казино – пин ап
Jessedib
March 30, 2025 at 12:09 pmпинап казино: https://pinupkz.life/