GEARHEADS Up!

"Microsoft is giving you a hell of a system. This thing is a BEAST and is capable of MUCH GREATNESS." –CliffyB's blog at 1up.com

As I type this, the 2005 Tokyo Game Show is in full swing. We have seen and herd a lot of bombshells in the last several hours, but us GEARHEADS have been focused on the fact that Cliff 'CliffyB' Bleszinski, the (Gear)Head-Honcho on the upcoming Xbox 360 game, Gears of War, would be demonstrating his work at the Microsoft press conference in the land of the rising sun. I have seen the presentation. And what I can tell you right now is that this baby is looking smoking hot, and the game's intensity will knock our collective socks off! Now for those who have been unable to view Cliff's presentation, here are some of the highlights as I saw them (Thanks XBOXYDE for the download):

• Marcus Fenix has a running-buddy in his fight against the Locust Horde, his best friend, Dominic.
• Environments are amazingly detailed, shows through even in the darkness.
• The lighting is amazing, and you will need to stay in that amazing light to survive.
• Interaction with the environment: From breakaway cover to puzzles that need to be solved.
• The Drones are relentless, duck from cover to cover to stay alive, or as CliffyB likes to call it 'Stop-and-Pop' action.
• Marcus is a blind-firing madman, and looks cool in the process.
• I love the reload animations, you will too.

My only complaint with the TGS presentation that it was to short, it left me wanting more. So when will I be able to get this 'more'? Most likly place will be Microsoft's own gaming event, X05, being held this year in Amsterdam, Holland on the 4th and 5th of October. I am hoping that we will be able to see some more new footage or maybe even a playable build of Gears. We will just have to wait and see!

"Every remaining soldier is a Gear in the war machine against the Locust." –CliffyB's presentation at TGS 2005.

Next for Gears of War at News0r: We delve more into Gears backstory, also look out for a feature on the machines of Gears. Stay tuned!

Gears of War: Tokyo Game Show Special can also be seen at News0r.com