A look at the Gears of War 3 beta (now with added profanity)

*WARNING. THE FOLLOWING VIDEO CONTAINS STRONG LANGUAGE, INCLUDING A NOT SO NICE REFERENCE TO A LADIES PART*

Hey guys, Tony here, yet again bringing you another video, this time its a quick peek at the Gears of War 3 beta.

You may be already playing this if you kept your copy of Bulletstorm, or managed to blag a code from Twitter.....or indeed by performing sexual favours for someone. If, however, you pre-ordered the game your code isn't valid for a good few days yet, so here's a quick look at what you'll get in the beta.

Firstly, you WILL be playing this a whole lot. Not just because of the quality of the game, but because their are various unlockables that can be carried into the full game. Some of these are just flaming versions of the weapons, you get an outfit for Cole after playing something like 100 matches, there are weapon specific unlocks and you get a medal that you can only pick up from playing a game on the beta.....so get playing! It's nice that they have included these, it's a great touch. You can also unlock different characters for the maps by racking up games, such as unlocking Anya for playing 10 games of the beta.

The maps themselves are great. The one I'm showing you here is called "Thrashball", which is set in a derelict Thrashball court. It's quite a symmetrical level, with the open play field littered with walls, and spectator areas at each side, with tunnels and chambers linking them up. Spawn points are at each end of the pitch, which as you'll see in the video hold up a team in there and it could spell a whole heap of trouble. Above the pitch is a scoreboard, which you can shoot the ropes off, sending it crashing to the floor, and basically leaving anyone found underneath it a nice bloody, meaty stain on the floor.

Graphically it's a not leaps and bounds above Gears 2, but that says more about the quality of the graphics in the second game than a criticism of this one. Textures are clearer and more varied, it seems to have a bit more ooomph to it framerate wise, but slap the sound effects and voices in there and it does seem like an improvement.

Anyway, i'm waffling enough. Have a look at the video. Excuse the moments of silence as i'm playing, I kept forgetting I was doing a live commentary because I was getting into the game so much. It's full of foul language as well, which although I don't apologise for, could upset and little ones, old people and Christians, so be warned.



Pretty cool game eh? I'll get another video recorded today of the second map in the beta, the claustrophobic shopping fest "Checkout", which should get you fully prepared for playing if you're still waiting to get into the beta.

Please feel free to chat about the game, or drop me your Gamertag if you fancy like hooking up over the period that the beta is running. The beta is scheduled to end on May 5-15, or somewhere in between. I've heard the fifth, but some people online reckon it's the 15th.

Whatever the end is, get in on the beta. It's Gears through and through....loud, brash, violent and oh lordy, so much fun!

(and if the guy who I called a c**t is reading this.....I love you really)

Gears of War 3 is due for release on September 20th, 2011.