Gears of War 3: RAAM’s Shadow Review for Xbox 360

System: Xbox 360
Dev: Epic Games
Pub: Microsoft
Release: December 13, 2011
Players: 1-10 (Online)
Screen Resolution: 480p-1080p	Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language

RAAM's Shadow suffers from a horrible case of poor pacing. At one point, your team is walking through a long-emptied school that's probably supposed to unsettle you a bit. However, it only ends up becoming tedious. After that, you're mowing down waves of Locust in fights that might make you nostalgic for the original games, with Locust popping out of Emergence Holes all around. The DLC keeps switching between different levels of action that makes it jarring and difficult to get into, and there's little real payoff for your efforts.

Gears of War 3: RAAM’s Shadow Screenshot

Besides the new mini-campaign, RAAM's Shadow has four new multiplayer characters, the "Chocolate" weapon set, and a handful of new achievements. The asking price—1200 Microsoft Points—is a little steep, but this ought to keep you busy at least until the next batch of DLC comes out.

This might not be the story DLC many fans wanted or deserved, but that doesn't mean it's not worth checking out. If you're a fan of the series, you're sure to enjoy the sheer amount of power at RAAM's disposal, and overall, it's a fairly entertaining addition to the Gears of War story. It's not bad by any means, it's just a shame none of it feels like something you need to experience; instead, RAAM's Shadow ends up feeling like a bland desert after an incredible feast.

By Adam Dodd
CCC Contributing Writer

RATING OUT OF 5

RATING DESCRIPTION

4.8

Graphics
Gears of War 3 looks incredible, and RAAM's Shadow is no exception.

4.0

Control
The controls haven't really changed, but much of the gameplay feels recycled.

4.4

Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
Gears of War's epic orchestral score and squishy chainsaw-induced sound effects are still here.

3.6

Play Value
Everything has a been-there, done-that look and feel to it that keeps it from feeling fresh.

4.0

Overall Rating - Great
Not an average. See Rating legend below for a final score breakdown.

Review Rating Legend
0.1 - 1.9 = Avoid	2.5 - 2.9 = Average	3.5 - 3.9 = Good	4.5 - 4.9 = Must Buy
2.0 - 2.4 = Poor	3.0 - 3.4 = Fair	4.0 - 4.4 = Great	5.0 = The Best

Game Features:

Play as General RAAM, the main antagonist from the first Gears of War.

Adds four new multiplayer characters, new achievements, and a "Chocolate" weapon set.

Offers three hours of campaign content, with a unique story and locations to explore.