Epic Games has released their fourth piece of Gears of War 3 DLC in as many months. The Fenix Rising pack includes 5 maps; 3 of which completely succeed and 2 of which fall short of expectations. In addition to the new multiplayer maps are 4 new character skins: Thrashball Cole, Recruit Clayton, Savage Marauder, and the Savage Kantus. And lastly, the Fenix Rising DLC allows players to “re-up” their ranks, giving the player the opportunity to start back at Lvl. 1, similar to the Prestige Mode in the Modern Warfare series. This latest add-on to Gears of War 3 comes with more hits than misses, with 3 maps that easily outshine the remaining 2. The maps are dissected in detail below, which should aid a player’s purchasing decision.
Academy = Thumbs Up: Academy is an excellent map that mixes smart level design with Gears of War nostalgia. After three games of fighting through a planet ripe with destruction and ruin, it’s easy for the player to forget about what Sera used to be like before Emergence Day. Sera used to be an alluring destination with elegant Roman-inspired architecture. Academy captures this moment in time, bringing new scenery that contrasts to the tried-and-true “destroyed beauty” tone. The level design is inspired, placing tactical high ground areas all the way across the middle of the map. Located in the high ground areas are the two special weapons, which are found on opposite sides of the level. While having the high ground gives the teams an advantage, going for the special weapons is a risk that leaves the player vulnerable. This makes for tactical gameplay and a whole lot of fun.
Anvil = Thumbs Down: Anvil seems like a missed opportunity. The level does little to remind gamers of the campaign mission, of which it is based off. Further, while an unsymmetrical map doesn’t necessarily mean it is a poorly designed level, this particular map plays out more like a maze than it does a pathway to combat. The layout is confusing and will take some time for gamers to get used to. Luckily, the map actually works quite well for cover-based combat. There are a number of spots where keeping in cover will give you the upper-hand during battle, which is the basis of Gears of War multiplayer. While the level design remains puzzling and boring, it is not unplayable. It probably won’t be the map you end up voting for, though.
Depths = Thumbs Up: Depths shows off an art direction so sublime, you’ll be begging Epic to make more maps based on the Azura underwater processing center. Thanks to the high glass ceilings, the light shining on the walls reflect water movement, giving a beautifully aquatic essence to the map. The over-the-top interior and occasional recorded comments from the center’s loudspeaker gives the map a feeling of “too perfect.” The map’s layout is also very intelligent. Normally, I am not a fan of when a map only gives you two options to run toward. However in Depths, it totally works. Will the team decide to go for the heavy weapons (the Mulcher and the OneShot) or will they opt for the Torque Bow or the Digger? The weapons are placed on opposite sides of the map, but their placements give them a direct shot to the location of each special weapon. This level delivers intense firefights and ever during the heat of the battle, you’ll still be in awe over the map’s beauty.
Escalation = Thumbs Up: Escalation is a proven map, becoming a fan favorite back in the days of Gears of War 1. The main thing that makes the map work are the sniper rifles provided to the team re-spawning at the bottom of the level and these have made a return. These take the advantage away from the team re-spawning on top, which only have Gorgon Pistols available in the special weapon slots. The Digger has also been added near the bottom of the map, as have ink grenades, which may give the team re-spawning on the bottom even more of an advantage than the team re-spawning on top. It is a new twist on a classic level and it works quite well.
The Slab = Thumbs Down: The Slab is the prison where Marcus Fenix was left to rot. It is supposed to be the most brutal of prisons, a setting that instills both fear and depression. Unfortunately, this intent is never fully reached. In fact, I wouldn’t have known this was a prison setting had I not read a description of the map. It looks more like a dirty cafeteria than a place of incarceration, but I digress. Players will be happy to know that this is a claustrophobic map. The hallways are narrow and the ceilings are unnaturally low. The tight spaces provide both pros and cons. On the one hand, players will have to grow accustomed to a different type of combat in a different type of environment. This adds a new variety to the gameplay, which is a lot of fun. However, the close-quarters nature of the fights also prevents the special weapons to be used effectively. Again, this is a level that will probably be skipped.
The three stunning maps, along with the two mediocre ones, put Fenix Rising at an affordable 800 Microsoft Points. If Gears of War 3 multiplayer is in your foreseeable future, you’ll definitely want Academy, Depths, and Escalation in your catalogue of maps.
Verdict: BUY IT
