Gears of War 3 Collector’s Edition Strategy Guide Review

The Gears of War 3 Official Strategy Guide (Collector’s Edition) by Brady Games is a must-have companion for any player looking to dominate the battlefield in the thrilling conclusion to the Gears of War trilogy. This review will examine the key features, design, organisation, and clarity of the guide, providing an overall evaluation of its value to gamers. 

Info

Length	352
Publication Date	20th Sep. 2011
Author	Doug Walsh, Phillip Marcus, Michael Owen
Publisher	BradyGames
ISBN-13	978-0744013122 – Standard Edition | 978-0744013337 – Collector’s Edition
Price (RRP)	UK £12.99 – Standard Edition |UK £19.99 – Collector’s Edition

Key Features

The Game

Gears of War 3 is a third-person shooter developed by Epic Games and published by Microsoft Studios for the Xbox 360. Released on September 20, 2011, the game is the final instalment of the original Gears of War trilogy. Set two years after Gears of War 2, the game features a four-player co-op campaign and an engaging multiplayer experience. 

Gears of War 3 received widespread critical acclaim upon its release. The game was praised for its story, voice acting, visuals, and music, but faced some criticism for its lack of innovation

Some notable review quotes include:

• GameSpot: “Gears of War 3 concludes an excellent trilogy with engrossing cooperative play, taut competitive action, and a masterful campaign”.
• IGN: “Gears of War 3 knows exactly what it is: a badass simulator. Developer Epic Games strives to bookend the Gears trilogy with the most definitive third-person shooter gameplay of this generation while attempting to tidy up any and all loose story ends and shoehorn a bro-motional lump in your throat in the process”.
• Digital Trends: “Gears of War 3 is an amazing game, with a ton of value. Epic may have actually found a fairly good way to slow down the second-hand sales of this game, by making it freaking awesome and packed with replay value”.

Design

The visual design of the guide is striking, featuring a hardcover with exclusive artwork that adds a collectible feel to the book. The silvery cog/skull/lancer art shines and reflects light when the book is held at certain angles. The logo extends across the spine to the back cover as well. The whole guide has gorgeous artwork throughout. The layout is well-organised, with clear headings and subheadings, making it easy to navigate through the content.

Design Score: 8/10

Organisation and Structure

The guide is well-organised, with a clear structure that allows players to easily find the information they need. The layout is intuitive, with sections dedicated to different aspects of the game, such as campaign walkthroughs, multiplayer strategies, and weapon guides. 

The guide includes the following sections:

1. Complete Walkthrough: The guide offers a detailed walkthrough of the entire game, covering every level, weapon, enemy, and secret.
2. Weapons and Items: An in-depth listing of available weapons and items in the game is provided, helping players understand their options and make informed decisions during gameplay.
3. Exclusive Content: The Limited Edition guide features stunning artwork on each page, making it a collector’s item for fans of the Gears of War series. It also includes exclusive content such as a preview of the upcoming Gears of War comic book series, featuring 12 pages from the comic.

Organisation and Structure Score: 8/10

Clarity and Explanation

The guide excels in clearly explaining game mechanics and strategies, providing players with the knowledge they need to master the game. The detailed walkthroughs, weapon guides, and character guides are particularly helpful in enhancing the gameplay experience. 

Clarity and Explanation Score: 8/10

Additional Features and Extras

The Collector’s Edition of the guide offers additional features, such as exclusive artwork and behind-the-scenes content, which add value to the overall experience. These extras provide further insight into the game’s development and world-building. The guide also includes free downloadable PDFs of the original Gears of War and Gears of War 2 Official Strategy Guides, a soundtrack sampler, and a redeemable code for a free Gears of War 3 strategy video.

The Collector’s edition of this guide surpasses all expectations with its extraordinary array of exceptional extras, setting a new standard among strategy guides in terms of quality and content.

Additional Features and Extras Score: 10/10

Overall Score and Recommendation

The Gears of War 3 Official Strategy Guide (Collector’s Edition) by Brady Games earns an overall score of 8.5 out of 10. I highly recommend this guide to players looking to enhance their Gears of War 3 experience, as it provides invaluable information, tips, and strategies for both the campaign and multiplayer modes. The additional features and extras included in the Collector’s Edition make it a must-have for fans of the game and collectors alike. The included extras are some of the best I seen offered in a strategy guide.

Overall Score: 8.5/10

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