Epic Game’s massively hyped Xbox 360 title Gears of War dropped this week, with the majority of reviews in agreement that for once, a game has actually lived up to the hype surrounding its launch. I’ve played through the first chapter now, back to back with my valiant squad mate Sonic Heaven, and I have to say I agree.

Comparing Gears to other games out there is a difficult feat. At its most fundamental Gears is a tactical action game that focuses on using cover to do battle with hiedous, subterrainian monsters that, in typical monster fashion, are out to destroy the human race. But it’s the way that Epic went above and beyond what we’ve seen in tactical shooters in the past, the gameplay, the graphics, the insane amount of gore that makes Gears of War so instantly memorable, and so thoroughly enjoyable. Also, did I mention the chainsaw bayonet?

Chainsaw. Bayonet.