This comes in particularly handy when a "point of interest" is onscreen, and a simple press of the Y button will allow you to focus on whatever important event is happening nearby. We got to see this in action as Marcus shifted his gaze to a helicopter that proceeded to blow up a guard tower. While it wasn't essential to the plot, it allowed the player to become more immersed in the world around him. You'll also be able to switch between weapons and grenades using the D-pad, with a press toward the left equipping Marcus with the gun on his left shoulder.

Once Cliffy was done demoing the game, I was ushered into a small room that housed 16 networked Xbox 360s. We were told that we'd be playing some 4-on-4 Team Deathmatch, with one team playing as COG soldiers (i.e. Marcus and his pals) and the other suiting up on the Locust squad. The level that we played on featured plenty of places to take cover, from raised platforms to burned-out cars.

When the match finally kicked off, my teammates and I charged forward, each of us taking a different path. Since the level was very small, it wasn't long before we were engaged in fierce firefights against our foes. Tracers tore through the air as I took cover against a wall, and I was able to peek around the corner to see an enemy charging toward me. Without warning, I popped out and immediately held down the B button, enabling the now-infamous rifle-mounted chainsaw. As I cut downward through my foe, blood sprayed everywhere and we took the first match.


From the moment the second match kicked off, I could tell that we were in trouble. As I rounded the corner to the spot where the game's powerful grenade launcher was, the teammate next to me was torn apart by a blast to the chest. Sure enough, one of the COG soldiers had grabbed the grenade launcher first, and I knew that it was likely that I was doomed. Thankfully, I noticed a foe fall to his knees in the street in front of me, and I took it upon myself to end his misery. You can be down but not out in Gears, and players can heal their downed foes with a simple press of the X button. Of course, the alternate holds true for enemies, and I quickly crushed my foe's skull with the heel of my massive boot.

When the multiplayer dust finally settled, our team was victorious, and I had a newfound respect for Gears of War. I knew that the single-player game was exciting and intense, but I wasn't prepared for the gory fragfest that comprised the multiplayer mode. It's an absolute blast, and we're hoping that it'll hold up when we finally get to take it for a spin on Xbox Live. While it's a bit early to make any predictions, you can be sure that Gears of War will once again be one of the top Xbox 360 titles at E3.