Games

Hands-On: GoW3: Forces of Nature

By Sean Booker
March 28, 2012 - 18:17

The Forces of Nature pack is the fourth collection of downloadable content out now for Gears of War 3. Like the Horde Command and Fenix Rising packs before it, its primarily focus is on new stages to play in any of its Beast, Horde and Versus modes. Along with this, Forces of Nature also includes new weapon skins, a new character, several new variations on past characters and 10 more achievements worth 250 points.

The maps are easily the most interesting feature in this collection as each one of them has a unique weather condition that will affect gameplay. Aftermath features a flooding city, Artillery experiences a tornado, Cover rolls in dense fog, Raven Down adds a heavy snowstorm to its already misty and snow covered area and Jacinto returns (a map featured in Gears of War 2) with Imulsion and Rainstorms coating the area. Each of these weather conditions allow for a more complex game when playing against other players or when trying to strategize for a couple intense hours of Horde mode.

Along with these maps are several new game modes to play under the Versus umbrella term in Gears of War 3. The new addition is a mode returning from Gears of War 2 called Guardian; in which one specific player must remain alive in order for his/her teammates to be able to continue respawning. The other modes aren’t so much new as they are variations on previously existing options. For example: We’re All Stranded Now is team deathmatch with no parties allowed (this means that you and your friends cannot team up against what might be a group full a strangers in order to have the advantage). Whereas Brothers To The End is team deathmatch with only two teams of two (a more limited and tight form of previous mode: Wingman).

The additions don’t seem incredibly drastic but anyone looking for something fresh to bring them back to Gears of War 3 shouldn’t feel cheated from this. Whereas the new Versus modes might seem a little rehashed, the return of a fan favorite is welcomed and the addition of 250 more points to earn is always a plus. The Forces of Nature pack is available on the Xbox Live Marketplace for 800 Microsoft Points ($10).

Last Updated: August 31, 2023 - 08:12