Game Informer going crazy with Gears of War 3 coverage

http://gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2010/06/02/gears-of-war-3-art-and-screen-gallery.aspx

As far as over-the-top, space marines shooting ugly monster/alien games go, I tend to prefer first-person games over third-person. I've always been interested in the "Gears of War" series but I wouldn't go so far as to say I'm a big fan. Don't get me wrong, I've enjoyed "Gears 1 & 2" and spent a fair amount of time online with the first ("Gears 2" had a ton of online problems when I was trying to play the multiplayer) but there just wasn't enough story presented in the games to keep me interested for long. But Game Informer's huge cover story on "Gears of War 3" has definitely piqued my interest for the finale of Epic's Xbox 360 franchise (I think it's the last one, anyway).

Just take a look at that screenshot up there. That's Dom Santiago, sidekick of "Gears" protagonist Marcus Fenix, looking more grizzled and sporting different armor since the last time we saw Delta Squad. GI's spread has more interested in "Gears 3" than either of its predecessors and here's why. A year and a half has passed since the Coalition of Governments (C.O.G.) sunk the last human city, Jacinto, in an effort to drown/destroy the Locust Horde. The C.O.G. has since disbanded and Marcus, Dom and the rest of the Gears from the previous games are now living aboard a converted aircraft carrier dubbed The Raven's Nest. The Locust are still at war with the remaining humans on the planet Sera but both are threatened by a new enemy - the Lambent. Featured somewhat in previous "Gears" titles, the Lambent have evolved into a full fledged race that threaten every being on Sera. Delta Squad is more or less the last collection of human resistance on the planet and act more like an extended family than a military unit in the wake of the fall of Jacinto. Their armor and weapons look as weathered and beaten as the characters themselves and every able-bodied person fights when necessary, evidenced by the addition of Anya Stroud to Delta Squad. Well, Anya was always a member of the military but gamers will remember her as the communications officer giving Marcus and Dom intel on their objectives. With their backs against the wall and facing extinction at the hands of an increasing volatile enemies, "Gears of War 3" could be the last act for Delta Squad.

The thing that interests me most about this game over either of the previous "Gears" titles is that Delta Squad and all board The Raven's Nest aren't fighting as part of a military campaign, but for survival. The former soldiers now have a deeper reason to fight and should result in some of the most dramatic moments in the entire series. Not to mention the color scheme, character models, new weapons and enemies all serve to make this the most unique "Gears of War" game yet.

Gamestop and Wikipedia both show an April 2011 release date for "Gears of War 3" but a release date set that far into the future is always subject to change at a moment's notice.