WHAT IS IT? The third entry into arguably the most popular third-person shooter franchise ever. Gears of War 3 concludes the story of Marcus Fenix and his Delta Squad in their bid for survival against the belligerent Locust hordes and the emerging Lambent threat.WHY SHOULD WE CARE? Because it’s the final chapter for one of the most influential shooters of this generation, you just know it'll go out with an almighty bang. Epic Games is determined to iron out all of the kinks that have troubled the otherwise mechanically sound multiplayer offerings of the first two games. There's also the new Beast Mode: an interesting take on Horde Mode from Gears of War 2 (which spawned a million copycats) that sees the player take command of the Locust for the first time. Finally, Gears of War 3 will also deliver on the much-requested four-player co-op feature for the game’s campaign. This one is essential gaming in 2011!