"At last! This is the game the 360 was made for!" pronounced some rather hasty internet dwellers. I've finished the game, so had best chuck away the console now if that's what it was made for! Gone are the statements that Halo 3 would be the 360's "killer title" (don't worry Halo, we still love you!).

If you wish to know the backstory of GoW, watch the rolling demo after the title screen. I didn't even realise it was there until after my second playthrough (and don't get me started on the quick reload...duh)! During the game, you will be filled in with the smallest snippets of story, but that's it. One second us gamers complain that some games over-induldge us with storylines (the Metal Gear Solid series raise your hand), and the next second we cry aloud there's not enough story - why's this happening? Who's that? What's his favourite colour?!

It's humans versus aliens. The player takes on the role of Marcus Fenix (the dyslexic version?), a huge hulking brute, armed with a deep scowl and scars. We haven't even met the aliens yet! Along the way, you form a team of four soldiers, my absolute favourite being Baird, who's a bit of a whiner. They all have their little character traits, and despite barely knowing anything about them, you become extremely protective of of your little squad by the end. "Don't die on me, you've so much to live for! What that is I don't know, but I'm sure it's something important!"

This could easily have been an FPS. But hey, with graphics like this, who wants the character models hidden (hears Gordon Freeman quietly sobbing in a corner). There's so many ways to hide and exploit the level design; I thought this was going to be a repeat performance of Farcry, where I ran through hordes of enemies (screaming), and just simply moved on to the next checkpoint. As if! It's a joy to watch the character tumble and roll, zig-zagging across the level (rather like a sailing...only there's no water, and you're not in a boat....hmm). The Torque Bow is an excellent weapon - shoot an arrow into an unsuspecting enemy and watch them explode a second later! A pity there's no realisation animation of their impending doom, complete with flailing arms and running in circles!

Speaking of graphics, they are amazing, aren't they? There were always doubts that it would never look as good as those suspiciously detailed screenshots, and that it certainly wouldn't have a smooth framerate to match. But it does! Like everything though, I have a slight worry. Remember when you first saw Virtua Racer in action? I over - enthusiastically cheered, "Graphics will never get any better than this!" So glad I was wrong, otherwise this game would have looked rather different.

Kevin Riepl has done a fantastic job wth the orchestrated soundtrack. It could have all gone so wrong and painfully cliched - cue bland rock music thumping loudly over the battle. "Cover me!" "Huh?" "I said cover me!" Guitar solo plays. Hmm, I dunno, maybe it could have worked! Ahem, no no no, Riepl has added a touch of class. There are homages to the Starship Troopers score; in fact the whole game owes a little to that film. I used to watch it all the time a few years ago, but after watching it recently, good grief was it ridiculous! And entertaining. I still can't work out whether the end credits music, complete with sound clips of Cole, is serious or a piss-take...

What with me not being on XBOX Live yet (hears cutlery being dropped, mouths agape, and dodges sharp objects), I do not yet know the joys of multiplayer. BUT I have sampled the pleasures of splitscreen co-op, the enducer of severe migraines and silly bitch fights with the room's other occupant. It's all good fun though, being able to reach over and slap your co-op partner who has died for the 50th time in a row - you can't do that online! I'm doubtful I could have passed Insane mode without a real person there to help. The A.I. would often run into battle like headless chickens on Hardcore mode, about as useful as scarecrows flung into a fight. Sadly, you cannot use the chainsaw on your teammate, which is a terrible pity...

My highlight of the game award goes to the enemies known as Boomers. BOOM! If for some reason you missed their battle cry, the controller vibrates in time with their stomping footsteps, which sound remarkably like my mother's. They bear a pasing resemblance to Resident Evil 3's Nemesis character who also liked to shriek aloud ("STARS!") before blasting you with a rocket launcher. Excellent stuff.

This has been one of the best gaming experiences of 2006 (I say, desperately trying to avoid eye contact with Shadow of the Colossus). The gameplay, the graphics, the level design, the music...There's usually something I like to pick a fault in. Ah yes - it's too short! I found a fault! Well, a semi-fault. Although with something like 'GTA: Liberty City Stories' felt like it would never end, so I gave up on it long ago, cast into the ashamed pile of unfinished games. So the verdict for this would be, a little bit more, but not too much. Which is about as clear as the storyline....

24.12.06