Most of the time i'd also throw in with the "linear = poo" crowd, but GoW is one those series that works out because...
A. It doesn't sell itself on a single gimmick, rather, it adds genuinly clever gameplay mechanics and relies on no single mechanic but commands the use and unison of all of them.
B. It doesn't take itself seriously. At all. The story is sweaty man action movie nonsense and it knows it. I'm so tired of jRPG uber nerd stories present only for the sake of some wierd egotistical move on the part of the developers.
So yeah, I get along with Gears very well. I prefer open worldy-ness, but if you're going to make a linear game, Gears is a shining example of how you should do it.
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