#Raams shadow pack 2 series#

ThereвЂ™s very little divergence from this setup in the RAAM-led sequences, turning what could have been a fun palette-cleanser into a tedious crawl.

#Raams shadow pack 2 series#

What you get instead is a series of gauntlet-like advances in which RAAM and his guard push forward, defend a Locust вЂњThumperвЂќ as it performs a very specific (and spoiler-y) task, rinse and repeat. It would have been so much more fun though to play as RAAMвЂ™s crew in a more varied set of scenarios. In terms of their basic combat abilities, this Locust foursome offers up a nice change of gameplay pace from the cover-based shooty mechanics of your typical COG squad. Then there are the RAAM bits, which comprise maybe 30 percent of the DLCвЂ™s overall play time. ItвЂ™s telling that the most well-developed character thread goes to a secondary character who isnвЂ™t even in Zeta, Gears 3вЂs Jace Stratton.

Five chapters doesnвЂ™t present a whole lot of opportunities for character development, but the story in RAAM feels light even when you bear that in mind. HeвЂ™s just as gruff and no-nonsense as Marcus Fenix is, only he has a slightly smoother voice and an impressive set of muttonchops. Kim may be the squad leader, but Barrick is this mini-campaignвЂ™s principal protagonist. WhatвЂ™s baffling is, with all of these basic, seemingly awesome parts in place, RAAMвЂ™s Shadow never really manages to find its voice. Their sequences are pretty much designed to let you turn armies of COG forces into gooey puddles on the ground. The four playable Locust are all overpowered in their own ways, from RAAMвЂ™s COG-exploding Kryll flinger to his follower MaulersвЂ™ bullet-reflecting shields. RAAM is, of course, the final boss in the first Gears, so itвЂ™s not as if heвЂ™s an easy mark. ThereвЂ™s very little challenge in these sequences, but thatвЂ™s okay. The same is true of the sections where you get to play as RAAM and his Onyx Guard. Over the course of five chapters, you get to watch as Ilima City falls into ruin, transforming from a beautiful, sun-baked city into the sort of dark and gloomy battlefield that weвЂ™ve come to expect from the Gearsverse. The Seran city slowly crumbles around you as onscreen captions frequently appear to tick off the minutes until an approaching Kryllstorm arrives. The story unfolds in two parallel threads, with Zeta Squad working to aid in the evacuation of Ilima City while Queen Myrrha directs RAAM and his forces in their sustained assault. You also get to spend some time tromping around in the shoes of Locust General RAAM and his Onyx Guard protectors. Minh Young Kim (of Gears 1 fame) and rounded out by Michael Barrick (from the Gears comics), Tai Kaliso (Gears 2) and Alicia Valera, a brand new character. The focus of this adventure is on Zeta Squad, a foursome of COG soldiers led by Lt. Fenix is nowhere to be seen, not even in a cameo. The five-chapter campaign will take the average player roughly three hours to push through, give or take an hour depending on the difficulty and number of players (four-person co-op returns from the Gears 3 campaign). This week brought the first story-expanding downloadable content pack for Gears 3, a prequel tale called RAAMвЂ™s Shadow that drops players into the early days of the post-Emergence Day conflict. For 2400 MS Points ($30) you will receive both of these packs, as well as two other unannounced DLCs.Epic Games brought the saga of Marcus Fenix to a close in September with the release of Gears of Wars 3, but none of us ever thought for a moment that it would be the end of our time fighting in the human war against the Locust Horde. If you are interested in both, the season pass is the way to go. The first DLC will cost 800 MS Points ($10), while the second will cost 1200 MS Points ($15). вЂњRAAMвЂ™s ShadowвЂќ will be the second DLC released, following the November 1 DLC release of вЂњHorde Command Pack.вЂќ вЂњWe think fans are going to have a blast unleashing hell upon the poor humans for the first time in a campaign setting.вЂќ вЂњRAAMвЂ™s imposing size and strength, along with his Kryll shield, make him one of the most powerful and daunting foes in the вЂGearsвЂ™ universe,вЂќ Epic Games Design Director Cliff Bleszinski said. The DLC will also feature a shift in perspective, and have you play as RAAM as he attacks the humans. He was a hulking beast-right up until (Spoiler alert) you put several torque bow arrows and various other projectiles firmly in his head. For those that have forgotten or never played the first game, General RAAM was the final boss and the main antagonist throughout Gears of War.