First part of act 3 is the best so far (the plant and the hail). Gears is at its best in close quarters combat, with densely populated cover opportunities. I don't agree with people who always want it 'bigger' with more enemies cause you have to pull back the perspective and 'zoom out' (guess people always want the 'epic', ugh). In Gears it's better when you're up close fighting a few locusts and the combat situation changes, which they do a lot in first part of Act 3. Zooming out is nice every now and then to change up the pace, but not too much.
Also didn't know that shooting the gastank of flamer would blow up the locust, very cool to see. Lots of other cool details like a down but not out scorched locust crawling and huffing and puffing from the smoke. He was behind cover so I couldn't see him but I could hear him, so I scorched him some more and he started screaming. The plant is also the prettiest part so far, those glass tubes look like concept art, incredibly beautiful. Haven't seen something that close to concept art in any other game.
The palette cleansers are a bit frustrating sometimes though, the vehicle section (in the snow) is better this time, but it's still not good. The ice breaking up reminds me of the end of Halo 3, which made me realize how there's no other game/shooter I've played that can change the combat scale as well as Halo can, it's great/fantastic at all level. From small quarters combat to big vehicle sections or battles on foot.
I'm really liking it, it's one hell of a ride and Gears does the 'squad' feeling better than anything else. I can remember all the characters and it's cool how the first part of the game has your squad constantly changing.
Still have to end act 3, just met up with some dudes in the cave.
