Fenix Rising, the third piece of downloadable content included in the Gears of War 3 Season Pass, was made available on January 17 th and we were given the opportunity to review it.

; ; ,

When DLC was first introduced, I know that I wasn’t alone in being excited for the possibilities of extended single-player content. Most games take the easy route and add more online maps, skins and...

+ Lengthy adventure; + Playing as RAAM rocks; + Nice piece of lore

Offers little new; Dialogue can be grating

Not Notch game all round, but for me it's like playing the first 2 games, getting a bit boring for me now and don't think I'll be playing the next one A+.

Chainsaw bayonets have been a secure staple in the Gears of War series ever since the first game and they still haven't changed. And why should they? Viciously ripping your opponent in half, reducing them to a puddle of chunky horror is the ultimate way to ensure an enemy isn't playing dead.

How does the first campaign DLC for Gears of War hold up?

Anyone who beat the first Gears of War is likely to remember the name RAAM. This lumbering Locust general served as the tough end boss of the game that launched a franchise, and now he's back as the primary antagonist of the first downloadable campaign for Gears of War 3 , RAAM's Shadow.

Playing as RAAM provides some gruesome thrills; Series' signature combat is in fine form

Locust levels present little challenge or diversity; Human characters aren't very appealing; Slow sections diminish excitement

Zigzagging through different perspectives is one of the tentpoles of storytelling in Gears of War 3 , so it makes sense that the game's campaign DLC would follow suit. But instead of hopscotching between various bros- and bro-ettes-in-arms on the COG side of things, RAAM's Shadow gets fancy on us.

+ Decent gameplay variety provides some new twists not found in the main game; + Throwback prequel storyline offers a good glimpse at past characters

? How does Barrick's cigar last until the end of the entire DLC?

Of the great many pock-faced star warriors of the Locust horde, none could make for a more enjoyable playable antagonist than General Raam: nine feet tall, mute (which, when you have Epic's writers putting words in everyone's mouths, is a significant bonus) and wielding a serrated sword and a swarm...

The final instalment of the Gears of War trilogy was released by Epic Games in September this year and I'm finally writing about it. It's testament to its quality that every time I've tried to sit down at my desk I have ended up playing it instead.

Whatever reasons for the delay, Raam's Shadow proves worth the wait.