The multiplayer isn't for everyone But I think the reason most people were originally drawn to the game was it's grittiness. It definitely doesn't shy away from blood, curb stomping, chainsaws, etc.

Meh... the first one sucked ass, the second was was actually fun if you had a friend to play it with.

As a blue namer I know I won't have much of an opinion on this, but even when I owned a 360 I prefered Halo.

I really enjoyed what I saw of the first Gears. I've not played it all the way through but I'd be compelled to if I owned a 360.

 
I prefer Gears 2 to be honest. I like them both, but I've spent more time with Gears 2.

Just saying, while yeah a forum's a great place to express an opinion...this thread doesn't really stimulate any good conversation.  
 
Giving you some legit advice is all.  Selling bad games is fun!

Well on the multiplayer its hard to get in to a gears game now because most of the player on their no all the glitches by hart and will own your ass so that makes it less fun for sure...

It started the cover system trend. Your problem is in playing it a couple years late. It's not like those Gears one reviews were done last week, after all the OTHER active-cover games refined things, including Gears 2. It was very much clunky, but you don't notice when there's nothing to compare it to.

you know what? every damn bad thing you said about the game is true. 
and you know what ? when i played it i had so much fun my balls exploded.

 
I really liked the first Gears of War because of its simplicity .  just run and gun .. and take cover ... and gun more.
 
I mean yea the story was meh and it was horribly repetitive,  but yet very compelling .

@Novyx:
I know, I have a bad habit of playing popular games too late.

@Jeff:
I know, but in all honesty, there are games that do age well, but I guess Gears of War is not that kind of game. And I agree with it's influence. The cover system was ingenious when it came out in 06.

Gears 2 is better. Horde mode is really fun.

" you know what? every damn bad thing you said about the game is true. and you know what ? when i played it i had so much fun my balls exploded. "

" @Ahmad_Metallic said:

" you know what? every damn bad thing you said about the game is true. and you know what ? when i played it i had so much fun my balls exploded. "

I have to agree with this. "

I didn't enjoy the first gears. I don't know why, something just didn't click with me. But I loved Gears 2, and after that I went back to the original and loved that too. I dunno why. I guess I'm just weird.

I thought it was a fun game to play with a buddy. That being said, I didn't love it enough to warrant the purchase of it's sequel. 
But you're absolutely right, that multiplayer business is seriously uninviting. If you don't have a vet watching you're back, you're screwed.

You dont have to be impressed. I wasn't either, and I'm still not. For some reason, the Resident Evils (4 and 5) have been the only third person shooters i've liked. 

@Novyx said:

"It started the cover system trend. Your problem is in playing it a couple years late. It's not like those Gears one reviews were done last week, after all the OTHER active-cover games refined things, including Gears 2. It was very much clunky, but you don't notice when there's nothing to compare it to. "

I didn't like the first Gears at all, even when it was new.  Bad graphics, bad framerate, boring action.  The 2nd Gears is so much better.  I went from hating it to liking it a lot.

What kinda games do you enjoy? It may not be the right game for you.

you have to be good to enjoy multiplayer, because most players are veterans and will demolish you. Also i gotta say the level design is amazing. The campaign rocks and its a good game, at least for its time (Q4 06).

"Meh... the first one sucked ass, the second was was actually fun if you had a friend to play it with. "

I like both Gears of War games. I found the controls to be tight and responsive. However, it controls very differently to other shooters and has a slower pace. If you can't adjust to this, then yes, you will hate the game.

I really enjoyed both Gears single player campaigns but the multiplayer, especially in the second, is terrible.

"However if you tried Gears 2 you would be happy that they improve on some of the story telling despite it still being your average setting to put you in the given situations."

  I just also picked up the first gears. My first impressions was that it was over rated and that there was nothing good about it. But as a couple weeks went by and I went through it I found it a solid game. The Mp also took a little time to get in because anyone that plays the first one is mostly a skilled gears player but you find a way. 

Don't forget the context of the game. This was one of the first games to make that "stop and pop" cover system into a very fluid and functional game mechanic. Revolutionary, in a way. Thus, lots of praise.

I hated the mp, but the sp was suprisingly awesome. Especially chapters 3 and 4. 
 
I hated the end boss though.