Take the original game's content out of the picture for a moment. Forget the fun cooperative firefights and the flanking maneuvers. Ignore the visceral melee combat and punched-up violence. Don't pay any attention to the detailed architecture and solid level design.

Here is a textbook example of a smooth transition to the PC.

The game's menu looks nearly identical to the Xbox 360 version. The multiplayer operates in much the same way, with matchmaking supported by Games for Windows Live, supporting the same local and online cooperative options. Even the PC version's achievement points can be carried over to your Xbox 360 score. All of this works wonderfully.

But much like Resident Evil 4, Gears of War was a deliberately paced game, and not one that would immediately take to the PC platform. Though it adds new content in the form of five singleplayer chapters, three multiplayer maps, and some improved visuals, it all really comes down to the controls--and thankfully, developer Epic Games has nailed that aspect in every way.

Control Freaks

Of course, when using an Xbox 360 controller for Windows, the game feels virtually identical to the Xbox 360 version. However, rather than relying wholly on the gamepad to deliver the authentic Gears experience, Epic has taken us keyboard and mouse users into full account. The "A for All" setup of the Xbox 360 version--which allowed users to dive, run, and enter cover using only the "A" button--has been converted into a "Spacebar or Double-tap WASD for All" option. It's not nearly as complicated as that sounds.

For instance, double tapping the "D" key will send you diving to the right, while a single tap of the spacebar while holding "D" will do the same. I found a combination of both controls to be optimal, as did some of the Epic crew. Double-tapping "W" put my character into the crouched hustle, followed by a simple tap of the spacebar to slide into cover. This feels almost as natural--if not moreso--than the Xbox 360 version, and takes only a minute of practice to warm up to.

In an interesting bit of programming, the game's tooltips will actually change on the fly depending on the current control input. This brings up another elegant solution. To counteract the increased accuracy of the mouse--which very well could have ruined the challenge of the game, let alone the multiplayer balance--Epic has in turn increased the weapon recoil for mouse users, applied automatically upon detection of input.

In fact, at one point I was playing with an Xbox 360 controller in one hand and a mouse in the other, the recoil changing in real-time. The Epic developers had earlier remarked that there should be a special achievement for doing so. "Control Freaks," quipped Epic's Cliff Bleszinski, always ready with the witty achievement titles.

Though the game won't accept simultaneous input from both, you can move with the controller, stop, aim with the mouse, and fire on either. Performing a test-fire with the mouse steadied at one point on a wall sent a spray of bullets straight up to the sky. Seconds later, firing at that same spot with an Xbox 360 controller created an impact smear measuring only a few feet in length. Some serious tweaking has certainly taken place, and while it's not enough to annoy, it is enough to make a difference in balancing the gameplay for the laser-accurate PC crowd.

Extra recoil obviously won't be much of an issue if your target dies with the first shot, so another hindrance had to be devised for sniper rifles. To partly solve this issue, players who take damage while attempting to snipe will now have their aim affected. As compared to the rock-solid shooting arm of the 360 version, you'll now have to be a bit more careful, and a good deal faster, when sniping at players from afar.

Despite the added kick-back, playing Gears on the PC is an altogether freeing in comparison with the original. After a few hours with the game, I much preferred the PC controls. Quickly moving on the diagonal, snapping from enemy to enemy, and switching weapons with a click of the mouse wheel was all too easy, but in a good way. Plowing through the new singleplayer content, it really did feel like a fresh experience.

The New Adventures of Timgad

The five new singleplayer chapters focus on the area of Timgad, and fill in a little of the story before the original Act 5 missions. Timgad itself isn't particularly notable. Beginning with a battle to lower a drawbridge, the extra levels are just that--extra levels. These new spaces aren't radically different from the original Gears levels, although some were satisfyingly difficult. No, the new hallways and courtyards aren't worth mentioning in detail. What really makes the new content is the Brumak.

Going back to the original Unreal Engine 3 tech demo, he was there. Then he showed himself in a trailer. He followed that up with an even more popular appearance in a television commercial. It is altogether surprising he doesn't have his own IMDB entry. And yet, he was nowhere to be seen in the original Gears. Where was the Brumak?

Where have all the Brumaks gone? Continue reading to find out.