Doing a sequel to a series is tough enough as it is, but doing a prequel almost seems tougher. Not only do you have to create a game experience that reflects on past releases, but you also have to structure something that fits eloquently into the universe, or it throws everything out of whack. Still, more prequels have been succeeding as of late, particularly the previously released "Tomb Raider" and, to a high extent, Sony's "God of War: Ascension."

But now it's "Gears of War's" turn, and the pressure is really on Epic Games, as it has handed development duties over to People Can Fly, the developers behind "Bulletstorm." We're not sure what brought this transition forth, but no matter - we were eager to see if the team was up to task in putting Baird and Cole (aka "Cole Train") in the spotlight usually reserved for Fenix and Dom.

Let me say this, though - perhaps this was the change that the series needed, because with "Gears of War: Judgment," it feels fresh again. That's not to say it's perfect by any means, but it almost feels like the excitement is back, thanks to the inclusion of a new structure, some extras that add challenge to each mission, and multiplayer that is sure to get the community addicted all over again. The only thing missing is the sheer absurdity that was Bulletstorm - but this is Gears, so no matter.

The game follows Baird and his team at Kilo Squad, who are facing a military tribunal for actions I won't spoil here. But each member has a chance to tell their side of the story, and you re-enact these missions firsthand, playing through them and laying waste to Locust Horde soldiers. There's different structuring here, though. You play missions in segments, sometimes going from point A to point B, other times taking a Horde-like stance as you defend a position or a robot from harm. It works really well in the game's favor, though - especially considering the addition of the Declassified Missions.

These can be activated at the start of each stage, and doing so adds an extra layer of challenge, like extra enemies that strike from behind, limited vision, or a time limit before everything blasts to smithereens. Turning it on, however, lets you earn extra stars and XP, enabling you to unlock the supplementary Aftermath chapter, as well as being able to level up. Here, skill is everything.

"Gears of War" remains a beast to play, as you'll spend a great deal of time shooting and sawing enemies in half with your Lancer - as you should be. But People Can Fly managed to improve the controls in its own special way. Running around feels much tighter, and the aim feels a bit smoother as well, especially when you're surrounded and need to get your shots off right. It's also helpful being able to throw grenades without selecting them on a sub-bar - sticking them to enemies never felt so good. The only negative is, when you're playing on your own, your teammates can be idiots, sometimes running right past you when you're in the need for revival.

Luckily, multiplayer more than makes up for this. You can play through the game in co-op, with up to three people online (or two people locally) to drive your team to victory. And each soldier feels perfectly balanced, as there isn't any sort of unfair advantage playing an older character or anything like that.

If you prefer fighting your friends, People Can Fly has you covered as well. Horde Mode is missing, but the new Survival and OverRun Modes fill in wonderfully, with plenty of waves of enemies to defeat and points to overtake. The new Free-For-All Mode is interesting, if only to watch humans saw other humans in half - a first for the series. And of course, Team Deathmatch is back, so you can enjoy the new maps that are offered here in traditional play. It's a lot of fun, with only some minor server issues getting in the way. (Epic will probably address those by the time you hop on this week, though.)

Judgment doesn't move the series forward that much in terms of presentation, but it's still quite good. The new areas you run through are excellent, and the animations are smooth as ever, particularly when you're gutting a Locust with your Lancer and watching blood fly everywhere. There are occasional problems with the camera, as you can't see an enemy pounce from behind every once in a while, but otherwise, this is nothing short of dazzling to watch. The audio is strong too, with great music throughout and solid voice acting. And yes, it's fun to hear "Cole Train" back in action again. "WHOO!"

Though "Gears of War: Judgment" can't be considered the best in the series, it's far better than we thought it would be, surprising us with gameplay touch-ups, strong multiplayer additions and a campaign that keeps moving forward with new challenges. It's nice to see People Can Fly take the ball and run all the way into the end zone with it. Can't wait to see how the victory dance fares ...

Score: 9

Playable on: Xbox 360; Xbox Live

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