War is hell. Especially when you’ve spent the last decade warring against massive galactic shrubbery and that just refuses to go away.

This is the third game in the multi million Gears of War series, where, as hulked out Space Marine Marcus Fenix, it’s your job to lead your crack team of space soldiers ‘Delta Squad’ into their last stand against the invading alien vegetables, the Locust Horde.

And that’s it really. That’s not to say it’s not a lot of fun, but the Gears of War series has always been unashamedly retro in its ambitions – and this instalment is no different. It’s an old school arcade third person shoot ‘em up with the addition of gorgeous graphics, a 10-12 hour campaign and an absorbing storyline.

The opening levels rushing about an under-attack battleship, dodging giant tentacles and zapping space-lobsters are only the beginning of this 12 hour slug-fest. It’s a bit like being in a 1980’s sci-fi action movie where you’re playing the Willis/Schwarzenegger/Van Damme role – and what’s not to like about that?

Add to this the three multiplayer modes - Versus, where players team up in a five-a-side face-off, and co-op modes Horde, which see players working together battling through 50 waves of baddies, and best of all Beast where you can play as the evil Locust.

It maybe a clichéd, tried and tested approach to the genre, but it works. While there’s nothing new in the routine - picking up new weapons, ducking behind cover and blasting everything in sight - Gears of War 3 is the most polished shooter out there.