Original Gears of War included with Gears of War: Judgment

Gears of War: Judgment is the fourth title within the Gears of War series, which may turn some of you who haven't yet played the originals away from the game. That's understandable, but first let it be known that you are not alone.

According to Microsoft's "research", more than half of the customers who play Gears of War 3 did so without having played the original title. So take comfort in knowing that you can fully enjoy these later games without being exposed to the story beforehand.

But let's say you're a real stickler for playing all of the games in a series before playing the newest one. Microsoft and Epic Games are helping you catch up, by including a free Games on Demand Xbox LIVE download token for the very first Gears of War. Initial launch quantities of Gears of War: Judgment worldwide, except for Germany, will contain this token valued at $19.99.

Although you'll still have to purchase the previous two installments, this is a nice opportunity to dive into the Gears of War series and see what all of the hype is about. Gears of War: Judgment will launch on March 19, 2013.