Lancer Assault Rifle

The Lancer Assault Rifle, also known as simply the Lancer, is a fictional class of firearm weapons featured in the Gears of War media franchise. Variants of the Lancer appear in the video game series as well as in related media, beginning with Gears of War. The most well known model is the Mark (MK) 2 Lancer Assault Rifle, a mid-range assault rifle with a fully operational chainsaw for a bayonet, and is usually available as one of the starting weapons used by the protagonists of the series.

Lancer Assault Rifle
Cosplayer holding replica of a bloodied MK 2 Lancer Assault Rifle at San Diego Comic Con (SDCC) 2011.
PublisherXbox Game Studios
First appearanceGears of War (2006)
Created byJames Hawkins
GenreThird-person shooter
In-story information
TypeFirearm
AffiliationCoalition of Ordered Governments

The Lancer has been very well received since the inception of the Gears of War franchise and has been subject to numerous licensed merchandise. Video game journalists have called the Lancer one of the most iconic weapons in video games.

Characteristics

Within the series, the Lancer series of assault rifles are standard issue weapons for Coalition of Ordered Governments ("COG") soldiers. The Mark 1, also known as the Retro Lancer, has a traditional blade-type bayonet.[1][2] The Mark 2 Lancer Assault Rifle, the successor of the older Mark 1 model, is originally developed by Adam Fenix, the father of series protagonist Marcus Fenix.[2] Its chainsaw bayonet when accelerated will quickly kill its victim; this is usually represented by a short animation where the target is executed by dismemberment.[3] In Gears of War 4, Marcus Fenix wields a customized Mark 2 Lancer which features several design changes.[4] His "Custom Lancer" serves as the in-universe basis for the Mark 3 introduced in Gears 5, which comes in two variants: the standard Mark 3 with a chainsaw bayonet, and the Lancer GL which is capable of firing laser-guided clusters of grenades with its under-barrel mortar in lieu of a chainsaw bayonet.[3]

The Lancer has had its ammo capacity, magazine size, and firepower constantly downgraded and upgraded throughout the series due to gameplay balance concerns.[5]

Development

According to Cliff Bleszinski, Epic Games' original design director, the development team decided early in production for the first Gears of War that the default gun should be "very distinctive, multifunctional and, most importantly, fun to use", with inspiration drawn from The Evil Dead, Doom, and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.[1] He emphasized the developers' belief in the importance of a unique silhouette for the Lancer, so that it would be easily identifiable and instantly associated with the series' gun-based combat.[1] He explained that within the series' fiction, it is "critical to develop a firearm that is effective in battling the Locust – one that is devastating from both a strategic and physiological standpoint".[1] Senior concept artist at Epic Games James Hawkins developed several design iterations for the game's melee combat, which began as a circular buzzsaw before evolving into the chainsaw bayonet. Bleszinski recalled that the bayonet design was very well received by the rest of the team once it was unveiled, noting that "the chainsawing experience became increasingly rewarding" as the team refined the Lancer's feel and effect.[1] On the Lancer's ability to perform gruesome executions, Bleszinski remarked that "intimate violence is a pillar of Gears’ gameplay".[1]

Following the critical and commercial success of the first two Gears of War games, writer Joshua Ortega indicated at a New York Comic Con panel in early 2009 that the Gears of War franchise was intended to be a long-term plan that would go on for at least a decade, and called the Lancer "the new lightsaber".[6]

From Gears of War 4 onwards, the Lancer has a flashlight attachment, which is intended to accentuate the survival horror aspect of the game.[7]

Promotion and merchandise

The Lancer is a popular subject for Gears of War merchandise, with replica models often offered as standalone purchases or in a retail bundle to promote the release of video game instalments. One of the earliest examples was a life-sized Lancer replica offered by Amazon.com as part of a special Gears of War 2 retail edition bundle for pre-orders of Gears of War II prior to its launch date on November 7, 2008.[8] The replica Lancer is 36 inches long by 10-inches tall, and weighs 13 pounds; its trigger produces chain-saw sounds and a rumble effect.[9] Other examples include 1:1 scale replicas of Lancers by TriForce Sales made from high density foam, fiberglass and polyurethane composites;[10] a yellow "Car No. 13" Lancer with checkered taxi cab accents;[11] and scale replicas of Marcus Fenix's Customized Lancer, including a limited edition gold version, by video game accessory makers PDP.[12][4]

In 2013, Epic Games auctioned off three signed replica Lancers to help fund the medical expenses of a former Insomniac Games staff member following a hit-and-run car accident.[13]

The Lancer makes a crossover appearance in the 2020 video game Wasteland 3 as an equippable weapon.[14]

Cultural impact

Fandom

The Gears of Wars series' popularity have inspired homemade toy versions of the Lancer using components like Lego blocks,[15] or a Nerf Longshot paired with a toy chainsaw,[16]

Critical reception
The Lancer is and will remain the manliest weapon in existence until some invents a monster truck launcher, and then invents monster trucks built out of steak and hand-grenades. It's the only thing in the universe that makes charging at a giant alien with a regular bayonet look wimpy. It’s what happens when developers realize practicality has as much place in videogames as it does in lightsaber design, and then remember someone else owns that copyright so they’d better invent their own iconic weapon.

— Luke McKinney, "7 games that gave you the best weapon right away"[17]

IGN ranked the Mark 2 Lancer Assault Rifle 10th place on its list of Top 100 Video Game Weapons, with praise for the chainsaw bayonet and automatic rifle combination as well as the execution mechanic.[18] OXM staff included the Mark 2 Lancer in its list of "the 15 greatest guns in Xbox history" and called it their ideal "dystopian future-gun".[19] Nicholas Bashore from Inverse ranked the Lancer as the best weapon in the series, and noted its iconic status in the franchise as well as the entire video game industry.[20]

For Maddy Myers from Kotaku, the chainsaw variant of the Lancer is indispensable for the Gears of Wars series and the tendency for Gears of War 4 to reduce the usage of the Lancer throughout its single player campaign reduces her enjoyment of the game.[21] Edge Magazine staff said the "violent, messy, grim, clunky and somewhat absurd" Lancer "epitomises and fortifies the games’ style, tone and themes", and emphasized that in the video game medium "where guns are more common than plotlines, the Lancer does the seemingly impossible: it stands out".[1] Luke McKinney from Gamesradar described the "sheer release of joy, the yelling, the noise and clenching muscles and the endorphin release" he experienced when he pulled off a Lancer execution for the first time, noting that it is so effective "even the Locust use it, dropping the Hammerburst like the ridiculous non-chainsaw-inclusive piece of garbage it is".[17]

Edwin Evans-Thirlwell from Eurogamer described the Lancer as "barbaric yet precise, a clownish torture device that doubles as an unpretentious assault rifle with a generous magazine". Evans-Thirlwell recognized the Lancer's enduring popularity, calling it "one of the most recognizable video game weapons ever designed - an improbable hybrid worthy of Jekyll and Hyde", which he considers to be a summation of the series' "oddly persuasive mixture of styles and tones".[22] However, he noted that while the Lancer might be the signature weapon of the series and its "rockstar frontman", he expressed a preference for the Gnasher Shotgun's superior firepower.[22] Michael Goroff from EGM is less enthusiastic about the Lancer compared to other reviewers. He described the Gears of War series as one that "goofily fetishizes its weaponry—the essence of the game’s creativity lives within its guns". Goroff remarked that the series' guns are close enough to reality that players would recognize and embrace them as weapons, but are in truth too wacky and ridiculous to be taken seriously.[23]

References
  1. The Edge staff (September 1, 2019). ""We knew that our default gun should be very distinctive": Remembering the Gears of War Lancer, a weapon as ludicrous as it was essential". Gamesradar. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
  2. Nicholas Bashore (October 6, 2016). "Why the 'Gears of War' Chainsaw Gun Is Actually Pretty Great". Inverse. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  3. Andreadis, Kosta (September 19, 2019). "Gears 5 on Experienced and Insane – 6 combat tips to steer you to victory". Red Bull. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
  4. Alanah Pearce (October 18, 2016). "This Gears of War 4 Lancer Replica is Bloody and Awesome". IGN. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
  5. O'Connor, James (April 16, 2020). "Gears 5 Operation 3 Balance Changes Are Coming For The Lancer And Gnasher". Gamespot. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
  6. Andrew Webster (February 11, 2009). "Gears of War writer: the lancer is the new lightsaber". EGM. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
  7. Gwaltney, Javy (March 16, 2016). "The Weapons And Enemies Of Gears Of War 4". Kotaku. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  8. Alexander Sliwinski (July 29, 2008). "Amazon clarifies some Gears of War 2 Lancer details". Engadget. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
  9. "Kick Ass: Gears of War II Lancer," Game Informer 187 (November 2008), page 48.
  10. Dustin Burg (May 30, 2008). "Real-life Gears armor and Lancer coming soon". Engadget. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
  11. David Hinkle (December 15, 2012). "Gears of War Judgment 'Car No. 13' Lancer replica at GameStop (plus: Judgment footage)". Engadget. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
  12. Seth Macy (November 4, 2017). "This Life-Sized Gears of War 4 Gold Lancer Comes With Exclusive In-Game DLC". IGN. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
  13. Farokhmanesh, Megan (November 17, 2013). "Epic Games auctions Gears of War lancer replicas to help injured artist". Polygon. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
  14. "Wasteland 3 Lancer: how to get the Gears of War cameo weapon". RPG Site. September 12, 2020. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  15. Mallory, Jordan (October 1, 2011). "LEGO Lancer is a ludicrous, life-size labor of love". Joystiq. Archived from the original on October 2, 2011. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
  16. Thomas Ricker (February 20, 2008). "The Gears of War Nerf Lancer modification scares a locust horde of parents". Engadget. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
  17. Luke McKinney (May 11, 2011). "7 games that gave you the best weapon right away". Gamesradar. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
  18. "Mk 2 Lancer Assault Rifle". IGN. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
  19. OXM staff (March 5, 2017). "The 15 greatest guns in Xbox history". Gamesradar. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
  20. Nicholas Bashore (October 5, 2016). "The 5 Best Weapons in 'Gears of War'". Inverse. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
  21. Myers, Maddy (August 23, 2019). "Gears of War Isn't As Fun Without The Chainsaw Gun". Kotaku. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  22. Edwin Evans-Thirlwell (April 28, 2016). "7 games that gave you the best weapon right away". Eurogamer. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
  23. Michael Goroff (December 3, 2019). "No Blood for Imulsion: Gears of War and the Military-Industrial Complex". EGM. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
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