Gears of War E-Day Review (Xbox Series X/S & PC)

At least we know that Marcus and Dom survive the first days of the Locust invasion because, my God, does the fight get hopelessly brutal. At times, I knew I was done for. I was, indeed, done for, and needed to give myself another shot. I needed to be kind to myself when I failed and be toughest on myself during combat. If I could hold the fort a moment longer, push back the Locust Horde back to the heathens from whence they came, perhaps I might delude myself into thinking that this isn’t a war that goes on into the 2006 to 2011 original trilogy. Those were the best that Gears of War has ever been. The classics that deeply understand the core that makes the series revered among fans.

Since Gears of War 3, the series has been experimenting with fresh ideas. But it remains so. Cover-based tactical combat has never been as good as Gears of War 3. The chainsaw bayonets, shredding through tank-like enemies like yourself. The grit of the heavy-handed explosions and nonstop, chaotic bullets flying out of your actively reloaded guns. And the story? Oh, what endearing characters Marcus and Dom are. What strong bonds between soldiers, amid a compelling drama unfolding as if it were the armageddon. And now, we have a new mainline entry, a painful seven years since the last 2019 Gears of War 5. Will the new title return us to the roots of the franchise? Will it ignite a flame that had started to burn dangerously dim?

Run It Back

A few items to note in the new Gears of War E-Day. It’s the prequel to the original Gears of War, still featuring Marcus and Dom, thank God, and much younger than before. They are, however, joined by two new soldiers. The Pendulum Wars have only just come to an end. Marcus and Dom are settling into momentary peaceful times that don’t last too long before the Earth’s crust cracks open, and from the burning embers emerge the most terrifying monsters. These creatures rip apart civilians in seconds. They tear through the city streets like vagabonds. Ain’t no doubt about it. The Locust Horde has arrived, and they’re unreasonably pissed off.

It’s some delicious graphics, though, I’ll admit. The kind that runs up your adrenaline levels. Watching these creatures emerge from the Earth feels so surreal. I can imagine my undying screams in the moment, trying to remind my feet how to run like the wind. And they sure do, everyone is making a run for it. Everything is in disarray. And yet, you can tell that this is only the beginning of chaos. It can absolutely get much, much worse. 

Close Enough

Cue our heroes. The Bravo Squad, running headfirst into danger. The bravehearts who will rescue the alien planet Sera from completely falling apart. And joined by two newbies. Well, newbies to the squad. Mags Carter isn’t new to the action. She’s only just come from fighting in the Pendulum Wars and could use a break. But duty calls, as does Lucas Reyes. This one’s a rookie. And at first, he’s overshadowed by Marcus and Dom’s strongly established characters and personalities. Even Mags receives a lot of TLC in the personified dialogue and character explorations. These are a strong crew to follow along on their adventures through Sera, with Lucas eventually catching up to the absorbing momentum down the line.

And that’s one of the strongest elements in Gears of War E-Day. I’m actually not surprised by it that you enjoy a pretty compelling story that centers on loss, momentary vulnerability, and the mountains you can move standing together against whatever is thrown at you. The squad lives on, stronger and more determined to eliminate the threat to humanity, whatever the cost. Perhaps the story doesn’t reach the same highs as the original trilogy. It’s often the case that the introduction to an exceptional franchise remains the strongest and most memorable. But I won’t undermine the strong writing and effort into bringing these characters to life that The Coalition has so passionately dedicated themselves to realising.

Spatial Awareness

Exploring a bit on Sera itself. Peace has only reigned here for a heartbeat. A fleeting moment that people were only beginning to grow comfortable with. But alas, a new threat emerges that no one has ever seen before. No one is prepared for it. Not the squad we’re relying on to save the day. Yet, they fall back on muscle memory. (Or you do). Perhaps a few differences, though. Rather than a large-scale conflict, Gears of War E-Day is more grounded and localized. It takes you on a mostly linear path, clearing smaller sections of chaos at a time. Within these areas, though, you can move around. And interestingly, you can stumble onto hard cases with weapon mods. 

Please do crack these open. They’ll hold upgrades you can boost and even modify your loadout with. Rather than experiment with attachments in the menu, you can discover new weapon strengths and abilities on the ground. And anything goes. Faster reloads. Better aims. Buffs to critical damage. You might get lucky and nab yourself infinite ammo or a larger magazine. Definitely not something you want to neglect searching for. And while at it, you can stumble onto side missions, too, some of which reward you with additional weapon mods.

Cut in Half

That’s right. Even while you’re emptying rounds of ammo into a world boss, it doesn’t always have to be intense. You don’t always need to be running out of breath, dipping in and out of cover every minute of your playthrough. There are moments of reprieve that I greatly appreciate, exploring the semi-open areas for trapped survivors you might rescue. I think it’s a nice balance that ensures you don’t leave gaming sessions drained, because it’s entirely possible. Battles are chaotic, constantly sending enemies your way. Enemies who are so damn stubborn sometimes, they can take multiple shots without flinching. It depends on the weapon you use, of course, but I did get frustrated at times when I took headshots, and the enemy somehow survives it. They’d still come running up at me, at which point I’ll give them the bloody chainsaw cut-in-half they’re asking for.

It leaves me exposed, though. Melee strikes have a slower cooldown. And they’re not always a guaranteed kill. But they sure are a bloody takedown that leaves me pleasantly satisfied. Otherwise, I’m dodging in and out of cover. Although the transition is so smooth that it never feels sequential. The action flows smoothly, still holding on to the original’s classic cover-based tactical and active reload formula. If anything, it’s more fluid and responsive. The camera view obliges to my every move, zooming in and out of focus as I aim and fire enemies close enough and far away, regardless. Once you’re in perfect synchrony with the rhythm and flow of Gears of War E-Day, all that’s left is to ruthlessly eliminate every threat, giving them the level of brutality they deserve. 

Modern Experience

And even as you focus on staying alive, your teammates will be pulling their weight alongside you. Well, if you’re playing solo, the AI can be relatively unreliable in helping you out of tight spots. Still, you’re better off with player-controlled teammates. Way more fun that way, especially jumping into the multiplayer modes, and the famed Horde Siege. It’s just as chaotic, brutal, and responsive as you’re hoping for it to be. If anything, all the elements in Gears of War E-Day seem to work in tandem. They seem dedicated to ensuring they give you the most seamless, pleasurable, and unforgettable modern Gears of War experience we’ve been waiting for. From the story, to the environment, the combat, and the mission varieties, The Coalition has another masterpiece in the bag.

Verdict

Gears of War E-Day is explosive. It’s chaotic, bloody, and brutal. This isn’t just from the combat, but in the destruction of the city happening around every corner you turn. You’re trying to put the genie back in the bottle with only four playable characters. But that’s all you need. All the heavyweight tank-like soldiers who can take the heat and respond in mad fury. They have the support of a competent, powerful, and dynamic weapons and armor system. One that you can amplify and modify during runs. You can find side missions that further strengthen your efforts toward keeping planet Sera safe. 

You’ve probably noticed that I’ve been raving about Gears of War E-Day all through. Even if I tried to pinpoint a flaw worth mentioning, it wouldn’t take away from the guaranteed fun and satisfaction you’ll have playing the campaign and multiplayer rounds. This is exactly how you return from a seven-year hiatus, with a strong understanding of what makes the series great, while also elevating the experience with fluidity, responsiveness, and modern slick touches that bring the overall experience to one that’s worth playing.