For a long time, I’ve been a Gear-Head, no, not talking about cars. I’m talking about Gears of War, baby! The grittiest tactical third-person shooter I’ve ever played by The Coalition. I love the series and the story, but one topic is always brought up in the games… Emergence Day. The dark day in Sera’s history when, globally, threats from underground began to emerge. Now, after so long, we can finally experience E-Day for ourselves in Gears of War E-Day. I want to give a massive thank you to Xbox for providing me the chance to experience E-Day early!
Gears of War E-Day puts players back in the large COG Boots of Marcus Fenix, who, while trying to celebrate the life of a fallen comrade, is forced to take up the fight against the Locust horde that is emerging from underground.
Now, onto the game itself! For returning Gears fans, the controls may be slightly different than what we’re used to, it’s not something dramatic. If I can get a handle on it, then you have no worries.
The sound design is insane! You’re probably going to have to lower the volume if you’re a headphone user because boyhowdy, this game is loud, but amazing!
Graphics are spectacular. Every detail is included, such as reflections in glass, liquids in bottles, and the impression of COG tags under Marcus’ shirt. The lighting is amazing and, to my surprise, you don’t really have to adjust it.
Gameplay-wise, this is where Gears of War E-Day shines. You can play the main campaign alone or with a friend; I’m lone-wolfing it. Like in the other games, using cover is a big part of it, and exploration will allow you to find collectables that expand on the lore. Some changes I’ve seen may be surprising. The Map Mechanic is brought back. As you explore, you may run into side missions; if you complete these side quests, you’ll unlock parts and upgrades for your weapons.
Overall, my experience playing Gears of War E-Day was enjoyable! If you’re a Gears fan, this is a must-play as it has everything you love about Gears and more! On my scale of 1-10, it’s a solid 10 for gameplay, graphics, sound, and story.
Gears of War E-Day is out now for those who have early access, but will be fully released on October 6th for Xbox Series X/S and PC.
