From the moment it was announced, Gears of War: E-Day promised to bring the series back to its roots. Marcus and Dom would once again be a focus in this prequel story, centered around the initial Locust invasion that started the series’ conflict. Yet, while the combat would maintain the classic gameplay loop that defined it in the first place, it would also come with several new movement options and mechanics. Even though fans still have until October 6 to see whether or not it is the entry that they’ve been waiting for, I had the chance to play a little bit for myself during Gamescom, and I am now more excited than ever to see this triumphant return of Gears of War.
The demo I played focused on the game’s single-player rather than its multiplayer. It takes place a little bit after the world’s first encounter with the Locust army, with many still trying to figure out where they even come from, and what their presence means for the future of humanity. The Gears do not have time to worry about that, though, as Marcus Fenix, Dominic “Dom” Santiago, Mags Carter, and Lucas Grey are re-conscripted into the frontline in order to try and push back the ongoing invasion. This is where the mission I played begins: with Captain Akila Grey tasking the newly formed Bravo Squad with retaking one of Kolona’s main bridges.
Obviously, though, the narrative was not the main attraction of this demo. That honor is reserved for the visuals and gameplay mechanics. In regards to the former, Gears of War: E-Day looks absolutely gorgeous. The detail in the environments and character models, as well as the blood and viscera generated from combat, is frankly unbelievable to look at. So far, this is definitely one of the best Unreal Engine 5 games I’ve seen in quite a while, and I really hope that the rest of the game is able to hold up to that standard.
Gameplay is incredible too, in how it manages to be both fast-paced and “weight-y” all at once. Much like older games, each character is heavy in the way they move and the way they attack Locusts. The sound design especially helps to back this up, with melee attacks and the sound of gunfire adding to the impact that both carry. At the same time, though, you now have way more ways to traverse the environment quickly, such as with the new slide option.
This lends itself to a game where every enemy encounter is exciting. I found myself hitting a flow state every time I’d see a Locust, as I had to figure out which weapon suited the situation the most, and quickly react to any actions that they took. Gunplay feels fantastic, thanks to not only the aforementioned impact, but with just how satisfying the controls feel. I loved using weapons like the sniper to attack enemies at a distance, or using the shotgun to quickly run up to a Locust and watch as I tore his body apart with the bullets.
It has been quite some time since I have played a Gears of War game. Even as a kid, I was always more interested in Halo rather than the third-person cover shooter. But, thanks to the demo I was able to play, and just how much fun I ended up having with it, I am now more excited than ever to see how this long-awaited return to form turns out when it releases on October 6 for Xbox Series X|S and PC.
