Key information
Gears of War: E-Day delivers an intense campaign experience depicting the fateful Locust invasion within the universe of Gears of War. The story centers on Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago alongside companions Mags and Lucas Reyes, exploring the tragic start of the war and establishing the relationships known from the original trilogy. The campaign is structured across five acts, featuring a linear introductory first act followed by a semi-open world structure from the second act onward that allows players to pursue side missions and collectables.
The campaign introduces enhanced movement options such as jumping, running, and climbing, paired with a massive, customizable arsenal including weapons like the Lancer and Longshot. Players can utilize supply caches to swap weapons, restock ammunition, and modify equipment using upgrades found in rigid boxes across the map. The game features cooperative mechanics where players can revive fallen teammates, though the normal difficulty level provides a demanding challenge that requires strategic positioning and movement.
Reviewing an early access version, the game showcases impressive visual fidelity, lighting, texturing, and dynamic audio. However, several bugs were encountered during the playthrough, including freezing cameras, unresponsive grenades, and enemies getting stuck behind barriers during horde encounters, which occasionally required reloading a save. Additionally, missing collectibles or weapon upgrade boxes can be permanently left behind as players advance through chapters, though this structure contributes to high replayability.
