Gears of War: E-Day, The Best Gears Experience Since the Original Trilogy?
- Platform Played: Xbox Series S and PC
- Accessed Via: Xbox Game Pass
- Progress: Act 4 – Campaign in progress
- Developer: The Coalition
- Publisher: Xbox Game Studios
Gears of War: E-Day has finally arrived, and after reaching Act 4 of the campaign, I can already say that this is shaping up to be one of my favourite Gears experiences since the original trilogy.
While Gears of War 4 and Gears 5 didn’t leave quite the same lasting impression on me, E-Day has managed to bring back much of what made me fall in love with the series in the first place.
In fact, I haven’t had this much fun with a Gears game since Gears Tactics, which I absolutely adored. Although the two games offer very different experiences, both have reminded me just how much I enjoy the Gears universe when everything comes together. And so far, E-Day is doing exactly that.
I’m still working through the campaign, so these are my personal impressions so far rather than a full review.
A Stunning Return to Gears of War
The first thing I have to mention is just how incredible this game looks.
Playing primarily on my Xbox Series S, with additional time on PC, I genuinely feel this is one of the best-looking games I’ve experienced on Xbox.
The lighting is fantastic, the environments are packed with detail, and the sheer scale of the destruction taking place around you is something special.
Buildings collapse, the ground shakes as enemies emerge from beneath the surface, and the world feels like it’s falling apart around you.
The sound design is equally impressive. From the gunfire to the enemies and the destruction happening all around you, everything sounds powerful and helps bring the chaos of Emergence Day to life.
It’s a visually and technically impressive experience, particularly when the action starts building.
A Story That Has Me Hooked
One of my favourite things about E-Day so far has been the story.
I absolutely loved the cold opening. It immediately grabbed my attention and set the tone for what was coming.
The characters have also been handled really well, in my opinion. I haven’t had any issues with how they’ve been portrayed, and I’m enjoying watching the story unfold.
Having played the earlier games, it’s refreshing to return to this part of the Gears universe.
I’m not going to discuss any major story details because I haven’t completed the campaign, but so far, I’ve been impressed.
Combat That Keeps You Moving
The combat is another area where E-Day really shines.
The enemies offer a good challenge without making the experience feel unnecessarily difficult.
What I particularly enjoy is how different enemies force you to approach situations in different ways.
You can’t always sit comfortably behind cover and pick everything off. Certain enemies push forward, force you to move and make you rethink how you’re going to survive the encounter.
There are plenty of enemies to deal with, but I haven’t found the combat overwhelming. Instead, it feels exciting and rewarding.
For me, this is exactly what I want from a Gears game.
Upgrades, Collectables and Side Missions
I’ve also really enjoyed the progression systems.
Upgrading weapons, ammunition and armour-related equipment feels straightforward, without becoming overly complicated.
I particularly appreciate being able to move away from the main objective occasionally and explore additional areas.
Some of these lead to optional missions that reward you for taking the time to investigate.
Collectables are another feature I’ve been enjoying. They give me an extra reason to explore rather than simply rushing through the campaign.
These additions help make the overall experience feel more rewarding.
A Few Performance Issues
As much as I’m enjoying E-Day, I have encountered some technical issues.
On Xbox Series S, I’ve noticed occasional stuttering and frame-rate drops during gameplay.
What’s particularly strange is that these problems haven’t necessarily appeared during the biggest battles or most action-packed moments.
Instead, I’ve noticed them in areas where relatively little is happening, which surprised me.
I’ve also experienced performance issues on PC, although these have been slightly different.
On two occasions, the frame rate dropped dramatically during cutscenes. Again, these weren’t particularly demanding scenes, making the sudden drops unexpected.
These problems haven’t ruined the experience for me, but they’re noticeable enough to mention.
Hopefully, performance can be improved through future updates.
First Look Verdict – A Fantastic Return So Far
Having reached Act 4, I’m thoroughly enjoying Gears of War: E-Day.
The visuals are outstanding, the sound design is excellent, and the combat feels challenging, exciting and rewarding.
I’m enjoying the story, the characters and the smaller additions such as weapon upgrades, collectables and optional missions.
For me, this is already shaping up to be the best Gears of War game I’ve played since the original trilogy.
My only real criticism so far is the occasional performance issue I’ve experienced on both Xbox Series S and PC.
If I were scoring the game based purely on my experience up to this point, it would certainly be heading towards the high 80s.
However, I still have more of the campaign to complete, and my opinion could change as I progress.