Thank you to XBOX and The Coalition for allowing me to be fortunate enough to gain access to the recent closed multiplayer preview for Gears of War: E-Day (GOW) on PC, and boy did it deliver. I’ve been yearning for one thing – The old school Gears feel, and thankfully, GOW more than delivers.
Within minutes I found myself instinctively active reloading after every kill and wall bouncing between cover. Coupled with the weighty movement and tight cover based shooting, I was instantly reminded of the early days playing co-op on the Xbox 360 with my best friend at the time. It may have only been a three-day playtest, but the foundation feels incredibly solid.
GOW brings back the COG and Locust in chaotic PvP and PvAI across Versus, Team Deathmatch, and Conquest, while Horde Siege is available for PvE enjoyers. Additional skins, poses, and profile banners are available to unlock, and the overall approach to customisation feels reasonable, reminding me of Helldivers 2 more than the likes of Fortnite. That said, I still believe premium currencies and cosmetic stores should stay out of games wherever possible.
Multiplayer also embraces the classic arena shooter philosophy, with powerful weapons placed around each map for players to fight over. GOW balances long range cover based firefights with fast paced shotgun duels exceptionally well, rarely giving you a moment to breathe. Sadly, rifles currently feel underpowered, particularly when landing headshots. Shotguns don’t necessarily feel overpowered, but the game certainly leans towards close range engagements.
That said, I can see this changing once players begin coordinating properly. During the playtest, matches were chaotic, but a full squad communicating over voice chat would likely make rifles much more effective by focusing targets together. The returning downed mechanic, allowing players to be revived twice before finally being eliminated, also encourages teamwork without feeling like it slows the pace.
Overall, Gears of War: E-Day already feels like a return to what made me fall in love with the franchise all those years ago. It isn’t trying to reinvent Gears, it’s bringing back the formula that made the series great. Weighty combat, Active Reload, wall bouncing, and an emphasis on teamwork all feel exactly as they should.
Needless to say, if you’re a Gears fan, there’s plenty to be excited about. After years of waiting for classic Gears to return, E-Day is finally here.
