Gears 5 Review

Gears of War has been one of Microsoft’s most important franchises. Despite the fact that it has gone through several iterations, the core gameplay has remained pretty much constant. Gears 5, then, stands out from the rest of the series. Not just because of the name, where it has dropped the “of War,” but also because of formulaic changes to the gameplay.

This isn’t that surprising, to be honest. Microsoft and The Coalition have to do something to make the series relevant again. Gears of War 4 failed to meet expectations or make a major impact. So, Gears 5 has a lot to do to rekindle the magic of the franchise.

Gameplay

Although there have been some changes, the core mechanics are the same as ever. Gears 5 focuses on the idea of getting into cover and blasting apart your enemies. Refinements to these basic mechanics, though, change them to their most satisfying form ever. New weapons have also been carefully blended with a selection of old classics. The end result is an action-packed experience that is possibly the best from the entire series. The developers have even removed some of the linearity present in older entries. Although much of the action still takes place in confined spaces, there are lots of expansive environments to explore as well.

A small but important addition is the ability to upgrade your robotic companion. Jack has several skills that you can add to its standard set of abilities. Previously, collectible items didn’t do much other than award achievements. Hiding away upgrades that actually do something gives the player more motivation to go out and explore. Especially when the abilities are actually quite helpful. For example, one can give you a temporary boost to your health while another electrocutes enemies.

Multiplayer now has a rewards system like free-to-play battle royale games. The more you play and gain experience, the better the rewards you have access to. Standard game modes you would expect to find are present, alongside a brand new mode called Escape. Microsoft promoted this new feature heavily before release. It is a co-op focused mode packed with adrenaline-inducing sequences. They are great fun to play through and are a refreshing take on the Gears of War formula.