I believe a lot of veteran Xbox fans are pretty hyped about the release of the new Gears of War title, Gears of War E-Day. And I think that’s mostly because, unlike Gears 4 and 5, E-Day somehow brings that old, familiar, brutal, and dark vibe from the first three games right back to the forefront. Even though we are still a few months away from the full release, last weekend we had the chance to play the Open Beta, which, as always, is heavily focused on the multiplayer portion of the game. So, without further ado, let’s jump straight into our impressions.
The first interesting thing is tied to the game’s mechanics. Even though Gears of War E-Day is set before the events of the very first game, the mechanics are massively upgraded compared to what we’ve seen in Gears titles so far. So much so that it makes you wonder: how did the characters in the franchise manage to forget how to jump with each subsequent title? Okay, to be fair, they probably just got older. All jokes aside, the improved mechanics are the central focus of this beta, and they deserve nothing but praise.
It all still boils down to the same core principle: the gameplay is primarily focused on cover-based mechanics. However, what has been added, besides the ability to jump, is a sprint + slide combo. Alongside jumping, there’s also faster climbing and vaulting over obstacles. And it’s all here for a very good reason. Unlike previous games, E-Day relies much more heavily on the verticality of its new maps. Combat no longer takes place exclusively on flat surfaces with conveniently placed spots to crouch and pop shots over cover. Instead, there are sections of the map where you have to jump, set up ambushes, and genuinely think ahead. Even though these additions make the game much faster than before, it is actually more tactical, forcing you to think differently, especially in objective-based modes. What remains exactly the same is the focus on 4v4 matches, at least in this beta, which is a highly welcome decision, because I think throwing more players into versus matches would just create absolute chaos.
I really loved these fundamental changes to the mechanics and the overall flow. As I mentioned, the matches are much more dynamic, yet for veteran fans, all the classic tricks and quirks are still there, like the infamous wall bounce. Honestly, I have no idea how new players are going to react to that notorious mechanic being in this game.
As for the weapons, the familiar arsenal makes its return. You’ve got the Lancer (now called the Prototype Lancer), the Retro Lancer (which still has “Retro” in its name for some reason), and the Longshot. But the absolute star of the show is, once again, the Gnasher, if you master this weapon, you really don’t need anything else. However, the beta also let us test out two new toys: the Gutpuncher, a grenade launcher that comes in very handy in specific scenarios, and the Incinerator, a shotgun that obliterates enemies in close-quarters combat, and even at mid-range if you learn how to shoot it properly. Because a single well-placed shot can literally melt an enemy charging straight at you.
What genuinely blew me away in this beta is the new revision of Horde mode, or rather, the Horde Siege mode. This is a mode where 12 players are dropped onto a massive map, divided into three teams, with tasks and missions you can pick up and complete all over the map until the moment comes for extraction. This introduces a really nice twist to Horde mode, which, honestly, I was never a massive fan of in its original form. Because Horde Siege takes place on such a large scale, the matches feel significantly more dynamic and thrilling than before. Even though there are twelve players on the map, each four-player team has its own missions to tackle on different ends of the battlefield, though there are specific Events where it’s highly beneficial for all teams to join forces. Or, you could simply pick up a mission to help out another team that’s struggling to clear their own objective.
The entire dynamic in Horde Siege is simply executed to perfection, and I can’t believe I’m about to say this, but I found it far more exciting than the standard 4v4 Versus mode, which I absolutely adored in every previous game, especially in Gears of War Judgment, solely because of the Retro Lancer. I’m not saying the Versus mode in this game is bad; it’s better than ever, and it’s a pure joy to play, particularly because of that newfound verticality. But Horde Siege is just something else entirely.
The one thing that took me a bit more time to adapt to was the control scheme. It has been changed compared to previous Gears games, but that was simply a necessity due to the new mechanics. Sprinting is now much more fluid, and like in most other games, if you’re playing on a controller, it’s mapped to the Right Analog Click. Jump is mapped to Y (which makes a bit less sense, unless you’ve been playing The Elder Scrolls games), while Cover and Roll remain on A and B. All other controls are virtually untouched, but just these few changes are more than enough to completely confuse your brain for a while.
Even though this is just a Beta version, and strictly the multiplayer portion, I can’t ignore the fact that graphically, the game looks simply stunning in every possible regard. I’m sure the Single Player campaign will look even better, but this might be the most fluid and beautiful UE5 multiplayer game to date, running at a rock-solid 60 frames per second in Multiplayer mode.
Gears of War E-Day, or at least this Beta we played last week and over the weekend, is the perfect proof of how a new entry in a franchise can retain absolutely every aspect and feature you loved in the originals, while simultaneously improving and upgrading just enough so it doesn’t break out of its established mold. It’s a very strange feeling when you play this, because on one hand, it’s that good old Gears of War, but on the other, it feels like a totally new game, which, to be fair, it is, and it’s better and more exciting than anything we’ve seen so far. The Coalition somehow managed to brilliantly combine the old and the new, making it feel more “old” than “new,” if that makes any sense at all. But anyone who has ever played and loved Gears multiplayer modes will understand exactly what I mean the second they try it. And for newcomers, I really can’t see a better moment to jump into the Gears of War franchise than right now.
The second Beta weekend kicks off in just a few hours and is open to all players, so download the beta, kick back, and enjoy!
