Gears 5 Review
| Game Name: | Gears 5 |
| Platforms: | Xbox One, PC |
| Publisher(s): | Microsoft Game Studios |
| Developer(s): | The Coalition |
| Genre(s): | 3rd Person Shooter, Action |
| Release Date: | September 6th 2019 (Ultimate Edition), September 10th (Standard) |
| ESRB Rating: | M |
Gears is back and The Coalition put everything they can fit into it, in it. With new modes, game play, 4k, and tweaks to the overall system itself. One of the first issues with Gears Of War 4 was the shorter campaign and most fans of the series know that most times later down the line they release an extra chapter as a DLC, The Coalition let that ship slip away.
Now that Gears 5 is finally out we took a crack at it (a week before the official release) and we were giving everything we were hyped for and the wait paid off. The campaign is a continuance from the end of part 4 with some time that passed. You do start the game as controlling JD but as you play, the game switches to Kait as the main character and her story line develops. The Coalition has taking control of the Gears world and truly expanded what was first brought to us all those years ago and haven’t let the fans down.
The controls have been changed. And as soon as you start the game you play through boot camp. This is not skippable and everyone has to do it. The changes to the controller make for a bit of a problem when you are so used to every other Gears game. The biggest issue is the chainsaw on the lancer, this has been re-mapped from “B” to “RB”. It takes a few times getting accustom to it, and once you rev it up you know have to use both sticks to control the movement of the character. I would of kept it the original way.
Characters, oh yes! We get characters from Halo Reach and Terminator Dark Fate. I love where this is headed and truly hope that the Coalition keeps up with adding exclusive characters from other games and worlds. BUT, the whole gear packs and such have been removed and simplified. The store is just a few items and a character, but no more packs and micro transactions.
Horde is revamped and changed for the better. With hosting online games and private games as before. But now when you host a private game you get a team full of AI players. This is a blessing and a curse at the same time. They love to stand in your line of fire and follow you. One thing that did annoyed us beyond frustration is when trying to get the ribbon “coupe de grace” and you down the enemy, one of the AI players will follow you and steal your kill every. Single. Time. Truly frustrating.
Escape mode is the newest edition to the Gears players. You have a team and need to plant a bomb. The trick is of course is to get out alive. The best way we can put this is:
The concept of what made Gears, Gears is still there at the root of the game and the longtime fans that have stuck around through Judgement and now know the heart and soul of the franchise, and The Coalition has taken the job and elevated the game to the next level. The beautiful cut scenes, immersive story line is now opening up the world of Gears in a way we have never seen before. It felt as a narrow hallway and now it feels as that hallway has turned to an open ballroom with plenty of room to explore and grow.
Game 2 Gamer’s Final Score : 5/5
Replay Value: High
