Gears of War needs no introduction. For many players, particularly those who owned an Xbox 360 in its heyday, Epic Games‘ original trilogy was a highlight of that generation and set a gold standard for third-person shooters. Now, with the Gears of War: Reloaded remaster set to launch for Steam, Xbox Series X, and PlayStation 5 later this year, a return visit to Sera to tangle with the Locust seems timely.
There is so much to love about the flagship franchise, whether for new players who have never sampled its gruesome delights, or anyone who just wants to pick up a Lancer again and gun that chainsaw bayonet for old time’s sake.
10 The Challenging, Rewarding Combat
Making Players Work For Their Bloodshed
The original Gears of War introduced a version of third-person combat that focused on making the best use of the surroundings. Players who ran headlong into combat could expect a swift demise. Using the cover mechanic, watching the ammo counter, and drawing beads on targets in priority made up the core of the gameplay.
As the sequels emerged, new enemies that challenged that style were introduced, meaning that things were always fresh.
9 Co-Op Done Right
Keep Your Friends Close
Gears of War is from an era where campaign co-op was still a huge selling point, and it has aged like wine. Managing a combat area between two individuals, co-manning different vehicles, and tangling with larger-than-life bosses felt great.
Gears of War 2 introduced Horde Mode to add an arcade twist, which has become ubiquitous across multiple genres, and Gears of War 3 expanded co-op to four players.
8 The Oppressive Setting
Que Sera
The original trailer for Gears of War featured Marcus Fenix running desperately through the dark, set to the tune of Gary Jules’ stripped-down cover of Mad World. It set the tone for how Sera feels in the games — a dark, menacing alien world where humans are just barely holding on.
The ruins and hovels above ground give way to a cathedral of biomechanical horror below, which is when it becomes clear just how alien Sera is, a feeling that the lighting, music, and design execute beautifully.
7 The Lancer
Happiness Is A Chainsaw Gun
Rarely in any game is the default starter weapon the fan favorite, but the Lancer rifle has become iconic. Even before examining the revving bayonet, the feel of it as it pumps heavy-duty rounds into blood-spurting Locusts exemplifies the marriage of controller feedback, damage physics, and sound design that all the Gears games do so well.
Then, of course, there’s the moment the player gets up close and finishes the job. The lancer shines, even in a franchise full of memorable killing tools.
6 Inventive Boss Fights
What Comfort Zone?
Many players would cite the early boss fight against the Berzerker as Gears of War‘s most memorable moment. It takes the player out of cover and challenges them to use the environment to lure the almost invulnerable beast into the open. It’s tense, clever, and emblematic of everything that makes the game great.
It’s also one of numerous boss battles throughout the original trilogy, from Gears of War 2‘s wily Skorge to the final showdown with Queen Myrrah in Gears of War 3.
5 The Humor
Laughing In The Face Of Death
Credits: Epic Games/The Coalition/Microsoft studios
Perhaps the most refreshing thing about the Gears of War games is that they don’t take themselves too seriously. The gang of over-muscular stars quip, roast one another, and make light of their circumstances even at the most dire.
In the era of the original trilogy, far too many shooters took themselves too seriously. The Gears games knew they were ridiculous, and revelled in it.
4 The Locust
An Enemy To Remember
Anyone looking at screenshots of the game might assume that the Locust are just an endless horde of chunky grotesques, but nothing could be further from the truth. The cast of foes is broad and diverse, with each new one challenging the player to switch up.
They don’t lack for personality, either, especially the Boomers and Grinders, who gleefully repeat the root word of their names as they open fire.
3 Gory Death Animations
Look, Ma, No Face
Gore in shooters is part and parcel, ever since Quake introduced the ‘giblets’ mechanic, but Gears of War took things a step further.
The animation and sound design depict every laseration, detonation, and dismemberment in eye-watering detail, and the damage players inflict feels genuine and potent. Pulling off an execution in Gears of War is a joy that few other games have successfully replicated.
2 A Surprisingly Nuanced Plot
The Hidden Depths Of Sera
Much like the humor, the actual narrative of the Gears of War trilogy elevated it above many cousins of the genre. Conscription, bereavement, euthanasia, and revenge all factor heavily into the plot, and the second and third games even introduce a power struggle among the Locust.
There are some truly galling scenes nestled in the Gears of War games, for those willing to look.
1 Delta Squad
It's A Party Down Here
Nothing in Gears of War, not the story, nor the mechanics, nor the atmosphere, would be as effective without the central cast. Marcus, Dom, Cole Train, and Baird are the crucial, essential ingredients that make Gears of War such a joy.
The quips they fling about mid-battle, the sacrifices they make, and the ways they support each other lend Gears of War a beating heart that no grub can rip out. They may look like Linkin Park on steroids, but they carry the player from start to finish.
