Playing the opening sections of Gears of War: E-Day's campaign has rekindled enthusiasm for the series, immediately delivering on the core elements that define the franchise. The preview, covering the early parts of Act 2, featured Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago navigating the war-torn city of Kolona, quickly impressing with a healthy dose of familiar weapons, new gameplay evolutions, and the series' signature blend of narrative and action.
Combat Evolved
The early Act 2 segment sees Marcus and Dom, alongside fellow COG soldiers Carter and Reyes, embarking on missions after receiving their familiar COG armor. The journey begins with a trek through the devastated city of Kolona, with ash falling from a grim sky, evoking the destroyed beauty aesthetic of the original Gears of War. The path leads to a massive suspension bridge, the Allfather's Legacy Bridge, which serves as an early combat arena. This section introduces a degree of verticality, allowing players to mantle over cover, including Locust-used vehicles. Core weapons like the Mark-1 Lancer and Gnasher shotgun function as expected, but E-Day introduces an unlockable weapon mod system. Each weapon has mod slots, and beyond the default perfect reload bonus (now called Full Metal Jacket), unique mods offer distinct advantages. For instance, the Gnasher can be outfitted with an Auto Pouch mod that automatically reloads the weapon when stowed.
New Tactical Gear also offers short-duration buffs with cooldowns. The Adrenaline Injector, for example, instantly refills health and boosts damage while reducing incoming damage. Another option, the Sonic Disruptor, stuns low-level enemies in a cone. These elements suggest significant personalization and replayability, with the potential for a New Game+ mode featuring all unlocked mods and gear from the outset.
Downtown Combat and the Chainsaw Lancer
Following the bridge sequence, players advance towards Oria Stadium, where a civilian rescue operation is underway. Inside, they meet quartermaster Russ, who, upon learning Marcus's father's identity, facilitates the acquisition of the first prototype Mark-2 Lancers, complete with a built-in chainsaw. This moment marks a significant upgrade for the iconic weapon.
The game then transitions to the downtown area of Kolona, moving away from the more linear bridge section to a larger, multi-path combat space. This approach appears to refine the more open-world elements seen in Gears 5, offering a more focused experience with optional secondary objectives, such as rescuing a trapped family from a convenience store. This area also features Supply Caches, allowing players to swap weapons and mods on the fly. The preview culminates at the Octus Way train station, a sizable combat arena with multiple levels and flanking routes, providing a final opportunity to test various weapons and execute Locusts with the chainsaw Lancer.
Performance and Overall Impression
During the preview, two graphics modes were tested: Performance and a 30fps Quality mode. The Quality mode on Xbox Series X exhibited noticeable frame rate drops below 30fps in several areas, though Performance mode was reportedly stable. Developers are expected to address these issues in the remaining development period.
Despite this minor technical concern, the preview left a strong positive impression. Gears of War: E-Day's campaign seems poised to deliver a faithful return to the series' roots, focusing on the dynamic between Marcus and Dom and refining established gameplay mechanics. The early Act 2 slice suggests a successful balance between honoring the series' legacy and introducing compelling new features, generating significant anticipation for the full release.