The original Gears of War is an iconic masterpiece. When thinking back to the Xbox 360 era, it is up there with the classic Call of Duty games and of course, Halo as some of the best multiplayer games out there. The fast paced action and shotguns blasting everybody’s faces off was a fun time for Xbox fans. Now Gears of War Reloaded has arrived and is an upgraded version of the original. But, there is something new and historic here. Gears of War is now on PlayStation. Many gamers believed this day may never come but it is finally here. How does Gears of War Reloaded hold up and is it worth checking out for PlayStation players? Rev up your chainsaws and lets find out.
Delta Squad Reporting For Duty
The story of Gears of War Reloaded follows Marcus Fenix and Delta Squad in their mission to destroy the Locust, underground monsters that have declared war on humanity. The Locust emerged on E-Day (Emergence Day) and have laid waste to most of humanity before the humans used deadly technology to prevent humanity from going extinct. They did this with the Hammer of Dawn which unleashes deadly rays from satellites and destroys anything in their path. Humanity sacrificed towns and cities to do this and the decision didn’t end the war. The Locust survived.
Gears of War Reloaded takes place 14 years after E-Day. Players take control of Marcus Fenix, as him and his Delta Squad consisting of Dominic, his best friend, Cole, a former football star and Baird, a smart talking engineer type, are tasked with destroying the Locus horde once and for all. The story is simple. You are given an objective, go to this location, kill some Locusts and move onto the next.
While the plot is straightforward, the world of Gears of War is interesting and dark as Hell. There is tons of lore here as you progress. Marcus and Delta Squad are part of the Coalition of Ordered Governments (COG) and they are seen as a fascist type of government by those that don’t agree with them. This is stated by Stranded, normal civilians who try to steer clear of COG soldiers. When the game starts, Marcus is being busted out of prison by Dominic and even Marcus hints at the COG being corrupt when they sentenced him. There’s ton of these lore dropping lines in the game as you progress so it makes the world more immersive. Overall, simple plot. Just shoot bad guys and have fun.
Take Cover And Shoot
Gears of War Reloaded is a third-person shooter and the gameplay is simple but genius. Sprinting is just ducking and running at the same time but the most important is cover. Taking cover is vital in Gears of War in the campaign and multiplayer as you are fired on by enemies. You can see around corners or even what is behind you a great distance thanks to the third-person view. Very simple gameplay, just take cover and shoot.
Co-op Time Baby
Delta Squad are the main cast you stick with throughout the game. These characters are iconic and while the first game may not flesh them out too much, there is no denying that they have incredible chemistry and their dialogue is fun at times to listen to. Like I said, the story isn’t much as you just shoot your way through Locusts to detonate bombs in their homes which are underground and the game ends. It is a simple 6 to 8 hour story, depending on difficulty and can be completed in co-op with a friend. Co-op is the best way to experience the campaign for Gears of War Reloaded.
If you have a friend, drop in with them and have a fun time. Only complaint I have is the AI squamates are a bit dumb at times and can even block you when fighting which is very frustrating. There is also a squad order mechanic where you can tell them to squad up or cease fire but seems pointless as why would I want them to cease fire? Besides this though, the campaign is a good fun time but the multiplayer is where the game shines the most.
The Gnasher Is King
Gears of War Reloaded’s multiplayer is like a time machine back to the old days of gaming. You have the typical game modes like Team Deathmatch and King of The Hill. These game modes are the best die and respawn modes and offer loads of XP when playing. Probably the best if you want to get used to the gameplay.
Players will find themselves in fast and frantic encounters as players can jump between going out of cover and into gunfights. Lots of fast paced action and the best players can punish you. They move so fast you can’t comprehend it sometimes. This game has a high skill gap and will take getting used to.
Sniper rifles and grenades can be picked up throughout the maps. Every player starts with a Lancer rifle with a chainsaw and the Gnasher shotgun. The Gnasher is king in the multiplayer and is best for close quarters combat. It can be inconsistent at times. Sometimes you can blow someone away with one shot or be dropped yourself with one from a distance. Can be frustrating but satisfying when it works out. The Lancer rifle is good for mid or long distance but the chainsaw is the most fun. Nothing better than chopping up players and their guts cover your screen. This is the beauty of Gears of War Reloaded.
Maps are fine. They are small but get the job done. The maps offer tons of different flanking positions so player intelligence is vital, especially in Warzone mode where each player has only one life per round. There are twenty maps in total, each one different with many pros and cons. Lots of content to mess around with here.
Verdict
Gears of War Reloaded is a fun time. The campaign, while nothing much, is a fun time to play and the cast characters are fun and memorable. The AI can be frustrating and buggy sometimes though. Co-op is a treat with a friend and probably the best way to experience the campaign. Multiplayer has lots of content and every player will find it addicting as they aim to improve. Some inconsistences with weapons sometimes like all multiplayer games but still satisfying. Plenty of maps and content for players to unlock. The gameplay is simple: take cover and fire is what you will be doing the most in your playtime but this simplicity is what makes it appealing and addicting. Overall, a great game to play if you are a PlayStation fan and this is your first Gears of War.
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