Gears of War: E-Day Multiplayer Play Test Preview — War Has Changed

My brief experience with the Gears of War: E-Day multiplayer network test immediately transported me back to the golden age of the Xbox 360, specifically 2006, when I first got my hands on the original Gears of War at the age of thirteen.

I mean this in the best possible way, as Gears of War: E-Day, even in its early access state, feels like a genuine return to the series' roots. It offers a more fluid and responsive blood-soaked gameplay loop that made the original titles so captivating and addictive. My two-day immersion in Gears of War: E-Day included playing on two maps across two distinct game modes: Horde Siege and Conquest Escalation.

Horde Siege presents a modern twist on the classic Horde/Firefight mode. It now incorporates more objective-based sequences interspersed between waves of Locust enemies. While I haven't actively played Horde mode since Gears of War 2, as a former achievement hunter, I felt immediately at home with E-Day's fresh take. Objectives in Horde Siege involve protecting and powering up the R.I.G., which serves as a central beacon, culminating in an extraction phase for your squad.

Fans of modes like Call of Duty Zombies will find Gears of War: E-Day's Horde Siege mode familiar. It introduces weapon upgrades and healing stations scattered throughout the map, making the escalating difficulty more manageable and allowing for player customization. (For context, during the early access period, we were only permitted to try the easiest difficulty, which is understandable for a game journalist at a preview event).

Character classes make a comeback and feel more crucial than ever. The encounters in Horde Siege seem intentionally designed to distribute squad roles effectively, making class changes rewarding and keeping the otherwise straightforward gameplay loop engaging.

The level design also supports this focus on character classes. The urban metropolitan map available during the test felt expansive, with ample dense geometry and numerous opportunities for tactical movement. This is further enhanced by the new destructible environment system, which discourages static camping and encourages dynamic play across the map.

Regarding movement, Gears of War: E-Day introduces a new sliding mechanic, alongside improved parkour and jumping. While it might not sound groundbreaking at first, the new movement technology feels like a significant evolution from the original roadie-run mechanics.

In past installments, running felt somewhat clumsy, like a bull in a china shop, with little recourse during intense firefights. In Gears of War: E-Day, the ability to slide and vault across gaps feels comparable to the fluid movement in other popular shooters, while still maintaining the series' signature over-the-shoulder perspective and tense combat. The time-to-kill remains lethal for exposed players who linger too long without cover.

From a narrative and world-building standpoint, the enhanced movement capabilities are fitting for Gears of War: E-Day. Set earlier in the timeline, the game features a younger, more agile cast of Gear soldiers, making these gameplay additions feel organic and grounded. The same can be said for some of the Locust character designs, which blend new and familiar elements. Notably, the Wretches and Tickers feature sleeker designs reminiscent of Gears of War: Judgement, which was also set earlier in the series' chronology.

Versus mode, which I experienced on the second day of the network test, was equally enjoyable. It featured a more intimate, trench-style map that compels player engagement. The new movement mechanics further enhance this, ultimately offering a familiar yet revitalized take on the classic Gears formula. Weapons felt recognizable, but some also included new features. The Gnasher shotgun, for example, now appears to have an overhauled active reload system. Players can choose to sacrifice some of their clip by pressing the reload key (or trigger), foregoing the active-reload bonus for an immediate shot in a tight spot.

On PC, Gears of War: E-Day seems well-optimized, at least for my setup. With FSR4, my AMD 7900XTX was able to maintain a consistent 60 FPS with ray tracing and advanced lighting enabled, making the game visually the best it has ever looked in the franchise's history.

As a side note, I was unable to get my controller to function with the game, which led me to try it with a keyboard and mouse. Despite being a longtime console player of Gears of War, I can confidently say that Gears of War: E-Day feels exceptionally good with a keyboard and mouse setup, making me consider that control scheme for the game's launch.

In conclusion, even with only a few hours of playtime, I can confidently state that both long-time Gears of War fans and newcomers will have much to anticipate when Gears of War: E-Day releases this October.