Unanswered Questions In Gears of War: Reloaded That Could Be Answered In Gears of War: E-Day

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Back in the day, Gears of War was among the initial independent game properties on the Xbox 360 that truly garnered popularity. It dropped at an opportune moment, preceding Halo 3, and many players found themselves appreciating this third-person shooter more than its predecessor. The combination of intense action, cooperative elements, and cover mechanisms offered a fresh take on exclusive shooters for the Xbox gaming community. For roughly ten years, Gears of War served as a mainstay for Microsoft until around 2020 when the series began to lose steam.

Fans have been eagerly waiting for the next installment in the Gears of War series, and after a long wait, it was finally announced for release in 2024. However, what fans expected wasn’t exactly what they got; instead of Gears of War 6, we’re getting a prequel titled Gears of War: E-Day. Despite the fact that Gears of War 5 left some lingering questions for a potential sixth game, it seems that this new title may not be able to answer them all. In particular, will Gears of War: E-Day be able to provide answers to the unresolved questions from the original game or series as a whole?

Spoilers Ahead for the Gears of War series.

What Happened During The Pendulum Wars?

Tick Tock

One interesting tidbit that fans might not recall is that humans had inhabited planet Sera for ages, contrary to establishing a colony on a foreign planet governed by the Locusts. Much like any human civilization, those on Sera engaged in conflicts among themselves, with The Pendulum Wars being one of the most significant. This war stretched over nearly a century and ended mere weeks before the day when the Locusts first emerged to humanity, which we now refer to as Emergence Day.

In the series, there are numerous mentions of the Pendulum Wars, yet no fully explorable mission delves deeply into this conflict. It would be intriguing if the game Gears of War: E-Day commenced with the culmination of the Pendulum Wars and illustrated how it paved the way for E-Day. The character Colonel Hoffman, given his extensive background revealed in comics and other media, could provide an ideal starting point as a younger man. It’s high time the games caught up to this captivating narrative development.

What Were The Horrors Of E-Day?

The Start Of A New Trilogy Or A Series Of Highlights?

E-Day wasn’t just a single day or even a week-long event; it marked the beginning of the Locust War, which spanned nearly two decades. The title of Gears of War: E-Day suggests that the game will be set during this initial incident, but it doesn’t reveal how far into the war the story will delve. Navigating the complexities of creating a prequel often involves dealing with an abundance of background information.

Gears of War: Day Zero or Anniversary could follow one of two narratives: It might commence on Day Zero and delve into key missions spanning the entire conflict’s timeline, or it could concentrate on a specific day or days at the onset of the war itself. However, this approach would not address questions like how Marcus was imprisoned. Establishing Gears of War: Day Zero as the beginning of a new trilogy would be a substantial endeavor, but it would also provide developers with the opportunity to elaborate more extensively on characters such as Marcus and Dom, offering intriguing backstories and answering several lingering questions.

What Was The Locusts’ Society Like Pre-Emergence?

Why E-Day?

In the final act of the original Gears of War, fans experienced a major surprise as Queen Myrrah’s identity was revealed. She had provided the narration for much of the game, and it turned out that she was not just any queen but a human, or at least she appeared to be human. This revelation sparked curiosity among many fans because they were aware that Myrrah led the Locusts in the devastating Locust War. In subsequent sequels, it was uncovered that the Locusts were actually mutated humans. After the Pendulum Wars, scientists began experimenting on humans to find a cure for a mining disease. One of these experiments resulted in young Myrrah gaining immunity, but the rest of the sick individuals were forced to live underground and survive as best they could.

As time passed, an underground parasitic disease caused these creatures to evolve further, prompting Queen Myrrah and her people to return to the surface. Her intention was to eradicate humanity in order to protect and save her own species by claiming dominance on the surface. Although the Locusts’ history is documented, their civilization and psychological aspects have not been extensively explored in the games. Delving deeper into Myrrah’s motivations would be beneficial, as well as offering players the chance to control a Locust warrior for one or two missions.

What Does Thrashball Look Like When Played?

Here Comes The Cole Train!

Each exceptional sci-fi or fantasy series develops its distinctive sport to establish its own identity within the genre. For instance, Quidditch belongs to Harry Potter, Blitzball is part of Final Fantasy 10, and Gears of War features Thrashball. The latter is referenced in the initial game when Augustus Cole joins Marcus’ team; Cole is renowned as “the Cole Train” due to his days as a professional Thrashball player.

In the campaigns and multiplayer maps within Gears of War: E-Day, Thrashball has been introduced with rules, fields, and even Foosball-like tables as a background element. However, the game itself has never been fully playable in-game up until now. It would be exciting to witness a full Thrashball match unfold, either through a cutscene or even as a playable feature within the game.

Why Was Marcus Fenix Imprisoned?

A Son’s Duty

The narrative of Gears of War begins with a flashback that describes E-Day, after which we fast-forward fourteen years. In this sequence, Dom takes a robotic companion named Jack to free Marcus from prison. Although reasons for Marcus’ incarceration are later explained, the act of his betrayal is not depicted on screen.

In the tale of “Gears of War: E-Day,” it’s said that Marcus, driven by his father Adam’s distress, left his post against Colonel Hoffman’s orders and even resorted to physical violence. Any son can relate to the overwhelming emotion that arises when a parent or family member is in peril, and this seems to have consumed Marcus. This dramatic event may occur close to the climax of the game, and if it’s not included, fans might be taken aback. The development could hinge on how deep into the Locust War the game delves and whether future installments are planned.

What Did Life Beyond War Look Like On Sera?

A Chance To Bond

A compelling war tale requires vivid characters that audiences can identify with. Gears of War effectively developed Marcus and Dom as memorable figures, yet it’s their brotherhood, forged amidst the harsh realities of warfare, that truly stands out. The prequel holds great potential in exploring how humanity endured countless wars on Sera over time, and the strategies they employed to survive such conflict.

Instead of focusing solely on battles such as the Locust War and Pendulum War, it’s important to consider what other citizens were doing in their daily lives. In the upcoming prequel, Gears of War: E-Day, we might see characters like Marcus and Dom taking breaks from missions, providing a glimpse into humanity beyond combat. Some fans may even hope for a society similar to that found in the Persona series.

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2025-08-31 15:05