Gears of War: E-Day’s Darkest Setting

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Based solely on its subtitle, “Gears of War: E-Day” is poised to become one of the scariest, most gruesome, and despairing entries in the Gears of War series, as it delves into the early stages of the Locust Horde invasion on the planet Sera. This premise alone warrants the statements made by The Coalition regarding Gears of War: E-Day‘s heightened focus on horror that was characteristic of the original trilogy. Moreover, the game’s smaller location, Kalona, unfolds an even bleaker narrative that may be too intense for even the most ardent fans of the series to experience directly.

During the Locust Horde’s attack on Emergence Day, the city of Kalona in the Gears of War universe was particularly affected, distinguishing itself among the cities targeted during this devastating event. The upcoming game, Gears of War: E-Day, promises unrelenting chaos as COG soldiers strive to repel the Locust invasion and humanity frantically flees to survive. However, due to the setting of Gears of War: E-Day in Kalona, there may be fewer opportunities for heroics, even with characters like Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago serving as the main characters.

Gears of War: E-Day’s Kalona Can’t Be Saved

Kalona Was One of the First Cities to Fall on Emergence Day

In the annals of Gears of War, Kalona stands out as one of the initial cities to succumb during Emergence Day. Unlike other notable locales in the lore due to military exploits or significance during the Pendulum Wars, Kalona is recognized primarily for its tragic fate on Emergence Day. It was essentially a bustling civilian center, now known more for the brutal impact it suffered on that day and how quickly it was swarmed by the Locust Horde.

Beyond that, it’s worth noting that the city of Kalona has not appeared in any official Gears of War game but is detailed extensively in supplementary materials such as comics and novels like Gears of War: Aspho Fields by Karen Traviss. Its only notable features are its location within Sera’s Tyrus province, which also houses cities like Ephyra and Jacinto, and the events surrounding Emergence Day, which significantly impact its role in the upcoming game, Gears of War: E-Day. Given its historical destruction, it seems fitting that Kalona has been selected as the setting for this new title.

Kalona Has No Plot Armor to Keep It Above Ground in Gears of War: E-Day

Essentially, Kalona doesn’t have any protection from being written out of the narrative in Gears of War: E-Day. Given that Sam and Dom weren’t anticipated to emerge as heroes in this story, Kalona’s past, as established in Gears of War lore, strengthens this expectation even further. This setup paves the way for significant emotional impact, and it might also shed light on why Marcus appears so guarded in the initial Gears of War trilogy.

It seems that the backdrop for “Gears of War: E-Day” may well be Kalona, primarily due to its history of massive devastation.

In a visual and tonal sense, Kalona is ideally suited for the horror aspect of “Gears of War: E-Day”. Rather than a battlefield, it’s a residential area, a commercial district, and a place filled with homes, schools, and families. Witnessing such a place being devastated by the Locust Horde as they burst forth from the earth promises to be one of the most harrowing gaming experiences in the history of “Gears of War”. Ultimately, Kalona allows the series to revisit what made the original “Gears of War” trilogy so memorable – that sensation of being utterly overwhelmed, trapped, and barely clinging to survival.

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2025-04-10 15:35