What Gears of War: E-Day’s Prequel Status Could Mean for Gameplay

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What Gears of War: E-Day's Prequel Status Could Mean for Gameplay

As a long-time fan of the Gears of War series, I can’t help but feel a sense of nostalgia tinged with excitement upon hearing about Gears of War: E-Day. With its focus on the early days of the Locust War and young Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago, it seems we’re in for a rollercoaster ride that harks back to the original trilogy.

In “Gears of War: E-Day”, players will revisit the early stages of the Locust War, this time taking on the roles of young Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago. Although the campaign is expected to intensify the mystery and terror of the Locust, specific details about how “E-Day” differs from previous “Gears of War” games are scarce at present. The only known fact is that the announcement trailer for “Gears of War: E-Day” was created using the game’s own engine. Since “Gears of War: E-Day” is set 14 years prior to the original “Gears of War”, it may share more similarities with the first game than later releases.

Gears of War’s Gameplay Developments

Over its almost 18-year lifespan, the fundamental gameplay in the Gears of War franchise has stayed largely consistent, encompassing third-person cover shooting, occasional vehicle sections, and minimal puzzle elements. Yet, each fresh installment has brought novel additions to the gameplay mix: for instance, the meat shield in Gears of War 2, the Lambent mutated foes in Gears of War 3, and the compact, linear missions in Gears of War: Judgment.

In essence, many of the fresh features predominantly influenced the experience within campaign and Player vs Environment (PvE) modes like Horde. Not every element recurred across subsequent games, but each one was a test to ascertain which would contribute to the success of future installments in the Gears of War series.

It wasn’t until Epic Games handed over the development of Gears of War to The Coalition in 2015 that significant changes in gameplay became apparent compared to earlier games. For instance, the robotic Deebees were introduced as secondary antagonists in Gears of War 4 in 2016, similar to how the Lambent functioned as secondary antagonists in Gears of War 3.

1. In comparison to the Lament or Locust, this faction proved to be more resilient and difficult to eliminate, though they were slower. On the other hand, the Swarm functioned as a ferocious variant of the Locust horde, characterized by swarms of Juvies and massive Carriers. Furthermore, Gears of War 4 introduced a tool called Fabricator, enabling players to construct defenses and manufacture weapons in specific campaign levels and Horde 3.0.

Gears 5’s Gameplay Developments

In 2019’s Gears 5, the team behind the game expanded upon the mechanics introduced in Gears of War 4. Characters like Deebees, Swarm, and the Fabricator reappeared in new iterations. Initially, Deebees were helpful to COG soldiers, but they could be taken over by Swarm Leech, transforming them into hostile Bastions, Rejects, and Stumps. A significant shift in Gears of War gameplay occurred with the addition of short open-world sections that allowed for some exploration and swift travel via a wind-powered skiff. However, delving into these open areas often yielded underwhelming rewards, such as upgrades for JACK or various collectibles.

It’s possible that some previously introduced gameplay features from both “Gears of War 4” and “Gears 5” might reappear in “Gears of War 6”, as The Coalition is expected to continue the storyline post “Gears of War: E-Day”.

A Back to Basics Gears of War: E-Day

As a gamer eagerly anticipating the release of “Gears of War: E-Day,” I’m hoping that The Coalition will bring back the gritty, tactical gameplay reminiscent of the original “Gears of War 1” and “2.” With the Locust making their comeback as the primary antagonists for E-Day, it promises a fresh take on the series, distinct from the Swarm and Deebee stories.

With Santiago coming back, we might see multiple routes for both Santiago and Fenix to traverse in the upcoming event, reminiscent of the paths from the initial Gears of War trilogy. This could enhance the playability and cooperative aspect of Gears of War: E-Day, boosting its replay value.

In the upcoming installment, we might meet fresh faces from Omega Squad, a team that Fenix led prior to Delta Squad, who could join either Santiago or Fenix when they part ways. These newcomers may meet an untimely, comically tragic end, reminiscent of the Carmine characters in the original and second Gears of War games. However, the exact manner in which this prequel unfolds remains to be seen.

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2024-08-02 14:06