I have no hesitation in naming Gears 5 on Xbox One as a triumph. The story is amazing, the multiplayer works perfectly, and Horde and Escape are the cherries on the cake.
Gears 5 brings the series to new heights, thanks to a well-directed campaign with an open world approach, some interesting new gameplay mechanics and many multiplayer modes that combine old and fresh elements.
Gears 5 has a solid single-player campaign which is full of interesting ideas and a brand new PVE mode. It might be a breakthrough for the franchise if it keeps providing high-quality multiplayer content in the future.
Gears 5 is a very solid chapter of one of the cornerstones of gaming in Xbox format: an episode that proudly reaffirms the vigorous soul of Lancer's armed fighters and the talent of a studio like The Coalition, stopping just a step away from absolute excellence.
Gears 5 is a return to form for the venerable series, and though some new ideas and better writing aren’t quite executed to perfection, they bring a welcome sense of freshness to a series where the fundamentals are as strong as ever.
By most metrics — polish, graphics, writing, acting and engaging game play mechanics — Gears 5 is an impressive product for both solo players and competitive or cooperative shooter fans. But moving forward, the series desperately needs to venture into new ways of telling its stories and pacing its encounters. The tentative toe-dip into open world design is a great start, but not enough. Gears 5’s campaign is robust and almost always fun and its focus on the female protagonist Kait is a welcome tonal and dramatic shift, though it doesn’t much impact the gameplay. I’m always ready to dive into a new Gears game but I’m hoping next time, The Coalition will take some bold chances, make some tough choices and steer the series in a really new direction.
Gears 5 survives on its solid cover shooting gameplay and a campaign that isn't afraid to pose difficult questions about problematic topics. But the largely stagnant Horde mode and general mess of an Escape mode really pull the sequel back from being a bold step forward.
Coming from a PlayStation 4 background in the last generation, I recently played Gears 5 on the Xbox Series X. It's a standout title from the previous generation, a true masterpiece. The storyline, in particular, stood out. Highly recommended.
SummarySera is crumbling, your enemies uniting. Humanity’s reliance on technology has become their downfall and enemies are uniting to wipe out all survivors. As Kait, journey back to uncover the origins of the Locust, and fight with your squad to protect what’s left.