Review Gears of War: E-Day Early Review

[Phil]

Gears of War: E-Day Review – Time to Face My Fears​

Platform: Xbox
Genre: Third-Person Cover Shooter
Time Played: 1 hour
GamingDNA Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
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About the Game​

Gears of War: E-Day takes players back to one of the most significant events in the franchise's history: Emergence Day. Set 14 years before the original Gears of War, the game follows Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago as the Locust Horde emerges from beneath the planet Sera, beginning a devastating invasion that threatens humanity's survival. Developed by The Coalition and published by Xbox Game Studios, E-Day serves as an origin story for the series, exploring the early days of the conflict that helped define the Gears of War universe. Built using Unreal Engine 5, the game combines the franchise's familiar cover-based combat with modernised movement, intense firefights and a darker atmosphere that brings horror back into the experience. Players can experience the campaign alone, through local split-screen co-op or with online co-op, while multiplayer offerings include the returning Horde concept in its evolved Horde Siege form and competitive Versus modes. With its focus on the origins of the Locust invasion, E-Day offers both a new chapter for the franchise and an opportunity for returning fans to explore a pivotal moment in its history. For me, there's also a personal reason to be excited about this release. Years ago, I played Gears of War and found myself getting scared. Now, with E-Day, it's time to be brave and see whether I can face those fears all over again.
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The Verdict​

After approximately one hour with Gears of War: E-Day, my first impressions are very positive. The gameplay is fantastic, the graphics are awesome, and the achievement list is great. I'm only at Act 2 of the prologue, so I've barely scratched the surface, but what I've experienced so far has given me plenty of reasons to keep playing. One of the most memorable moments so far came while exploring the police station. There was something about the atmosphere that reminded me of Resident Evil and Condemned, bringing a more unsettling feeling to the exploration. Considering my history of getting scared while playing Gears years ago, that was an interesting reminder of what this series can do. Nothing has disappointed me at this stage, and I'm looking forward to continuing the campaign. I'm awarding Gears of War: E-Day four out of five stars for now. With so much left to experience, I'll save that fifth star until I've spent more time with the game.
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Gameplay – Fantastic From the Start​

The gameplay has been a major highlight during my first hour with Gears of War: E-Day. It's fantastic, and the early experience has made a strong impression on me. The Gears of War franchise has always been recognisable for its intense combat and cover-based shooting, and returning to that style of gameplay has been a positive experience so far. Although I'm still progressing through the prologue, the gameplay has already given me plenty of encouragement to carry on. It's difficult to make a definitive judgement after just an hour, but I haven't encountered anything that has disappointed me. Instead, I've found myself enjoying the experience and looking forward to seeing how things develop as the story progresses. For now, gameplay is firmly in the positive column. It's one of the biggest reasons this release has earned such a strong first impression.
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Graphics – Awesome Visuals​

The graphics are another standout aspect of my experience so far. Simply put, they look awesome. A game like Gears of War: E-Day benefits from a strong visual presentation, particularly when the setting and atmosphere play such an important role in the experience. The visuals have impressed me during my opening hour and helped make exploring the game's environments enjoyable. The police station section was especially memorable because of the atmosphere it created. Rather than simply being another location to move through, it gave me that uneasy feeling I associate with horror games such as Resident Evil and Condemned. That feeling made the exploration more interesting, especially given that I remember being scared when playing Gears years ago. It seems I might have to overcome those nerves once again! I'm still early in the game, so there's more to see, but the graphics have certainly made a positive first impression.
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Atmosphere and Exploration – A Little Bit of Resident Evil​

One of the more interesting aspects of my first hour has been the feeling of unease while exploring. The police station section immediately brought Resident Evil and Condemned to mind. Both games are associated with unsettling environments, and that was the feeling I experienced while making my way through this particular section of E-Day. For me, this is an interesting direction because it taps into something I remember from playing Gears years ago. I used to find the games scary, and returning to the franchise has brought back some of those feelings. That doesn't mean I've been disappointed by the experience. Quite the opposite: the atmosphere has added something memorable to my time with the game so far. I'm curious to see how this develops as I progress further. If the game continues to deliver moments that make exploration feel this unsettling, it could become one of the more memorable aspects of my playthrough.
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Achievements – A Great List to Work Through​

Achievements are another part of gaming that can make a difference to how much I look forward to playing a title, and Gears of War: E-Day has already caught my attention in this area. The achievement list is great, giving me another reason to continue playing and see what the game has to offer. For anyone who enjoys working through achievements alongside the main campaign, having a list that catches your interest early is a definite positive. I've only played for around an hour, so I haven't had the opportunity to properly assess the full achievement experience. However, my initial impression is very encouraging. As I progress through the game, I'll have a better idea of how the achievements fit into the wider experience. For now, the list is another reason I'm excited to carry on.
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What Could Be Better?​

At this stage, there's nothing that has actually disappointed me. That's a positive sign after my first hour, although it's important to remember just how early I am in the experience. I've only reached Act 2 of the prologue, so there is still a considerable amount of the game left to discover. The gameplay has been fantastic, the graphics have impressed me, the atmosphere has made certain sections memorable, and the achievement list has given me something else to look forward to. Rather than inventing criticisms for the sake of balance, I'd rather be honest about my experience so far. I haven't found anything that I would currently change or complain about. Of course, that could change as I spend more time with the game, but for now, the positives are firmly outweighing any concerns.
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Is Gears of War: E-Day Worth Playing?​

Based on my first hour, Gears of War: E-Day has made a very promising start. The gameplay is fantastic, the graphics are awesome, and the achievement list has already caught my attention. The atmosphere has also delivered an interesting moment while exploring the police station, bringing back memories of the unsettling experiences I had with Resident Evil and Condemned. For returning Gears fans, the opportunity to experience the events surrounding Emergence Day is an appealing prospect. For me personally, there's an additional challenge: overcoming the fear I remember experiencing when playing the franchise years ago. It's too early for me to make a definitive judgement on the entire game, but nothing has disappointed me so far. If the experience continues in the same way, there's every chance my opinion could improve further as I progress.
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The GamingDNA Verdict – Time to Be Brave!​

Gears of War: E-Day has delivered a fantastic first impression, and I'm excited to see what comes next. The gameplay is excellent, the graphics look awesome, and the achievement list gives me another reason to keep playing. The atmosphere has also reminded me why Gears could feel so intimidating years ago, particularly during the police station section, which gave me those Resident Evil and Condemned vibes. I'm giving the game ★★★★☆ (4/5) after my first hour. It's a strong start, and I haven't encountered anything that has disappointed me. However, with only Act 2 of the prologue completed, I'm keeping an open mind until I've experienced more of what the game has to offer. One thing is certain: I'm not letting those old fears stop me this time!​