Gears 5: XBox One Review

Gears 5: XBox One Review

Platform: Xbox One
Developer: The Coalition

The latest iteration of Gears of War series brings much to the table.

Exceptional graphics and cut scenes, a female lead in a shooter (sadly too uncommon) and a sense that the Gears series knows what it wants to do.

Putting you in the shoes of Kait,who's haunted by visions of the Locust triggered in the last game, Gears 5 sets you off on a mission that allows you to explore, rather than follow a traditional linear path.

Swarm attacks, exploration and just general mayhem with chainsaws and guns make the formula pop again this time around - but it's the sense of character that shines amid some of the chaos. The campaign's storyline is what makes the difference this time around, and gives you the reward of the sense of investment.

There are also other modes which makes Gears 5 worthy of time, and while the multiplayer isn't as good as the main storyline, it does still add an element of fun to proceedings, as well as doubling down on the need for tactics later on.

The murkier edges of the moral tones make the story more compelling ultimately and the fact characters are less of a stereotype proves a great boon for the Gears series, giving the player a reason to carry on.

All in all Gears 5 offers great promise for the franchise and for a series which has been ongoing since 2006 - it never loses its sense of what it should be, but it also has the smarts to evolve as it goes on.