With Halo Infinite sidelined until sometime next year, Microsoft has to rely on something else to boost the launch of its Xbox Series X and S consoles in November. Fortunately, they seem to have quite an ace in the hole with its surprise PC hit, Gears Tactics, which will debut for those consoles around launch.
Since April, fans have been getting into this game, which turns the Gears series from a third- person shooter into a top-down strategy-based game, akin to the likes of XCOM. But it has its fair share of depth, including side missions, abundant customization and, of course, the ability to mow down enemies like grass.
Strategies To Win the Day
Developed by Splash Damage (with some help from Gears mainstays at The Coalition), Gears Tactics relies heavily on getting things right if you want to win the battle with your team. It’s all about aggression, while keeping defense in mind.
A lot of the play techniques from the traditional Gears games are intact here, like sliding into cover to get a good spot on the opposition, and then slowly but surely moving up to finish them off – maybe even up close with a stylish Lancer kill.
Unlike most strategy games, you aren’t limited with your movement. The maps are completely open, which means you can guide your team wherever you want. Don’t want to wait to jump a team of the Locust Horde from behind? Welp, you don’t have to. Want to take the aggressive approach and just charge at a group, confident you can take them all down? That’s open as well. Just remember, no one in the Gears universe has invincibility. You’ll need to plan ahead in order to survive and continue onward.
There are three actions to use for each turn, but you can execute them however you see fit.
Shoot, move to cover and shoot again, or maybe even utilize your class skills so you have an advantage heading into the next skirmish. You can also use secondary actions to open up new opportunities – something useful when you have a super-large Brumak breathing down your neck. No, literally. These things are immense. Just be careful – some of them have cooldowns, meaning you have to wait a bit before you can use them again.
Oh, and have fun with the executions. Like in the traditional Gears games, they’re lots of fun to, um, execute? Sure.
There’s a Story Here
Although Splash Damage handled the game’s development, Gears Tactics still feels embedded within the series universe. The team really went all out to tell a great story here, as PC players will attest. This is mainly due to the cutscenes within the game, as well as the accurate visuals that make it feel like it could’ve been plucked right out of Gears 5 (even though it takes place over a decade before the first Gears). Not only that, you’ll find a number of familiar characters as well, ready to bring their skills to the table.
The visuals should take full advantage of the Xbox Series X and S hardware. That means a strong, stable-running speed so that the action doesn’t slow down, as well as gorgeous details on the enemies, battlefields and more. The cutscenes should be well worth a watch; and, again, those gory executions should be a thing of beauty on a 4K television.
Along the way, you’ll meet new characters as well, joining up with you and even telling their own side of the story. And as you progress, you’ll be able to unlock additional modes, challenging your tactical skills even further.
The only downside to all this is that there’s no multiplayer. It’s a single player approach only, which some may see as a missed opportunity. But Splash Damage’s focus here is on being a Gears experience, and focusing more on the stories told and the challenge that lies ahead for players. That said, it should be pretty cool to see how it all comes together come November.
A Tactical Advantage
No, it’s not Halo Infinite, and nothing can replace that. But Gears Tactics should be a great go-to title for those that want to get the most out of their strategy. Plus it’ll give players something to do after they’ve conquered Gears 5, for hours on end. We’ll see how the final game fares once it arrives this November. Mad world, indeed.
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