Even in this new isometric view, the characters and backgrounds maintain much of the detail and “ruined beauty” aesthetic of the franchise, and that visual crispness helps aid tactical decision-making. Verticality and degrading cover add more complexity and depth. The fully rotating 3D battlefields are intelligently designed, demanding careful observation and positioning. In addition, an engaging mechanic allows players to execute downed enemies to give everyone on the team an extra action, which becomes an enormously fun risk/reward dynamic.

It also results in satisfying moments, like setting up devastating kill-boxes as the hordes charge into the grinder.

Overwatch, where a character can set remaining actions to guard a line-of-sight area, plays a huge role in success, encouraging the focus on defensive cover play that characterizes the broader franchise. With three actions, characters can flexibly move, attack, and use abilities in any combination, all in one turn, giving any one soldier tremendous utility. In many ways, this new twist on Gears takes its cues from the modern-day XCOM games, but with some meaningful twists. The narrative feels self-contained for newcomers, but adds important new wrinkles to the lore for longtime fans.īattles play out as objective-focused affairs, in which one to four squadmates square off against a frequently overwhelming number of monstrous enemies, while also aiming to meet one or more goals. Within that framework, the slightly cliched characters and events are given life through attractive cinematics and emotionally engaged vocal leads. The plot remains thankfully manageable and contained, following a ragtag team of soldiers and their quest to take down one particularly nasty baddie. Gears Tactics jumps its storyline back to the beginning of the conflict between humans and the Locust Horde. Despite some pacing issues that leave the content feeling stretched thin over too many hours, this is a challenging and rewarding experience. With a focus on characters and story, plus a sense of speed and flexibility in battle, Gears Tactics manage to outstrip most competitors in the genre. The world and the feel of combat both remain intact in this transition to turn-based warfare.

With its cover-based shooting, varied enemy types, and bombastic tone, the Gears franchise is a great fit for the tactics genre.

Gears of war pc review