Gears of War: Reloaded Review: Second Remaster, First PS5 Release, Zero Reason It Needs to Exist

by

Rating: 3.5/5

Pros Cons
Visuals and Audio are great. Occasional bugs and frame drops.
Gameplay still feels tight. Story feels stilted.
Preserves the series’ legacy. AI is dated.
Multiplayer is still sweaty.

In 2006, Gears of War burst onto the Xbox 360 scene, leaving a significant impact on the third-person shooter genre. Innovative cover mechanics, guns with chainsaw attachments, and rugged characters helped establish its gritty tone and storyline. Characters like Marcus Fenix and the Locust Horde came to embody Xbox’s identity, standing alongside legendary figures such as Master Chief from Halo. Now, Gears of War: Reloaded has brought the series to current platforms, generally achieving success in doing so.

Experiencing Gears of War: Reloaded feels incredibly surreal, given my gaming roots with Nintendo and PlayStation. However, Gears of War marked a significant shift for me, leading me to the Xbox platform for the first time. I developed a deep affection for the initial installment and the original trilogy, yet drifted away after Gears of War: Judgment.

Revisiting the series on PlayStation 5, several console generations removed from its debut, seems unbelievable, but immersing myself in approximately 10 hours of reliving the legendary campaign has been a joyous trip down memory lane. Most of my cherished memories from the series remain relevant and meaningful today.

Initially, Gears of War: Reloaded appears impressively updated. The visual enhancements stand out right away, and with improved audio, the game series seems more akin to a movie experience. The gameplay remains as enjoyable as it was close to two decades back. Yet, Gears of War: Reloaded also demonstrates the two-sided nature of nostalgia. While there are evident advancements, there persist issues – some being fresh concerns, while others stem from before the release of Gears of War: Reloaded itself.

Gears of War: Reloaded’s Story is True to the Original, But Feels Dated in 2025

Almost two decades after its initial launch, Gears of War: Reloaded remains significant as one of Xbox’s most influential gaming series due largely to its gripping narrative. This gritty saga portrays a survival battle against insurmountable odds with an unrelenting tempo that barely allows for pauses. The story’s tragic elements are interwoven with stoic resilience, primarily through the perspectives of Marcus Fenix, Dominic Santiago, and Delta Squad. Key scenes still deliver the same impact, thanks to their emotional depth and cinematic touch. However, stripping away nostalgia reveals that Gears of War: Reloaded exhibits its age in certain aspects.

In this reimagined version of “Gears of War,” gameplay progression mimics a steady march towards predictable confrontations, moving linearly from one level to the next. The enemy artificial intelligence appears rudimentary and repetitive, making battles more strategic than thrilling. Dialogue is rigid and lacks the impact it once held, often undermining crucial moments. Despite enhancements, the design choices suggest that this game remains entrenched in the mid-2000s era. For longtime fans who cherish the series’ quirks, these peculiarities might be seen as endearing, but for newcomers seeking a modern shooter that rivals contemporary titles, particularly on a competing console, the flaws become hard to overlook.

Gears of War: Reloaded is Littered With Bugs, an Unfortunate Staple of the Franchise

One particularly aggravating aspect of Gears of War: Reloaded is its persistent bugs, distinct from the Locust Horde’s Grubs. During my playthrough of Gears of War: Reloaded, I often encountered a multitude of issues that disrupted my gaming experience. Despite nearly two decades to address and refine the series’ known problems and instability, Gears of War: Reloaded unfortunately repeats past mistakes and even introduces fresh ones. By 2025, the standard for new releases is significantly higher, with any flaws under intense scrutiny. This might be what the game ultimately becomes synonymous with.

During the story mode of Gears of War: Reloaded, the radio occasionally faded in and out, making it necessary to depend on captions to follow along with the narrative. Although this may seem insignificant, interacting with Anya and giving commands is a key element in Gears of War that loses its appeal when it’s compromised. Players familiar with the series understand this issue becomes more prominent as the games progress, but even new players will find their engagement diminished due to the absence of dialogue during lengthy, silent scenes while moving slowly through the game.

In a similar vein, the gameplay experiences numerous problems. The cover-based system is a fundamental aspect of the Gears of War franchise, but it often places me in the wrong cover or makes my character constantly look the opposite way while shooting, causing me to question whether it’s as effective as I recall. Adding to this, weapon hit registration can be unreliable and sometimes, during crucial mission moments, characters become stuck in the ground. This leaves one questioning: what exactly did The Coalition, the developers of the series, focus on improving with Gears of War: Reloaded?

Gears of War’s Multiplayer Improves in Reloaded, But Will Be Tough for Newcomers

Although many fans adore the campaign, it’s undeniable that the heart of the Gears of War series lies in its multiplayer mode. It’s evident that The Coalition spent a lot of time refining this aspect of Gears of War: Reloaded. Iconic modes and maps reappear, showcasing the series’ meticulous map design and captivating gunplay. Faster matchmaking and enhanced server stability demonstrate that the game was designed with contemporary players in mind. In comparison to previous versions, the multiplayer of Gears of War: Reloaded feels smoother and more rewarding than ever.

Despite addressing many issues, the Coalition failed to address a significant problem present in the game’s original release – wall-bouncing. This tactic is frequently used by experienced players, particularly at higher levels, which can lead to newcomers being overwhelmed and struggling to compete. Unfortunately, this issue remains unresolved in the multiplayer mode of Gears of War, making it a challenging experience for beginners due to the substantial skill gap between veteran and novice players. The steep learning curve means that mastering this game is like climbing a mountain for new recruits.

Apart from this enhancement, you’ll find that hit detection feels significantly more pronounced. The Gnasher Shotgun is frequently preferred due to its ability to kill with a single shot, leading to an undesirable quick-kill issue. This means that firefights often rely on who lands the initial shot first, and missing usually results in death. Regrettably, this exacerbates the frustrations new players might encounter. Without perseverance and learning from mistakes, many novice players may find themselves abandoning multiplayer in Gears of War: Reloaded.

It’s Great That Gears of War is on PlayStation, But It Feels Like a Cash Grab

As a dedicated fan, I must say that diving into the revamped world of “Gears of War: Reloaded” is a triumph for both PlayStation and Xbox platforms. This long-awaited remaster provides a chance for gamers far and wide to immerse themselves in one of gaming’s most legendary series. The stunningly updated graphics, optimized performance, and polished enhancements make this the ultimate platform for reliving the original masterpiece. Yet, it’s worth questioning whether “Gears of War: Reloaded” fully delivers on justifying a fresh release of the classic game.

As a hardcore Gears fan, I’ve got to say, the Gears of War: Ultimate Edition really set the bar high. The Coalition’s work on this remaster is undoubtedly commendable, but it’s not exactly a leap forward from the previous one. The hype around Gears of War: Reloaded was all about the campaign being free of loading screens, and while they’ve managed to reduce them significantly, there are still brief moments where you encounter these screen transitions. It’s a bit unexpected, considering this was one of the major selling points for the remaster.

It’s quite amazing to witness such a renowned Xbox series making its way to the PlayStation 5. However, I find myself questioning the necessity of Gears of War: Reloaded. While the accessibility is appreciated, the release seems more like a strategic move than a genuine one. A remastered version like Gears of War: Ultimate Edition, or even porting the full trilogy, could have provided a more satisfying debut on Sony’s platform. Instead, Gears of War: Reloaded appears to be essentially the same game with a slightly upgraded presentation. There’s no additional storyline, no modern quality-of-life improvements, and sticking to outdated mechanics that feel stiff diminishes the overall experience. The launch of Gears of War on PlayStation feels like a somewhat disappointing blend that fails to realize its full potential and comes off as a money-making scheme.

https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/gears-of-war-games-best-ranked/embed/#

Read More

2025-08-26 18:14