Gears of War: E-Day revives the series’ visceral combat amid Xbox turmoil

Gears of War: E-Day is a strong prequel that demonstrates the franchise's distinctive cover-shooter gameplay remains compelling and visceral two decades after the original. Launching during a turbulent period for Xbox, the game could be an early glimpse of the platform's strategic focus on its biggest franchises.

Set 14 years before the original Gears of War, E-Day tells the story of "emergence day," when the Locust Horde launches a devastating surprise attack on humanity that transforms the planet from a retrofuturistic paradise into ruins. Players control Marcus Fenix and his elite squad through explosive set-pieces and quiet horror moments, experiencing everything from destroyed cities to dark tunnels, all rendered with meticulous attention to detail and complemented by self-aware, tongue-in-cheek writing.