Gears of War: Reloaded (2025)
I played the entire campaign on Normal by myself. I previously done the other versions alone. This is essentially an enhanced port of Gears of War: Ultimate Edition. The one technical change I kept noticing was faster loading periods. Which is great when you die a lot. Exactly one of several things you gotta get use to.
When you play any Gears game for that matter. The highlight feature is adding in Crossplay with PlayStation 5. First release of the franchise on that platform. Multiplayer always been a huge deal for this franchise. Personally I still can't help my disappointment. I rather had a newer version of Gears 2 or the original Gears trilogy for that matter.
I strongly felt Gears 2 should've been the ideal choice to do such an concept with. In all honestly what truly was the point doing a third version? Especially when it doesn't bring as much stuff to the table. Ultimate Edition brought in levels from it's original PC port. Which was a huge deal for the time. Not to mention a nice redone of the actual graphics.
Yes there's some notable changes within the cutscenes. But nothing that alters it in a major way. To me that felt like the true definitive version of the original Gears game. I'm even more convinced after playing Reloaded version. Maybe I also didn't care for the title as well. In a way I'm glad it's not just called Gears of War.
At the same time, adding Reloaded to the title wasn't the best choice. Suddenly the game felt older than it should be. At least with Ultimate Edition that came off like you're getting a better version. Which is exactly it truly delivered on. The controls are virtually identical to those in Ultimate Edition. The actual campaign didn't even feel different at all.
I played a lot of remastered versions. This is more on the forgettable side of that. Let's take Heretic + Hexen now that went way beyond what anyone was expecting. Sadly this underperformed in comparison. Microsoft tried to hype this up just didn't live up to it. I personally wasn't never hyped by this. I had a gut feeling it wasn't going to be as good as Ultimate Edition.
Let's not even compare this to Gears 2. A way better Gears game I love with a huge passion. I don't wanna say they barely done anything that's it. I will confirm they done a little more than that. It's technically more than Decision Legacy Collection. Then again it's an challenge to change stuff within flash games.
The campaign is a few hours long action packed. Of course it can get a bit gory to a degree. A good variety of weapons that's mostly fun to use. My copy of Ultimate Edition is on disc. Which means I don't automatically get the newer version. Simply because my copy is physical not a digital copy I don't got it.
I even felt MediEvil Remake on PlayStation 4 done a lot more as well. They even included as an unlockable the original PS1 version. Any Gears game you play with an squad taking on creatures from within the planet. There's plenty of enemies through out the game with enough ammo. Berserker is the most recurring boss you'll face.
Two of three encounters you have to use the Hammer of Dawn. An device that activates a laser from satellites. Imagine a giant magnifying glass on a few huge monsters. I usually struggle on the final boss fight against General RAAM. Who appeared as one of the guest characters in Killer Instinct (2013 game).
I recently found out if you can get past him. There's an turret you could use on him. All these years I died the fewest on this run to him. I actually had more trouble with a boss fight pulled from the original PC version. The story is told well that never over stays it's welcome. I felt like I'm reviewing Ultimate Edition than the newer version.
Yeah not a good sign reviewing a newer version of a game. To be fair, this version still a fun game. Every rememberable moments still presented. They don't change much that easily could've taken away from it. I just had more respect for a few newer versions of games. Marcus' voice actor also voiced Bender from Futurama.
Both are among my favorite roles he's done. The difficulty spike can be a little high at times. The game on lower difficulties is quite doable. It's the higher ones that might cause a possible mental meltdown. I actually gotten told how difficult General RAAM was on the hardest difficulty. Let's just say I'm not even considering punishing myself that much to attempt it.
I also should point out some of the Gears games also on Xbox Anywhere program. Which means along with Cross progression in Reloaded version. I could play any version maintaining my process across several versions. Then again not many people will notice neither care to do that. I also noticed sometimes when I load in.
Usually following cutscenes parts of the game were off to a degree. I didn't fall through the game though. You can easily tell signs they rushed this out!!! I'm done pretending that wasn't on my mind. I may be onboard with Microsoft getting some of their games on other platforms. However if they end up like this.
Then someone in Microsoft needs to make major changes to fix things before it gets bad. I do get a party of their strategy to increase numbers of people playing Gears 1. I just felt if they would rethink things a bit. Given the team more time as well as resources to work with. We actually could've ended up with something much better.
It's not by any means the worst Gears game I ever played. Yes I'm looking at you, Gears of War: Judgment. It's a little better than Gears 4 to me. Gears 5 absolutely destroys all those Gears games though. Obviously not my favorite version of the game. I even had more reasons to like the original version more.
At the time, it was quite impressive what the original team delivered. Which that version still available to buy as well as to play through Game Pass. Same with the Ultimate Edition as well. Although you can only buy it's Deluxe Edition digitally online. I'm excluding physical versions I been done with those. Two better versions of the same game you easily could play.
Which brings me back to a question I asked earlier why was this necessary? I'm glad they didn't pull an Rockstar removing GTA trilogy move. Based on what I seen of those remasters, Reloaded version way better. It's not a bad choice to start playing the franchise with. Especially if you wanna begin with the original.
My personal recommendation the best version to play is the Ultimate Edition. On a technical level it simply better programmed. The major changes from the original Xbox 360 version were a big deal. Microsoft had exactly what they needed to make a superior version they didn't!!! Obviously not my Game of the Year choice lol.
I didn't even expect much before going into Reloaded version. In fact, within the first few minutes. I already felt like I'm replaying Ultimate Edition didn't help things either. As a Gears fan I wanted to give some support. I just can't back a version that isn't the true definitive version. In all honestly, any version of the game is a lot of fun to play.
If you played the previous two versions you aren't missing anything. I heard several achievements were changed to a bit. Otherwise it's virtually Ultimate Edition again that's it. Even Conker: Live & Reloaded done way more than this!!! Especially with a new multiplayer mode having it's own campaign. We're talking about a remake released in 2005.
Virtually twenty five years ago now that's sad!!! End of the day, it may make you happy from all the fighting. Just don't compare it to the previous versions. Also I watched an friend streamed Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater on Twitch. A remake of an 2004 game done way better than this too. For me this felt like a major missed opportunity.
If they really wanted to bring Sony fans into the franchise. They should've went a lot bigger. Yes more time as well as money would have to go into something that ambitious. Plus they would have a lot more to work with on marketing side of things. Now doing the original Gears trilogy with that strategy could've given em millions!!!
I really wish I could say every major version gets better. But that would be lying regarding Reloaded version. They nailed framerates which both versions of Dead Rising 2 remastered versions failed to do. Almost ten years ago those weren't not all bad. Yet I still had more fun playing those over this!!! Not every newer version of a game going to be great.
It's technically better than Zombies Ate My Neighbors and Ghoul Patrol (compilation game). Which I had bigger issues with in comparison. Still among my most disliked compilation games to date. At Reloaded's core they nailed the game play near perfectly. Honestly, Reloaded version felt like I wasted my time following an playthrough.
Yes even considered all the fun I had. Reloaded just failed to feel like it's own version of the same game. Let's take some Resident Evil remakes for an example. All of them vastly differs from the classic versions especially true in RE4's case. I was more impressed by both Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy & Spyro Reignited Trilogy respectively.
I know some might not like I suddenly brought those into my review. Essentially the entire point was making a newer, improved version of an older game. I didn't see the issue with doing that. Yes I know I'm being really critical about Gears of War: Reloaded. It's a bigger disappointment compared to other games I played through Game Pass this year.
Which also includes Heretic + Hexen. At this time, I only played the GOG version of the game. Now that absolutely destroys Reloaded version badly. You want a version that blows your mind to a degree. You really aren't going to get that here. I still could recommend this version of the game. Even outside Gears series there's some decent third person shooters more worth your time.
I really hope Microsoft focus on fixing up the AI. This issue actually impacts the game play. I noticed several enemies not attacking when I'm close by em. I had team mates that didn't move or help much. At times they kept going right into spots with a few enemies. They are virtually guarantee to get downed by the bosses.
We're talking faster than the usual rate they fall in the previous versions. They aren't the stupidest AI in an game I ever seen. I'm very sure they were a bit smarter in the older versions. This even could get you killed within the levels. It may not be considered game breaking. But this issue could cause a lot of people to drop the game maybe for good.
This also going to affect it's placement in my upcoming list in December. This by itself was a huge disappointment to see during the game play. Otherwise the rest of the campaign is what I remembered. I didn't play any multiplayer matches prior to this review. I wouldn't be an multiplayer Gears expert anyway.
Where it stands Gears of War: Reloaded is among my least favorites I played this year. Considering what currently is my Top 5. All of those absolutely wipes the floor with this game!!! It's a great game because it's a remastered of a better version of the same game. Just not the true definitive Gears 1 experience.
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