GameCenter - Issue 66 - 49

UNCENSORED EVALUATIONS FROM THE GAMECENTER EXPERTS
compelling, rich narrative.
The story isn't the only place where Gears 5
moves the series forward. Small but significant
gameplay tweaks create even more possibilities in combat situations. Namely, Gears 5 lets
you use and level up Jack, the series' longtime
robot companion, to help you out against
the Swarm threat. Jack can perform multiple functions including stunning enemies,
shielding friendlies, and taking over the mind
of a nearby Swarm soldier, making them
fight for you. While the franchise's signature
cover-based gameplay is still the main event,
knowing when to use Jack's abilities and when
to let them cool down adds a new strategic
element to firefights. Players who are new to
the franchise can also control Jack in co-op if
they want a less stressful experience. Add to
that a suite of new weapons like the Claw and

the Talon, and Gears 5 strikes a great balance
between familiar territory and new mechanics
to explore and master.
Multiplayer is largely the same, but if it
ain't broke, why fix it? Horde is just as fun
as always, even adding energy sources that
players can choose to either defend or ignore.
Standard multiplayer has received a new
mode called Arcade that majorly mixes up
the series' now-infamous Gnasher meta. And
then there's Escape, which tasks a team of up

Gears 5 doesn't just
improve upon Gears of
War 4 in pretty much
every way. It's also one
of the best games in
the series.

to three players with gas-bombing individual
Swarm hives. Escape isn't the deepest mode,
but it's fun if you like to chase leaderboards,
and it also comes with a simple but enjoyable
stage-building system that lets you create and
upload your own hives.
Gears 5 rejuvenates the series in unexpected
ways while still maintaining the secret sauce
that made the series so beloved in the first
place. The next generation of Gears has officially arrived, and the future is bright indeed.

GameCenter - Issue 66

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of GameCenter - Issue 66