the franchise returns through the front door, although as a strategy game

In November 2006, Gears of Wars for Xbox 360 was released, a title that did not go unnoticed by its graphic section. We could say that the bar was raised compared to what was there at the time. This new IP became very popular and his multiplayer mode was everything a success. Taking advantage of the pull, Epic Games decided to release Gears of Wars 2 just two years later. This new installment had graphical improvements when using a new version of Unreal Engine 3.

With the release of Gears of Wars 2 we could say that this franchise was consolidated. In the following years, new installments were released until reaching Gears 5, the game was released on Xbox One and PC in September 2019. It is worth mentioning that not all games were developed by epic games. The last two installments have been carried out by The Coalition. Also, in some titles there were other studios that helped Epic Games and The Coalition, like People Can Fly and Splash Damage.

While all Gears of Wars have been third-person action games so far, with the latest game in the franchise, Gears Tactics, the trend has been broken. On this occasion The Coalition in collaboration with Splash Damage have developed a turn-based strategy game. Well, about this that I just commented I have to make a subsection, there is also Gears POP! for iOS and Android, it is a title reminiscent of Clash of Clans. That said, it would be best to move on to Gears Tactics for PC review, but first, thank Microsoft for providing us with a copy of the game.

System Requirements

Gears Tactics

Time to stop on the road and travel to the past because Gears Tactics it takes 12 years before the first installment of Gears of Wars. This means that if we have never played a franchise title nothing happens. In Gears Tactics the Horde Locust is a very real threat. All the cities of the planet Sera are falling and the government is unable to reverse the situation. But there is still a ray of hope, a group of survivors decides to face the Locust army.

In The Coalition and Splash Damage game we take control of Gabe Diaz. We have the mission to recruit a platoon and stand up to not only the Locust army, but also kill its leader, Ukkon. The panorama is bleak, we could even say that it is an impossible mission, but it is in our hands to end the threat. It will not be easy, but with some help and a good strategy we can tip the balance in our favor.

When playing, on the main screen, the first thing missing is a multiplayer mode. Gears Tactics is a game focused on single player campaign mode. There is no cooperative mode available. That said, as in all Gears of Wars here the campaign has several acts, each act in turn has a few chapters. When we start we only have one partner in our group, however this changes once we complete the first chapters of the first act.

The Coalition and Splash Damage have thought of those players who have never played a strategy game with turn-based combat. The first chapters include as a tutorial that guides us at all times, so learning the mechanics of the game is much easier. After playing a few acts we have everything under control. By the way, there is five levels of difficultyFor those who are new to this type of games, theirs is to choose the beginner difficulty. In addition, there are the intermediate, expert, madness and iroman levels.

At first it seems like an easy game, especially if we play on beginner difficulty. However, then everything changes and little becomes more difficult, although everything is said, it does not become a challenge. During games we can move the camera as we wish to get a better perspective of what's going on. This is very useful for positioning squad members and covering an area as best as possible.

A series of chests containing equipment are scattered across all maps. These chests can have common and rare equipment. We cannot view the content until the mission is complete. Although it is not essential to take all the chests, it is highly recommended to improve our equipment. At the end of the mission you simply have to go to the barracks menu to open the chests.

Some missions have a turn limit, so we can't rest on our laurels. There are missions of all kindsIn some we have to attack and kill all the enemies in the area, in others we have to defend various objectives or kill a boss. The approximate duration of each chapter is around 20 minutes, although this is relative, it all depends on whether we are slow to make a decision or the opposite.

During the confrontations there are abilities that once we use them we have to wait several turns for them to be available again, for example the fragmentation grenades or the healing ones. And speaking of skills, in Gears Tactics all characters have a skill tree. Also, the characters level up. As you level up, you receive points to spend on that skill tree. Depending on the way we play we will have to prioritize one skill or another. Throughout the game we can get restart tokens. These tokens are used to recover the skill points of a unit.

When forming a platoon, the role of each character must be taken into account. There are supporting characters, scouts, snipers, vanguard, support, and heavy equipment. If we have a balanced platoon in terms of classes, much betterFor example, you can never miss a supporting character to heal the platoon.

Before each mission we can edit the platoon to our liking. Deciding who will accompany us is very important if we want to face the mission with guarantees of success. A bad choice can make us have to repeat the chapter. You also have to take into account the level of each soldier. Obviously, it is not very convenient to put a very low level soldier in the platoon, especially once we have advanced a lot in the game.

While many of the chapters in each act have a story behind it, some missions seem fillerAs if they were there to extend the campaign. Fortunately, they are rather few. They mostly have an undercurrent. BTW, Gears Tactics have voices in Spanish and the dubbing is very successful. This is something that more than one will appreciate.

Graphically the game is live up to expectations. At certain times and depending on the circumstances the view changes to the third person and it looks like any other Gears of Wars, especially when we charge against an enemy with a melee attack. As a result, we can see a spectacular scene in great detail.

Gears Tactics has something that invites you to keep playing chapter after chapter. Despite not being a fan of turn-based strategy games I have to admit, the game from The Coalition and Splash Damage has got me hooked. It is also true that I have played all Gears of Wars and I was curious to try something so different. In addition, this delivery maintains the essence of the franchise.

conclusion

The Coalition and Splash Damage they have done a good job. Although this time it is a strategy title and not a third person shooting game, fans of the franchise will enjoy the game. In terms of gameplay and mechanics they have thought about reaching the maximum possible audience. The learning curve is not very high. Being able to choose the soldiers that will be part of the platoon gives a lot of play, and even more considering that there are several classes available. For soldiers to level up and have a skill tree is a success. As for the story, it just does. It invites you to continue playing to see how events evolve, but it does not have a great weight.

Something that I have not commented previously and that is worth mentioning is the following. Gears Tactics supports ultra-wide monitors (21: 9). Those with one of these monitors will be able to enjoy a much wider field of view. Being a strategy game it comes in handy. However, many will miss a multiplayer mode. It might be nice to play the campaign cooperatively with multiple friends. Definitely, It is a title that does not disappoint. Now, it may not go down in the annals of history as one of the best games in the franchise.

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BOOK IT FROM € 54.90 (€ 69.99)

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BOOK IT FOR € 54.90 (€ 69.99)

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▪ Release date: 04/28/2020