Gears of War: E-Day delivers stunning visuals and tight gameplay marred by questionable design decisions

Gears of War: E-Day showcases exceptional visual presentation with refined gunplay mechanics that modernize the series while maintaining its core identity, but puzzling gameplay structure choices undermine its overall potential. The game features some of the most impressive graphics in gaming, including detailed lighting and meticulous environmental design, though the reviewer notes the campaign feels uneven in execution. This in-progress review will be updated once multiplayer and siege mode components launch with the full game on October 6.

Gears of War: E-Day functions as a prequel set in the period before the original game, focusing on the initial assault by an underground enemy faction against human civilization. The narrative centers on two military protagonists navigating the catastrophic opening moments of an invasion in an urban environment called Kalona, which had previously served as a technological and industrial hub. This temporal positioning allows the developers to portray a functioning city rather than the post-apocalyptic ruins featured in subsequent entries in the franchise.

The reviewer notes that while the campaign portion is complete and playable, the final evaluation remains preliminary because two major multiplayer components—competitive versus mode and a cooperative siege mode—were not available in the review build and are scheduled to launch alongside the full release date.