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I played and finished all the mainline Gears game in two weeks and i have some thoughts

ikbalCO

Member
i hope i can describe how i feel about these games since english is not my native language.

so here i go.
i have been an avid gamer since i was very little, mainly focused on playstation. i have only owned an xbox console once. someone gifted me a vanilla xbox one back when it was first released, played and finished sunset and rise of tomb raider and sold it to my cousin.
i had a change of heart -and budget- at the start of the current generation. conviced by the value proposition of series console, i bought my self a series s two months ago and i am loving it so far.
so as you can imagine, having missed most of xbox console generations, i am having blast a going through gamepass.

Gears games were first on my radar. i played and finished ultimate edition through 5, and i am half way through in both judgement and hive busters.
and tbh microsoft is better off with dropping this franchise all together.

where can i start. i guess first i should start with characters and story.
these games have the most generic action story in any medium. you have your generic renegade main character that doesn't take bullshit from nobody. you have your generic emotional dude looking for his lost wife. you have the most stereotypically designed big loud black guy and whenever he talks i want to die. i am from turkey and i am away from all the systematic racism awfullnes but i have to say cole is so obnoxious that they like tone him down in the second game. only original character in the game is baird. being both scientiest and a tough soldier he is really fun. but ironically, every character in the game dislike baird and he is the butt of every joke.

story is such a cliché that i have to remind myself that the first three games were released between 2006-2011. but then again while gears was crazy popular, uncharted was defining story driven games. basically you are part of an elite soldier army, try to save the world from monster infestation. in contrast with your mission, you end up killing everone you save. all the time. this is not even a spoiler because Gears' idea of emotional impact is killing NPCs whom you already do not care. actually best part comes from this angle because every NPC you meet in the game rightfully hates you.

and the writing. oh the writing. put every steven segal movie in a blender, spread some alien invasion movie seasoning and you are done. there is this one part in the fifth game where young leads meet with paduk. Jd says something and paduk talk him down and kaith talk back to him. before Paduk answers i was like "i like this one" and suprise suprise he says "i like this one". unfortunately you can guess the writing all the time. because it is that unoriginal.

gameplay-vise, Gears of War games have one idea only which is walking some and killing some. literally this loop made me appreciate Uncharted's climbing sections eventhough i despise them because at least they offer a level design. in gears you walk through some corridors, push a button, turn a valve, push some switches, open a door, something goes wrong (as always) and the combat happens. you may think locust is the main enemy or in the fourth and fifth games the swarm but no. main antagonist is your luck. because nothing goes as it planed. all the time. for five games. there is always something wrong. in the fifth game there is this one part where you try to build a rocket ship (because why not). you pretty much kill an entire swarm army in the process. if you are playing experienced and upper you are already filling the grind since the game has been throwing enemies at you like a maniac. just when the rocket is ready, guess what happens. ding ding ding. you guessed it correctly. out of nowhere, in a facility that you just cleared a snacther jumps on to a moving rocket and ruins everything. i screamed FUCK YOU! at this. now imagine this, but for 5 x 10 hours.

sadly it is obvious that gears writers and developers are not risk takers. they don't renovate they don't reform and they don't improve. they are deeply obsessed with the idea of dont fix it if it ain't broken but it is broken.

for example, not being able to take risks makes itself clear during the mid section of gears 5. game actually suprises you with a compelling explanation on why queen myrrah looked like human and gives Kaith a relatable background. at this point i was expecting the game to take a hard turn and make kaith the new queen. with the mix feeling of seeing someone we love go to the dark side, we would end up fighting her with del. but out of nowhere writers decided to make reyna, a character that died last game the new queen because nothing matters and all they want you to do is hide in covers and shoot.

this is a shit writing.

and the way they present an emotional conflict at the end is such a crap out. choosing between del and jd was no brainer for me. of course i saved JD because del was such a white women fantasy of hunk black friend that i couldn't stand the guy. he is almost like a messiah who always tells the right thing, does the right thing in a world where everything tires to kill you that at the end he ends up being a shell of a character, more like a moral compass. JD on the other hand was more relatabe. he has done some bad things and done some good things. he -unlike del- has a redemption arc that you can empathise. and he is the main character of the last two games. i mean, who saves the sidekick?

i know this turned into a rant but i really believe microsoft need to kill this franchise. unlike mario, zelda, final fantasy etc. these games fail to offer anything exciting with new additions where other long going franchises constantly reinvent themselves. they are generic and unoriginal, gameplay is underwhelming and lackluster and controls are tank.

Kill it, before a snatcher jumps on to your rocket.
 
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Chukhopops

Member
You say you played all mainline games and then you say you only played 5 and Judgement? Not to mention Judgement only makes sense in the context of the original trilogy. But yeah, that’s your opinion and that’s ok not to like it.

Edit: sorry I misread, thought you said you played 5 ultimate edition and not ultimate edition (of Gears). But the point still remains, it’s ok not to like it. I would tell you to stop playing if you didn’t enjoy the first one but looks like it’s too late.
 
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ikbalCO

Member
You say you played all mainline games and then you say you only played 5 and Judgement? Not to mention Judgement only makes sense in the context of the original trilogy. But yeah, that’s your opinion and that’s ok not to like it.
no,i played and finished every numbered gears game and i am half way through hivebusters and judgement.
 

ikbalCO

Member
So playing 5 games in just 2 weeks. I guess you liked better than told. Anyway you can go back to the autoguided climbing sections of uncharted. Thanks for yout thoughts
this is a bit too mean don't you think. gears games are fairly short and we are currently ona release drought. i also mentioned how much hate climbing sections in ucnharted but compare to the loop in gears they offer some level design.

Such disdain, yet you played them all in 2 weeks? 😂

You obviously enjoyed them far more than you care to admit. It’s ok to enjoy pulp. Games don’t need to have Oscar worthy writing. I actually prefer my games to be like games.
i can't give up on things i started. like books and movies i have to see through the end. maybe thats is the reason why i want microsoft to kill the franchise because i am pretty sure i am going to play the next one when it releases due to my mild OCD
 

reforen

Member
this is a bit too mean don't you think. gears games are fairly short and we are currently ona release drought. i also mentioned how much hate climbing sections in ucnharted but compare to the loop in gears they offer some level design.


i can't give up on things i started. like books and movies i have to see through the end. maybe thats is the reason why i want microsoft to kill the franchise because i am pretty sure i am going to play the next one when it releases due to my mild OCD
so if you don't want to play Gears 6 don't do it, just stay away from it an let other people enjoy the franchise, and yes MS will kill the franchise just for one dude.
 

ikbalCO

Member
so if you don't want to play Gears 6 don't do it, just stay away from it an let other people enjoy the franchise, and yes MS will kill the franchise just for one dude.
i am just constracitng an idea. i, as a consumer, would prefer a game publisher to take risks and innovate instead of droping waves of mediocareness every three years. i just think it would be better if microsoft stop wasting time and money on this bland franchise and move on to something new.

also i have this idea because i played them all. it would be an assumption if i gave up in the first one and still want the franchise dead.

i gave them a fair chance and was not impressed with it.
 

onesvenus

Member
while gears was crazy popular, uncharted was defining story driven games
I agree with almost everything you said. I played Gears because it's a fun coop shooter, the story is really bad and cliched and the character designs are also really bad. It has an aesthetic that says nothing to me.

Having said that, Uncharted story isn't anything special either. Being better than Gears is not saying much
 

Boss Mog

Member
The original trilogy was good co-op fun with a buddy back in the 360 days, that's about it. Both Gears and Halo game become hollow shells of their former selves since the original developers moved on. Not only have they failed to evolve but they've managed to get worse. Nothing 343 have done has come remotely close to Halo Reach and I seriously doubt Infinite will change that.
 

ikbalCO

Member
TBH Gears isn't that good today and that's no knock on The Coalition who are super talented. Just that third part shooter where your character lumbers through like a whole ass is not really an exciting proposition in 2021. It's a AAA quality and budget on a AA gameplay loop.
giphy-downsized.gif
 

GHG

Gold Member
Such disdain, yet you played them all in 2 weeks? 😂

You obviously enjoyed them far more than you care to admit. It’s ok to enjoy pulp. Games don’t need to have Oscar worthy writing. I actually prefer my games to be like games.

You've got to be kidding me with that shit when gears was pretty much the poster-child for forced walking sections during the 360 era.

"Look at all that juice!"

If you want to pick a series to say "I want my games to be games" then gears really isn't it. The whole series is full of cutscenes, forced walking sections, literal walkie talkies and cinematic camera pans that haul control away from the player.
 
Lol you sound crazy to me, I love gears.


But everyone has preferences and games they think are trash that other love. I think metal gear solid is corny, uncharted is boring, final fantasy is garbage 💁 doesn't mean they should be canceled because I don't like them
For real. OP has no taste:messenger_angry:
Gears is the best third person shooter out there. Nothing even comes close. Vanquish kind of does but it looks like absolute dogshit so I'll leave it out.
 
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I don't think I could've done it. So, kudos to you - although, I hope there's no permanent damage done to your brain by forcing yourself through all that abuse.
 
I have enjoyed every Gears games from 1-5 as a co-op experience, and it really shines in that way. When the first Gears came out the refined duck and cover gameplay, high quality graphics, and massive set-piece monsters set this series apart. I can agree about the writing though, it has never been amazing. My nostalgia and the fun co-op experience has meant that I'm pretty excited about each new Gears that comes out though. To each his own!
 

BigLee74

Member
You've got to be kidding me with that shit when gears was pretty much the poster-child for forced walking sections during the 360 era.

"Look at all that juice!"

If you want to pick a series to say "I want my games to be games" then gears really isn't it. The whole series is full of cutscenes, forced walking sections, literal walkie talkies and cinematic camera pans that haul control away from the player.

I want my games to be LIKE games.

OP was lambasting the crap writing and stereotypical characters. All standard gaming tropes, that I don’t mind at all.

Gears can be cutscene heavy, granted. But the action and set pieces make up for that.
 

ikbalCO

Member
I don't think I could've done it. So, kudos to you - although, I hope there's no permanent damage done to your brain by forcing yourself through all that abuse.
I feel fine thank you. But i have to work extra hard to shake off how JD tries to be funny like nathan drake eventhough his father was took away by a snatcher to his doom
 

ikbalCO

Member
I want my games to be LIKE games.

OP was lambasting the crap writing and stereotypical characters. All standard gaming tropes, that I don’t mind at all.

Gears can be cutscene heavy, granted. But the action and set pieces make up for that.
Since when action set pieces are standard gaming tropes?
 

ikbalCO

Member
How about trying 1 in the series and finding out it's not for you?

Think About It Reaction GIF by Identity
How about giving benefit of the doubt to a developer with infinite budget to inovate and improve with every next instalment and let down by whatever comes next and since there is so much hype around it thinking ok, the next one will be good?
 

Wizz-Art

Member
How about giving benefit of the doubt to a developer with infinite budget to inovate and improve with every next instalment and let down by whatever comes next and since there is so much hype around it thinking ok, the next one will be good?
I tried that with Uncharted 1, 2 and 3, while two was ok 1 and 3 were awful, never again!
 

BigLee74

Member
Since when action set pieces are standard gaming tropes?
Two different paragraphs mate, don’t get them mixed up. (Not that it matters, because I don’t understand where you are going with your question!)
 
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ikbalCO

Member
Two different paragraphs mate, don’t get them mixed up. (Not that it matters, because I don’t understand where you are going with your question!)
I wasnt trying to be rude but i just dont understand how gears is a gamey game.
 

Wizz-Art

Member
So you do understand!

You and i my friend, we are the same breed

Well, I didn't play 4 and Second Son DLC, I gave up after only 3 games. You my friend needed 7 games and DLC to find out something you probably could've known after you got introduced to the best character named Cole Train.
 

godhandiscen

There are millions of whiny 5-year olds on Earth, and I AM THEIR KING.
They suck IMHO. I have been trying to enjoy one since Gears 3, but it’s just the same shit with prettier graphics.

PS: Uncharted is the same. Both of these franchises are just cover and shoot games with nothing else. At least add vehicles.
 
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ikbalCO

Member
So Gears sucks, but let me guess OP; you think Uncharted games are masterpieces, with oscar-worthy stories and world shakng innovations.
Tbh i like uncharted w/o believing it is oscar worthy.

Uncharted has great characters, fun and exciting writing, much, much better set pieces, amazing vistas, enjoyable puzzle elements and more.

And your playable character can actually like move and run and shit like that.

Unlike gears where running is basically a joke.

Las minute edit: and naughty dog moved on from the franchise. Cant you guys really see the difference there. They move passed it eventhough it was crazy succesful
 
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ikbalCO

Member
You are selling the story and characters short I think
After reading the spoiler part in the ot, can you really tell me that the return of certain character in form of certain someone wasnt a major fuck you to the player and to logic?
 

ikbalCO

Member
This thread only shows that having Game Pass allows for trying and playing games you otherwise probably wouldn't. At least there are hundreds of other games OP can play and possibly like.
I have stated this in other related threads as well, best thing that has ever happened to gaming since NES.
Only reason why i am planing of upgrading to series x instead of getting ps5 as a main console.
Love it.
I want MS to buy every publisher and every studio
 
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