Gears of War: Reloaded Review – Classic Combat Reborn

Title	Gears of War: Reloaded
Released	Aug 26, 2025
Developer(s):	The Coalition
Publisher(s):	Microsoft Corporation
Platform(s):
Genre	Third-Person Shooter, Action, Online Multiplayer
Rating	M
Price	$39.99
Proton	Proton Experimental GE-Proton10-4

Completed on the Xbox Series X on Normal

HowLongToBeat Time: Main + Sides (9 Hours) | My Clear Time: 9hr 18mins

Background

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Released on August 26, 2025, for Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC, Gears of War: Reloaded marks the return of one of Xbox’s defining franchises. Developed by The Coalition with Sumo Digital and Disbelief, this remaster rebuilds the 2006 original in Unreal Engine 5, modernized visuals, and cross-platform play while keeping the gritty foundation that cemented Gears as the gold standard of cover shooters.

The original Gears of War established the Xbox 360 as a powerhouse, influencing shooters with its sticky cover system and active reload mechanic. Reloaded carries that DNA forward, positioning itself as the definitive way to experience Marcus Fenix’s fight against the Locust Horde before Gears of War: E-Day in 2026.

At $39.99, the remaster includes every piece of content from Gears of War: Ultimate Edition, from the bonus campaign act to all multiplayer maps and modes, now with 4K resolution, 60 FPS in campaign, 120 FPS in multiplayer, HDR, Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, and seamless cross-play with progression that follows you on any platform. As a thank-you, Xbox fans who owned the digital Ultimate Edition received a free upgrade to Reloaded (Xbox Wire, 2025).

The development team for Gears of War: Reloaded includes:

Experience

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I came into Reloaded with years of familiarity with the franchise. Having played the original trilogy on Xbox 360 and Ultimate Edition, I knew what made Gears click: slow, methodical combat, Delta Squad’s camaraderie, and the weight of every Lancer round. This remaster promised that experience with modern hardware, and I was eager to see if nostalgia and polish could coexist.

Impressions

Introduction

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Gears of War is about pressure—scrambling between cover, timing reloads under fire, and coordinating with a partner as Locusts swarm. Reloaded recaptures that tension, proving that nearly twenty years later, Gears still hits hard.

Gameplay & Mechanics

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Reloaded refines the 2006 formula with smoother controls and smarter AI for enemies, keeping its tactical core intact.

Cover System
The sticky cover system remains the heart of Gears. Sliding into position feels buttery smooth, and gunfights reward patience and precision over run-and-gun chaos.

Melee Feature
The Lancer’s chainsaw never gets old. Even after imitators, the gruesome thrill of shredding a Locust delivers unmatched satisfaction.

Combat Flow
Wave-based encounters emphasize tactical flanking and suppressive fire. Improved AI makes Locusts more aggressive, forcing you to stay mobile rather than turtling behind a single wall. They’ll also try to cut you off using emergence holes, which can be blocked by tossing a well-placed grenade down them.

Co-Op Campaign Feature
Play as Marcus or Dom in two-player co-op, via split-screen or online crossplay across Xbox, PS5, and PC. Improved teammate AI reduces frustrations, making it a brotherhood-fueled blast,.

COG Tags
Hidden collectibles unlock concept art and comics in the main menu, rewarding exploration with glimpses into Sera’s lore.

Art & Audio

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Rebuilt in Unreal Engine 5, Reloaded is the best the original Gears has ever looked. Lighting and 4K textures turn Sera’s ruins into a dark, industrial nightmare, while character models balance gritty detail with faithful designs. PS5’s DualSense haptics and adaptive triggers add tactile feedback, like the Lancer’s rattle or chainsaw’s rumble.

The soundscape shines with Dolby Atmos support. Gunfire crunches, Locust screams echo with chilling clarity, and the iconic Mad World trailer tune tugs at your heart.

Standout tracks:

Gears of War Main Theme
A gritty, orchestral pulse that drives firefights with raw intensity.

Ephyra Street
A brooding, atmospheric piece that captures the desolation of Sera’s ruined cityscapes, layering haunting strings with distant percussion to heighten tension during exploration.

Fish In A Barrel
A pulsating, battle-driven score. The rhythmic intensity and haunting motifs lock you into the urgency of combat, perfectly matching Gears’ gritty aesthetic.

Unique Features & Mechanics

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Focus
Gears highlights points of interest with a focus prompt, whether spotting new emergence holes, marking enemies during frantic combat, or drawing attention to characters.

Active Reload
Hit the sweet spot on the reload bar for faster reloads and a damage boost. Miss it, and your gun jams longer. This high-risk, high-reward mechanic adds strategy to every firefight.

Path Select
Throughout the game, players occasionally split from their teammates to choose a path. These choices can offer tactical advantages or make firefights more frantic, though they have little effect beyond that.

Wall Bouncing
Competitive players can chain rapid dashes between cover to outmaneuver foes. While casual players may skip it, wall bouncing respects Gears’ high-skill multiplayer ceiling.

Chapter Select
Chapter Select makes it easier to replay your favorite sections by yourself, with your friends, and find your missing cog tag collectibles.

Cross Play
For the first time, Gears supports cross-platform co-op and competitive multiplayer across Xbox, PS5, and PC. Seamless cross-progression lets you carry campaign and multiplayer progress anywhere, a rare treat for a 2006 classic.

Unreal Engine 5
Built on Unreal Engine 5, Reloaded upgrades Ultimate Edition with 4K assets, improved lighting, and near-instant load times, making Sera’s destruction feel hauntingly real.

Voice Actors

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Verdict

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Gears of War: Reloaded delivers a blood-soaked remaster that makes Marcus Fenix’s fight against the Locust Horde roar with Unreal Engine 5 polish. The cover system, active reload, and co-op campaign feel as intense as ever, with cross-platform play bringing Delta Squad to PS5 players for the first time.

Dom’s AI can be a headache, often wandering into Kryll or enemy fire. It forces restarts more frustrating than I recall from the original or Ultimate Edition.

With visceral combat, stunning visuals, and Delta Squad’s unbreakable bond, Reloaded is a must-play for Gears fans and newcomers alike. Grab your Lancer, team up, and tear into Sera’s war before Gears of War: E-Day. Its reasonable price tag makes it hard to resist a game that sold me on an Xbox 360 nearly 20 years ago.

TLDR

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Pros

• Brutal Combat: Cover system, active reload, and chainsaw bayonet still thrill.
• Complete Package: UE5 polish, full Ultimate Edition content, and atmospheric audio.
• Crossplay Co-op: Split-screen, online, and seamless cross-progression across platforms..

Cons

•  Dom’s AI: Partner sometimes wanders into Kryll or enemy fire, forcing frustrating retries.
• Path Select: Offers variety but little impact overall.

References

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1. Gears of War: Reloaded | Official Trailer
2. Xbox Wire – Gears of War: Reloaded comes to Xbox, PS5
3. Gears of War Theme – Gears of War Original Soundtrack
4. Ephyra Street – Gears of War Soundtrack
5. Fish In A Barrel – Gears of War Soundtrack