Review Roundup: Gear Tactics Works Fantastic as An XCom-Like Strategic Title
Developer The Coalition and Splash Damage managed to make one of the best third person shooter franchises and turn it into an awesome turn-based action game!
This is the first time the Gears franchise has went into a different genre and I think it turned out pretty well. From early reviews critics state the game is fun and brings a new layer of strategic gameplay to the turn-based genre. If you’re a Gears fan, then this new Tactics games might be for you, provided you like strategic games.
Down below are some of the most respectable gaming sites in the industry, check out the highlights for their reviews on The Coalition’s latest Gears title — Gear Tactics:
Smart mechanics, aggressive battles, and tight storytelling make this a strong new contender in the genre, even if the campaign’s pacing sometimes misses the mark.
PC Gamer 83
Gears Tactics’ structure couldn’t quite sustain the 25 hours or so it took me to get through the campaign, but slap the combat into a sequel with a couple more strategic systems that balance out the variety and pacing, and I’d honestly rather play it over XCOM, a recommendation I never expected I’d make.
Game Rant 80
Gears Tactics proves that there’s a lot more that can be done with the Gears of War IP besides just third-person shooters. The game has some pacing issues and some repetitive missions, but it’s otherwise a very engaging turn-based strategy game that should please both fans of the genre and Gears of War enthusiasts alike.
IGN 80
Gears Tactics does an excellent job of grafting Gears’ signature look and feel onto XCOM’s turn-based battle format and looks great doing it.
GameSpot 80
Though Gears Tactics wears itself a little thin by the end of its protracted campaign, the rush of pulling together a victory from the jaws of defeat carries an exciting, chaotic energy. Unlike most strategy games, playing well doesn’t necessarily make you feel like a mastermind, so much as though you’ve cheated death. Every successful plan, even a last-ditch effort, feels like a small stroke of genius. That’s no small feat.
DualShockers 80
Despite playing in a completely different style compared to the core Gears games, Gears Tactics still feels remarkably in line with the rest of the series and is a thrilling, worthwhile experience that Gears fans and strategy game veterans will enjoy, while being completely accessible to newcomers.
Two years removed from its surprise announcement, Gears Tactics is a creative success. While it lacks multiplayer and features a few too many repetitive missions, its aggressive combat and dedication to translating all the details from Gears of War into a tactical game are impressive. This isn’t a gimmick or reskin of XCOM. This is something great that stands on its own.
Gear Tactics is available now for the Xbox One and PC. Are you planning on picking up the latest entry in the franchise? Let us know in the comments below!