Gears of War 4

I think it’s safe to say the franchise is in the right hands, and I look forward to seeing more from both the developer and this series in the years to come.

Gears of War 4 just feels great. It feels like the return of an old friend, and The Coalition masterfully weave that nostalgia into the game without smothering us in it exploitatively — which is something they very easily could have done. Gears of War 4's greatest moments can be found in between the lines. They're in the shadows of familiar silhouettes, in the tones of nostalgic sound effects, in every COG tag you find scattered around the battlefield, and every ridiculous, over-the-top set piece.

A gleefully gritty, gruesome, and grand continuation of the franchise.

As a complete package, Gears of War 4 is everything I could have asked for and more. Yes, I’ve got a few slight gripes with the lackluster final fight in the closing moments of the campaign and Horde 3.0’s class system, but as a whole, this is one game that every Gears fan needs to own.

Gears of War 4 doesn't reinvent the formula but it definitely brings enough improvements without changing the core feel of Gears. With stellar production values, incredible action, series' best multiplayer, engaging new characters, and an introductory story that should satisfy new players and returning fans alike, Gears of War 4 may just be your new favorite Gears game. It's certainly mine.

This is the best entry in the series. While the campaign isn't my favourite it still has a lot of character, the graphics are unmatched, the new Horde mode is fantastic, and it is all around one heck of a good time.

Gears of War 4 also has the most stunning presentation we’ve seen in any Gears game. For the first time in the series, characters look more photorealistic than they do cartoonish, and the environment is alive with insane weather, deep darkness, and particle effects that are truly stunning.

The Coalition Takes the best of Gears of War and makes it faster, fluid and spectacular. Gears of War 4 is the best reason to buy a Xbox One.

Gears of War returns with a bang. Consistently thrilling and relentlessly entertaining, Gears 4 is comfortably one of the best shooters of the generation so far.

Gears of War 4 is a great product. An epic Campaign, robust multiplayer mode with competitive elements and the new Horde Mode, makes it one of the best and more complete games of this year. Great addition to the Xbox One catalog.

Gears of War 4 delivers a solid entertainment experience. Supported by a great multiplayer and cooperative modes as well as an amazing campaign, the game only falls short on its script and character development. Horde 3.0 is awesome and deep, the new multiplayer modes are fun and the history feels like a 3D Contra game. Leaving other minor technical setbacks aside, Xbox One users can't go wrong with this one.

Even with a new studio leading the development charge, Gears of War 4 is a return to form for the series, and is continual delight, even if it does unnecessarily cling for dear life to the past.

If you were nervous how the new studio was going to handle the Gears series, put those fears to rest, as The Coalition has delivered an experience that feels new yet familiar at the same time and worthy of the Gears of War title. Whether you’re coming for the campaign, competitive multiplayer, or Horde mode, Gears of War 4 has tremendous value and replayability and ushers in the new generation some change for the series.

The Coalition has made a proper Gears of War. GoW 4 has a new setting and enemies but everything else there is what made this franchise an instant classic on Xbox. One of the best TPS out there on Xbox One or PC.

I never expected to compare Gears of War 4 to The Force Awakens, but I couldn’t be happier to do so. Like the latest chapter in the story from a time long ago in a galaxy far, far away, Gears of War 4 is directed by a new generation of creators, shares a lot of similar narrative structures to the beloved first piece of the trilogy it succeeds, and is an experience you’ll walk away from with a big smile on your face.

A GoW game made for GoW lovers: it manages to successfully leverage all of the series strengths with a convincing story and a new cast of characters, awesome graphics and a contents-packed multiplayer, even if they're not trying to innovate the series.

The Coalition has managed to successfully bring every great elements from previous games into a new setting. Whether you go for single-player, multiplayer or horde mode, GoW4 hast plenty to offer. The visuals are stunning and the gameplay is the best in the series thus far; and despite shortcomings in the story and development of characters, GoW4 is easily one of the best third-person shooters of this generation.

A cover shooter sequel with more wild imagination than we dared expect. [Dec 2016, p.67]

Taken all together, Gears of War 4 doesn’t completely reinvent the genre, and it’s not always "bigger." But it’s a remarkably consistent, complete package with the kind of refinement and focus few other games can manage, providing excellent solo, cooperative, and competitive options that rank it as one of the best action games of 2016.

This is one of the best games to be released this year, without a doubt. While the campaign may have felt a bit short with its abrupt ending, it left me itching for a sequel.

With an interesting, albeit familiar narrative, great gameplay and some really brutal battles, Gears of War 4 offers exactly what fans of the series have been yearning for: hours upon hours of great, weighty combat.

Gears of War 4 is one of the most visually impressive games on the Xbox One, period (and yes, I am one of those who think that graphics matter). While the combat is familiar, it is also fine-tuned and polished for maximum challenge and enjoyment, whether in the multiplayer modes, or plowing through the campaign alone.

And any game that features characters who perform one-arm pullups to go up ladders is automatically in my good books. Gears of War 4 features such characters. There's no doubt that the long-term appeal of Gears 4 lies in its suite of multiplayer modes, but I would 100 per cent recommend playing through the campaign. It's some of the best fun I've had in a shooter for quite some time.

Gears of War 4 is a triumphant return to form for the series. What’s more, it proves that the franchise is more than safe in the hands of The Coalition. A visual spectacle that dials back some of the macho ridiculousness of the original trilogy whilst refining and expanding the gameplay, it’s genuinely a game to own an Xbox One for.

With a solid campaign, and the brilliant multiplayer which will keep you going for days on end, the Gears of War franchise is in safe hands.

Everything you could have hoped for, especially as a fan. Not as complete a story as expected, but that just gives us higher hopes for a follow up. This is our idea of fun: Wilder, bolder - either alone or with a mate.

Gears of War 4 is a great game which is let down by its campaign to some degree due to the unanswered questions. However, the ending teases a massive surprise and you’ll be shocked as to the direction the game is heading in.

Gears of War 4 is the real deal - gorgeous to look at, smooth to play and packed full of content.

Campaign is worthy of its ancestors and will probably prompt more than one play through for hardcore fans. Versus and Horde 3.0 both add tons of replayability and the presentation package is the best in series history and is contemporaneously adroit.

Gears Of War 4 does everything required to bring the franchise roadie-running into 2016 without losing what made it so good to begin with. One of the best games on the Xbox One.

From the single-player to the co-op and multiplayer, every aspect of the game sings with quality as they successfully blend old traditions with new mechanics. There's already a ton of content in the game, which is great at giving you many possible ways to access it all. While the PC is the preferred platform to play the game, the Xbox One version is no slouch, as it still comes up with a solid experience. Overall, action fans will have a blast with this title.

The new installment of the Gears of War saga is just what the fans were expecting after Judgment. Even though its story mode is a bit short, its gameplay mechanics and graphics will make you fall in love with Gears of War 4.

Gears of War 4 lives up to the expectations and even improves an almost perfect formula. The campaign introduces a new generation of heroes and enacts the passage from the past to the future, while the classic multiplayer modes and the most competitive ones are very entertaining and might keep players busy for an unquantifiable amount of time.

Gears 4 is a painstakingly crafted love letter to those that have a meaty soft spot for the franchise. Aside from the costly cosmetic-focussed transactions, this is the exact experience that fans have been waiting for.

Gears of War 4 is exactly what you've come to expect a Gears of War game to be over the years -- an impressive visual showcase in the campaign, with the accompanying competitive and cooperative modes to keep you busy long after the credits roll. Its good to finally see a new Gears of War game on the Xbox One. The wait has been long for Gears of War 4, and now we've seen that the wait has been worth it.

Gears of War 4 looked at the series’ core formula and figured that if it wasn’t broken, don’t fix it. Most of the additions The Coalition put onto that core simply helped enhance and refine something that was already great. A couple of missteps were made, but this is still a great overall entry in the franchise.

Gears of War 4 is 100% a Gears game. Big man firing with big guns at big enemies, bad jokes and testosterone. Marcus is still too big to pass the torch to his son, even if we don't play his role. The multiplayer offer is a big tasty buffet and the visuals are stunning. It's good, but new ideas are still to be found.

Gears of Wars is back and new developers The Coalition not only pay homage to what came before but enhance the experience. Sure, the mechanics are almost identical to the previous games but with new executions, vehicles, defense building plus new enemies/weapons and you have everything you need for a great Gears of War 4 experience!

A strange combination of both familiar territory and a fresh feeling, Gears of War 4 provides and enjoyable and robust experience. While there isn't much new ground broken in the experience, it does a lot to remind us what was so great about the original games in the first place.

Gears of War 4 delivers a familiar gameplay experience, while still feeling fresh and new. Although the campaign has its flaws, the story stays interesting. Together with the new and improved Horde mode and multiplayer, Gears of War 4 is a blast to play.

The ship has a new captain, but Gears of War is still about guts, glory and camaraderie. Buckle up, grab your Lancer and go kick some Swarm buttocks. [Nov 2016]

Gears of War 4 is exactly what a fan of the series was waiting for. The campaign does not introduce anything new, but it works and it's graphically astonishing, while the online modes are totally fun. Go and buy GOW4 without any hesitation.

A very well-executed, bug-free game with awesome technical effects. The single-player campaign is on the short side at nine hours, but it gives you everything that you want and expect in a Gears of War game. The Coalition does a decent job walking the tightrope of providing something that fans want and giving them something different at the same time. The Horde mode has taken the co-op play in a very good direction, and I expect that fans are going to enjoy multiplayer quite a bit as well. If I had to pick one flaw, it’s that this game has too wide a range, with a lot of humor and a lot of terror all at once.

GOW4 fits perfectly as a fourth episode. It keeps the same core of the franchise and expands it with good new ideas in every aspect of the game.

Gears of War is back with a very solid entry in the beloved franchise: the lack of courage and the apparent fear of taking risks prevents Gears of War 4 from entering the absolute elites of the genre, yet with its compelling campaign and the usual, stellar multiplayer, this remains one hell of a ride.

The Coalition’s development team did a fantastic job adopting the Gears of War series. They’ve preserved what makes it special in our hearts and added in new bells and whistles which are absolutely welcome.

After one day of playing GoW4, I knew it was an awesome title. After one month of diving deep into all campaign and multiplayer modes, that feeling hasn’t wavered. The developers showed hints of brilliance with their remake of the original Gears, but no one could have predicted just how firm a grasp they had on the intricacies of what makes this series so special. Its few flaws knocked my score down a few notches, but the gameplay is well-paced, gorgeous to watch, and tremendously satisfying. GoW4 a system-seller and a must-have title for any self-respecting fan of shooters.

Gears of War 4 is a return to form for the franchise. The campaign plays it pretty safe, but a near-perfect pacing and outstanding variety of gameplay make for an entertaining experience that is best enjoyed with a friend.

Gears of War 4 is not a breakthrough for the franchise, but it underlines a successful transition from Epic Games to The Coalition. We would have loved more risk-taking, but overall it's still a great game.

The amount of quality content in multiplayer, and the ability to change Horde difficulty levels and play casual or competitive in Versus, makes Gears of War 4 a terrific deal, especially given the quality of the product.

The Coalition’s debut in the Gears of War series is a very good action game, but at the same time it’s a shame the campaign falls short of the high standard of the IP.

A cracking first effort from The Coalition, Gears of War 4 might be the studio playing it safe for its first proper go around with Gears, but it successfully manages to retain everything that's special about the series while re-igniting mankind's struggle for survival on Sera. That means there will be sequels. Lots of sequels. Fortunately, Gears of War 4 is a superb game, so if they're anything like this, bring 'em on.

The campaign leans on everything that worked in the first game, all while adding new flourishes to further make the world of Gears of War more compelling. The multiplayer is as enjoyable as ever, with the new modes keeping Gears online elements fresh, and more importantly, addictive. It's undeniably good to be thumping around in COG armor again.

Gears of War 4 is an impressive return to form.

The series is certainly in safe hands, but we wish new developer The Coalition was a little bolder. [Dec 2016, p.70]

It does, however, stay true to the gameplay mechanics of its predecessors, and provides countless hours of rewarding multiplayer options. The Gears faithful should rejoice, as a new saga is just getting lubricated.

It’s difficult to fault The Coalition for not running with new ideas when it comes to Gears of War 4. The game definitely feels like a Gears of War title, but it’s more of a revamped reboot rather than a proper sequel. If you’ve been a fan of previous Gears titles, there’s a lot to like about Gears of War 4, but for anyone who wasn’t already sold on the series, don’t expect anything here to suddenly change your mind.

Gears of War 4 builds on the design we learned to love during the last generation. The result? Another great game in the series.

While not as immediately memorable as Gears 1, Gears of War 4 does a similar job to J.J. Abrams’ Star Wars VII: The Force Awakens -- it takes positive and familiar themes from the first game and dresses them up in modernity and pretends it’s an entirely new, and fresh start. So it’s not bad, but it’s not groundbreaking either.

It’s the ideal handoff title, delivering the franchise from the last generation of stars to a new cast, and powering the franchise into a new era. And it does all this without ever compromising the soul of the series, maintaining the pace and rhythm of the franchise to a tee.

Gears Of War 4 is a success, then, even if it does take The Coalition a little too long to find its feet in its single-player campaign.

The majesty of the original trilogy is absent in this game, but after the bland first few chapters the pace is lifted and we end up with a decent addition to the franchise. Next time The Coalition must try harder.

Gears of War 4 offers everything you'd expect from a Gears title, and a surprising amount of great new ideas that enhance the core gameplay. Its campaign has problems in terms of story and characterisation, but in terms of fun is up there with the best the series has produced. The overall impression is that Gears of War is in thoroughly capable hands The Coalition. With more confident storytelling the studio could well produce a classic.

My time with Gears of War 4 left me with a feeling that the game could have been a little more ambitious in spots. It feels a little too safe and too unwilling to ditch some of the traditions of the initial trilogy. But the ways it plays around with and reintroduces the characters from those Gears of War games is expertly handled, making for some great moments along the way.

This is still a franchise about muscle-bound men and alpha women using machine guns fixed with chainsaws to eviscerate battalions of antagonists. But I love it unlike any other big-budget shooter series.

Although the old dog didn’t learn many new tricks, at least not in campaign, the old dog is still a determined fighter who can put up a fight. Rock-solid campaign can be compared to the previous episodes without any shame, plus there is a great multiplayer mode - especially Horde 3.0 mode, in which you can spend dozens of hours and still experience something new.

I’m impressed by how well The Coalition has remained faithful to the core of Gears of War while putting their own mark on the series. A memorable single-player experience blended with a robust suite of co-op and competitive multiplayer options, Gears of War 4 is a surprisingly great return to a franchise I thought I could live without...Genre-defining? Not quite. Maybe that will come with Gears 5. Or Gears 6. That’s the thing about a Fenix – they always rise again.

Gears of War 4 takes all the best things from the previous Gears of War-games and offers a new, thrilling part of the story. The balance between battle chaos and excellent controls offers hours and hours of fun.

Gears of War 4 is a best of-game, offering all the things we love about previous Gears of War games. It's obvious The Coalition knows the franchise, and respects it.

I might have my issues with the second half of the campaign, but I did like the return of Marcus Fenix.

Its thrilling, opulent campaign is tempered only by a lingering sense of familiarity and hesitation to capitalise on some interesting new ideas. While its online offerings feature all the bells and whistles you would expect of Gears of War. There is some work to be done for The Coalition to make Gears their own, then, but as the first page of a new chapter for the series? It is a helluva place to start.

Gears of War 4 may adhere to a seemingly old-fashioned template but, in practice, it feels anything but archaic. Its single-player campaign is much more varied and engaging than those of its predecessors and the online mode is exhilarating, catering for all shades of gamers, from the less adept to those with pro-gamer aspirations. The horde thoroughly deserves its 3.0 designation upgrade and as a whole, the fourth iteration gives the Gears of War template the rejuvenating shot in the arm it sorely needed.

Gears of War 4 as a whole looks interesting and it's definitely a pleasure to once again become an armed warrior and jump from cover to cover. The game may not impress in terms of graphics, and the universe is not as captivating as it used to be, but it's still good, demanding "Gears" - and that's crucial.

Gears Of War 4 is an honest act of love for the saga, and for the countless fans who - over ten years - never stopped hoping for a glorious return to the heyday of the brand.

Gears of War 4 is the best game in the series so far with more likable characters and a better and more well-written story. The story of friendship and family fits well with the summer blockbuster style that the series has always strived for. Full of action, some humour and maybe even a few scares thrown in with the mix, more than anything else it looks like The Coalition is determined to mature the Gears franchise, and that is hardly a bad thing at all.

Gears 4 gives me the same sense of wonder and excitement playing through the campaign as I first had with Marcus and Dom a decade ago. It is a 'Gears' for a new generation, and The Coalition has risen to the occasion to give a top notch package with heaps of production and replay value both. The Ultimate Edition specifically is not worth its hefty price tag, but Gears of War 4 itself should not be missed.

The multiplayer stuff seems as strong or even stronger while the visuals are absolutely stunning. It's not the blockbuster restart you might have hoped for, but there's enough good stuff here to make you hope The Coalition gets another run.

While the gameplay and storyline certainly aren't lacking and will likely keep Gears fans amused, The Coalition seems reluctant to let the past go and to move on. Away from the campaign, there are tweaks to competitive multiplayer that include a couple of new game modes, but the real focus of the title is the improved Horde mode.

Gears of War 4 is a satisfying, if not overly familiar, return to some of the series’ best beats. A distinctly dark campaign dishes out welcome surprises and disappointing repeats in equal measure, while its refined Horde mode and thoroughly engaging multiplayer round off a package that any franchise fan should be happy to rev through.

The Gears of War series returns in fine form. The well-scripted and fantastic-looking campaign ends rather abruptly, but while it lasts, it's an exciting thrill ride of intense firefights and over-the-top set pieces. It can feel a little repetitive and relentless at times, but overall it's a lot of fun. The game's six-mode multiplayer PvP feels refined and well designed, and offers plenty of long-term potential, while Horde 3.0 is ideal for those who want to join friends in a long, and very challenging firefight.

This was a fine first showing but it'd be nice to see The Coalition carve its own identity for Gears of War. Using Epic's foundation is understandable and expected, but it often feels like a crutch. Marcus' boy had grown up just like him.

The competitive multiplayer isn’t much of an evolution from previous efforts, and the campaign drags for a bit, but the high points make it worth the ride and the new Horde mode is simply stellar. If you’ve enjoyed this franchise previously or have a few friends looking for co-op, give Gears of War 4 a close look – it’s definitely worth the time.

The story campaign can be a little bland, at least when playing on your own, but otherwise this does a fine job of bringing Gears into the current gen.

Gears of War fans can finally breathe a sigh of relief: Gears of War 4 is truly a worthy sequel to the first trilogy. The Coalition managed to create a game that is both faithful to what made Gears Gears all the while adding new gameplay ideas and expanding the GoW mythos.

Gears of War 4 is a focused, confident exercise in how to relaunch a franchise. As effective as a direct sequel as it is a soft-reboot, it’s a game crafted of thought, wisdom, and objective calculation blended with a real passion for finding the fun. It may err slightly on the safe side in its campaign, but it does so understandably, in order to strip the series back to what matters, and re-evolve it with a carefully considered outlook.

The Coalition’s multiplayer offerings make up for an inconsistent campaign in Gears of War 4. Even then, and as much as I hate to admit it, what’s been presented has me eager for more – even though I would have preferred some resolution in this title, thank you very much. Gears fans will love it and newcomers should find enough to get them geared up – pun intended – for more.

Don’t go into Gears of War 4 expecting a thought provoking story; go into it for its action packed scenarios, superb multiplayer experience and top tier shooting mechanics.

Gears of War 4 is a solid and fun, if overly familiar, entry in the beloved cover-shooter franchise. Veterans will feel right at home, and newcomers will feel welcome.

Enthusiasm and disappointment go hand in hand with Gears of War 4. While the campaign lacks the punch that you are used to from the 360-classics, the enhanced multiplayer gives you almost everything you can dream of.

While its bulk is impressive, it lacks a distinctive personality of its own. [Christmas 2016, p.106]

The multiplayer mode is still excellent but I can’t stand how much this game as a whole is stuck in the previous generation both in terms of design and form. [12/2016, p.62]

What does stand out are the weather effects, which fill the screen with debris and drop cover in your path - or just as easily rip it away. With constant windflares and lightning storms, this might be the loudest Gears yet. There are some off-the-wall vehicular segments and executions are at their goriest peak. Technically speaking, Gears of War 4 is solid.

Gears of War 4 has pretty much the same mechanics that we are used to. It sure is entertaining, but at the same time a little too safe. Overall though, it’s still a great game that every Gears of War fan probably will enjoy.

Gears of War 4 is simply more of the things that players know and love. The developers may have failed during the creation of a cool single-player campaign and the new heroes are pale shadows of previously used veterans but the multiplayer portion of the game shines. This is its strongest part that deserves every praise.

When it comes down to it, though, I play Gears games for their spectacular campaigns, and Gears of War 4’s single-player mode just doesn’t live up to the standard set by its predecessors. It’s too conservative to wow us the way we expect, and it lacks many of the larger-than-life personalities that made the original trilogy so fun and memorable.

The campaign is flimsy, and despite claims of signifying a new generation for the series, Gears of War 4 is ultimately an upholder of the status quo.

Gears of War 4 makes the best of the franchise's multiplayer modes, but delivers a lackluster campaign in the process.