Gears of War Reloaded

Gears of War: Reloaded looks even better than the Ultimate Edition, which I mention because it’s the closest thing to a newer version—the fifth act has been expanded with five additional chapters that weren’t in the original console release. Unfortunately, Reloaded still carries over some of the flaws from previous versions, which can be frustrating, especially on higher difficulty levels.

All the action in Gears of War: Reloaded unfolds over a single day. The story is personal, there are no massive battles, and the goal is to move stealthily—at least in theory, because it’s ultimately all about shooting. The game is quite dark, though not horror; it depicts a brutal world scarred by decades of war, where peace has only briefly existed, making it a gripping experience for anyone who buy cheap PS4 games and wants intense, story-driven action.

Players who don’t speak English don’t need to worry about missing the story. Subtitles are localized in Polish, so all dialogue is accessible in the native language. In a few cases, chapter names appear inconsistently in Polish or English, but the characters’ conversations are always translated.

As mentioned, the main goal in Gears of War: Reloaded is to exterminate the Locust, the enemy faction. The shooting mechanics are extremely satisfying. In fact, after the original release, Gears of War inspired a trend of shooters where taking cover and moving between positions became central to gameplay.

At first glance, this gameplay style could seem repetitive—how long can you spend peeking out from cover and shooting? However, the game constantly encourages players to push forward and engage the action. A compelling story helps maintain interest, but that’s not all. Reloaded gradually introduces stronger enemies in larger groups, so you’re never facing the same threats repeatedly.

Gears of War Reloaded – Classic Difficulty and Stiff Controls

In fact, you often can’t rely on the same cover for long. Locusts frequently burst from the ground, forcing you to use grenades to avoid being overwhelmed by sheer numbers. There are also boss fights, though their difficulty seems reduced. I spent a long time struggling with the Brumak in the Ultimate Edition, thinking I’d never finish the game because of it, but in Reloaded, I defeated it on my first attempt, making it a rewarding experience for players who buy cheap Xbox One games and want both challenge and satisfaction.

Some original elements that increased the challenge remain, such as instant respawns at the last checkpoint upon death. The second installment introduced the knocked-down state, allowing allies to assist, but that’s not here. Additionally, the movement system feels, for lack of a better word, stiff—something you simply have to adjust to, much like the controls in the first Gothic game.

In Gears of War: Reloaded, staying alert is crucial to avoid being caught off guard. The AI hasn’t aged well—don’t be fooled by the modern graphics, as both companions and enemies remain remarkably unintelligent. This means the burden often falls entirely on you. Marcus Fenix has just been released from prison, hasn’t handled a weapon in years, and lacks regular training, yet whether the mission succeeds depends solely on him.

Old Flaws, Still Intact

The only thing worse was the NPC teleportation. Several times, I saw situations where I was running toward my next objective and one of my companions suddenly appeared right in front of me, in the middle of a group of enemies, and died, while the other two soldiers stood somewhere behind me, staring at the wall. The entire fight against a large group of Locusts fell solely on my shoulders.

Dom, Cole, and Baird were only occasionally useful for drawing enemy attention, letting me fire more freely—but this happened far less often than I would have liked. Unfortunately, these bugs are quite common; even the final boss stood idle for about 15 seconds, giving me the chance to unload a full barrage of grenade launcher rounds without consequence.

Additionally, in the second act, there’s what seems like a level design flaw that has persisted from the very beginning. At one point, we drive a car to return to the outcast settlement and help defend it against the Locusts. While driving down the road, just before the main objective, my car got stuck in a crevice, forcing me to restart the sequence. I encountered the same issue in the original Gears of War, the Ultimate Edition, and now in Reloaded. It’s a remaster, not a remake, but it’s amusing how it happened three times—every time I reach that spot, krill fly in, prompting me to switch on my headlights to scare them away, which ends up putting the car back on the road.

Gears of War Reloaded – A Classic Finally on PlayStation 5

One of the most significant shooters in gaming history is finally arriving on a platform Microsoft long kept it from. PlayStation 5 players now have access to a fantastic game that still holds up and remains more entertaining than most recent competitors. It delivers excellent shooting mechanics, a solid challenge, and countless hours of fun, whether you’re playing solo, with a friend, or diving into intense multiplayer battles across multiple modes.

That said, I still wish Microsoft and The Coalition had made a bigger splash. The game turns 20 next year, and many would have appreciated a fresh take using the latest Unreal Engine, rather than revisiting an older remaster.