Reviews Gears Tactics Reviews

[lashman]

Game Information

Game Title: Gears Tactics

Platforms:

• PC (Apr 28, 2020)
• Xbox One (who knows)

Trailer:

• Gears Tactics World Premiere Trailer
• E3 2018 Gears Tactics On-Stage Announce

Developers: Splash Damage, The Coalition

Publisher: Xbox Game Studios

Review Aggregator:

OpenCritic - 81 average - 85% recommended

Critic Reviews


MSPoweruser - Lewis White - 9.7 / 10

Tactics is a fantastic conversion of Xbox’s iconic franchise into a more thoughtful gameplay setting. It’s a spin-off that takes everything Gears is known for and masterfully retools it for an engrossing strategy game that we’ll likely be playing for years to come. With a Locust enemy that’s finally more imposing than General RAAM and a lovable cast of characters, it’s also a game that continues to tell an epic, cinematic story that strategy games have never had the budget to do before. This is everything you love about Gears, you just have to think a bit more.

Critical Hit - Darryn Bonthuys - 9 / 10

Gears Tactics isn't just one of the biggest surprises of the year, it's a vulgar display of power starring everyone's favourite beefy boys in a bloody new direction that'll test your trigger fingers with pure heavy mental action.

Destructoid - Brett Makedonski - 9 / 10

All my quibbles are on the periphery of Gears Tactics, though. The core -- getting onto the battlefield and agonizing over every move -- is excellent. There's a smart experience here, one that feels both authentically Gears and tactics. That's the best possible outcome. Gears Tactics is a great Gears game and a great tactics game. This 90% doesn't miss.

GameSpew - Richard Seagrave - 9 / 10

Gears Tactics is the best Gears of War game since the original trilogy came to a close.

Gaming Nexus - Russell Archey - 9 / 10

Gears Tactics is definitely different than what Gears fans are accustomed to, being a tactical-style game, but I think it fits the genre pretty well. If you've ever wondered what Gears would be like outside of the main series, Gears Tactics shows that it does pretty well in a tactical-style.

GamingTrend - Travis Northup - 90 / 100

Gears Tactics is a stellar tactics game that still manages to feel like the Gears you know and love. With a solid story, addictive RPG systems, and dozens of hours of gameplay, this is a must-play for any fans of turn-based strategy games or the Gears franchise in general.

WellPlayed - Jordan Garcia - 9 / 10

Great storytelling, solid characters, impressive performance and subtle changes to the formula set by XCOM create the impressive spinoff title that is Gears Tactics

Geek Culture - Jake Su - 8.8 / 10

Gears Tactics delivers signature over-the-top action in a brand new genre that not only works, but succeeds spectacularly.

Spaziogames - Paolo Sirio - Italian - 8.7 / 10

Gears Tactics feels like a natural step for the franchise, and the best game since The Coalition has been given control over the series.

AusGamers - Kosta Andreadis - 8.5 / 10

From the rushing melee-based Creepers to exploding Tickers to enemy snipers that can pin one of your squad members into place, there’s diversity in how each firefight plays out.

Game Informer - Matt Miller - 8.5 / 10

Inject some much-needed adrenaline and storytelling into the tactics milieu, even if the campaign wears out its welcome

Gamerheadquarters - Jason Stettner - 8.5 / 10

Gears Tactics is turn based excellence, a strategy title that takes the Gears of War franchise in an interesting new direction.

Gamers Heroes - Blaine Smith - 85 / 100

Everything about Gears Tactics screams quality, and it's easily one of the best debut titles this genre has seen in years. It's nearly time for X-COM to step aside – this genre just went up a Gear.

Stevivor - Steve Wright - 8.5 / 10

While Gears Tactics has some refining to do, it’s hard not to recommend

Wccftech - Chris Wray - 8.5 / 10

Gears Tactics is, simply put, an excellent turn-based tactics game that stands up well against titles like XCOM and others at the top of the genre.

Worth Playing - Cody Medellin - 8.5 / 10

Gears Tactics is a solid turn-based strategy game that has something for genre veterans and newcomers alike.

PC Gamer - Wes Fenlon - 83 / 100

Clever combat abilities and brutal executions translate Gears of War into a deep, fast-paced strategy game.

Hobby Consolas - Alejandro Alcolea Huertos - Spanish - 82 / 100

Gears Tactics reinvents the saga moving from shooter to tactical strategy. It keeps the essence of third-person shooter, it's fast, wild and fun, despite some boring side missions.

DualShockers - Ryan Meitzler - 8 / 10

Effectively blending the Gears of War universe with strategy gameplay, Gears Tactics is a fast-paced experience that succeeds on both fronts.

Game Revolution - Jason Faulkner - 4 / 5 stars

Gears Tactics makes a wonderful addition to the franchise, and I hope that it spins off as its own series.

GameSkinny - Jason D'Aprile - 8 / 10 stars

Gears Tactics takes the intense third-person action of the console game into the realm of PC-centric turn-based tactical strategy.

GameSpot - Mike Epstein - 8 / 10

Gears Tactics carefully recreates the chaotic excitement of a Gears of War firefight in turn-based strategy form.

Gameblog - Camille Allard - French - 8 / 10

Gears Tactics is a nice surprise. If you like the XCOM genre, there's a lot of fun waiting for you. It's beautiful, epic and clever in its gameplay mechanics. And you dont need be familiar with the Gears saga to appreciate it. But if you are, it's definitely a treat.

GamingBolt - Will Borger - 8 / 10

Gears Tactics marries classic Gears of War elements with engaging tactical combat. It's not as deep as X-Com, but this is a unique, enjoyable tactical game with a lot of depth that should entice fans of both Gears and X-Com.

Glitched Africa - Marco Cocomello - 8 / 10

Gears Tactics is one of the best tactical games on the market. It delivers a challenging and unique approach to the series. As for replayability, it offers hours of intense gameplay, fantastic boss fights and a large emphasis on an end-game modifier experience. You don't want to miss this.

IGN - Dan Stapleton - 8 / 10

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.

Shacknews - TJ Denzer - 8 / 10

The game offers a solid experience of squad customization and tactical turn-based battle, but still keeps some of the most satisfying head explosions to ever come out of an action game.

TechRaptor - Alex Santa Maria - 8 / 10

On the gameplay front, Gears Tactics nails the transition from high octane shooter to tactical strategy. You'll be hooked even as you grind through an overlong campaign filled with repetitive missions.

The Games Machine - Daniele Dolce - Italian - 8 / 10

Gears Tactics is not only a pretty good turn-based tactical game, but it also manages to keep the typical feeling of the Gears of War series unchanged.

TheSixthAxis - Dominic Leighton - 8 / 10

There's a sense that this is Splash Damage and The Coalition playing to the crowd with Gears Tactics. It undoubtedly captures the look and feel of the Gears universe, squeezing it into a slick turn-based tactical game, but while I can see a few genre fans attracted to its more cerebral form of warfare, it's the series fans who are going to get the most out of it.

TrueAchievements - Sean Carey - 4 / 5 stars

Gears Tactics is a fantastic strategy game.

TrueGaming - نايف اللحيدان - Arabic - 8 / 10

Maybe some missions felt repetitive and the overall structure felt linear without branching options to advance, but the combat in Gears Tactics is amazing and it can even rival the amazing XCom.

Twinfinite - Chris Jecks - 4 / 5

A blend of excellent gameplay and a compelling story that feels true to the Gears universe is guaranteed to turn the COGS of series veterans and newcomers alike. Gears Tactics should be on the radar of all Gears fans, even those entirely new to the tactics genre.

USgamer - Mike Williams - 4 / 5 stars

Gears Tactics finds its niche by leaning further into the hyper-aggressive action and gore of the franchise. It throws tons of enemies at you, which forces you to move and keeps you on your toes, but can also become annoying and tedious in some missions. For a first-time outing though, Gears Tactics is a fantastic start.

Windows Central - Jez Corden - 4 / 5 stars

Held back by a few flaws, Gears Tactics remains a rock-solid turn-based strategy game fans of the genre will love.

Cerealkillerz - Gabriel Bogdan - German - 7.8 / 10

Gears Tactics successfully injects the brutal acion of the Gears of War Series in a tactical environment with phenomenal boss fights and gory executions but runs itself in the ground with a repetitive mission structure and a lot of missing variety in many departments. Even newcomers of the Genre will soon have a desire for more.

GameWatcher - Jamie Davey - 7.5 / 10

Staying true to the franchise, your Gears are brutal killing machines who live in a soap opera. We'll add that it's also rare to find a tactics game which makes you feel powerful but vulnerable at the same time, and that's worth a lot.

New Game Network - Alex Varankou - 72 / 100

Gears Tactics is a worthwhile spinoff that does a great job of integrating key franchise elements into a different genre. The story is shallow and the missions get quite repetitive, but fans of turn based tactics should get some gory fun out of this one.

GamesRadar+ - Josh West - 3.5 / 5 stars

Gears Tactics is a smart, fast, and aggressive strategy game that's in need of a little more variety

Hardcore Gamer - Kevin Dunsmore - 3.5 / 5

Despite some stumbles, Splash Damage has successfully taken the essence of the Gears franchise and transferred it into a turn-based strategy game.

PCGamesN - Richard Scott-Jones - 7 / 10

Its core combat is probably better than XCOM's. If only it did a little more with it, Gears Tactics would be one of the greats.Richard Scott-Jones

Press Start - Adam Mathew - 7 / 10

As a spin-off, Gears Tactics has strong core gameplay, but unfortunately surrounding areas in the design hold it back from being greater.

Rocket Chainsaw - Adam Ghiggino - 3.5 / 5 stars

While it doesn’t quite have enough tricks up its sleeve to remain engaging throughout its 40-hour main story, it’s still a creative, interesting new take on the franchise that’s worth a look for any fan after something a bit different.

Screen Rant - Phillip Tinner - 3.5 / 5 stars

Gears and XCOM fans will love Gears Tactics.

GotGame - Cole Nixon - 6.5 / 10

Ultimately, Gears Tactics may be inviting to someone who wants a bridge between robust strategy and high octane excitement. However, veteran strategy game players may find this game a shallow ride.

ACG - Jeremy Penter - Buy

"With some inconsistencies, Gears doesn't land perfectly but it does land on both feet. One firmly entrenched in excellent strategy, the other a perfect rendition of Gears but in a turn-based style"

Echo Boomer - Portuguese - Loved

The revolutionary cover-based shooter gets adapted into a turn-based game, that still gets the fun, the action bits, the chaos and the adrenaline that defined the series.

Eurogamer - Christopher Bratt - No Recommendation / Blank

A competent tactical retooling of the Gears formula, even if the execution isn't always spot-on.

Polygon - Charlie Hall - Unscored

This is a near miss, but as anyone who has ever played a turn-based game will tell you, a near miss can be all the enemy needs to take you out. This is an interesting, but hardly essential, addition to the Gears family.

Rock, Paper, Shotgun - Nate Crowley - Unscored

This is 100% a Gears Of War game, that also happens to be a top flight strategy effort.

 

[Nahkapukki]

Seems good. There's always room for proper spin-offs in my books. Will play.

 

[Kurt Russell]

Looks like I'll have a good time with this one.

 

[ISee]

 

[lashman]

Seems good. There's always room for proper spin-offs in my books. Will play.

yup, seems to be decent enough

Looks like I'll have a good time with this one.

same! can't wait

 

[Nahkapukki]

Think MS is gonna do fine from now on gamewise. I mean... Minecraft Dungeons looks like a fun romp as well. Sea of Thieves is getting better and better.

Interesting times for the Boxerites.

 

[lashman]

Think MS is gonna do fine from now on gamewise. I mean... Minecraft Dungeons looks like a fun romp as well. Sea of Thieves is getting better and better.

Interesting times for the Boxerites.

too bad Dungeons isn't coming to steam, though i would've bought it

 

[Nahkapukki]

too bad Dungeons isn't coming to steam, though i would've bought it

It's not? Damn... I've been eyeing it out for the kids as a Diablo-like game.

 

[lashman]

It's not? Damn... I've been eyeing it out for the kids as a Diablo-like game.

apparently not would've had a store page by now if it did

 

[fantomena]

Love tactical games and turn based games, even the mediocre ones, so I will definetly play it.

 

[ISee]

Heavy industrial and desert environments, buffed up guys in servo armor, fire archs, gridless cover mechanics.

This is an X-Com / Dawn of War 2 hybrid

 

[Shahem]

Impressive presentation and technology. This is not a low-budget side project by any means :

I'm tempted to buy this solely to support such effort but it's 69.99€ in my region.

 

[lashman]

I'm tempted to buy this solely to support such effort but it's 69.99€ in my region.

yeah ... don't support MS's shitty regional pricing

 

[gabbo]

So it sounds quite good, but that steam pricetag is much too high and im not one to try gamepass again

 

[Ge0force]

I'm tempted to buy this solely to support such effort but it's 69.99€ in my region.

No effort is worth such a ridiculous price imo. I can only hope people vote with their wallets against this price, or other publishers will be happy to raise their price as well.

 

[lashman]

So it sounds quite good, but that steam pricetag is much too high and im not one to try gamepass again

if their previous releases are anything to go by - it's gonna be 50% off in like 2 months

 

[Nahkapukki]

Gamepass it. Cheap and if the gods of Microsoft Store are on your side there are no issues. (I've been having a relatively easy time with the PC Xbox recently)

 

[gabbo]

if their previous releases are anything to go by - it's gonna be 50% off in like 2 months

This is what I'm hoping for. Christmas sale pick up for sure, if not summer sale

 

[lashman]

This is what I'm hoping for. Christmas sale pick up for sure, if not summer sale

yeah ... i really don't think you'll have to wait long

 

[Stevey]

Do want, but I'll wait for a sale.

 

[Kurt Russell]

apparently not would've had a store page by now if it did

darnit, I would have bought it with my eyes closed

 

[lashman]

darnit, I would have bought it with my eyes closed

yeah, same!

 

[Anteater]

 

[Stevey]

Nice

 

[Shpeshal Nick]

Our review wasn’t kind lol


Our fearless leader thought it might be cool idea to get a “TBS expert” to review Tactics.

Welp lol
Also lashman its not out on Xbox yet. No official date right now. Probably much later in the year.

 

[lashman]

Also @lashman its not out on Xbox yet. No official date right now. Probably much later in the year.

oh yeah, you're right ... i just copy-pasted the thread from opencritic, so blame them