Playing Gears of War on my PS5 didn’t quite feel real. While it’s not the first Xbox title to come to PlayStation (we love you, Forza Horizon 5), it’s the one that gave me the biggest smile on my face. This was the reason I bought an Xbox 360 when I was 19-years old. It was also the first time I had played online multiplayer. I remember it fondly as some random guy from Manchester and I blasted through hordes of locusts. Now, Gears of War: Reloaded is available on Sony’s flagship console, and it is still as incredible as ever.
Emergence Day changed everything. While it meant tragedy for many, it gave us a chance to witness the birth of the legend that is Marcus Fenix. It also gave us the beginnings of a friendship which would blossom over the next five years. Marcus and Dom. Delta Squad. Revelations and redemption. Risk and reward. The Gears of War series gave players everything it could, and it never failed to provide us with an excellent story filled with laughter, tears, and set pieces that left us floored.
Not every game from almost twenty years ago holds up against the current generation. However, Gears of War: Reloaded looks and plays just as good as it did, if not better. Within moments of picking a Hammerburst, I felt that same excitement. The controls are tight, with – dare I say it – visceral combat. Each encounter with the enemy feels brutal and intense. The renowned cover system feels fantastic. When you play tactically, it becomes thrilling in every sense of the word.
Switching between your weapons and explosives; nailing an active reload while unleashing a shower of bullets on a swarm of locusts; running frantically along war-torn bridges and streets; switching seamlessly between cover. Whatever you’re doing, it feels so smooth. The gameplay hasn’t missed a beat, and that’s not even the thing that’s been improved. These systems have been in place since the original, and it’s a joy to get to appreciate them all over again, especially on a PlayStation 5.
There have been plenty of enhancements for PS5. Visually, Gears of War: Reloaded looks spectacular. That grittiness has been enhanced, with 4K assets making the world feel more alive than ever. While there are still some elements of the environments that look a little archaic, textures have been remastered to improve the lighting. It’s noticeable on PS5, and it helps to make sure the visuals haven’t taken as much of a hit for a game that’s been alive for nearly two decades.
That power behind the PS5 comes into play when you notice the integration of its key features. Hearing the radio calls through the DualSense was something I noticed first, along with other sound effects. I loved the haptic feedback throughout Gears of War: Reloaded. Along with the adaptive triggers, each gun felt different when firing, providing nuances in how each bullet passed through the barrel along with the pressure needed to fire were all great touches. Picking which way to go at certain moments also felt like more of a choice as you felt it in the controller.
It has amazed me seeing just how good this game still is. I was giddy every time one of the bigger set pieces happened even though I’d seen it before a bunch of times. Every time the camera shook behind me as I bolted from one area to the next. Even the cutscenes looked fantastic despite memorising each one since its original release. The fact a whole new bunch of gamers are going to get to play Gears of War for the first time is such a wholesome feeling. Xbox and PlayStation are giving players the greatest gift with its arrival on PS5.
It’s easy for me to say play Gears of War: Reloaded on PS5. The gameplay is still exceptional. The enhancements via the DualSense controller make it even better. Some of the visuals aren’t as crisp as they used to be, but nowhere near enough to make the game suffer. This is still a masterpiece. We have a lot to thank The Coalition for, and a whole new generation of gamers have been given the opportunity to play one of the finest shooters of all time. There’s nothing else I can say other than get out there and give ’em hell.
