- Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios
- Release Date: Apr 28, 2020
- Also On: Xbox One, Xbox Series X
- Critic score
- Publication
- By date
- Unscored
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Apr 27, 2020Gears 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.
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Edge MagazineMay 21, 2020There simply isn't enough game nor story to justify such a drawn-out campaign, as attritional wear and tear causes those well-oiled cogs to grind. The more we pop, in other words, the keener we are to stop. [Issue#346, p.92]
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Apr 27, 2020As a spin-off, Gears Tactics has strong core gameplay, but unfortunately surrounding areas in the design hold it back from being greater. A lack of a base management system or side economy to support the main gameplay makes the gameplay feel a little less rounded, and relies heavily on the narrative to keep things from getting stale. The tactical gameplay is excellent, however, its biggest fault is that it left me wanting more.
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Apr 27, 2020Its 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.
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Apr 27, 2020There's a lot to love in Gears Tactics. The ebb and flow of the action is strong enough that it can be easy enough to overlook its flaws, but they are still there – present and accounted for. It's a game desperately in need of a little variety; perhaps the same can be said of the core franchise games too, but it's particularly noticeable when there's a degree of separation between a command and the resulting action.
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Apr 27, 2020Despite some stumbles, Splash Damage has successfully taken the essence of the Gears franchise and transferred it into a turn-based strategy game. Gears Tactics is a true Gears title with a campaign that builds and expands the franchise’s lore, all while introducing new characters and adding new wrinkles to old ones.
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Apr 27, 2020Awkward pacing and a few too many small issues aside, series devotees and squad-based tactics players will both find a lot to love in Gears Tactics.
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Aug 21, 2020Gears Tactics proves that there is a place for an awesome turn-based strategy game in the Gears universe. Now, someone needs to develop that game.
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LEVEL (Czech Republic)Jul 23, 2020Gears of War from a bird's perspective. An interesting system of action points is brought down by repetitive content with a boring grind of boxes with equipment and a weak story. [Issue#303]
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Apr 27, 2020Ultimately, though, it’s down to a breathlessly dynamic battle system to provide Gears Tactics with surprises. Something as safe as setting your soldiers to overwatch, so that they can shoot at moving targets in the enemy turn, becomes endlessly watchable when those enemies can pinball between killzones, knocked about by bullet spray.
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Apr 27, 2020Gears Tactics tries some new things, but ultimately results in a game that’s less tactics oriented than the name suggests. It’s a competent experience, but completely whiffs on character with a lackluster story and every tool is a hammer class design. Add in repetitive mission structure and Gears Tactics is a far sight less replayable than the giants of the genre.
| This publication does not provide a score for their reviews. | |
| This publication has not posted a final review score yet. | |
| These unscored reviews do not factor into the Metascore calculation. | |
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Apr 27, 2020A competent tactical retooling of the Gears formula, even if the execution isn't always spot-on.
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Apr 27, 2020Two 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.
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Apr 28, 2020The world feels stuck and gloomy and I don't want to lean into that. I want to be transported somewhere fun and exhilarating. I want to drive fast cars or pilot planes at top speed, or adventure across huge landscapes with swords and magic and mythical monsters, or run and jump through engaging platformers. I don't want to have my movement limited to three actions per round. I don't want to slog through brown and grey apocalyptic levels. I don't want to be confined to this game. Gears Tactics isn't giving me anything I want right now. It's not you, Gears Tactics, it's me.
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Apr 28, 2020It’s a little less thoughtful than its peers, but the action is smooth and satisfying, and I love turning my squad into unstoppable death machines by chaining execution after execution. At one point I got five in the same turn, meaning each of my soldiers took seven actions. Relentless. As I said, I’m enjoying it more than any mainline Gears game this past decade.
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Apr 27, 2020This 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.
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Apr 27, 2020This is 100% a Gears Of War game, that also happens to be a top flight strategy effort. Arguably the best of its kind on the market, in fact, despite a bit of trouser trouble. It’s a spectacular thing to play through, and it’d be more than enough to merit the fifty quid price tag if it deleted itself on completion. Thankfully, however, the replay value is much greater than you’d expect. [RPS Bestest Bests]
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Apr 28, 2020A nearly-great game that captures the best parts of Gears, but which is let down by its campaign structure.
Awards & Rankings
User score distribution:
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Positive: 351 out of 494
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Mixed: 82 out of 494
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Negative: 61 out of 494
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Apr 28, 2020
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Apr 28, 2020
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Apr 28, 2020After the recent XCOM, it's just amazing. I hope that the 2nd part of Tactics will be released and will be even better.