Gears of War: Ultimate Edition

If you already own an Xbox One and enjoyed the franchise, this is a must have title. I expect some will be jumping on board in purchasing the system just for this title alone, and I wouldn’t blame them in the slightest.

Gears of War: Ultimate Edition provides XBox One owners a great third person shooter experience as you attempt to save humanity from the locust hoard.

The Coalition takes the template and heightens its controls and visuals to a level that puts other games fresh off the press to shame. It's the same great game you loved nearly a decade ago, it just looks and feels a whole lot better.

Bloody, beautiful and still brilliant almost a decade later. [Nov 2015, p.67]

It was a masterpiece and a genre defining game in its initial release and it is a masterpiece and a great sample of "a remake done properly" today.

Gears of War: Ultimate Edition is an extremely familiar game that manages to feel new thanks to The Coalition’s vision for a fresher Gears. Just when something begins to feel stale the game changes and provides players with a wholly unique task or a gigantic set piece to draw them in to the action once more.

New graphics, new levels, and new features make this one of the best games you can buy on the Xbox One.

A genuine visual upgrade and the multiplayer being 60fps means there's every reason for fans and newcomers to enjoy this package. Ultimate Edition reminds us of why Gears of War is so beloved.

Rebuilt in every way, and unlocking the entire Gears franchise for a value-conscious price, this truly is the Ultimate Edition of Gears of War.

Taken as is, Gears of War: Ultimate Edition is everything a fan would want in a remake of this game, whether they plan to play it alone, with a friend, or against a bunch of people they meet online.

The Ultimate Edition truly is the ultimate Gears of War experience.

Gears of War never looked so good with this remake of, probably, the best shooter of the last generation.

Gears of War: Ultimate Edition is closer to a remake than a remaster. The adventure still is great, the gameplay doesn't get old, and this version also adds tons of new contents. If you haven't played the game yet, you have to; if you have, there are new reasons to play it again.

Fun, challenging and fresh even so many years after the original release, Gears of War: Ultimate Edition shows everyone how to do a proper remaster of a beloved video game. Newcomers and veterans alike will love this. A truly Ultimate Edition.

The Coalition did a great job remastering the first Gears of War. Campaign is still intense and fun and it looks brilliant in 1080p, and multiplayer, with new maps and modes at 60fps, is even better. It also includes the complete saga for Xbox 360.

Despite some bugs and network limitations, Gears of War: Ultimate Edition undeniably succeeds in becoming the new definitive version of this game.

Whether the campaign or multiplayer, Gears of War undoubtedly succeeds in constantly entertaining. The Ultimate Edition takes that to a new level through optimized gameplay, smoother controls, and updated visuals. Most importantly, it makes this classic relevant again.

One of the best third-person shooters in history? It was and still is.

A right rollicking blast from the past brought bang up to date with a splendid, full 1080p makeover. Its campaign has a ton of macho meat to sink your teeth into, and once you're done, the multiplayer aspect provides plenty of long-term appeal. The fact that the game comes with three other Xbox 360 Gears of Wars titles makes it a veritable bargain.

Damn near essential if you’ve yet to experience the horror that followed Emergence Day, and very heartily recommended to those who’ve forgotten just what a special time that was.

A visual upgrade to an already great game, Ultimate Edition is a must-have for any shooter fan.

Gears fans, as well as those new to the series, will be satisfied with this “Ultimate Edition” offers, as it’s way more then just an HD remake.

Gears of War Ultimate Edition improves one of the most important Xbox 360 games. Great visuals and strong multiplayer experience. However, has some minor technical issues.

It may not be perfect, but Gears of War: Ultimate Edition is certainly a game worth playing. There is plenty of value to be had, no matter if you are a Gears fanatic or someone who is brand new to the series. Just make sure to experience it with a friend at your side.

This powerhouse didn’t lose much over the years and looks better than ever. Mechanically you can feel the age, but it plays as it should: The action comes hard and fast.

If anyone reading this has a One but hasn't experienced Gears first hand, this is a must buy right before the rush of the holiday releases really gets going in a month or so. For long time Gear heads, I still think this is a worthy hard drive partition, and makes retiring the 360 from your HDMI ports that much easier.

If this is not the best remaster ever seen, it comes very close. Gears of War Ultimate Edition is a wonderful looking game that is still as fun as we remembered. Only the AI and some minor bugs prevent the remaster for being even better.

Ultimate Edition is worth playing not only out of sentiment or respect for this Black Sabbath of cover based shooters. It’s worth playing because it’s still a damn fine game and it looks great again. [10/2015, p.54]

It’s official! Gears of War is still a classic. The gameplay still holds up and the same can be said for the graphics. A must-have for collectors. [Oct. 2015, p. 054]

Nearly a decade has gone since its first release in 2006, and Gears of War makes a great comeback here. With a few gameplay adjustments and gorgeous visuals, this remake can settle amongst other Xbox One blockbusters with no shame.

Ultimate Edition proves what an outstanding game Gears of War was and is. It's a meticulously-crafted remake, and the online modes are exemplary. Even if you've played the original, it's well worth a look.

Gears of War: Ultimate Edition is a loving re-release of the original 360-game. The game looks terrific and offers a lot of content, thanks to the additional missions that used to be only available for PC-gamers. It is a good deal, but it still is an oldie as the franchise developed so much over the past years.

This game does enough to qualify as a remake rather than a remaster, so if the slew of HD re-releases we’ve seen since the new consoles launched has turned you off to the concept of remasters, you may want to reconsider checking this one out.

While Gears' campaign will offer an entertaining (and sometimes frustrating) 5-7 hours of gameplay, most players will get the most out of this remake from its addictive multiplayer.

It might contain a racial stereotype or two, and it is certainly lacking a strong female presence, but Gears of War: Ultimate Edition reaffirms Epic’s classic third-person shooter as a titan of the big-men-with-big-guns genus.

Frame rate issues apart, Gears of War: Ultimate Edition is a good remaster of a great game.

This is a remake of the original Gears of Wars for the Xbox 360 (2006). Now, it looks better than ever and contains more aspects and features, like new acts and new multiplayer options.

Gears' strong style and great gameplay make it enjoyable even today, nine years after the original was released.

One of the best shooters of the last generation is back on Xbox One with a new, energetic 60 fps multiplayer mode. Despite his age, Gears of War is still fun and engaging, and this Ultimate Edition is the best way to enjoy it.

Gears of War Ultimate Edition is a nice remaster of the 360-classic. It might not be the most surprising or biggest remastered edition, it still offers a great way of experiencing an amazing shooter.

While the campaign side is largely unchanged outside of visual enhancements, the multiplayer side of things feels more robust than the original, provided you didn’t buy into all the DLC when it originally released.

The Coalition has done a superb job of reminding us why we fell in love with Gears back in 2006.

It's an HD edition that fully respects the importance of the original game for the tps genre. It's a technically sound restyle that maintains the content of the original without trying to revolutionize it. It's impressive how well the game has aged, really.

Gears Of War: Ultimate Edition definitely belongs in that upper tier; its campaign no longer carries the industry-shaping impact it once had but it remains tremendous fun, while its multiplayer is still dramatic, unique and engaging, perhaps even more so now given the final touches The Coalition has added. As was the case back in 2006, come for the campaign and stay for the multiplayer – you’ll be glad you did.

Muscle hill plated in iron returned in the breathtaking graphics. Weapons and one-liners are still doing an excellent job, but unfortunately the AI sidekick lost his mind somewhere along the way.

Fans of the original Gears of War will enjoy visiting Sera one more time to play out humanity's last hope against the Locust.

With a bunch of new content, a massive visual overhaul, mechanical improvements, and other subtle modernizations, Ultimate Edition has earned the right to be referred to as the definitive version of Gears of War.

Gears of War: Ultimate Edition is the Gears of War that fans didn’t ask for, but it’s the one they got, and it’s actually pretty great, as it happens. The campaign seems to have taken a backseat to the multiplayer in terms of improvements, but it’s worth buying for the multiplayer alone, so there’s that. It’ll tide you over till Gears of War 4 at least, but that’s about it.

New and old players alike should feel no hesitation about seeing this as the definitive way to play the opening story of the Gears epic. The new edition doesn’t remake the cog, but it certainly makes it shiny again.

Gears of War will always be Gears of War. Almost ten years after the release of the original game, Gears of War's story and gameplay still work fine, and the graphics update makes it even better.

If you pride yourself in your Gears of War multiplayer skills, Gears of War Ultimate Edition will scratch your competitive itch. Just remember this is Gears of War, so there are some things you won’t be able to do like tag a grenade on a surface to create makeshift mine or stun an opponent by jumping over an obstacle they’re hiding behind.

Somewhere between a remake and a remaster, the work done to the original Gears of War is evident at every turn. You'll come to see the impressive new coat of paint, but you'll stay for the timeless multiplayer.

Gears of War Ultimate Edition is a blast to play, even if you’re like me and only really intend to get into the story campaign. The multiplayer is still damn robust, beautifully put together, and will be a thrill ride for those who love the Gnasher, but I can’t say I haven’t greatly enjoyed my time with the overall package, because the thing I most cared about has been remastered very well indeed.

There’s very little you haven’t played before in the campaign and the new cinematics and voiceovers do little to assist the bare story, but the gameplay is still great, it looks and sounds fantastic, and fans will no doubt enjoy playing the formerly PC-exclusive section they missed the first time.

Gears of War is, pun intended, the Ultimate way to experience the first entry in this stellar saga. It’s brilliant as always gameplay wise, and the graphical upgrades takes the experience to the next level. That said, if you don’t care for multiplayer the rest of the content will make you wish for a Gears of War: Marcus Phoenix Collection.

Gears of War Ultimate Edition is a good opportunity to play one of the milestones of the TPS genre: Marcus Fenix's all gussied up (new textures, 1080p, 60 fps), the locusts are always eager to be slaughtered, and if you can look past the control system and some gameplay elements that did not age so well, you'll be in for quite a ride.

We're facing the best Gears of War version. Even though it left some issues unattended, it makes the Xbox One catalogue shine with stunning visuals and tons of new content.

Coming back to Sera has been a real pleasure: Gears of War: Ultimate Edition reminds us of how good (and still relevant) was its game and level design.

It's an incredible remaster: a lot of work went into it, and you can definitely feel it when you play. If you loved the original, this is a must buy.

One of the best remakes of recent years, both in terms of the amount of thought and effort put into the remastering and how much the original deserves the attention.

Niggling issues and strange presentation decisions aside, Gears of War: Ultimate Edition is a must for any fan of the franchise, and an extremely well put together remake of one of last generation’s most defining titles. Gears of War seems in safe, loving hands with The Coalition.

The result is something that doesn't feel new, exactly, but it does feel surprisingly relevant. Gears of War's campaign has some small particulars that could derail a worse game, and its flaws are more clear now than they were nine years ago. but Gears of War's bonafides as a shooter classic feel less in dispute than ever — and Gears of War: Ultimate Edition is easily the best way to understand why that is.

Despite being almost a decade old, Gears of War: Ultimate Edition comes to Xbox One feeling fresh and having lost little over the years. The remaster job isn't perfect, though, and some slight technical issues do present themselves within the game's updated campaign.

Make no mistake—regardless of my feelings about not getting the full trilogy, and my mild disappointment with how Gears of War plays in 2015, The Coalition has made a triple-A package worth picking up for any fan of the series.

Thankfully, the Ultimate Edition is packed with so much content – eight different multiplayer modes, nineteen different maps and a six hour campaign – that players will be immediately hooked. Gears of War is a game truly worthy of remaking and The Coalition has done a bang up job doing so.

Gears of War: Ultimate Edition has a lot going for it, but there are certainly parts of it that have not aged too well.

It may not be worth $40 for everyone now, but if you haven’t touched the series before and want a good starting point before Gears of War 4 hits next year, this is the best place to start. If you’ve already played the game, you may already know whether you want to go back, but the Ultimate Edition does right by one of the defining games of the last generation.

It's worth to get to know the news Gears of War under two conditions: you don't own the previous Xbox console or you haven't had the opportunity to fight the Locust. There's an additional treat: all the other games from the series plus a still very satisfying multiplayer. But if you have played the original and have no interest in online play, skip it.

Gears of War is the same hide'n'seek shooter, that we all saw in 2006. If you strip away all the technical awe, you'll have a predictable and quite boring 10 hour romp through grey and brown warzone. [Sept 2015]

Gears of War: Ultimate Edition does a fine job of remastering the original, but a new coat of paint and some minor upgrades can’t disguise the fact that the gameplay experience hasn’t aged particularly well.

Gears of War: Ultimate Edition reminds us of the good and bad sides of the original. Prettier Gears can be a lot of fun, it's just a pity that developers didn't refresh anything substantial in gameplay. It's possible that new gamers will recognize the "charm" of the original.

The return trip might have revealed a few more cracks than we remembered, but it also serves as a shield for our nostalgia. And as remakes go, that's worth the journey home.