3/5 Gears of War: E-Day review leaks before release date, calling campaign repetitive

The Gears of War: E-Day review embargo expires on October 1st, when the early access release date arrives. Unfortunately for The Guardian, the newspaper posted an evaluation of the Xbox exclusive game prematurely. While it’s only one opinion, the 3/5 score and comments about repetitive gameplay may raise concerns.

Hitting the target

On the positive side, the writer praises the third-person shooting mechanics. Firing and movement feel responsive, and the game offers new opportunities to locate cover. The Gears of War: E-Day review also compliments the sharp Unreal Engine 5 visuals, while destructible environments add to the immersion.

Unfortunately, the journalist doesn’t believe the single-player campaign and story are as enthralling as the action sequences. Leading up to its release date, The Coalition studio stressed that its latest project wasn’t an open-world game. Even so, it still lets gamers occasionally explore urban areas of Kalona. The Guardian felt those segments quickly became monotonous.

Lacking the vehicles available in Gears 5, players must traverse the environments on foot. With limited freedom, they may find themselves walking the same streets repeatedly. The game encourages combatants to hunt for collectibles, although doing so risks failing missions.

Too repetitive?

Despite the open-world interludes, the leaked Gears of War: E-Day review describes a familiar gameplay loop. At one point, flying in a helicopter gunner is a refreshing change of pace. Yet side missions and activities fell flat, where the travel time often doesn’t justify the rewards.

According to The Guardian, Xbox fans expecting more than a linear action title could be disappointed. The ground-level shooting engagements are a highlight, but the campaign itself is less compelling.

After the embargo ends on October 1st, Metacritic should see a flood of scores. Buyers who pre-order the Premium Deluxe Edition benefit from early access starting at 11 AM EDT/5 PM CEST. The standard Gears of War: E-Day release date is October 6th, when it also debuts on Xbox Game Pass.