Xbox has always been a company and console defined by the 21st century. While Nintendo and PlayStation had a pre-2000s presence, the Xbox has a distinct post-2000s energy about it. Launching with its first exclusive, Halo: Combat Evolved, the Microsoft-owned console made one thing abundantly clear with its release: the Xbox is the new home for great action games. Since then, the gaming landscape has changed drastically. The console wars are seemingly over. Xbox Game Pass makes it a go-to place to try out a lot of games, and flagship franchises like Halo are losing their exclusive status. It’s the dawn of a new era for Xbox, and whether that’s good or bad remains to be seen.
When I think of the early days of Xbox, I think of the original Halo trilogy and Mountain Dew ads. When I think of the Xbox 360, I also think of Gears of War. Between Halo and Gears of War, Xbox’s two big exclusives made it a clear choice for shooter fans. It wasn’t until the latter that the Xbox felt like an adult, especially in the way it brought in young gamers.
I’ll never forget seeing the trailer for Gears of War. I was only 10 years old at the time, but as Gary Jules’ version of “Mad World” played while Marcus Fenix wandered through destroyed Sera, I knew this game was going to be something special. Fast-forward to its launch, and my friends and I gathered around the Xbox 360 to play Gears of War for the very first time. Playing Gears of War as a kid, I felt like I had experienced a new level of mature-rated video game. My initial thoughts about Gears of War were, “Cool. This is what adults play.” Looking back 20 years later, though, it’s a different story.
I Still Hold a Special Place in My Heart for Gears of War, But There’s a Reason I Thought it Was Deep as a Kid
With the launch of Gears of War: Reloaded last year, I jumped back in. Before that, it had probably been about 15 years since I had replayed the first game. As I jumped back into Marcus Fenix’s story, it didn’t take long for me to realize that I had matured a lot since my first time playing. Gears of War‘s influence on gaming can’t be understated, but it definitely wasn’t the deep and gritty story that I had remembered it as. I still thoroughly enjoyed replaying it, but after two decades of improvements not only to gameplay, but writing and storytelling in gaming, it’s now a far cry away from the “adult” feeling I had when playing with my childhood friends.
If anything, I felt like I was back in middle school and not because of nostalgia. Now, Gears of War feels more like a 13-year-old’s idea of what a deep war story is. I’m not even really saying that as a bad thing, either. I was a tomboy growing up, so juvenile macho energy isn’t anything new to me. After so many years, I had just built up Gears of War in my head as a far more mature and layered story akin to something like the Saving Private Ryan of video games. Frankly, it was simply jarring to see it with fresh eyes. Marcus, Dom, and the rest of the crew are incredibly one-dimensional with cookie-cutter tough-guy personalities. Since then, there have been several Gears of War games that have helped the series evolve. The early days of the franchise were simply planting the seed for something more because, as the series progressed, the writing and characters improved, too.
This isn’t the first time that this has happened to me when returning to an old favorite, either. Not necessarily with a game’s story, but with other aspects, like mechanics and the overall gameplay loop. Sometimes, you forget that your memories of a game are based on your age and understanding of the world at the time. Of course, a 10 year old thought Gears of War‘s story was a revolutionary moment in storytelling. I had barely lived.
Gears of War Being a Product of Its Time Isn’t a Bad Thing
Even though I was mistakenly expecting a thought-provoking narrative, mowing down alien enemies is a blast no matter what the story is like. Coming back to Gears of War after so long may have crushed my rose-colored glasses under Marcus Fenix’s comically large boot, but the action is still as solid as ever. Gears of War is still one of the best action games around, even if some of its controls are dated.
In the game’s defense, it does try to say something deeper, but what it says just struggles to break through the surface. Gears of War‘s themes dabble in the bonds of brotherhood and the mental toll of war. With the Coalition of Governments being shortened to COG and soldiers being called Gears, the metaphor is crystal clear, so there’s at least something there. My capacity for grasping stories has just drastically changed since I was 10—thankfully.
After Revisiting Gears of War, Gears of War: E-Day is Hopefully the Gut-Punch I’m Craving
I love a tear-jerker. Since the first days of Gears of War, gaming isn’t just about great gameplay anymore. It’s become a medium for storytelling on par with film and television. My favorite game stories of the past few years have been some of the most heartbreaking, like The Last of Us Part 2, God of War (2018), and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. When Gears of War: E-Day was announced in 2024, it definitely struck me in a similar way that the original game’s “Mad World” trailer did. There’s a deep air of melancholy that I hope is seen through. Since it’s a prequel to Gears of War that takes place on the harrowing E-Day event, it’s the perfect opportunity to bring forth Gears of War‘s most emotionally complex story yet.
Gears of War: E-Day doesn’t have an official release date yet, but it’s expected sometime in 2026.
What happens on E-Day is a pivotal moment, especially for characters like Dom Santiago. Gears of War: E-Day, taking place during this moment, implies a lot of emotional intensity. After two decades of storytelling in gaming becoming stronger and more well-rounded, the franchise’s prequel hopefully hits the deeper notes that 10-year-old me once felt in the first Gears of War.
