Gears of War: E-Dayis set to bring players back to the fateful day that kicks off the franchise’s lore. Through the years, E-Day has been a cornerstone of the franchise, butGears of War: E-Daymarks the first time that players will get to see the event unfold for themselves. Prequels are not an easy feat to pull off, and with such high expectations surroundingE-Day, developer The Coalition has its work cut out for it.
Despite the difficult task at hand, The Coalition has the opportunity to avoid a major pitfall that tends to happen with prequels. When it comes to narratives that dive into the past of an ongoing franchise, it can be easy for the story itself to be put on the back burner. SinceGears of War’s most important characters,Marcus Fenix and Dom Santiago, survive the arrival of the Locust Horde, a story can struggle to hold as much tension. However, thanks to the prequel’s setting,E-Dayhas options to avoid this problem.
Gears of War: E-Day Could Have the Perfect Setting to Avoid a Disappointing Story
Marcus and Dom Can Still Bring Harrowing Moments to Life
The biggest issue with prequels is that, if it’s known that a character survives the events at hand, it’s hard to feel any sort of peril within the story. Marcus and Dom survive the Locust Horde, but there are plenty of people living on the planet of Sera who aren’t so lucky. Two of these casualties are found with Dom’s children. One of the most terrifying and heart-wrenching realizations ofaGears of Wargame based around E-Dayis that players will likely have to see Dom live out this tragic event. Getting the chance to see what Marcus and Dom were like before so much trauma befell them setsE-Dayup for a compelling narrative that explores sudden grief and the early stages of PTSD.
Gears of War: E-Daytakes place 14 years before the first game.
New Gears of War Characters Can Bring Fresh Heartache
There is also the matter of brand-new characters that will inevitably be introduced throughout the prequel’s story. It’s likely thatGears of War: E-Daywill bring forth fresh faces, only to lead them to a tragic and shocking end. E-Day kickstarts years and years of war, and the prospect of seeing so many people take ona threat as shocking as the Locust Hordeis the perfect scenario to plant dread into the game’s story.
Gears of War: E-Day Risks Taking a Step Back
However, another pressing issue ahead forGears of War: E-Dayis its gameplay. While prequels can give fascinating insight into a franchise’s lore, they can also feel regressive from a gameplay standpoint.This was a big issue withHalo: Reach. On the one hand,Halo: Reach’s story has been hailed by many as a strong dive into a new protagonist, but on the other hand, some claimed the gameplay felt like a step backward instead of presenting players with something fresh.
Once again, Marcus Fenix will serve as the game’s main protagonist, as Dom plays a supporting role.
A Look Inside E-Day Has Been a Long Time Coming
The story ofGears of War: E-Daymay have yet to be fully revealed, but this has been something many fans of the series have been hoping for. Major plot points may not be uncovered until the game actually releases, but if the franchise is any indication, there are bound to be plenty of heart-pounding and emotional moments.
Halo: Reach’s story has been hailed by many as a strong dive into a new protagonist, but on the other hand, some claimed the gameplay felt like a step backward.
The Coalition may have yet to confirm an official release date, butthe next entry inGears of Warhopefully arrives sooner, rather than later. It may be difficult forGears of War: E-Dayto hit the same high points as other entries, but if it does, then longtime fans may finally get the look into E-Day they have been hoping for.
Gears of War: E-Day
WHERE TO PLAY
The Story of E-DayFourteen years before Gears of War, war heroes Marcus Fenix and Dom Santiago return home to face a new nightmare: the Locust Horde. These subterranean monsters, grotesque and relentless, erupt from below, laying siege on humanity itself. New FoundationsBuilt from the ground up with Unreal Engine 5, Gears of War: E-Day delivers unprecedented graphical fidelity.
