As one of Xbox’s premier exclusives,Gears of Warhas always had a lot to live up to in terms of giving players areason to own an Xbox. Thankfully, it has also always met those expectations pretty easily by putting out games with excellent single-player combat and amazing multiplayer encounters.
One of the best thingsGearshas going for it, though, is its rich and engrossing lore that has been explored in comics, novels, and, of course, its numbered games and spin-offs. Leveraging what are now some of gaming’s most iconic characters, the franchise has yet to release a game that isn’t worth a look. That being said, there are a handful of games in the series with stories that stand head andshoulders above the rest.
Baird and Cole are two Gears that reside as far from professional as they can, while still being integral in the COG’s machine. This is why the story ofGears of War: Judgmentis not surprising, as it sees them and the rest of Kilo Squad standing trial for war crimes.
This tale is spun from 4 different perspectives, allowing the game to have a bit of funwith the story’s structure.However, whatJudgementdid incredibly well was tell just one of many interesting, smaller stories in this universe, proving that aGearsfuture, sans Marcus and Dom, was possible.
Gears of Warserves as an introduction to a large, disheveled world that is on its heels after14 years of warwith the Locusts. However, it’s also the first in a trilogy that sees humanity clawing its way back out of the rut it finds itself in.
Players spend the roughly 8-hour runtime in the burly boots of Marcus Phoenix as he and his squad do battle through the various cities of Sera. All of this leads to the COG soldiers dealing a devastating blow to their longtime Locust enemies. This is a straightforward action story that is mostly interested in introducing players to its colorful cast of manly men.
As the final game in the original trilogy,Gears of War 3manages to give players closure on a number of storiesthat really came to a headinGears of War 2. In particular, the conclusion of Dominic Santiago’s arc, as well as the overall ramping up of the Locust threat.
The major reveal inGears 3is the origins of the Lambent faction of Locusts,introduced inGears of War 2,but this game’s story seems to really be about snipping off loose ends. By the end of this one, both the Locusts and Lambant are seemingly taken care of, and the world can work on returning to a sense of normalcy. Of course, this doesn’t last for long given that there are two more mainline games after this.
After the detour that was the serviceableGears of War4,Gears 5brought things back to the series' roots, with a story that reveals much about the Locusts. It’s also a campaign packed with twists, turns, and COG cover-ups to be revealedduring the game’s campaign.
A lot is done here forGears of War’soverarching story, while also allowing players to take the revelations in at their own pace during a few key open-zone sections. Add in some fun collectible hunting to reveal more lore tidbits, as well as someinteresting character momentsthat change the way players see important faces, includingGears 4’s main character, JD, and you’ve got a recipe for the bestGearsstory sinceGears of War 2.
Over the years, Dom has appeared on countless personal “saddest moments in video games” lists, for good reason. His story in theGears of Warseries is the stuff of legend, but it’s inGears of War 2that it reaches an incredibly emotional peak.
The game is also full of moments that work to test the rest of the gear’s convictions, as the entire COG army works to figure out how to quell the locust threat. This leads to some desperate measures being taken, even after the human race has taken massive losses up until this point, leaving players both satisfied and eager to know what’s next for Marcus and company.
