It was just a matter of time before Xbox gamers received a remastered version of Gears of War. Since HD collections and remasters are so popular these days, it’s surprising it took this long for The Coalition to release Gears of War: Ultimate Edition for Xbox One.
Like its Xbox 360 counterpart, Ultimate Edition for Xbox One reminds us why Gears of War was such a great series — it didn’t focus on story or character-driven elements; its gameplay pushed the player forward, delivering frantic, third-person shooting that few titles could deliver at the time. What Ultimate Edition provides on Xbox One is essentially the same game, but with remastered 1080p graphics, a steady 60fps during multiplayer matches, and a multitude of tweaks and DLC content that essentially improve an already near-perfect game.
The gameplay has remained the same, as you run and gun through five chapters eliminating countless members of the Locust Horde. Seen from a third-person perspective, the action maintains a steady, feverish pace, as you hide behind fallen debris, exchange fire, and toss grenades to provide cover for your allies.
While the game does provide a fairly competent team dynamic in single-player (like its last generation cousin), there are times when the CPU’s AI (Artificial Intelligence) fails to function properly. For example: During China Shop (in the Tomb of the Unknown) when the player encounters a Berserker, the objective is to lure the creature into the next room so it can run through the blocked doorway. It sounds easy in theory, but it’s difficult to execute because your AI controlled partner (i.e. DOM) refuses to follow. In fact, there were times when he would run in circles and remain in the next room, making it difficult to lure the creature. There were even times when the AI would literally walk into the Berserker as it charged, abruptly ending the game. It’s enough to frustrate even the most patient of gamers.
With gripes aside, Ultimate Edition easily makes up for its shortcomings with the number of multiplayer features it offers. For gamers that enjoy playing together on the same console, there is a localized, split-screen CO-OP mode. Taking it a step further is the CO-OP mode via Xbox Live. The online community is very active and it’s not difficult to find gamers willing to participate in a CO-OP match. But like any online experience, playing with random people (rather than friends) can have its disadvantages (especially if they’re not willing to cooperate as a team.)
Ultimate Edition includes a handful of online features via Xbox Live, including three new game modes that were not present in the original game — King of the Kill (from Gears 3); 2v2 Gnasher Execution; and Team DeathMatch, to name just a few. Multiplayer also provides nineteen maps that contain both original DLC and previous PC-exclusives that never appeared on Xbox 360. Plus, enemy spotting and sensitivity customization from GoW 3 made the cut.
It’s also worth mentioning that a new leveling system has been added (i.e. think GoW 3), but it has a harsh penalty system that deducts XP from the player’s profile if they logout during a match. It’s one thing to punish rage quitters, but what about legitimate reasons? It’s not a perfect system, but it does keep gamers playing until the matches are over.
Graphically, Ultimate Edition looks really good running natively in 1080P. When playing online, the promised 60FPS seems to shutter when a lot of clutter is on screen (i.e. explosions, smoke effects, etc.) but it’s not enough to ruin the overall experience. During the course of this review, gamers that were playing online were complaining about the occasional drop in FPS. and how it should be addressed in a patch. Hopefully, The Coalition will listen to the criticism and address the issue in a future update.
As a remastered release, Gears of War: Ultimate Edition is a worthwhile investment for any Gears of War fan. Plus, the exclusive DLC from the PC version – along with the additional game modes for multilayer – makes this release a no-brainer for anyone looking for a third-person shooter with a strong, single-player campaign, and a competitive online community that will keep you on your toes the entire time you play.
Mike Pittaro
Platform: Xbox One (Also Available on Xbox Live)
Developer: The Coalition
Publisher: Microsoft
ESRB: M (Mature)
Price: $39.99
Gears of War Ultimate Edition Official Website:
https://gearsofwar.com/en-us/games/gears-of-war-ultimate/xbox-one
| Review Score | |
|---|---|
| Graphics |  |
| The remastered graphics look incredible in 1080p. | |
| Sound | |
| Explosions, metal tearing and great voice acting abound. | |
| Gameplay |  |
| While not perfect, the additional content from GoW 3 adds to this title's replay value. | |
| Overall | |
|---|---|
| Gears of War Ultimate Edition is a great diversion for Xbox One gamers while they wait on the release of Gears of War 4. | |
