Gears of War: Ultimate Edition Review

For as enjoyable as the new-and-improved single player experience is, Gears of War has always truly shined on the multiplayer front. The Coalition seems to be aware of this fact, as they have beefed up an already robust online multiplayer system even more. Aside from the greater dedication to the lost art of split-screen gaming, with a full campaign co-op mode, an online guest feature, and even Lan support, the online multiplayer features have a plethora of options and depth. All of those memorable Gears of War 1 stages are back, and looking more slick than ever, as are all of the DLC levels, which, while generally not quite as memorable, are still nice to have at your disposal.

To go along with this vast array of maps, you will find plenty of multiplayer varieties to help keep your online experience fresh and interesting. Of course, the tried-and-true classics like warzone, execution, team deathmatch, and king of the hill are present, but the more difficult competitive mode offers some other interesting new additions as well.

The new Blitz mode offers yet another variation on the concept of capturing designated zones to earn points, with rules that are sort of hybrid between annex and king of the hill (or new king of the hill mixed with old king of the hill, depending on which Gears we are referencing). It is a bit strange that there are now three variants of king of the hill, as it seems a little redundant and has the potential to stretch the online community a little thin. Assassination mode also makes a return, in which the team must gun for an opposing team’s leader. And for those who like their Gears experience stripped down and gritty, the 2 vs 2 gnashers only mode all but guarantees instant action, as you are forced into the close quarters. This was a fun novelty to try out, though quickly grew old, and lacked the depth to really have any staying power.

Also, while the campaign mode still sports the ever-familiar 30fps, the multiplayer now comes with the notable addition of 60fps, which offers much smoother gameplay in an action-based environment that certainly calls for it. It was actually a bit jarring at first, after being weaned on 30fps Gears of War for the better part of a decade, but once it settles in, it really does feel like a major improvement, and it’s tough to imagine making the return to the more clunky 30fps online multiplayer.

The ever-familiar Gears 1 weapons are still there, and feel largely unchanged for the most part, though the gnasher feels inconsistent at times. I had instances where I pulled off swift head shots while standing several feet from my opponent, and yet cranking out multiple point-blank blindfire shots barely phased my enemy. Still, it is refreshing to make a return that more simple era in Gears multiplayer that did not come riddled with the more gimmicky and often overpowered weapons that made their debut in later entries.

Dedicated servers are a welcome addition, and the infamous host advantage of previous Gears games seems thankfully mostly absent. 4 on 4 matches make their return, though unfortunately so do the lack of AI controlled bots online ready to jump in and replace quitting teammates. The game does not even provide outnumbered teams with AI bots while in the lobby, which inevitably leads to some longer-than-necessary matchmaking. Another neat new feature is an instant-upload ability that documents your killstreaks, though it can actually become a bit bothersome at times as it produces a bit of lag, ironically making it likely to ruin your great streak. This really has the potential to be the definitive online Gears experience, if only some of these rough spots were ironed out.

At the end of the day, what you see is pretty much what you get with this Gears revamp, but this is far from a terrible thing. Ultimate Edition isn’t a drastic departure or revolution from the 2006 classic, but most die hard fans, myself included, are more than content with this. Instead, The Coalition does what any quality remaster should achieve - taking an already solid foundation and injecting it with an aesthetic overhaul, while adding a subtle but effective helping of mechanical refinements and gameplay additions. Newcomers will enjoy this classic, as it looks, feels, and plays like a brand new title. At the same time, the old guard of Gears fans will revel in the nostalgia while appreciating the improvements that makes an already excellent experience even better. If nothing else, Ultimate Edition is an excellent way to tide Gears fans over until the anticipated release of Gears of War 4 next year.