For the series' first foray into the rapidly evolving turn-based tactics genre, **Gears Tactics ** is an impressively balanced and well constructed strategic experience. Managing to avoid the pitfalls of some other genre-crossing series (for all that is good about it, the first Halo Wars game had some pretty rough edges), Gears Tactics hits many of the right notes for a squad tactics title, including a fairly fleshed out equipm.ent customization system and some very involved soldier skill trees that allow for specialization that is critical to a rounded battle experience. While it is easy to see how these features have lead to comparisons to the likes of XCOM (which is amongst the highest of praises bestowable on a young turn based tactics series), the game manages to retain the unique flavor of its source material, finely portraying the gritty world that plays hosts to the ongoing conflict between mankind and the Locust hordes, with some clever, thematic mechanics to match . As adaptations go, this shifting of the Xbox flagship Gears series to a genre more about careful consideration than frenetic aggression has gone exceptionally smoot
While Tactics stays true to the lore and world-building of the original games, its gameplay can feel foreign to those who are new to turn-based tactical strategy games. Each move needs to be made carefully to ensure that all units survive and that your team doesn't get overwhelmed by the large hordes of enemies. While players are encouraged not to die in the original Gears games, the consequences for dying in Tactics are a lot more severe as units that die do not come back. This makes knowing some battlefield basics key to succeeding in Gears Tacti
Though this starts as a small glitch in the initial stages, it becomes a big problem towards the end as the war gets tougher. Watching similar animations repeatedly can be tedious, especially in essential side missions or in missions that you lose something if you f
As players will quickly come to realize, taking cover is the most basic but most important part of Gears Tactics . Cover can keep the player safe from harm's way and can allow the player to hold a point push up on an enemy easier than being out in the o
To top it off, Tactics nails the reconstruction of familiar enemies in a turn-based world. Boomers are just click the following internet page as terrifying and stompy, Tickers just as erratic and hyperactive, Kantus just as loud and obnoxious . There are a few new foes to discover too, but the core army of bad dudes didn’t require many tweaks to remain interesting and formidable. As it turns out, the Locust are just as robust in a strategic sett
Not every Gears Tactics player will experience screen tearing, but it does happen occasionally. It takes place when the monitor shows several frames at one time or is split into two which don't align prope
Unfortunately, this is where Tactics becomes a bit dull. The recruiting system and side characters are mostly forgettable. The tactical variety isn’t the largest either, leaving the player with a handful of options. It isn’t dry by any means, yet after the first 15 hours of the roughly 25-hour campaign, you essentially get the gist of it. This would’ve been negligible in the wake of diverse mission designs, but sadly – this isn’t the c
When it comes to tactical options on the battlefield, Gears Tactics is better than XCOM 2 . Both use the AP (action point) system. Soldiers basically have a set number of action points with which to perform actions. Moving a set distance, using a weapon, or activating a special ability typically cost one AP. Sometimes there are restrictions, like not being able to fire a heavy weapon after moving. Gears Tactics gives each soldier three APs, as opposed to XCOM ’s two. The overwatch action is also much, much better in Gears Tacti
As mentioned before, each unit has a set number of actions they can take in a single term, and these actions are defined by action point. Points can be spent on moving, shooting, throwing grenades, and using abilities. When using an action a certain number of points will be used up, however by performing an execution on an enemy, a player regains action points. Theoretically, if a player chained multiple executions their turn could last fore
The character-driven story in Gears Tactics is more compelling, and allows for voiced characters whose banter is amusing at times. For a player’s first play-through, this method of storytelling allows for a more interesting narrative, but the player will already know the story on subsequent play-throughs. In XCOM , each game is different. The soldiers will be different, the player can build their base in a different country, and the locations under attack will be different. Additionally, a player could focus on different avenues of research and technology (or psionics) than in previous playthroughs. This makes XCOM infinitely more replaya