It is a year of celebration. Xbox studios is celebrating its twentieth anniversary. For that reason, a stream is airing on November 15th in honor of all things Xbox over the years. Many games and IPs have come from the brilliant minds at Xbox. However, there is one franchise near and dear to my heart. This IP redefined the industry upon its debut and continues to serve as a flagship for Xbox.
Cogs of War
Gears of War celebrated its fifteen years anniversary this month. The first title debuted on November 7, 2006. Epic Games created the franchise. However, they moved on to create Fortnite and passed the torch to The Coalition. The series is a third-person, cover-based shooter. It brings a level of brutality and grit to the genre that was unheard of before its release fifteen years ago.
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The war between humans and Locusts is an iconic rivalry. Furthermore, this rivalry is akin to everyone’s favorite jolly green spartan fighting the Covenant. The Locusts are a subterranean species in Gears of War. The catalyst for the series is an event known as Emergence Day. This is the day the Locust emerged from the depths and began their campaign to control the planet. Yet, Gears of War of war is a series unafraid to keep the player uncomfortable in its narrative. The first trailer fans ever saw would set the mood for future installments. This narrative is haunted by the dark side of war. The world of Sera is painted with muted colors and dreadful music. Its protagonist is seen fighting against hopeless odds in the trailer. In fact, Marcus Fenix would continue to travel from one fight to the next.
Remember the Fallen
Marcus Fenix is the mainstay protagonist for Gears of War. Chiefly, he is a disgruntled war veteran. Unlike the Master Chief, Marcus holds little regard for authority. Marcus endures the darker sides of war more often than Chief. He is battered by grief and loss as the franchise continues. Yet, his resolve is unyielding.
Halo has had a dominating hero. The Master Chief is legendary. The story is finally showing some wear and tear with the Chief after all these years. On the other hand, fans see Marcus’s hardships. The first Gears of War has a man drop dead right beside Marcus from a sniper. This unforgiving world draws a visceral response from the player. Marcus continues to lose those close to him. Some days he questions if this fight is even worth it. Yet, this creates an enriching narrative as a whole. This blend of a sobering narrative and memorable characters is unique. Additionally, it is enhanced by polished gameplay and innovative modes.
Beware the Horde
Gears of War has the usual shooter modes. It includes a campaign, versus online, and a competitive subset mode. However, the industry was shaken by the introduction of Horde mode. Gears of War 2 changed the formula with Horde. Horde is a mode about survival. Players face off against fifty waves of enemies in an arcade format. Additionally, the waves increase in difficulty the longer you survive. The mode is simple yet addictive. It brought a layer of fun that was alien to the PvE environment for shooters. It is unique only to this series. Horde is a gold standard that continues to evolve with the franchise. Furthermore, it brings players together. As a result, Horde contributes to Xbox Studios’ goal.
Hand in Hand
Xbox Studios brings people together. The studio lower barriers of entry and bridge communities one by one. Subsequently, Xbox Studios loves to celebrate and highlight these communities. The twentieth-anniversary stream will bring gamers of all cultures and backgrounds together. Memories of great games over the years will be uplifted. Gears of War is no exception. Of course, there are gripes and less than pleasant members. However, the heart of the community is still great. Many of my memories as a gamer are due to Gears of War. Most evenings after grade school were spent on Gears of War 3. My best friends and I would pick our favorite Gears and try our best to conquer wave 50 of Horde. I will continually cherish those days. However, I continue to enjoy the series today as well.
I thank Epic Games studio. They created an incredible and melancholic video game series. Gears of War has very deep lore that is enhanced by books and comics just like Halo. This series is one of the pillars of my persona as a gamer today. I will never forget using the lancer chainsaw for the first time. Additionally, I want to thank The Coalition. It is not easy to take over an established franchise and continue to evolve it. I am beginning to warm up to the new characters they have introduced, especially Kait Diaz.
This new plotline with the Swarm is riveting. Kait is a tortured soul almost as much as Marcus. The ending of Gears 5 has left many intrigued about how The Coalition will continue the story in Gears 6, myself included. Nevertheless, I look forward to joining many Xbox fans for a time of celebration of twenty wonderful years of Xbox. Along with, fifteen years of brutality with Gears of War. What is your favorite memory associated with Xbox? Let us know in the comments down below.
