Steve Jordan

Does not live up to potential. The gears franchise has not been living up to par with the original trilogy. The campaigns, although polished and beautiful, are lacking in narrative and don't build up enough story around the characters, making them expendable in some instances. There's also a stain of cheekiness which is overplayed. It's really missing the gritty desperation-storytelling players expect from the franchise. Multiplayer is smooth, but missing critical points like the classic executions such as the "curb stomp" or unranked same-mode playlists. Overall disappointing.