GameSpot
Gears Of War: E-Day Seems To Miss The Point Of Prequels
Summary
After playing about two hours of Gears of War: E-Day's story campaign, I'm not impressed. The upcoming third-person cover shooter handles fine and the demo checks all the expected genre hits—intense action, cringy one-liners, lots of blood, and a desperate gamble to cross a bridge under sniper fire. However, the problem is that it seems to miss the point of prequels. A prequel should delve into character origins and world-altering turning points, offering fans new perspectives and emotional resonance. But E-Day so far resembles a standard Gears of War loop, lacking a fresh take on established characters and events. Players may be concerned because they expect a more substantial story, and this initial impression could make veterans hesitant. For the franchise, this is not a good sign—E-Day was supposed to reignite fan passion, but if the final version retains this mediocre narrative approach, it may further erode the IP's reputation. Industry-wise, this critical early response might also influence how other studios approach prequels: simply regurgitating an existing formula isn't enough; a true prequel needs to mine unique dramatic tension from history.