I played two missions of Gears of War: E-Day's campaign: One rocked, but the other did not

Summary

During a drought of single-player shooters, Gears of War: E-Day arrives to fill the void. I recently played through two campaign missions set near the start of the game, and the experience was a mixed bag. One mission absolutely rocked—hip-firing the Gnasher shotgun and blowing Locust drones into chunks, splattering Marcus Fenix's stoic face with monster bits, was the satisfying, gory combat that fans have been craving. The other mission, however, did not hit the same mark, suffering from pacing or design issues that made it less engaging. While two missions are only a slice of the full campaign, they demonstrate that the core shooting mechanics and visceral presentation remain strong. In an era where linear single-player shooters are increasingly rare, E-Day stands out as a high-profile return to form for the genre, and a key title for Xbox's first-party lineup. Yet the uneven quality of these early missions raises some concerns about consistency across the entire game. Still, this preview left me both excited and cautiously optimistic. It’s a promising indication that Gears of War can still deliver its signature brutal action, even if it needs to smooth out the rough edges before launch.