Gears of War: E-Day is set to bring players back to the fateful day that kicks off the franchise’s lore. Through the years, E-Day has been a cornerstone of the franchise, but Gears of War: E-Day marks the first time that players will get to see the event unfold for themselves. Prequels are not an easy feat to pull off, and with such high expectations surrounding E-Day, developer The Coalition has its work cut out for it.
Despite the difficult task at hand, The Coalition has the opportunity to avoid a major pitfall that tends to happen with prequels. When it comes to narratives that dive into the past of an ongoing franchise, it can be easy for the story itself to be put on the back burner. Since Gears of War‘s most important characters, Marcus Fenix and Dom Santiago, survive the arrival of the Locust Horde, a story can struggle to hold as much tension. However, thanks to the prequel’s setting, E-Day has options to avoid this problem.
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Why Gears of War: E-Day’s Prequel Status Doesn’t Mean Locust Designs Have to Be Limited
Despite being a prequel, The Coalition could still add some new Locust soldier and beast designs into the upcoming Gears of War: E-Day game
Gears of War: E-Day Could Have the Perfect Setting to Avoid a Disappointing Story
Marcus and Dom Can Still Bring Harrowing Moments to Life
The biggest issue with prequels is that, if it’s known that a character survives the events at hand, it’s hard to feel any sort of peril within the story. Marcus and Dom survive the Locust Horde, but there are plenty of people living on the planet of Sera who aren’t so lucky. Two of these casualties are found with Dom’s children. One of the most terrifying and heart-wrenching realizations of a Gears of War game based around E-Day is that players will likely have to see Dom live out this tragic event. Getting the chance to see what Marcus and Dom were like before so much trauma befell them sets E-Day up for a compelling narrative that explores sudden grief and the early stages of PTSD.
Gears of War: E-Day takes place 14 years before the first game.
New Gears of War Characters Can Bring Fresh Heartache
There is also the matter of brand-new characters that will inevitably be introduced throughout the prequel’s story. It’s likely that Gears of War: E-Day will bring forth fresh faces, only to lead them to a tragic and shocking end. E-Day kickstarts years and years of war, and the prospect of seeing so many people take on a threat as shocking as the Locust Horde is the perfect scenario to plant dread into the game’s story.
Gears of War: E-Day Risks Taking a Step Back
However, another pressing issue ahead for Gears of War: E-Day is its gameplay. While prequels can give fascinating insight into a franchise’s lore, they can also feel regressive from a gameplay standpoint. This was a big issue with Halo: Reach. On the one hand, Halo: Reach‘s story has been hailed by many as a strong dive into a new protagonist, but on the other hand, some claimed the gameplay felt like a step backward instead of presenting players with something fresh.
Once again, Marcus Fenix will serve as the game’s main protagonist, as Dom plays a supporting role.
A Look Inside E-Day Has Been a Long Time Coming
The story of Gears of War: E-Day may have yet to be fully revealed, but this has been something many fans of the series have been hoping for. Major plot points may not be uncovered until the game actually releases, but if the franchise is any indication, there are bound to be plenty of heart-pounding and emotional moments.
Halo: Reach‘s story has been hailed by many as a strong dive into a new protagonist, but on the other hand, some claimed the gameplay felt like a step backward.
The Coalition may have yet to confirm an official release date, but the next entry in Gears of War hopefully arrives sooner, rather than later. It may be difficult for Gears of War: E-Day to hit the same high points as other entries, but if it does, then longtime fans may finally get the look into E-Day they have been hoping for.
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