Gears of War Reloaded isn’t just a remaster. It’s a chance to return to a series that helped shape third-person shooters. Nearly twenty years after its original launch, the game has returned with updated visuals, smoother performance, and support for modern platforms.
This time, the series steps onto PlayStation for the very first time while still remaining a staple on Xbox and PC. With cross-play included, you can team up or compete with friends no matter where they play.
Reloaded stays faithful to the original experience, but the performance improvements and added flexibility make it easier to enjoy today, whether you are gaming on console, PC, or streaming through the cloud.
Delta Squad’s Battle for Humanity
The story in Gears of War Reloaded pulls you right back into humanity’s desperate fight for survival. You step into the role of Marcus Fenix, leading Delta Squad against the Locust Horde, an enemy that feels endless and relentless.
The campaign keeps the structure of the original, moving from city streets to underground tunnels with plenty of memorable moments along the way. Facing the Berserker still brings a rush of panic, and General RAAM remains one of the most imposing villains in the series.
Not everything has aged gracefully. Some dialogue leans heavily on action clichés. As a result, the tone can feel dated. Even so, the loyalty and camaraderie between Marcus, Dom, Baird, and Cole give the story a sense of heart. Those bonds stand out when the firefights get tough.
I still remember first playing through the squad’s descent underground on Xbox 360. Coming back to that same moment in Reloaded, headphones on, took me right back to those nights when I was glued to the screen waiting for Locust to emerge from the shadows. The familiarity of that scene hit just as hard today.
Back in Cover Again
Reloaded sticks to the formula that made Gears famous. Every encounter pushes you to shift from cover to cover. Managing your ammo with the active reload system and waiting for the perfect chance to fire. When you close the gap, the Lancer’s chainsaw still tears through enemies with the same satisfying punch it had in 2006.
The campaign keeps its deliberate pace. Rushing into open ground rarely works, and that tension is part of what defines the combat. Playing with a friend makes everything even better. Coordinating grenade throws or flanking Locust enemies turns every encounter into a shared strategy session, whether online or in split-screen.
I remembered this the first time I replayed the city battles in Reloaded. Back on Xbox 360, I spent hours yelling across the couch with a friend about who was covering what side. Those fights felt familiar, only cleaner on modern hardware. It reminded me why the gameplay hooked me years ago.
Reloaded also offers an updated control option alongside the classic setup, giving you flexibility depending on your preference. Combat feels tight, but a few movements, like sprinting or sticking to cover, still show their age compared to modern shooters. These quirks stand out, but they never stop the action from being fun.
Reloaded’s Style and Performance From 2006 to 2025
Reloaded sharpens up the original game with cleaner textures, stronger lighting, and upgraded character models. The improvements stand out most in the campaign, where environments now look more detailed and the atmosphere feels heavier. Marcus and the main squad look great, although background NPCs still feel flat by comparison.
On PS5, the game ran smoothly for me from start to finish. The campaign runs at 4K and 60 frames per second, while multiplayer can push up to 120 fps. Matches feel fast, and quick load times get you back into the action without waiting around.
Audio carries just as much weight. Explosions rumble, Locust growls echo through tunnels, and the chainsaw never loses its bite. A nice touch is how comm messages play through the DualSense speaker. It may be small, but it adds another layer of presence during tense moments.
Some things still feel dated, though. Animations can be stiff, and the colour palette leans heavily on grey and brown, which shows the game’s age. Even so, Reloaded does a good job of keeping the original’s look and sound intact while pushing it forward.
Multiplayer Keeps the Fight Going
Multiplayer has always been a core part of Gears, and Reloaded keeps that tradition alive. You get split-screen co-op, full online co-op, and a solid mix of competitive modes. Team Deathmatch, Execution, King of the Hill, and even tight 2v2 battles give you plenty of reasons to jump back in after finishing the campaign.
Cross-play is a big win here. Being able to connect with friends across Xbox, PlayStation, and PC makes it much easier to find matches. I noticed matches filled quickly, and the action felt smooth at higher frame rates. Multiplayer can run up to 120 frames per second, which makes close fights especially intense.
I put a lot of hours into Gears multiplayer back on Xbox 360, and Reloaded brought that same energy back. Running around with a shotgun, rolling into cover, and trying to outsmart another squad felt just as fun as I remembered. The maps may be familiar, but the competition hasn’t lost its edge.
There are still a few quirks. Movements can feel a little stiff during hectic firefights, and some animations remind you this is built on an older game. Even with that, the variety of modes and cross-play support give Reloaded’s multiplayer plenty of staying power.
Gears of War Reloaded Blends Nostalgia With Modern Touches
Gears of War Reloaded reminds you why the original left such a mark on shooters. The campaign still has standout encounters, from luring a Berserker into tight corridors to taking down General RAAM. Co-op remains the highlight, and now with cross-play, teaming up is easier than ever.
Visually, the game looks sharper and runs smoother, with quick load times and steady performance throughout. The sound design also holds up, from the roar of the Lancer to the chilling cries of Locust enemies. Some of its age shows through stiff animations and a muted colour palette, but the improvements go a long way in keeping it fresh.
For me, playing Gears of War Reloaded felt like jumping back into my Xbox 360 days while still enjoying the perks of modern hardware. Those firefights felt sharper and smoother, bringing back plenty of nostalgia. The addition of cross-play and accessibility through cloud streaming makes it easier to share the experience with more people than ever.
Reloaded proves that even after nearly two decades, Gears of War still has a place. It doesn’t try to reinvent anything, but it preserves what made Gears special and opens it up to more people in 2025.
Gears of War Reloaded
Summary
Gears of War Reloaded brings back the original with sharper visuals, smoother performance, and cross-play. The campaign still delivers big moments, and co-op or multiplayer make it even better. A few rough edges remain, but it’s an easy reminder of why Gears is still fun to play nearly twenty years later.
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