Gears of War: E-Day release details

Gears of War: E-Day, released in 2024, marks the twentieth anniversary of the Gears of War franchise and the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Xbox. Developed by The Coalition, which took over from People Can Fly, the game serves as a prequel set fourteen years before the original Gears of War. It focuses on the Day of Emergence, a critical event in the series' lore.

Narrative approach and source material

The game’s story is described as cautious, avoiding changes that might anger fans. It closely follows the novel Aspho Fields by Karen Traviss, which details the final battle of the Pendulum Wars. The narrative explores the beginnings of the Lanzor chainsaw and the bond between Marcus and Dom, while expanding on the Day of Emergence as a three-day campaign with multiple locations. However, critics argue this approach makes the story feel more like a list of events than a compelling adventure.

Gameplay and anachronisms

Gameplay features, such as a rebuilt movement system allowing Marcus to slide, jump, and climb vehicles and structures, are criticized as anachronistic. In the original Gears of War (2006), Marcus could not perform these actions. The inclusion of new weapons like the Gutpuncher grenade launcher and Incinerator pump action rifle, as well as creatures from the Hollows, is also seen as out of place, as these elements are absent in later episodes.

Narrative tension and character fates

The game’s suspense is criticized for being undermined by the known survival of Marcus and Dom fourteen years later. Creative director Matt Searcy compared the game to Band of Brothers and Saving Private Ryan, but critics note that the survival of main characters reduces tension. New characters like Mags Carter and Lucas Reyes, as well as Tai Kaliso, face similar issues, as their fates are known from subsequent episodes.

Challenges of prequels in media

Prequels often face structural challenges, as they arrive after the main story is already written, requiring careful integration to avoid contradicting established facts. This can lead to a narrative focused on filling gaps rather than creating a cohesive story. Examples include Resident Evil 0 and Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII, where prequels attempt to explain every detail, sometimes at the expense of narrative compactness.

Anachronistic gameplay in prequels

In video games, prequels face the added challenge of incorporating gameplay innovations that may be anachronistic when compared to later entries. For example, Batman: Arkham Origins features electric gloves absent in later games, while Halo: Reach includes features like a sprint and jetpack missing in Halo: Combat Evolved. Similarly, Marcus’s ability to jump in E-Day is seen as anachronistic given his limitations in later games.