Gears of War: E-Day Review: Action Highlight That Outlasts Its Welcome

TVS News AI, editorially supervised, presents Gears of War: E-Day Review: Action Highlight That Outlasts Its Welcome.

Imagine sitting down for a round of Gears of War: E-Day one evening – and not getting back up until the next morning. That's exactly the feeling the new GameStar review describes: the campaign plays fantastically according to the editors, only unfortunately far too long. That sounds like a luxury problem at first, but it's one that can decide between "good" and "great".

At its core, it's about an action promise the series has always delivered on: brutal close-quarters combat, heavy firepower, cinematic staging. E-Day is supposed to deliver exactly that – and according to GameStar, it apparently does. The friction only kicks in when the question arrives: When is it over? That's exactly where the enthusiasm tips into the verdict "one patty would have been enough."

We're taking a look at what the GameStar Plus test found for the PC/Steam version – and why the running time could become the deciding factor for your buying feeling.

Gears of War: E-Day Review – Where the Shooter Shines

GameStar draws a clear line in its Plus test: if the campaign were shorter, it would be an "action trip of the highest caliber." That's a strong judgment – and it implies by inversion that what makes Gears of War tick works in E-Day. The series' typical strengths appear intact, otherwise the review wouldn't come so close to the top score.

The Problem with Playtime

The one thing GameStar explicitly names is the length of the campaign. The phrasing "far too long" is used verbatim – and that's exactly where the criticism flares up. Translated: anyone who enjoys dense, compact action experiences might catch themselves hunting for the skip button at some point. Anyone who absorbs Gears lore and history gets more of it, but pays with seat time.

What This Means for PC Players

The test refers, based on the URL, to the PC version on Steam. For you, that means: you can try the title on PC without needing the Xbox console. With a running time like this, make sure your weekend is free – or set yourself deliberate small stages.

Verdict: Brutally Good – If You Can Stick It Out

According to GameStar, Gears of War: E-Day isn't a bad game, but a good one that gets in its own way. The mix sounds enticing: action of the highest caliber, but held back by a campaign that feels less like a high-speed shooter and more like an extended action marathon. If you're of the patient sort, that might be exactly your thing. If not, it's worth checking the approximate campaign length before buying.

What You Should Know Before Starting

The Strengths Are Real

When GameStar says "highest caliber," that's not marketing speak – it's an assessment that assumes the underlying framework holds. So you can count on the familiar Gears quality.

Playtime Is the Crux

Read up on how long the campaign runs before buying. If you'd rather invest three than eight hours, that's an important factor.

It's About the PC Version

The test refers to the Steam version. Whether the technical implementation runs cleanly can't be derived from the available snippet – that requires the full review.

Plus Test = Behind the Paywall

The detailed rating sits behind GameStar Plus. The free preview already delivers the core verdict.