After years without a new mainline entry, Gears of War: E-Day serves as a reminder of just how uncommon straightforward third-person shooters have become. While the series has never been everyone's favorite, its return highlights a genre that has largely taken a back seat to live-service trends, and early impressions suggest developer The Coalition hasn't lost its touch.

During a recent hands-on session, players were able to try both Horde Siege, an expanded version of the franchise's signature cooperative mode, and traditional Versus multiplayer. Rather than reinventing the formula with modern trends like battle royale modes, extraction gameplay, or elaborate loadout systems, E-Day embraces the classic multiplayer experience that helped define the series nearly two decades ago.

The Versus mode feels intentionally familiar. Matches feature classic 4v4 gameplay with COG soldiers facing off against the Locust Horde, recreating the fast-paced battles longtime fans will instantly recognize. Combat continues to revolve around aggressive close-range encounters, with the iconic Gnasher shotgun once again taking center stage as players race toward key areas of the map in search of early eliminations.

Visually, the game remains every bit as brutal as previous entries, although sustained firefights appear to produce slightly less blood than older titles. The change may have been made to improve visual clarity, especially since hit markers now provide much clearer damage feedback during combat.

One of the biggest gameplay changes comes with movement. The series' famous "roadie run" has been replaced with a more upright sprint, reflecting the game's increased focus on mobility. While the adjustment makes sense within E-Day's updated movement system, longtime fans may miss one of the franchise's most recognizable mechanics.