a great experience, you can play solo campaign or multiplayer modes. Versus modes can be player vs player or team vs the computer generated enemy. And the wildly popular Horde mode is back with some cool updates.

Campaign is single player or 2 player co op. There is matchmaking if you want a human gamer to help out. The team is 4, yourself, and 3 other characters, one of whom can be a friend or a random because matchmaking is available.

Mic use seems to be less of a "thing" this time, which is great, you just play without intrusive voices or obnoxious chatter. Since it's just two gamers in campaign there is less confusion and it's easier to manage a quick no strings attached half hour gaming session without feeling like you're abandoning a team in campaign.

Horde is classic but different. You have classes now, and choose your class according to your play style or your mood that day. You load out with different weapons depending on your class. And abilities are different class to class. Again, mics don't seem to be a real "thing" this time, great!!! The maps seem a little harder to defend and aerial assaults can be expected. Casual mode feels like normal mode in gears 3 so be prepared for a challenge.

You can revive dead teammates by picking up their COG tags (bright glowing beacons, can't miss em ) and returning then to the fabricator which is basically your "home base". That imo was a huge improvement because we've all fallen in battle, this way you get a 2nd chance to fight with your team.



Horde stands out as one of the most addictive game types out there, it fosters a sense of teamwork and accomplishment between gamers who often are complete strangers, various ages, abilities, nationalities etc etc, you fight together and as long as you aren't keeping score your team can take out 50 waves of enemies by working together. Matchmaking seems fine, there is a problem with dropout/dropoff where gamers might get disconnected and you are down a gamer or 2 or 3 which sucks but I'm NOT seeing a lot of rage quitting which is awesome.

You unlock new abilities as you level up and progress and there is a card system that you need to be patient and learn but it's not too complex and it does offer some really cool options to enhance your gameplay.and customize your character. Some of the unlock able abilities give you extra firepower or capacity or health, really valuable enhancements.



I'm loving it, they brought back the special events like gearsmas and that's lots of fun, this year we have Santa hats and Christmas skins for weapons and 3 characters get Christmas armor.