Microsoft just launched its Xbox Series X console with a slew of new games alongside it. This includes the long-awaited console port of the turn-based strategyGears of Warspin-off gameGears Tactics, which released earlier this year to mostly positive reviews. Now thatGears Tacticsis out on Xbox Series X, some fans may be wondering how it plays when compared to the PC version of the game.
Whenever a game primarily built for PCs is ported to consoles, there is some concern about how it will translate. Sometimes there are no issues, and other times, the console version ends up having a worse user interface or an unwieldy control scheme.
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So for those curious, here is howGears Tacticsplays on Xbox Series X when compared to the PC version of the game.
Controls
Turn-based strategy games sometimes lose a lot of their ease of use in the jump from PC to console. The mouse and keyboard setup just lends itself better to the genre, which is why some of the strategy genre’s biggest giants have never even attempted to try. Usually a console port of a PC strategy game ends up having an especially-cluttered interface or clunky controls, but luckily, that’s not really an issue withGears Tacticson Xbox Series X.
That’s not to say that there isn’t a learning curve to playingGears Tacticswith a controller. There is, especially if one has already played the game on PC. ButGears Tacticsplayers on Xbox Series X should get it down after a few missions. As far as turn-based strategy controls go on console,Gears Tacticsis basically as good as it can get.
Graphics
In terms of specs, theXbox Series X is arguably the most powerful video game consoleon the market, though its launch titles don’t really do it justice.Gears Tacticsisn’t a game that really delivers on the “wow” factor some might expect from a next-generation gaming experience, but that doesn’t mean it looks bad. On the contrary,Gears Tacticslooks phenomenal on Xbox Series X.
Gears Tacticson Xbox Series X is like playing the PC version of the game on the highest settings, all displayed in gorgeous 4K resolution. There’s a ton of detail to the environments and characters, with fantastic animations and other effects. And it is all displayed at a consistent 60 frames per second, with zero drops. While those with beefy PCs can achieve a similar level of quality, console players that want toget the most out ofGears Tacticsin terms of visuals and performancewill definitely want to play it on Xbox Series X.
Jacked Campaign
The Xbox Series X version ofGears Tacticsincludes some new content that wasn’t available in the original PC release. The big highlight is an entirely new way to experience theGears Tacticscampaignwith the robot ally Jack by players' side. Jack functions as an extra squadmate of sorts, and while he can’t be used to kill enemies, he does make it easier to collect things in the environment, so players don’t have to waste their human turns doing so. This results in a faster-paced campaign that’s more consistently entertaining than the classic version, and it’s hard to go back after playing with Jack.
To ensure that the Jack campaign is still challenging,Gears Tacticsalso adds deviant enemy types, which will definitely test players' skill and push them to their limits. We recommend newcomers and returning PC players alike try this version of theGears Tacticscampaign, as it’s just more fun.
Xbox Game Pass
With an Xbox Game Pass subscription, Xbox owners can tryGears Tacticswithout the commitment of paying full-price for the game. And since it’s one of the fewXbox Series X console-exclusive launch titlesthat is truly new (for console players, anyway),Gears Tacticsis really a no-brainer.Gears of Warfranchise should definitely check it out, as it retains everything thatGears Tacticsreviews praised, but with some added bells and whistles and improved visuals.
However, even ifGears Tacticswasn’t an Xbox Game Pass game, it would still be worth the price of admission, especially for turn-based strategy fans. Here’s hoping that Microsoft decides to experiment with theGears of Warfranchise more in the future, as this spin-off shows that there is a ton of potential to explore the universe outside of the standard third-person shooters.
Gears Tacticsis out now for PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
