These missions often have specific parameters, such as a limit on the number of characters that can be deployed, or specific buffs for enemies like increased movement or damage. Also, Gears sent on one mission cannot be sent on anot

And last but not least, Sniper Drones are exactly what they sound like. These guys don't take a lot of hits to kill, but hitting them before dying is the real problem. Their range is much wider than any other enemy unit meaning they can attack your unit before you can attack them. Prioritize taking out these guys or else they will cause a lot of problems for the pla

Perhaps best of all, however, is the cosmetics selection. Equipment and appearances (limited on certain heroes) are each highly-customizable, more so than I expected from a turn-based strategy game – and without any microtransactions in sight! Almost immediately, I turned Sid Redburn into Uncle

As such, Gears Tactics won’t let players continue if a main character dies. Forcing gamers to restart an entire mission would be a bit harsh. As a compromise, the game features checkpoints throughout missions, so if the player dies, they won’t lose a ton of progress. So don’t be afraid to be aggressive, worst-case scenario, only a few minutes of progress will be l

As mentioned before, each unit has a set number of actions they can take in a single term, and these actions are defined by action point. Points can be spent on moving, shooting, Sumeru Exploration throwing grenades, and using abilities. When using an action a certain number of points will be used up, however by performing an execution on an enemy, a player regains action points. Theoretically, if a player chained multiple executions their turn could last fore

Here’s a tip: if taking on a tough boss, injure all the weaker enemies first, but don’t kill them yet. When their health is sufficiently whittled down, unleash a string of executions at once to give a huge boost in action points that can be used on the b

While getting around is important, it is vital that the player considers not just that they are moving, but where they are moving. Having soldiers sprint around the field at random is more of a risk than anything; chaotic movement just means more opportunities to get caught alone. A solid first use of points is getting some elevated overwatch. Try shifting a soldier into a position that will allow them to watch over the battlefield and throw them into overwatch. Doing so will lower the risk of more mobile soldiers getting surrounded - making the center of the field a danger to cross can make the opponent think twice about getting into a flanking position. For the remaining soldiers, it is worth spending points to form some triangular traps. Use some points to move and create overlapping fields of fire that cover up the enemy deployments before blasting away. This will pay out in forcing enemy movement away from your troops - by threatening multiple sides of a piece of cover, players can force a well defended enemy to displace, often scoring some hits for that well-positioned overwatch soldier. Importantly, save some points to avoid bunching up. While it is entirely possible to take advantage of a good flank with multiple units, be sure to reserve an action point to put some space between the soldiers you have making the hit. More than one solider side by side is a golden opportunity for a grenade, which can be even more catastrophic if the cover itself gets taken out. By using action points to get some overwatch, triangulate on enemy positions, and keep spacey, players can keep a battlefield handily under cont

One of the major diversions to traditional tactics games, a playthrough in Gears Tactics doesn't end when the story ends. Veteran missions take place after the story is completed, and players lead their COGs in mission after mission, so anyone can keep playing with their favorite squadmates even after the story is o

In addition to these universal options, players can effectively use skills to boost and stretch skill points. Each of the five classes have skills that add much-needed action points. For example, the Sniper's chain Shot skill will award the shooter AP for hits; the Support can use Empower to grant bonus points to a squad-mate get their own points for reviving a friend with the Encourage passive ability; and the Vanguard's Breach skill gives a point to any soldier canny enough to bring down a breached enemy. Spend some time exploring the skill trees to suss out what options will generate the most action points without costing on combat skills, and think about this when setting up team composition - it may be worth having a Support who, while not a damage dealer on their own, can keep every other soldier firing that bit longer with bonus AP. More points means more gunfire - keep the heat up and the battle is the player's to

Gears Tactics is an ambitious spinoff that doesn’t necessarily innovate, but it does succeed in taking the turn-based strategy genre head-on. The game’s presentation is quality, reflecting classic, core Gears elements. Although the gameplay flattens out by forcing repetitive mission types – extensive customization, immersive storytelling, and overall polish earns Splash Damage and The Coalition a tip of the