Gears Tactics: Battle Tips And Tricks For Beginners

For the series' first foray into the rapidly evolving turn-based tactics genre, **Gears Tactics ** is an impressively balanced and well constructed strategic experience. Managing to avoid the pitfalls of some other genre-crossing series (for all that is good about it, the first Halo Wars game had some pretty rough edges), Gears Tactics hits many of the right notes for a squad tactics title, including a fairly fleshed out equipm.ent customization system and some very involved soldier skill trees that allow for specialization that is critical to a rounded battle experience. While it is easy to see how these features have lead to comparisons to the likes of XCOM (which is amongst the highest of praises bestowable on a young turn based tactics series), the game manages to retain the unique flavor of its source material, finely portraying the gritty world that plays hosts to the ongoing conflict between mankind and the Locust hordes, with some clever, thematic mechanics to match . As adaptations go, this shifting of the Xbox flagship Gears series to a genre more about careful consideration than frenetic aggression has gone exceptionally smoot


The area maps in XCOM , where fights take place, begin to feel a little "samey" after a while. They are cut-and-paste environments with little to offer. The area maps in Gears Tactics have a lot more depth and detail to them. Another positive about the maps in Gear Tactics is the lack of a reliance on a grid system. Granted, most players will end their soldiers’ movements behind cover anyway, but not having a grid system allows for more precise placement of troops. This precise movement opens up opportunities like being able to end a turn in an opponent’s blind s


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


Though the standard three action points each character has available can feel quite limiting, it is helpful to remember that there are several ways to get more out of each point. One way to do this is to take full advantage of cover. In Gears Tactics , ending a movement action in cover will reduce the point cost, meaning that it is wise to plan moves from defensive point to defensive point to make the most of movement. Additionally, take full advantage of the execution mechanic: finishing off a downed enemy will award the executioner's squad an action point, adding some much-needed versatility. Take full advantage of this, clearing the field of executable enemies if it is possible without throwing a soldier into the o

Lastly, it is important to know your enemy. There are four different classes of enemies in Tactics, and each one has their own abilities and stats. It is important to learn what classes look like and what they do before rushing into battle because some enemies are more dangerous than others. Knowing how to defeat a certain type of enemy before engaging can give the player an upper h

Other than a brief foray into the Pop! figure world, Gears of War has always been a third-person cover shooter. Across all six entries so far, players have come to expect Gears games to play a certain way. Slide into cover, pop up and blast the grubs. Despite this, Gears is a franchise with tons of potential in different genres, which is something Splash Damage hopes to take advantage of with Gears Tactics. Embracing the turned-based strategy genre, Splash Damage has created a new type of Gears SLG game strategy that aims to blend this genre with the franchise’s roots. Is Gear Tactics another excellent addition to the franchise or does it need more time at boot camp?