Review: Gears Tactics
Legacy of the Void is looking to be an extremely dynamic, high-octane multiplayer installment of the franchise. This closing chapter of the StarCraft II trilogy boasts some serious changes to the game on the economic and military fronts, with options for attacking, zone control and harassment more diverse than ever before. Expect some of the fastest and most frantic action you've ever seen. Commanders, hold on to your pants. This is going to be awesome.
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
The handiest first Talent is The Pawn (from having that Scoundrel point) which grants free extra movement, though it is mutually exclusive with Executioner. Other great candidates include Living Armor for much needed magical armor recovery, Hothead for more critical hot chance, Opportunist to prevent enemy movement, and What a Rush to punish enemies that manage to damage health direc
For the stoic Terran, we have two new units: the Big Daddy-looking, drill-equipped Herc and single-target assassin the Cyclone. The Herc is trained from the Barracks, has the ability to launch itself toward a target and can be upgraded to deal area of effect damage in a small radius. It cannot target air. The Cyclone (pictured above), built from the Factory, can lock on to deal double damage while moving and can hit ground or air units. The Lock On upgrade must be researched at a Factory's Tech Lab. It's a quick unit with the same speed as a Stalker, and is best used for kiting and single-target removal.
There is no doubt that Gear Tactics is awesome, even after a few unfavorable features, it’s still worth playing. The biggest upgrade the game needs is a multiplayer feature. Who wouldn’t love to play this Slg game Money guide with their friends and have fun toget
Two-handed weapons work a bit differently than other attacks in the game: there is a greater emphasis on criticals as the Two-Handed combat skills increases the critical damage multiplier. This means one will want to aim for Strength/Finesse to Wits at around a 3:1 ratio. Constitution is rather unhelpful; leave it at 10 unless there is a surplus of points at higher levels. Take Memory only when there is a desperate need for more skill slots, likely when arriving at Reaper’s Co
Some substantial changes have been made to the existing insectoid arsenal as well. Swarm Hosts are now significantly more mobile, likely as a result of Lurkers being in play and filling the Hosts' former role. Their Locusts are now stronger can now spawn while the Host is in motion, and they can be upgraded to fly over terrain. Infestors have had the underused Neural Parasite removed in favor of Aggressive Mutation, which grants units in an area an additional 5 attack damage for 30 seconds. Corruptors can channel a la Void Ray, attacking a ground target and massive damage if a structure is targeted with their Caustic Spray ability. The ever-horrifying Nydus Worms are now invincible while unburrowing, making them a powerful tool for harassment.
Gears’ strong history of delivering stellar presentations remains intact with Gears Tactics. Though the perspective is different and the action turn-based, Gears Tactics looks fantastic. Splash Damage has managed to provide a presentation that looks and sounds the way a Gears game should. Whether it’s the violent growls of the Locust, the sounds of a chainsaw revving or the brutal popping sound a head makes following a headshot, the presentation perfectly captures the essence of the franchise. Though it may not have the close-up shots of a shooter, Gears Tactics still features plenty of detailed textures and models for players to admire, particularly in the menus. A suite of features allows players to extensively customize the visual experience on PC. Meanwhile, plenty of accessibility options exist to ensure that whoever wants to enjoy Gears Tactics can. It’s another fantastic Gears game to look at and listen to.
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