Gears 5 review – thrills, kills and belly laughs in a refreshing reboot

PC; Xbox One
A female protagonist, comedy one-liners and increased tactical options bring subtlety without sacrificing adrenalin

The Gears of War series has made me laugh many times over the years, but Gears 5 may be the first time it's done so on purpose. Developed by Microsoft subsidiary the Coalition, the latest sequel surrounds the familiar cover-shooting mechanics with upgrade systems, side-missions and even large open spaces to explore. But perhaps Gears 5's most significant addition is a sense of levity.

Far from the grey, hyper-serious tone of the original trilogy, Gears 5 brings us a wide-ranging adventure that is often as gaudy as it is gory. The campaign's introductory chapter sees players exploring an abandoned missile silo hidden on a tropical island, a location choice that seems more befitting of Uncharted than Gears. The script, meanwhile, is laced with daft one-liners and pithy retorts, embracing the series' inherent absurdities rather than bulldozing through them.