When to do Gears of War: Aftermath?
Introduction
Gears of War: Aftermath is the second installment of the Gears of War prequel trilogy, taking players back to the original Pendulum Wars that marked the beginning of the conflicts that would lead to the subsequent wars in the series. The game offers an improved gameplay experience, a well-crafted storyline, and enhanced multiplayer features. The question is, When to do Gears of War: Aftermath? is it necessary to play it after Gears of War: ASCEC (As Centrist Elite Command), and more importantly, can new players jump right into this sequel without playing the original series?
Playing order considerations
Gears of War: Aftermath serves as a sequel to the critically acclaimed Gears of War: ASCEC and continues the story of Emil Hmans as she navigates the midst of the Pendulum Wars. Although it is not required to play Gears of War: ASCEC beforehand, understanding the plot of the first game and the events leading up to it will provide a better player experience for those unfamiliar with the series.
| Game in order | Release Order |
|---|---|
| Gears of War: ASCEC (As Centrist Elite Command) | 2007 (original game) |
| Gears of War: Aftermath | 2009 (after first game) |
| Gears of War (2006) | Preset storyline, no player necessity |
What you might be missing without playing ASCEC
By jumping right into Gears of War: Aftermath, new players may experience certain story and character motivations becoming unclear or difficult to connect with. Not to mention the important history and world-building background, which ASCEC and the first game establishes, might seem vague for those starting from here.
Gameplay elements enhancing the story
- A well-balanced cast of characters, new and familiar, offering complex motivations and moral struggles amidst the chaotic conflict of war.
- Cut-scenes and storytelling, utilizing audio logs, emails, and news reports to illustrate pivotal events in the early game, while providing historical insight into the events surrounding it.
- **Improvisation in multiplayer combat, enhanced weapon selection and ability to control new types of units, offering various competitive gameplay scenarios.
Multplayer mode: When playing Gears of War: Aftermath?
Competitive and cooperative modes take center stage in this instalment. The cooperative horde mode is popular due to the sheer level design, wave after wave challenging encounters. Players in each group (of max three) share health while experiencing intense co-op objectives alongside each other. Each weapon is crucial to group cohesiveness and ensuring individual survival in these tight group scenarios. For maximum potential in Gears of War: Aftermath:
· Learn from maps strategically.
· Select your gear and strategy depending on player preferences, making the best of class based on specific skills within characters.
· **Explore both multiplayer game modes – for more content, unique rewards, and variety.
For competitive mode:
Players familiar with Gears games, having experienced intense moments of competitive gameplay or strategic horde co-op actions, should feel comfortably absorbed in Gears of War: Aftermath with most mechanics easily adaptable without being lost. When looking at both gameplay variations Gears of War: Aftermath stands its place in this game development period, ensuring enjoyable playing situations with other players
To sum it up Gears of War: Aftermath, despite not demanding full completion of the earlier Gears of War franchise (but ideally preceded by playing ASCEC), presents a game solid in gameplay and, overall, it offers numerous points to connect players familiar from other installments
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