Gears 5: Hivebusters DLC Review

Gears 5's latest DLC expansion, Gears 5: Hivebusters, explores the multiplayer-only characters of Escape. This shows how these COG Soldiers would eventually become the first Hivebusters and develop a bond similar to that of the iconic Delta Squad, with Scorpio Squad leading the first operation against a large Swarm hive and developing the techniques used in Escape.

Gears 5: Hivebusters is a short 2-hour campaign that delivers a lot of thrills and ends with an excellent boss fight. This shows how the Gears' universe has a lot more people in this fight and more bonds to be forged.

Gears 5 is a standalone story starring Keegan, Lahni, and Mac. Victor Hoffman recruits these COG soldiers to lead a new operation against the Swarm. The goal is to destroy a hive using a new type of venom bomb. The operation did not go well, and the squad now needed to locate a stronger poison and find a way to infiltrate the hive efficiently.

The story essentially showcases all the aspects that went into developing the strategy for destroying the hive shown in Escape. Each part of the plan is provided here and is done well thanks to the development team, which includes action-packed situations that require each of the Scorpio Squad to depend on one another.

Mac, Keegan, and Lahni all have their reasons for being part of this near-suicidal operation and learning why helps create that bond. Granted, it's rushed compared to Delta Squad from both the original trilogy and new games, but given the time and length of the Gears 5: Hivebusters DLC, the developers did a good job. Each character learns why they can't get back what they've lost or done so they can move forward—deciding to look to each other for strength.

Much of the game relies heavily on the core concepts of Gears 5. You don't have a Jack here, but instead, the abilities used by Mac, Keegan, and Lahni. Mac can deploy a barrier in front of him, Keegan provides ammo, and Lahni can use an electrical blade to slice through enemies quicker than a regular knife. Each of the abilities can be upgraded by finding collectibles within the environment similar to Jack's components in a basic skill tree. 

The locations you'll find are varied, including an old COG shelter, dense forests, and a massive Swarm hive. Dynamic events like sliding through massive tunnels and unique environmental changes on the battlefield help keep things fresh. You'll fight the same enemies as in the core campaign, with the exception of the final boss. This was refreshing, considering the core campaign's final boss fight was a repeat of a previous fight.

The enemies in Gears 5: Hivebusters may feel repeated, but their tactics are not. The developers added environmental hazards so the Swarm could use new techniques to their advantage, such as Juvies using the tall grass to hide their movement and the Flock hiding in deep water. I would love the developers to explore this more, as it does offer new tactical opportunities for interesting encounters similar to the heavy snowstorms of the core game.

What I did love about the Gears 5: Hivebusters DLC was exploring this new area. Most Gears of War games would gloss over the various people in this world, but here, they embrace it. This provides insight into Lahni's heritage and shows that this world has more than just people. The world of Sera has other creatures fighting against the Swarm, and natives of these regions are attempting to hold out. There are more snippets of information that Gears fans will appreciate throughout the campaign, even going as far back as the Locust War.

The only real problem I had with Gears 5: Hivebusters was how it ended. While the final boss fight is great, the DLC could've gone a little further. The primary goal of the DLC is never explored, and instead, it is left alone. It does happen, but it is off-screen, which is disappointing as it should've been a playable event. It's also a bit expensive at $19.99, but if you have Game Pass, you get it for free through Gears 5.

There's also no cooperative matchmaking, as far I can tell, and the game has poor collectable tracking. Only showing what levels have missed collectables when you enter the stage instead of the menu. Perhaps the most bizarre issue is that you don't keep your Ultimate Upgrades when changing levels mid-game; losing access to everything unless you play from start to finish is just wrong.

This is a Gears 5: Hivebusters DLC made for Gears of War fans. It doesn't attempt to try anything new and remains in the safe zone of basic third-person combat, which is fine. It does an effective job of explaining how the escape system came into being, providing insight into how the Scorpio Squad was formed, and explaining why each member is willing to head into hell for one another. The only character that feels a bit out of place is Hana, who serves as the team's brilliant scientist. Granted, she has some appealing moments, but she's rarely fleshed out and serves more like the every-genius character within stories.

Gears 5: Hivebusters is a worthy expansion for this beloved franchise. Highlighting a new squad of characters fighting in this war while connecting them to the core game. It doesn't rely on it and allows Keegan, Mac, and Lahni to stand on their own. It's a short but satisfying campaign that provides insight into how the Escape campaign came into being. If you're a fan of Gears of War, this is a DLC you should play.