It may not have the third-person roadie-running action of the classic Gears of War games, but Gears Tactics still manages to easily stand shoulder to shoulder with its source material COGs as one of the definitive experiences within that franchise. Just as bloody, a whole lot more cerebral and violently tactical, Gears Tactics is a spin-off with teeth that looks, feels and plays damn well. It also sounds brilliant, thanks to a moody and atmospheric score thanks to composer Edward Patrick White

Gears Tactics isn’t just one of the biggest surprises of the year, it’s a a vulgar display of power starring everyone’s favourite beefy boys in a bloody new direction that’ll test your trigger fingers with pure heavy mental action.

Set an entire 12 years before the first Gears of War game even kicks off, Gears Tactics has you commanding mankind’s last remaining military forces as they band together to drive back the Locust horde on the planet of Sera, one bloody turn at a time. You’re not just looking to outfight your opponent, you’re working to outthink them as well.

However you spin it, big Dave Bautista has a resume that most entertainers would kill for. The hulking bruiser made the king of kings bleed in a climatic Wrestlemania showdown, gave a young Superman a run for his money and helped save the day from galactic threats in the Guardians of the Galaxy films. Now, the man who was simply known as the animal in the WWE (or Bluetista in a return to the ring that wasn’t exactly well received) is about to face his greatest challenge yet: Multiplayer mobs.

Here’s what you’ll need to do in order to grab the Seriously 4.0 achievement in Gears of War 4.

The Coalition will be giving some Gears of War 4 players early access this October if they pay a little more upfront.

Gears of War 4 has a host of new weapons to combat it's differnt, more mobile enemy types.

Gears of War, when it balances action with a touch of tension, is the game at its best. And it sounds like Gears of War 4 will be a darker entry in the series.