Highlights

  • Beating Gears of War on Insane difficulty without cover is an impressive gaming feat that requires skill and patience.
  • The challenge run highlights how cover mechanics impact AI behavior and gameplay in Gears of War.
  • Rumors suggest Gears of War 6 may be announced soon, ending a five-year gap since Gears 5.

A talented gamer has managed to beat Gears of War on Insane difficulty, without ever using the cover mechanic throughout the entire game. With cover at the heart of the Gears of War series' gameplay, completing this challenge run is an incredible feat.

In Gears of War, taking cover is an essential part of the game's combat system. Players can shoot, throw grenades, or simply hide from enemy fire using cover. Its perfect execution is a big part of the reason that the original Gears of War revolutionized third-person gameplay when it first hit shelves in 2006. Playing without this would be difficult enough. Combining this with the Gears of War Insane difficulty takes this to another level, with it only taking a few bullets to be killed in a campaign where the action rarely stops.

screenshots from Binary Domain, Outriders, and Spec Ops The Line
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YouTuber Arrrash posted a video about the feat online, going into detail about the ground rules for the run. They're not allowed to use the actual Gears of War cover mechanic, although they can stand behind cover if necessary. While this is a small distinction, it massively impacts how the game's AI behaves during combat. The video covers highlights of the overall run, including key areas that proved to be a pain over the course of the campaign. It culminates with Arrrash defeating one of the best Gears of War villains, General Raam, beating the game with a total of 294 deaths and around 13 hours played.

Beating Gears of War on Insanity Without Taking Cover

There's something awesome about gamers who take it upon themselves to complete these types of challenge runs in any game. It takes a ton of patience to persevere, especially during the sections where it seems like it might not be possible. These challenge runs often take several forms, depending on the game it's being played. Removing cover from a Gears of War playthrough plays to the mechanics of the series, while recently, another talented gamer completed a full pacifist run of Fallout: New Vegas. On paper, they're two very different runs, but they actually both make the most of their respective game's mechanics.

It's been a few years since Gears 5 was released, and it finally seems that the cogs are turning on a sequel. Recent rumors have suggested that a Gears of War 6 announcement could be coming this summer, ending a five-year wait for a sequel. With The Coalition at the helm, Gears of War has remained a key IP for Xbox, and it's somewhat of a surprise that it has been so long between titles, given the three-year gap between Gears 4 and 5​​​​​​. If the rumors turn out to be true, it'll be exciting to see what The Coalition has been working on all this time.