046 THE OFFICIAL XBOX MAGAZINE
ABOVE Using a
tile system,
you’ll be able
to create your
own map for
Escape mode.
LEFT After each
round of
Escalation both
teams will be
able to place
power weapons on
the map.previous game. All come with various
additions and changes, but it’s the
newest game mode, Escape, that has
us most intrigued.
Escape is one of the more
structured modes available, and
comes complete with its own
separate side story. Having willingly
surrendered yourself to the Swarm in
order to be taken back to one of its
hives, you deploy a venom bomb to
eradicate everything in sight. You’ll
team up with two other players as a
squad of Hivebusters, either online
or through couch co-op, and go up
against increasingly difficult enemies
in order to escape the hive before
poisonous green mist fills every room
and kills everything, even you.
In the lobby before you start the
match, the host will be able to adjust
settings to make the game more
challenging. You can increase the
power and health of the enemies,
for example, or even have additional
enemies spawn. It’s also here where
you select one of three characters to
play as, each with their own weapons
and unique abilities – these powers
charge over time and can be activated
with the Y button. Lahni Kaliso, the
scout of the group, starts with a
Talon Pistol and has an offensiveability which has her charging a blade
with electricity. This increases her
speed and makes light work of any
enemy that gets in her way, and not
only does it deal out a hefty amount
damage, but it electrocutes her
foes, too, which then spreads to
other enemies nearby. Leslie ‘Mac’
Macallister is your tank, equipped with
a powerful Boltok Pistol, and is able
to pop a holo-shield that protects
the team from enemy fire for a time.
Jeremiah Keegan comes in as support,
with the power to create an area-of-
effect pool that recharges your ammo.Narrow escape
This mode is all about teamwork and
you’ll need to use your abilities at
the right time in order to make it out
alive. You’ll have waves of enemies
attacking you from the front, and a
cloud of deadly smog approaching
from behind. If you do happen to die,
though, it’s not game over. A downed
ally can be found inside a swarm sack
somewhere around the map. Another
team-mate will need to make a daring
rescue attempt and head to the
trapped player’s gooey prison to bring
them back into the fight.
Thanks to the success of Xbox
Game Pass and the fact that Gears 5