Behind the hype around Cyberpunk 2077 the release of Hivebusters story add-on for Gears 5 cooperative shooter went almost unnoticed. Let's correct this injustice in a small review.
Hivebusters chronicles the adventures of Gears 5 characters not featured in the game's from the studio site Friv2Online Games Studio story campaign. To be more precise, players are familiar with them: Keegan, Lani and Mack appeared in the cooperative mode "Escape". Now there is a whole mini-campaign dedicated to them.
The plot of the add-on sends the heroes, who formed the Scorpion squad, to the volcanic archipelago of Galangi, where they must destroy a large hive of Swarm and thus bring closer the liberation of Sera from monsters. Without spending much time on exposition, the game quickly throws the characters into a whirlwind of events, and in the three hours it takes to complete the DLC, the scenery changes several times, immersing them in such unusual adventures as, for example, traveling through a lava river on a metal door with shooting off enemies attacking from all sides.
Along the way, the friv game reveals the relationships between the characters, as well as telling stories from their past. Not to say that this is a mandatory element, but it makes the fighters a little more alive, and by the end they come much more united than in the beginning. There is also fan-service, referring to the main parts of Gears of War series - fans will be satisfied.
The most noticeable flaw of Gears 5: Hivebusters is its secondary nature. You won't find any new weapons or new enemies, except for the final boss, and even some episodes are as if you've already seen them before - for example, the chase for the porter who kidnapped a team member. And the plot of the add-on doesn't move the franchise forward - it's just another episode from the life of the planet covered by the endless war, and if you skip it, you won't lose anything in terms of story development.
On the other hand, the friv game boasts spectacular new locations - the jungle is a refreshing change from the usual Gears 5 scenery, and the characters have unique skills: Keegan can generate ammo, Lani gets an electrical bonus to melee attacks, and Mack uses a mobile shield. These abilities replace the flying robot Jack, who helped the protagonists of the main Gears 5 campaign. They can even be improved by finding hidden upgrades in secret areas of locations.
Gears 5: Hivebusters is not a must buy - you are not waiting for new friv game mechanics and radically different experience. It's just a good expansion to the base game, and it can be played in co-op with friends. If you're looking for a little more adventure in Gears 5, the add-on will give you what you need. And it's doubly nice that it doesn't cost much on Steam, and Xbox Game Pass owners will get it for free.