Gears of War: Act 1 Walkthrough

Epic's Gears of War is gaining a reputation for being almost as challenging as Ninja Gaiden was on Xbox®. There's no need to fret, however, as this walkthrough will hold your trembling hand all the way through Act 1 as you fight your way out of jail, into the war, and through your search for Alpha Squad and the all-important Resonator.

Best gun design ever.

Unlike typical single level walkthroughs, however, this walkthrough will not offer strategies for overcoming every single enemy, but rather it will focus on the more challenging or puzzling aspects of your adventure, as well as highlighting the locations of all the COG tags in the Act.

For more basic gameplay advice, you can start here with some general Gears of War tips and tricks.

Chapter One: 14 Years After E-Day

• COG Tag 1: After Dom springs you from your cell, you move out to an open room. The first COG tag is in the far right hand corner near the COG symbol painted on the wall. These paint tags will guide you to the COGs throughout the game.
• First Fight: Your first real firefight with the Locust Horde takes place on a bridge, and is pretty straightforward on both Casual and Hardcore difficulties. On Insane, however, your Raven support helicopters won't take out the Locusts above you until you take out the ones in front of you. Don't forget them as you move from cover to attack your targets.
• The Door: After your fight in the prison hall (just after the bridge), things will quiet down for a moment, but this is the calm before the storm. Dom will tell you that the Locusts are cutting through a nearby door. Get well away from the door and behind cover before they bust through. When Dom yells that they're coming, throw two grenades in rapid succession. This will clear out many of the enemies and make for an easier fight.
• COG Tag 2: The second COG tag is in a corner in the prison hall. Look for the symbol.
• COG Tag 3: After heading outside from the prison hall, the COG symbol will be on a wall to your left. Head up the stairs near the symbol to find the tag.

Calling down the thunder.

Chapter Two: Trial by Fire

• Emergence Hole Strategy: After your chopper lands and you get your orders, head into the building to face your first real combat test. Whenever an emergence hole appears, there will be an ominous musical cue, and the Point of Interest icon will come up on the screen. Press the Y button to pivot to a view of the hole. The first thing you must do is get a grenade in the hole to close it up. If you don't, the enemies will just keep on coming. The circumstances may change from fight to fight, but the strategy for dealing with an emergence hole is largely the same. 
• COG Tag 4: Just after the fight, look for the COG symbol at the far end of the courtyard.
• COG Tag 5: After you spot the dead soldiers on the street below, make your way inside for an intense close-quarters battle. Once you defeat the Locusts inside, look at the pillars and find the COG symbol on one of them. The tag is right next to it.

Another day at the office.

Chapter Three: Fish in a Barrel

• Defeating the Troika: Be prepared for an immediate challenge as you and your team face down a Troika heavy machine gun. On Casual you can directly shoot at the Locust manning the gun, but on Hardcore and Insane you are forced to flank it. Run to the van, and then follow the crater behind the van around to the alley. This will put you behind the Troika operator, who is still firing on the road in front of him. Pick him off with a well-aimed shot, or even better, a grenade.
• Statue Battle: Your next big challenge comes in the courtyard with the statue, just after the troika encounter. This will be your hardest fight yet.
  • Hop over the short stone wall that surrounds the statue as soon as the first emergence hole opens. There is ammo and grenades here. Grab the grenades first.
  • Take out the emergence holes with your grenades. Aim carefully.
  • If you don't close them up quickly, you will soon be overwhelmed. When the holes are closed, use the wall to protect yourself as you take out the Locusts. Once they start attacking from different angles, find an empty corner of the courtyard and make straight for it.
  • Take cover in the corner, and then slowly pick off the enemies. This is a long fight, so don't take any unnecessary risks.
• COG Tag 6: After the fight is over (after!) find the sixth COG tag in the far left corner of the courtyard.

Marcus and Dom: Unstoppable.

Chapter Four: Fork in the Road

• Another Troika: After shutting down the emergence holes, you split up. The left path offers the greatest strategic advantage. Fight your way down the stairs and clear out the room ahead of you. Enter the bathroom on your left and exit through the next door. Turn right, and the door at the end of the hall will put you behind the next Troika.
• Yet Another Troika: Once your team is together again, you'll face another Troika defending an outdoor area. Head straight to the right to flank the gun. You will be directly across from a two-story building. Duck and run to the door. There's one enemy in the building. After you take him out, you should have a good angle on taking out the gunner. After you kill him, man the gun yourself, and take out the waves of enemies as they appear. Once they're all dead, drop the gun and turn around. The door behind you will be opened by a small group of Locusts. Take them out and head inside.

Continue to Part Two