Which Difficulty Should You Choose in Gears of War: Reloaded

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Gears of War: Reloaded offers most of the features found in the original Gears of War game, including different difficulty levels. While many games include adjustable difficulty, it’s worth noting some unique aspects in Reloaded that both new and veteran players might not be aware of.

Below is a detailed review of the various difficulty settings, explaining how they differ, which achievements or trophies are associated with each, and which players they are best suited for.

Every Difficulty Level in Gears of War: Reloaded

There are four main difficulty options in Gears of War: Reloaded:

Unlike the original game, you don’t need to unlock the Insane difficulty—it’s available from the start along with the other settings.

Difficulty Level	Who It’s Best For
Casual	New players or those unfamiliar with shooters or gaming in general.
Normal	The standard choice, ideal for most casual players and those looking for a balanced challenge.
Hardcore	Better suited for players experienced with Gears of War, seeking more challenge than Normal.
Insane	For expert players or those wanting a tough second run; if you’re highly skilled, you can attempt it right away.

In co-op, each player can select their own difficulty level, allowing experienced players to ease the gameplay for newcomers.

Difficulty impacts gameplay by reducing the player’s health and damage dealt on higher settings. Conversely, enemies become more accurate and aggressive as difficulty increases.

Achievements and Trophies Linked to Difficulty Levels

There are five achievements or trophies tied to completing the game on specific difficulties:

Mercenary: Complete all acts on Casual difficulty.
Classic Mercenary: Finish all acts on Normal difficulty.
Soldier: Complete the game on Hardcore difficulty.
Commando: Finish the game on Insane difficulty.
Brothers To The End: Defeat General RAAM in co-op on Insane, without either player being knocked down and needing revival.

Most of these tasks are straightforward — simply finishing the game on the targeted difficulty earns the corresponding achievement or trophy. The notable exception is “Brothers To The End,” which requires a bit more effort: you must play through the game in co-op, reach the final boss, and defeat him without either player going down.

Gameplay Effects of Difficulty

As difficulty increases, players have less health and deal less damage, and enemies shoot more accurately and aggressively, providing a tougher challenge across the board.