Halo Wars

[CaptJimboJones]

Anyone playing this new RTS based on the Halo universe? It's gotten very good reviews, but I'm on the fence in terms of picking it up. While I love the Halo games, I'm not particularly well-versed in RTSs.

So do people like this game? Is it worth it for an RTS newb? Or is it more for hardcore strategists only?

 

[c0rnedfr0g]

Don't know, but I'm excited. Too bad I don't have a 360 -- I'm surprised that it is not also on PC, since the RTS format is very mouse "point-and-click" friendly and the first Halo: Combat Evolved was on PC. I guess I'll have to wait for StarCraft II.

I'm guessing that it is not TOO hardcore RTS since it is only on 360 and not even on PC.

 

[Arrqh]

I'm not into the Halo universe and from what I've read the limitations imposed on the game from it being on a console instead of a PC would make it very unenjoyable. So I'll stick with Dawn of War 2 for my RTSness.

 

[clint g]

Halo Wars is the perfect RTS for someone new to the genre. It essentially focuses on the core essentials of RTS game play. That, unfortunately, is also its downfall. I've been a long time fan of RTSs (going as far back as Command and Conquer in the mid-ninties) so I pretty much found Halo Wars' gameplay to be a little borring.

 

[c0rnedfr0g]

...it does, for the most part, play and feel like a very newbie-friendly RTS game. Put simply, Halo Wars is a very traditional RTS game, streamlined for people who don't really play RTS games.

http://www.1up.com/do/reviewPage?cId=3172903&p=4&sec=REVIEWS

 

[Mr Light]

I'm a Halo fanatic so I'll definitely have to rent this someday. I've heard glowing and middling reviews for it. I just want to see the story/cutscenes!

 

[firehawk12]

There's only one awesome cutscene and it's probably already up on youtube. If anything, it makes me wish that they'd just make Halo CG movies.

The game itself is interesting in an academic console setting. Sadly, being an achievement whore I beat the game like 4 times, but it really is just a streamlined version of Age of Empires. The controls are fine for the most part, but there are still times when you think a mouse/keyboard would work much better.

It's probably not worth full price if you aren't interested in an RTS on any level though. Oh, co-op is a nice feature though - but you need to know someone who has it. Like Halo 3, they assume you only want to play co-op with people on your friends list.

 

[MyCylon]

I played the demo. And while I did enjoy it and thought they probably used the controls as best they could, I couldn't help but feel that I should have been playing on a PC.

If you've ever played an RTS on a PC, I think there's really no way how a console-based RTS can live up to that. It's just that type of game.

However, if you've never played RTS games before, it might actually be a good introduction. It's certainly well made. And the Halo universe can be quite interesting, too.

Why not just try downloading the demo? Or is not available anymore?

 

[Twilight]

I'm playing it. Some thoughts:

- It's VERY simple. Remember in grade school when we'd sometimes get abridged, cut down versions of classic novels? (I remember reading a kiddie version of Les Miserables in 5th grade). Yup, it's like that. Base building is effectively totally non-existent, micro-management is nil. Resource gathering is boiled down to building supply pads, etc.

- The controls work fine. The only thing I miss is the ability to create groups. They've created a half-assed way of doing it by doing a global select and then using trigger to sub-select unit types within that group, but it's cumbersome.

- Unit cap is pretty small, and there really aren't all that many types of units

- The cutscenes are gorgeously produced with fantastic production value, and are the best parts of the game.

- Multiplayer issues: Holy god, the *FRAMERATE*. If you're in a 3v3 game over live, it WILL go exactly as follows (unless there is a rush). 1. You and your partners will tech up, one of you will go all air (build all Hornets), another will go all warthogs, and another will probably go all air again. Your opponents will do the same. There will likely be only one major battle with your opponents, and because there are now 100+ units on the screen, it's a complete SLIDE SHOW. The framerate chugs to the point that it's ridiculous.

- Co-op for the single player campaign is fun and works well



Having said all that, it *is* a fun game to play. It's really not a bad game at all, it's just very simple. The story isn't particularly interesting, but it's nice to be in the Halo universe again (and the game fits really well in it).


So who is the game for? RTS noobs (or those who could care less about more complex strategy) and Halo fans.

 

[USS Mariner]

I'm glad to see that they decided to use the Mark V helmet pattern for the Mark IV armor. Hell, it's actually a better take on the Mark V than Halo 3's version.

As for the game, not interested. ODST looks interesting, though.

 

[flux_29]

Like it, but has to be said, the story was a little short.

 

[CaptJimboJones]

Downloaded the demo a few days ago and tried it, and enjoyed it quite a bit. I think I'll pick it up. I'm pretty much the perfect demographic - I'm a fan of the Halo universe, and I'm pretty new to RTSs.

 

[sportzkid]

It is a decent game and good for multiplayer since I have several friends who also have the game.

 

[SpeedRacer]

I've completed Act 1 of the game, and I'm pretty impressed. I'm not a fan of RTS games in general, although I did love using cheat codes in StarCraft and walking around with an invincible army.

ANYWAY, as someone previously said, this game is made for people who aren't familar with the genre. It may be a bit simplistic, but I really like it. Easily worth the money that I paid for it.

 

[Twilight]

I've been playing a lot more with the game on multiplayer (finished the single player campaign a while ago, it's really quite short and very easy).

Multiplayer IS a LOT of fun if you have good allies (I currently prefer 3v3 games).

The game is simple, yes, but there's some good strategy to be found anyway. My only complaint is, again, the frame rate. 3v3 over LIVE gets extremely sluggish, sometimes it gets so bad that it's just silly.

But it IS a very, very fun game, and it almost makes you forget that you're playing an RTS on a console ... even to the point that you don't long for a mouse/keyboard.

 

[Twilight]

Also, has anybody watched this video in a while?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y05YKhO5ua8

Notice how the alpha version of the game is EXTREMELY DIFFERENT from the actual game?

I wish we had that kind of base building in the final product.

 

[PKerr]

Hmm.. being a fan of Halo but not of RTS games I decided to just give this one a pass but after reading the posts here I may try to find a used copy somewhere.