Halo Wars

“Halo Wars” is a strategy game based on the legendary “Halo” universe. In campaign mode, players will command the armies of the UNSC warship “Spirit of Fire,” consisting of familiar and new UNSC units in its initial encounters against the Covenant, an alien coalition threatening to obliterate mankind. “Halo Wars” will immerse gamers in an early period of the storied “Halo” universe, allowing them to experience events leading up to the first “Halo” title for Xbox.

With the guidance of Serina, a spirited artificial intelligence (AI) persona, gamers will direct legions of UNSC soldiers, Warthogs, Scorpions and more, each group having its own strengths and uses in battle. Adventurous commanders can also call upon ancient Forerunner technology, if they are fortunate enough to find it hidden throughout the battlefield.

Covenant forces are also waiting for players to lead them into battle in multiplayer skirmishes via the New Xbox Experience. Call upon an arsenal of new and familiar Covenant units such as Grunts, Elites, Ghosts and even Scarabs to defeat foes on the battlefield. Strategic-minded players who react well under pressure will emerge victorious.

Features:

• New take on a legendary world. Set in the iconic “Halo” universe, “Halo Wars” predates the original first-person shooter “Halo.” Fans of the franchise will have the opportunity to experience the early battles between the UNSC and Covenant, the far-reaching conflict that has been diligently followed by the masses in the blockbuster “Halo” series. Players join the crew onboard the “Spirit of Fire,” a Phoenix-class colony ship converted for UNSC military use and guided by the AI persona Serina. The “Halo Wars” story line follows the Spirit of Fire’s discovery of an ancient artifact during a journey to the planet Harvest, the first planet to be attacked by the Covenant.
• Strategic command of armies in large-scale combat. “Halo Wars” puts gamers in command of the battlefield over an arsenal of UNSC units and vehicles as they engage Covenant forces. They can counter and crush their opponent by tactically fielding the superior army. Players can also choose among Leaders that possess elite skills which can turn the tides of battle. Using various combinations of Leaders and units, players can create countless strategies tailored to their preferred playing styles and personalized strategies.
• Challenge friends to skirmishes using the New Xbox Experience. See who the superior commander is through multiplayer online skirmishes supporting up to 6 players with the New Xbox Experience. Players can choose to command either unique civilization, UNSC or Covenant, each with unique attributes and strategic characteristics. Ancient Forerunner technology can also be found to create unique units to gain an upper hand in battle.
• Groundbreaking strategy game for the Xbox 360. Since inception, “Halo Wars” was explicitly designed to cater to console gamers and bring to the Xbox 360 a genre that has typically been played on the PC. Gamers can easily command and manage powerful armies, effortlessly control troops and incredible machines, engage in epic battles and expand their empire using an intuitive user interface for the Xbox 360. “Halo Wars” represents the true next-generation experience, combining a masterful control scheme using the Xbox 360 controller with the award-winning strategic gameplay only Ensemble Studios can provide.

IGN review Closing Comments

Halo Wars takes a lot of cues from successful RTSs out there and adds its own unique flavour to the gameplay and pace. In the process, it removes a lot of the clutter and gets it very right for the Xbox 360's audience. There's a real sense of cohesive design and polish at play here, something that we feel is missing from ports of PC titles. This is truly a console RTS, rather than a rethink on an existing title and that shines through in the intelligent interface, the interesting campaign and the multiplayer and co-op friendly gameplay. There are a few gripes that we have – a lack of auto-creation for topping up your ground support is a bummer – and there isn't quite the breadth of content on offer here that you'd find in a fully fledged PC strategy title (map maker, please!). That said, and it's almost painful to admit this, but we had more fun playing through Halo Wars than Halo 3 - and that says a lot.

Rating	Description
out of 10
9.0	Presentation Thoughtful interfaces and small touches like an auto-lock-on camera, good maps and sensible menus. Excellent overall presentation.
9.0	Graphics A very pretty engine that renders a lot of action, great effects and techniques, while keeping the framerate locked down. The quality definitely drops back when the camera zooms in though.
8.5	Sound A lovely orchestral score and some of the most precise environmental positioning effects out there. The battlefield is an aural delight. Voice-acting makes the most of a cornball script at times.
9.0	Gameplay Not the most original gameplay - but hot damn, it makes RTS fun again. The modes are thoughful, if a little light on options, but game-modifying Skulls add variety.
8.5	Lasting Appeal The single player's 15 missions are a lot of fun, but the multiplayer modes are where the longevity is. Bring on the DLC!
9.0 Outstanding	OVERALL (out of 10 / not an average)