Halo Wars

Halo Wars – “it makes it seem as though you’re orchestrating a galactic scaled war.”

Over the course of the last decade, Bungie Studios has continuously and restlessly refined their success with the Halo series on the Xbox consoles and the continuation of this success is inevitable in the years to come. This time round however, Ensemble Studios, a non-Bungie development studio has been dealt the hand to expand the series even further – thus the dawn of ‘Halo Wars’.

The epic Halo saga follows the human united military UNSC (United Nations Space Command) and the UEG (Unified Earth Government) in a galactic scale battle against the alien Covenant race to ensure the survival of humanity. Halo Wars is a real-time strategy set twenty years prior to first instalment of the Halo series [Halo: Combat Evolved] acting a prequel which delves into the mysteries of the Halo universe even further. This prequel answers some of the questions (which plagued the minds of Halo fans) in a manner that will certainly guarantee satisfaction. Ensemble Studios developed Halo Wars in an attempt to bring Halo shooter fans to play an RTS game (real-time strategy) and experienced RTS players to play the other Halo games through innovative gameplay and an enigmatic storyline.

There is more than what meets the eye with Halo Wars, or the Halo Universe as a whole. Although it may seem like your ‘typical hero saves everyone from endangered-galaxy’ story, the defining characters and the never-tiring story twists add plenty of depth and weight to the game. A story which keeps players playing until the end and wanting for more never fails to appease dedicated fans and story-hungry players.

Above all else, Ensemble Studios and Halo Wars should be credited for their unflagging devotion to retaining the Halo atmosphere and ‘feel’. The in game moments is very Halo-esque, the interface is undoubtedly Halo styled, even the easy, normal, heroic and legendary difficulties are present with the icons to represent them. With the hidden skull system also implemented for that extra touch of Halo, you can turn grunt massacres into a giant confetti birthday party for every grunt killed – such satisfaction. :)

Regardless, whilst Halo Wars retains its Halo origins, Ensemble have injected their own dosage of uniqueness and comical touch such as a scrolling caption on the bottom of the menus displaying insignificant facts and other humorous notes such as: “The Brute Chieftain likes Thornbeast for dinner, but it better be rare.”

The initial reception was poor when Halo Wars was officially unveiled on September 27th 2006, as is every other console RTS game. The gameplay for most console strategy games are counterparts of their PC versions, therefore design problems arise as precise controls with the mouse and keyboard are crammed and shoehorned into a console controller with limited buttons and slow interaction. The Ensemble developers however have built Halo Wars from scratch and the controls and interaction with the game reflects that. Simple D-pad and control stick system allows players to fluently and easily interact with everything going on at once, a cleverly devised system to increase playing experience and making most of the Xbox 360 controller.

Nothing is more satisfying in an RTS than planning a battle strategy to wipe out the enemy in one. Whether you brutally overwhelm the enemy in sheer numbers and power or strategically create a diversion on the enemy forces with aircrafts, then flanking them with waves of infantry and vehicles whilst dropping ODST marine pods behind enemy lines as reinforcements destroying the enemy with wit and intellect. Halo Wars allows all this possibility with a responsive yet simplistic system utilising individual buttons, bumpers, triggers to perform specific commands whilst the control sticks and D-pad control the navigation. Ensemble have evidently created a successful formula a console RTS.

Any RTS game is more about the multiplayer than all else and likewise, Halo wouldn’t be Halo if it weren’t for its multiplayer and Ensemble made sure they didn’t miss that out either. The matchmaking system similar to Bungies own for Halo 3 works efficiently and painlessly but thankfully with far fewer bells and whistles. Equivalent skilled opponents are then found via TrueSkill which has replaced Halo 3’s complex ranking system. The three vs three option allow team play expanding the strategic possibilities even further, launching a mass scaled war across deserted plains.

The extent of intricacy in the detail which Ensemble has gone into is truly gratifying; on the battlefield and during the CGI cut scenes. The particle effects and damage modelling are incredibly satisfying to watch and at the same time, it never gets tiring seeing those carefully detailed marines running along side a proud scar-ridden veteran Scorpion tank as they plough through enemy defences whilst aircraft support sweep low through the air evading the anti-air turret missiles – you can picture it can’t you? The exotic and lush graphics in game and out is irrevocably appetising for all players, it actually makes it seem as though you’re orchestrating a galactic scaled war.

With all the superb graphics, in depth gameplay and joyous multiplayer, Ensemble has certainly done a good job in creating an accessible, newcomer-friendly console platform RTS game. Of course, in comparison to other RTS games on the market, Halo Wars falls short in almost everyway but nevertheless, compared to other RTS on the 360 market, it is leagues above its competition.

Overall, Halo Wars is finely polished combining epic battles, aciculate yet voluptuous in-game graphics, gorgeous cinematic cut scenes and a compelling mind-twisting storyline – it is by far the best real-time strategy game out for the consoles.

Ray aka b0o

gamerbase manchester team

www.gamerbase.com

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