Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2795 in Computer & Video Games
• Brand: Microsoft
• Released on: 2009-02-27
• Platform: Xbox 360
• Format: Unknown format

Manufacturer's Description
Overview: "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.

Created from the ground up for the Xbox 360 console and controller, "Halo Wars" is being developed by the veteran real-time strategy developer Ensemble Studios, the team responsible for the best-selling and critically acclaimed "Age of Empires" franchise on the PC. "Halo Wars" can be played online through the New Xbox Experience and the single-player campaign. Published by Microsoft Game Studios, "Halo Wars" is an exclusive title for the Xbox 360 video game system.

Customer Reviews

first RTS that masters the console
i got this game on friday havent been able to put it down. controls are easy to use. not over complicated units its like rock paper scissors. bases are limited to 3 build spaces but you can upgrade to 5 and then 7 and can only be built in certain pre determined locations so you dont need to worry about people base walking to your base but there are multiple bases on the map. the campaign is good and an awsome story, ive ran through it on normal without much resistance but i wreckon heroic and legendary will be much harder. co-op campaign was a good surprise, both you and a friend control the same base and have to work together but individual units are controlled by the player that made them although control can be passed to the other player at any time and you must work together as resources and unit limits are shared.

plus comparing this with C&C there is no comparison, HALO WARS wins

If you love Halo and love RTS's
WOW!!! After downloading the demo which is now available from Xbox Live I have played through both tutorials, played the first 2 missions in the campaign and played a few skirmishes on normal and heroic difficulty.
I can't get enough of this game - time just seemed to fly by and then bang - 5 enjoyable hours had passed. Never has an RTS hooked me in like this one and from the beautifully orchestrated main menu music (on par with halo 3's i'd say) to the intuitive controls, to the gorgeously animated halo universe characters/vehicles, i literally cannot wait a few weeks until the release date. Yes, people, the controls really work well. After a few games, i was masterfully controlling my forces. It just worked. I would best describe the gameplay as very similar to battle for middle earth which in my opinion was very well thought out. I absolutely love the FMV cut scenes which add great depth to the halo universe story.
peace

Not the flop that it was predicted to be
Being a big Halo fan, I was always going to be buying this game. After playing the demo, I was impressed by how it worked as an RTS on a console (perfectly) but couldn't help feeling like the demo offered all the game would offer. I did in the end decide to buy it however, and I'm very glad that I did. The truth is, apart from more maps, the campaign and one or two units, the demo does show you everything. But I have honestly never had so much fun on Xbox LIVE ever before. The tension of building up an army and defence and beating your opponent is something which can't be found against AI. In 3v3 games, the battles are huge and wonderful to watch, and looking at the post-game stats can show some shocking figures! The game is very simple as an RTS and I therefore suggest PC gamers avoid unless you don't mind something simpler. The emphasis is on combat, not economy, which I was doubtful about at first, nut it works very well.
The single-player Campaign is fun and varied, if a little frustrating at pounts. The cut-scenes are MIND BLOWING, and set a benchmark in graphics. Playing the AI in skirmishes is indeed fun, but to make this game worth the price-tag, you need a LIVE account.
There are only two factions: The UNSC and the Covenent. However, they play completely differently and require totally different tactics. When supplemented with the differences of the six leaders, you won't feel like you have no variation. You will instantly find a leader that suits you and stick to them.
Basically this game is for any action fan who wants to have a laugh on Xbox LIVE. Halo fans, and gamers in general will enjoy it. Die-Hard RTS fans may want to avoid, or at least be ready for something different. It's an RTS that works well on a console, and it is a hell of a lot of fun.