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Halo Wars: A Closer Look

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Steve Wysowski from XboxFocus.com writes:

"Ever since the game's announcement at X06, Halo Wars has had a large amount of hype surround it (after all, it has the word "Halo" in its title). If you look at 2008's lineup, Halo Wars is undoubtedly this year's most desired real-time strategy game, despite of the lack of information or media shown to us. This is the first time that the Halo franchise has gone into a genre that wasn't a first-person shooter, and because of that, there are some lofty expectations for this game.

But Halo Wars is emitting a rather "standard" feeling for me thus far. There doesn't seem to be any groundbreaking features that would separate the game from the rest of the console-RTS games, and we all know that those games aren't that great to begin with. There is a lot to work with from the Halo franchise, but from what I've seen, it doesn't look like Ensemble Studios is using all of it in the best of ways."
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xboxfocus.com
FlyWestbrook - contributor
Published: 597 days 7 hours ago | Article | Xbox 360
 
 

Showing: 1 - 22 of 22 Comments
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rm249 - 597 days 8 hours ago
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1 -
looks cool
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Venomous Fire - 597 days 8 hours ago
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2 -
I really hope this game turns out good, most RTS dont fare well on consoles
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tplarkin7 - 596 days 23 hours ago
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2.1 - True, but it's Halo.
The Halo universe is deep and many Halo fans will want more. When we see video clips of large scale battles between the USNC and the Covenant, people will get excited.
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n00bFRAGGER - 597 days 8 hours ago
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3 - Hmm
Interesting column. I don't expect this to be the best in the RTS genre either but I'll probably buy it anyways.
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Breakfast - 597 days 8 hours ago
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4 -
"Halo Wars has had a large amount of hype surround it"

Nope...if im not hyping a Halo game...than no one is. Im not expecting that much from this game. Im only gonna play it for the bit of story im gonna get out of it.

Who knows though...maybe they'll prove me wrong.
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Hatchetforce - 597 days 5 hours ago
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4.1 -
In some ways I hope the Spartans are not introduced. At least not early on. I want them to take their time with the early encounter period and not rush in. There could be a very long running series here. The gameplay they have demonstrated thus far looks phenominal and likely to do a great deal for the console strategy genre as well.
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The realness - 596 days 14 hours ago
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4.2 -
I agree. I love halo but i hate RTS games.i think a fast-paced tactical shooter(not unlike rainbow six:vegas) focusing on the unsc marines would have been more fun.Only you get to use vehicles.But that aint halo wars so.....ill pass.
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bomberman447 - 597 days 8 hours ago
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5 -
I have been looking forward to this game, being a halo game and all, but i feel many of the same sentiments that the author feels. There is not much room for innovation anymore in RTS but i am still figuring it will be a very fun game.
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pwnsause - 597 days 7 hours ago
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5.1 -
how about endwar? thats bringing innovation in some form, the fact that i can control my units via talking on the microphone is pretty innovative
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charliepage - 597 days 7 hours ago
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6 - halo wars
EndWar and Halo Wars are the RTS's I can't wait to come out, both are looking really great.
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7 Fux4Bux | 597 days 7 hours ago - User only got 1 bubble - Show
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power of Green - 597 days 5 hours ago
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7.1 -
Why is it going to suck hard?, reasons please!. You don't like RTS games? or is it because of the name and platfrom?.

Like what #7.2 said, what he said is universal for all games, so far what they've shown is ACE; you would know that if you had XBL and DL-ed the VID-DOC.

LOL at the tone of this news post, no one knows enough to assume its basic all they've shown was a CGI trailer and some gameplay showing that the game stays true to the franchise and a little RTS machanics specific to Halo's vision.

We'll know more as soon as they finish the multi player build of a demo they wan't to show with the single player at the same time.
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GutZ31 - 597 days 5 hours ago
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7.2 -
I have no idea what this is going to be like, so I can not pass judgment on this game yet.

It is a cool concept, we just have to wait and see if it goes beyond the concept stage, and still captivate the people who are willing to play it.

I'm not a Halo fan, and I am FAR from a RTS fan. But for some one to say a game sucks before there is even any real evidence is as childish as it gets.

Open zone is over there---->
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Tony Scarboni - 597 days 6 hours ago
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8 -
Really though, I don't understand all the excitement over this game, its just a RTS clone. They've been making these for a while now. These games are a dime a dozen, the only value I could see this game having is if someone is really that interested in the Halo universe.
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power of Green - 597 days 5 hours ago
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8.1 -
Not following you, every game is *just another clone?* I'm sure the RTS fans will dig it and Halo fans too. Its not an RTS clone" its a RTS title finally realized the way Halo was originally planned by the devs in the first place.
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Charlie2688 - 597 days 6 hours ago
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9 -
I am still undecided on this game, in one side I am not sure about he whole Halo RTS and the unhealthy obsession on mentioning of "console focused RTS" by the devs...in the other side its being made by Ensemble Studios of the legendary Age of Empires series so its almost guaranteed the game will at least be "good" and since Ensemble is yet to disappoint me with an RTS (well maybe a little with AOE3) I am confident that they will do a job that is very likely I will enjoy

oh boy its a tuff one @.@
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pwnsause - 597 days 6 hours ago
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9.1 -
i just want to see if they can actually get the controls right on a console, since this is being built on a console instead of the PC, maybe they can figure out what the actual problem is on making a Console RTS being ported from the PC. the RTS is the reason why I still game on my PC (other than Steam/Valve games). other than that, if they can get those controls right, i hope they share their knowledge on other devs on showing them how to get those controls right.

MY opinion, I believe the reason why the RTS is difficult to play on the console is because since all of the RTS games are ported from the PC to the console, the controls for the PC version of RTS games also get ported, they dont get left behind, and as we all know those controls are Mouse/Keyboard controls, you cant squeeze all those buttons to a 14 button gamepad. Now making it on the console first, then thats another story. Endwar is an example of this, they are building the game for 2 consoles that uses the gamepad, but instead of the gamepad, they want to put you in control with the Microphone, but i believe the controls on the gamepad get simplyfied if the RTS was built on the console first. i hope you guys understand what im saying
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The Lazy One - 597 days 5 hours ago
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10 - It's not about controls
It's about scope. It's changing the scope of the genre. PC RTS's seem to be stuck in similar scopes. Large scale resource management games.

Halo wars is supposed to be challenging that concept, and in that sense altering the way a game is controlled. It's not about amassing a large army to sweep across a map, or building the most buildings.

It's more likened to Full Spectrum Warrior in concept. Using combat strategy to influence the outcome of a battle rather than resource gathering and use strategy to influence which units you put into a battle, which decides the outcome.
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FCOLitsjustagame - 597 days 2 hours ago
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11 -
I dont expect this to be the uber game of the year or anything but as long as its good and not bad then I think its a success. The gave variety we can get on the consoles the better and this console cycle has been rich on good RTS and RPGs so far. Keep them coming!
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tplarkin7 - 596 days 23 hours ago
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12 - The article seemed like a "hit piece".
He didn't like the graphics? It looks like a sky view of Halo 3. The detail is impressive considering the large number of units.

He then talks about bad controls which haven't been disclosed to the public.
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Funky Town_TX - 596 days 21 hours ago
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13 - KB and mouse
I can't play a rts with a controller. I need to play a demo first if it will not have KB and mouse for the gameplay.
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DoomHammer - 596 days 13 hours ago
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14 - wow
so even you guys are forgetting star craft 2 is coming out.

damn, maybe it truely will never be a sport.

halo wars might not be bad...but to say
"Halo Wars is undoubtedly this year's most desired real-time strategy game"

is totally wrong....
like one of you said endwar looks bad ass in comparison to bungies attempt at an rts.

and... like i already said. SC2.. will be, probably the greatest rts and stand so for the next few years.
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