Halo Wars deftly dodges between the hardcore micromanagement of real-time strategy and the instant gratification expected by Halo fans. Ensemble has nailed console RTS controls, but at the expense of some depth. The campaign missions often seem overly scripted and the experience doesn’t have the wide-open feel of some other RTSs. But the Halo feel is most definitely present, and serves as one of the game’s biggest strengths. The cinematic cutscenes are gorgeous, if the narrative is somewhat thin in places. Overall, Halo Wars is a fresh and expertly polished approach to the console strategy genre, and it’s a fitting goodbye from a beloved studio.
IGN Ratings for Halo Wars (X360)
| Rating | Description | |
|---|---|---|
| out of 10 | ||
| 9.0 | Presentation Ensemble nailed the Halo vibe. Everything is slick and smooth, despite some pathfinding issues with larger vehicles. | |
| 8.5 | Graphics There’s some slowdown at times, especially when a lot of units are present, but the cutscenes are amazing and the environments shine. | |
| 9.0 | Sound The sound effects add serious weight to the experience, and Stephen Rippy’s soundtrack hits just the right note. | |
| 8.0 | Gameplay This isn’t your typical RTS, which may or may not be music to your ears. The missions are very straightforward, which subtracts depth. But there’s a nice tradeoff: The controls are great. | |
| 8.5 | Lasting Appeal The multiple difficulties, hidden skulls and secrets encourage multiple playthroughs. And the solid multiplayer, both online and off, is a ton of fun. Try Legendary if you fancy a challenge. | |
| 8.4 Impressive | OVERALL (out of 10 / not an average) | |
[IGN]
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