Kotaku had a great article go up today containing first impressions and other valuable insight from someone who had the opportunity to spend a few hours with the latest beta build of Halo Wars. As a non-RTS player who remains on the fence about this particular title, I found her insight to be a valuable look into the upcoming game. Check out the most recent batch of released screenshots after the jump and if you find your interest piqued, head on over to AJ Glasser’s article for her complete write-up.
What worries me is that RTS fans and Halo fans both will be so turned off by the very idea of a Halo RTS that they won’t even give the game a chance. RTS gamers will complain because of the lack of resource competition: “It’s too easy,” I can hear them whine. Meanwhile, the Halo hardcore fans will cry, “No Master Chief? Wtf?!” But there is something in Halo Wars for both; the skulls represent that idea. In campaign mode, there are certain optional objectives you can complete to earn a skull (e.g. “Kill 45 Hunters”). The skull will appear at some point on the map that you’ve got to fight to in order to obtain it – adding a whole degree of difficulty to combat. Once you get the skull, you can access it in a menu (either in the campaign or in skirmish mode) and activate it to trigger a special effect. The two that I got my hands on made Grunts burst into confetti when killed (Party Skull) and upped the visual effect of explosions so everything appeared to go up in fiery spouts whenever it blew up (Cowbell Skull).
Posted by PikminGod on November 17, 2008 at 3:27 pm
Really? Skulls? well i guess thats ok, but they don’t have to completely rip off Halo just to make money, i am a HUGE halo fan, but i would rather have a good RTS with a couple halo elements than a good Halo game with some rts elements,
Posted by Vash on November 17, 2008 at 3:54 pm
The article made me very excited.
I’ve never really played an RTS, but seems pretty fun. It’s the story thats got me most interested though.
And Pikmin, how can you say a Halo game is ripping off Halo?
Posted by Scotty on November 17, 2008 at 4:01 pm
It’s so pretty!!! I can’t get over the colors! I’m kinda excited!
Posted by SonofMacPhisto on November 17, 2008 at 4:47 pm
@ Scotty
Yeah, this game looks great! I always liked how crazy the colors got in the Halo Universe.
Posted by Das Kalk on November 17, 2008 at 5:59 pm
This is a perfect example of how ensemble seems to be doing their own unique thing with the Halo universe, while still pleasing the fans. This looks so cool, and will likely be the first RTS I ever buy.
Posted by Kensai on November 17, 2008 at 6:07 pm
I’m an old RTS fanatic from back in the day (Starcraft, shareware 1996). The lack of resouce management is really going to deter hardcore RTS fans. Those with awesome micro managing skills are going to reign supreme though. Should be a fun casual game, I don’t expect a huge following. Glad to see the skulls make a return, I imagine this will be a fairly challenging game for achievement whores… aka myself. Luckily the mythic map pack is attached, might end being a half decent game that will suprise a few who picked up the game for that sole reason, a-la Crackdown.
Cheers,
Kensai
http://www.405th.com
Posted by MasqueNoMercy on November 17, 2008 at 6:10 pm
I used to play red alert 2 all the time… until i got into modding the game and broke it… woops…
but those games can make you feel so satisfied when you win a big battle… and also really depressed when you get hammered… and really upset when you are in position to mount and unheard of comeback… then your connection times out :-(
I like the halo story too so hopefully this game will work out well in the end
Posted by Fezzer on November 17, 2008 at 6:38 pm
So pretty. I’m liking the new screenies.
Posted by the Light Show on November 17, 2008 at 10:10 pm
I’m definitely looking forward for this game. Im not an RTS player by any means, but i’ll play for the simple fact that we get more into the story of our Halo universe. It’ll be something new and fresh. =D
Posted by Cozmo23 on November 17, 2008 at 11:20 pm
This is number 1 on my watch list, I was a crazy RTS player from Starcraft to Ensembles other big hit Age of Empires. Hopefully these resource problems arent that bad because thats a big hit to strategy if you dont have to work at all to control resources. Im crazy excited about this, but dont know that I would waste a lot of units to try to get a skull that doesnt help me. :)
Posted by Skibur on November 18, 2008 at 11:27 am
I want this more than Halo 3 Recon.
I have been looking forward to this game since the day it was announced.
I can’t wait!
Posted by BerserkerBarage on November 18, 2008 at 1:13 pm
When Halo Wars was first announced I was curious as to how resources would go. I mean, I’m a Dune 2 player where fighting over spice fields *was* the game and destroying the other teams base was secondary. No spice harvester = might as well surrender.
I don’t think Ensemble is trying to just market to the hardcore RTS fans though. I think they are actually trying to hit a market that sorta crosses over. Which could be very easy to do when you slap the name “Halo” on something.
It’s sad to say but console games aren’t going to be as challenging as their PC counterparts. It’s the same when comparing CivRev to Civ4 or Civ2 for that matter. But that doesn’t stop CivRev from being a good game, and a game that I dumped a tons of hours into. Ideally you can make the game as hard or as easy as you want. Maybe there will be a skull that greatly limits your resources. Sure you can beat your opponent when you can through ass-tons of Rhinos/Scorpions/etc. at them but how about when you have only a few units to control.
While I certainly don’t see it as being as challenging as Myth, I’m still interested in how the game turns out. I plan on renting it and seeing if my fiancee likes it. If she does, I’m sure we’ll by it.
Atreides FTW!!
~B.B.