Spartan 117:
Can you use USB drives and alternate hard drives as memory units? The Xbox ones are pricey... ...
OXM SAYS:
An Xbox 360 won't recognize a USB flash drive or another external hard drive as a memory unit, so you can't save...MORE![]()
Posted on: Mar 03, 2009
Halo Wars
WORDS BY: Ryan McCaffrey
On that note, what about the gameplay itself? While it’s not nearly as deep as some of the established RTS franchises that have made it to the 360 (like Command & Conquer, Battle for Middle-Earth, and Supreme Commander), it is meatier than some of the lighter fare such as Civilization Revolution and EndWar. It walks a comfortable middle ground that probably gets as hardcore as it can without scaring off its intended audience — the Halo fan who’s never played an RTS before.

Like Combat Evolved before it, all of the gameplay in Halo Wars is driven by an impeccable control scheme that simplifies the experience while still empowering you to enjoy it without compromises. The A button selects a unit, X commands it to move or attack, and Y orders the unit’s secondary ability, which recharges on a cool-down timer. (For instance, the Warthog can ram targets and the Spartans can board enemy vehicles and claim them for your team.) You’ll also use the bumper buttons a lot: LB selects all of your units, while RB locks onto all of the ones currently onscreen. Unit/ structure creation is handled with a left stick – driven wheel that appears when you press A on a building. It’s that simple.

This solid foundation allows the “30 minutes of fun” merry-go-round to begin. With most of the campaign’s 15 missions lasting between 20 and 60 minutes each, Halo Wars’ levels are chock full of highlights, although some are guilty of feeling like they should simply be phase one of a longer stage. The basic tutorial does an admirable job of getting you comfortable with the control scheme while not dragging on for too long, and the first few chapters are rather simple (probably by design). Come mission 04, however, the fun and the challenge ramp up considerably.

It’s in this stage where, as you pursue the Covenant to the vacation planet of Arcadia, the Purple People Eaters reinforce their complete disregard for innocent civilians. It’s up to you to escort as many of them as possible from the subway exit at one end of the map to one of three evac ships on the opposite side…while trying to keep the Covenant from killing people and destroying the ships…and all in a 20-minute timeframe. Cue the cold sweat.








Tue, 10/20/2009 - 03:21
Posted by mindspring
played it... meh... Its a very standard RTS... From what i found very poor AI as well; it would have been a bit more acceptable if released after C&C 2 but this day players to do less babysitting on dumb ai...

Sat, 10/17/2009 - 20:56
Posted by wickland
This game is insane! I've been waiting for it for a long long time!

Mon, 10/05/2009 - 14:06
Posted by jpstevenson
Man! This games kicks some serious A*S! I have never been so addicted to a game before...Nice videos and graphics really kept me playing!





Sat, 08/29/2009 - 11:13
Posted by juicerx
Thanks for sharing this information. I found it very informative as I have been researching a lot lately on practical matters such as you talk about...


Mon, 07/27/2009 - 07:17
Posted by gameguruu
my faforit best game :-)
Sun, 04/26/2009 - 00:42
Posted by zombo09
I got bored playing the demo. But i did like how you can build up your base quickly with this game. I don't think I'll buy this game but i will for sure likely rent it.

Tue, 04/21/2009 - 00:15
Posted by Bobafettboy
This game is the same as each and every other strategy game, and brings nothing new to anything! Holy shit those voices are already annoying after the first half hour of gameplay!
But for a game that I picked up for 15 bucks at a local pawnshop, and sold for 45 bucks on E-BAY, it was pretty much fun to play for two weeks.
Fri, 04/10/2009 - 15:55
Posted by GRUNTSMASHER
I don't have the game but I see that the graphics are incredible and hear the gameplay is awesome. GO EARTH!!!!!!!!
Sat, 03/14/2009 - 06:41
Posted by skulllord129
I'd like to appolagize for my previous post. I just realized it wasn't you guys who did that vid.
Fri, 03/13/2009 - 08:18
Posted by skulllord129
I totally agree with Nate66613. The release of that vid pretty much screwed up the whole game. I mean, rushing is a strategy that ppl use but when you guys released that vid it made it so that now almost EVERYONE uses it. Its extremely annoying and I have difficulty trying to counter it, especially when both teams do it. I sure hope that defense vid you are working on gets released very soon and I hope its pretty damn good because if it not then congratualtions... You just ruined a game for thousands.
Thu, 03/12/2009 - 18:31
Posted by ThunderChief66
hey, It is possible to stop the rush you know...
Thu, 03/12/2009 - 16:51
Posted by Nate66613
I would like to say FUCK YOU to the faggots that released the UNSC and Covenant rush techniques. You have succesfully ruined the game because now thats all people do. Why the fuck didnt you release the defense techniques first? Again, FUCK YOU OXM! EAT A FUCKING DICK COCK SUCKERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thu, 03/12/2009 - 16:35
Posted by Spybreak
Yea I think they just wanted to see if it would work first before they put in all their time and effort to get Cov and Flood campaigns. It would be nice to see these or new multiplayer modes, (like CTF or something new like Assault/Defend, Gold Rush or something like that) as DLC but with the closing of Ensemble I don't think this is going to happen. I'm guessing the only DLC that will come out for Halo Wars will be map packs. >< Love the game and you didn't even mention the automatic dif feature which is a dynamic difficulty setting that always changes whenever you play the AI and win or loose.

Wed, 03/11/2009 - 08:33
Posted by Halo...IEP
I loved the demo. Bought the game, and love it more! The campaign is addictive. The multiplayer is very fun. Skirmish mode is great(possibly my favorite part). I've played 1v1, 2v2, and 3v3 with both AI and human players via xbox live. All worth your time.
The cutscenes are very impressive too.
My knocks on the game are: traffic jams with your units in certain spaces, the lack of a split-screen multiplayer, no campaign mode for the flood or cov., and no flood mode for multiplayer.
I think they felt like they needed to make a particular deadline, and put in what they could. It could've easily been a 9.5 or 10 with a little more work. I do not have a problem with the review score.
ScreamngSilence
Sun, 03/08/2009 - 14:46
Posted by Frostbite9294
Civilization Revolution is indeed a TBS (Turn Based Strategy) game, and in no way an RTS. It is rather shocking that someone who is considered a professional video game reviewer would not know this.
OXM will, on occasion, have spot-on reviews, however as of late they seem to be inflating the scores of Xbox exclusive games, such as Gears of War 2 and Fable 2, and lowering multi-platform release games, such as Dead Space. Dead Space, in my mind, was one of the best new IPs in recent memory, with a captivating environment, fun gameplay and an overall enjoyable experience.
Back from the tangent, while Halo Wars does seem to be a successful console RTS, its' console accessibility seems to have come at the cost of features, leaving a stripped down strategy game that seems to leave an easy, repetitive experience, with the exception of an entertaining multiplayer.
As such I believe that a game that should be a 7.5 or 8 has been pushed up to a 9- due to what I believe is a bias for Microsoft published games by a company that is endorsed by none other than Microsoft.
I continue to read and enjoy many OXM reviews, that's just my two cents.
Wed, 03/04/2009 - 14:37
Posted by LIG GUNNER
I agree with insomniak 100%. Civ Rev is most definitely a turn based strategy. At no point is it real-time. And I would know, I played it extensively. You could only move a certain number of 'spaces' per turn, whereas in RTS's, it is REAL-TIME. Live action. I would've figured a gaming magazine would know that. But no worries, still love you guys.
P.S.- One thing I love about OXM is they seem to give games scores based on how fun it is versus the technical aspects like many others judge by. I don't care how great the voice acting is in a RTS. I care about FUN!
Tue, 03/03/2009 - 20:28
Posted by Cronos501
Yeah,yeah but WTF are the rock band and guitar hero DLC Reviews
Tue, 03/03/2009 - 18:43
Posted by insomniak
Civilization Revolutions is not an RTS it is a TBS.
Most definately buying this game I love the demo. I love RTS but they dont usually transfer well to console but this game definately works.
Tue, 03/03/2009 - 17:32
Posted by xpects the xpctd
I haved played the demo dry and I'm getting this from Gamefly hopefully tomorrow. I can't wait to try the full campaign and multiplayer, and if it's anything like the demo, I could just be making this just the second RTS game in my collection (EndWar).
Tue, 03/03/2009 - 15:30
Posted by Hustlinonradio
i really think its a good game but not the best RTS on the 360. I think that belongs to civilization revolution
Tue, 03/03/2009 - 12:58
Posted by thedude8591
I got bored playing the demo. But i did like how you can build up your base quickly with this game. I don't think I'll buy this game but i will for sure likely rent it.