The Halo franchise has long been a cornerstone of the gaming world, known for its epic first-person shooter battles and gripping narrative. But in 2017, the series took a bold step into a new genre with “Halo Wars 2” on the Xbox One. This real-time strategy game brought the Halo universe to a whole new level, allowing players to command armies and wage epic battles on a grand scale. In this review, we’ll explore both the good and the bad aspects of Halo Wars 2, to help you decide if it’s a game worth adding to your collection.
The Good
- Immersive Storytelling: One of the standout features of Halo Wars 2 is its compelling and immersive storytelling. The game’s campaign mode offers a rich narrative that fits seamlessly into the larger Halo universe. The cutscenes are visually stunning, and the voice acting is top-notch, making players feel like they’re part of an epic space opera.
- Strategic Depth: As a real-time strategy game, Halo Wars 2 offers a refreshing change of pace from the traditional first-person shooter gameplay of the series. It challenges players to think strategically, manage resources, and make tactical decisions in the heat of battle. The variety of units, abilities, and leaders to choose from adds depth to the gameplay, ensuring that no two matches are the same.
- Impressive Visuals: Halo Wars 2 boasts impressive graphics, bringing the Halo universe to life in stunning detail. The environments are beautifully crafted, and the character models are well-designed. The game runs smoothly on the Xbox One, with minimal frame rate drops even during intense battles.
- Multiplayer and Cooperative Play: The game offers a variety of multiplayer modes, including traditional skirmishes and cooperative play. Playing with friends or against others online adds a layer of competitiveness and fun, making the game highly replayable.
The Bad
- Steep Learning Curve: While Halo Wars 2’s strategic depth is a plus, it can also be a drawback for newcomers to the real-time strategy genre. The game’s learning curve is quite steep, and new players may find themselves overwhelmed by the sheer amount of information and strategies to grasp.
- Limited Innovation: While the game is a solid entry in the real-time strategy genre, it doesn’t introduce many groundbreaking innovations. Some players might have hoped for more unique features or gameplay mechanics to set it apart from other titles in the genre.
- Microtransactions: Halo Wars 2 features microtransactions, allowing players to purchase card packs that contain units and abilities for the game’s multiplayer mode. While this doesn’t impact the single-player experience, it can be a divisive element for those who prefer a purely skill-based multiplayer experience.
Conclusion
Halo Wars 2 on Xbox One is a worthy addition to the Halo franchise, offering a compelling narrative, deep strategic gameplay, and impressive visuals that will appeal to fans of both the series and the real-time strategy genre. While it has a few shortcomings, such as a steep learning curve and microtransactions, these issues don’t significantly detract from the overall experience. If you’re a Halo fan looking for a new way to experience the universe or a strategy gamer seeking a fresh challenge, Halo Wars 2 is well worth a try. It successfully brings the iconic Halo universe into the realm of real-time strategy, and that alone is an achievement worth celebrating.
The Review
Apple macOS Sierra
A wonderful serenity has taken possession of my entire soul, like these sweet mornings of spring which I enjoy with my whole heart. I am alone, and feel the charm of existence in this spot, which was created for the bliss of souls like mine. Gregor then turned to look out the window at the dull weather. Drops of rain could be heard hitting the pane, which made him feel quite sad.
PROS
- Good low light camera
- Water resistant
- Double the internal capacity
CONS
- Lacks clear upgrades
- Same design used for last three phones
- Battery life unimpressive