FeedHalo Wars and the Case of a Console RTS
by Peter on Feb.12, 2009, under Consoles, Opinions, Preview, xbox 360
The real time strategy (RTS) genre has been popular on the PC for ages now, hell, it’s even a sport. When Halo Wars was first announced you got the general consensus from people that it’s going to fail horribly because it’s an RTS without the use of a keyboard and mouse. However, is that the case? Can it be possible for a genre almost extremely exclusive on the PC to be done well on a console? I went to find out when I downloaded the demo for Halo Wars.
Most people remember the monstrosity of StarCraft 64, I remember renting it for my Nintendo 64, and I remember loving the game for being StarCraft but hating how it was done. If you have never paid StarCraft 64 let me tell you this: Don’t. The consoles are a huge deal in RTS games. StarCraft 64 takes good controls and decides add a nice layer of shit upon it. This isn’t about SC 64 though, so let’s get to Halo.
The first thing I noticed about the demo is that the graphics are very well done, and the cutscenes are amazing. This time around we have more story from the Halo world, and we get a better sense of what was going on in the war between the Covenant and the Humans. Story is a major part of an RTS, and from what I’ve taken so far from Halo Wars, it’s not going to be on the short side of the plot stick.
Who cares about graphics and plot though, it’s all about the controls. Here is where the Halo Wars does fairly well! I was expecting to be fumbling with my controller to get simple tasks complete and I was very surprised. Though playing with a mouse and keyboard is infinitely better then a 360 controller, the controls work for the game.
The game itself, well here is where we reach a bit of a bump in the road. See because Halo Wars was built from the ground up for the Xbox 360, you have a more dumbed down RTS experience. Building bases is limited to where it lets you, resources are automated and limited only by how my supply pads you have. The battles feel more battle then strategy, but all and all the demo is actually fun, and that my friends is what it boils down to (for myself anyways).
So final impressions? Halo Wars will be a positive step in console RTS games, I could go as far as to say even some “hardcore” RTS players will grow to like it. It’s only a shame that it may do worse than Halo 3 because the fanbase seems to not have the patience required for an RTS game, then again, that Mythic map pack comes a month early with it. You never know.
February 13th, 2009 on 2:28 am
I agree mostly with you on this. I’m a big RTS fan, and I was pleasantly surprised by the game. The controls are usable, not excellent, but they get the job done, the sides are unique with separate playstyles, and it can be fairly fun. The only issue I have with it is the lack of choices. The game seems to follow a fairly linear path every time, and many of the units are never worth thinking about. I found Halo wars to be a dumbed down RTS that could open the way for other companies to start making console RTSs. Its a good start, but not a good game.
February 13th, 2009 on 4:37 am
starcraft 64 was a great game, splitscreen multiplayer ftw
February 13th, 2009 on 6:53 pm
While you have to appreciate the “fun” factor that the game brings, it only goes so far. Halo Wars has no economy, no micro, no macro, no gathering, no base placement and no sense of threat or competition. While it may be fun, the game, not unlike Halo, is just a name. It does a few things right to the point where people will forget all the great games that came before it.