Halo: Spartan Strike: Difference between revisions

As with ''Spartan Assault'', ''Spartan Strike''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s campaign employs the [[UNSC Tactical Simulator]] as a fictional framing device. The story is set in two primary points in the [[Halo universe|''Halo'' universe]] timeline, beginning during the [[Battle of Mombasa|events]] of ''[[Halo 2]]'' in [[New Mombasa]] in the year [[2552]]. The narrative centers around a [[Forerunner]] artifact known as the [[Conduit]] and the struggle between the [[UNSC]] and the [[Covenant]] for control of the relic. The player controls a [[SPARTAN-IV program|SPARTAN-IV]]<ref name="Waypoint"/> under the command of [[Kwon|Lieutenant Kwon]]. After the first operation set in New Mombasa,<ref group="note">It should be noted that the game itself involves a SPARTAN-IV (the player) participating in a tactical simulation of the Battle of Mombasa. As stated in the game's introduction, the Spartan replaces an ODST squad that was historically present in the battle for the purposes of the simulation. Canonically, a SPARTAN-IV could not have participated in the ''actual'' Battle of Mombasa, as the SPARTAN-IV program only came into fruition ''after'' the Human-Covenant War.</ref> the narrative jumps five years forward to the year [[2557]]. The Spartan is deployed onto [[Installation 03|Gamma Halo]] to reacquire the Conduit from the [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant faction|Covenant forces]] who have taken the artifact to a Forerunner site they refer to as the [[Altar]]. After the player is successful, they must deliver the Conduit to an [[ONI]] facility in [[New Phoenix]] on [[Earth]] in hopes of using the artifact to close a [[slipspace portal]] that has unleashed a [[Promethean]] invasion upon the city.<ref name="IGN"/>

''Spartan Strike'' begins in [[2557]], with the {{UNSCShip|Infinity}}'s [[AI]] [[Roland]] informing to a unnamed SPARTAN-IV the Office of Naval Intelligence has give the Spartan access to a highly-classified combat simulation of the Battle of Mombasa in 2552. Using a UNSC Tactical Simulator, Roland reveals that the Spartan will simulate the actions of an ODST squad sent to secure a Forerunner artifact called the Conduit. In the simulation, the ODST squad is replaced by a lone Spartan clad in War Master armor.<ref name="youtube"/>

[[File:SpartanStrike - KestrelvsGhost.png|thumb|left|250px|A [[Kestrel]] versus a [[Type-32 Ghost|Ghost]].]]

''Halo: Spartan Strike'' includes a number of refinements to the gameplay and graphics of ''Spartan Assault'', including improved controls and having the player's "virtual thumbsticks" as visible circles on the screen. [[Grenade]] throwing has been made more precise and new [[armor abilities]] will be included. The game sandbox has also been expanded with the inclusion of the [[Promethean]] enemy units and weapons, as well as new vehicles including the [[M12 Warthog LRV|Warthog]] (which was unusable in ''Spartan Assault'') and the [[Kestrel]], inspired by a vehicle cut during the development of ''Halo 2''.<ref name="IGN"/><ref name="Waypoint"/>

The missions and the campaign overall will be longer, the latter totaling at four to five hours whereas ''Spartan Assault''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s campaign was estimated to be three to four hours in comparison. The difficulty will increase progressively throughout the campaign more prominently than in ''Spartan Assault''. Like the original version of its predecessor, ''Spartan Strike'' will feature no multiplayer mode.<ref name="IGN"/> The game will have linked leaderboards and weekly challenges.<ref name="Waypoint"/>

The game will feature in-game credits which can be used to purchase weapons and equipment, although the microtransactions featured in ''Spartan Assault'' have been omitted; credits will be earned only through gameplay, although three [[List of Achievements for Halo: The Master Chief Collection|Achievements]] in ''[[Halo: The Master Chief Collection]]'' will award the player a number of extra credits. Playing ''Spartan Strike'' will also unlock exclusive multiplayer content for ''The Master Chief Collection'', including an in-game nameplate, emblem and avatar.<ref name="IGN"/>