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Halo Wars

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Halo Wars is a Real-Time Strategy game based in the Halo universe before the events of Halo CE.

Background

In "Halo Wars", players can command armies of familiar and new UNSC units in its initial encounters against the Covenant, an alien coalition that threatens to obliterate mankind. "Halo Wars" will immerse gamers in an early period of the storied "Halo" universe, allowing them to experience events twenty years prior to the first "Halo" title for Xbox.

With the guidance of Serina, a spirited artificial intelligence (AI) persona, gamers will direct legions of UNSC soldiers, Warthogs and Scorpions against Covenant Grunts, Elites, Ghosts and Scarabs, each group having its own strengths and uses in battle. Strategic-minded players who react well under pressure will emerge victorious.

Created from the ground up for the Xbox 360 console and Controller, "Halo Wars" is being developed by the veteran real-time strategy developer Ensemble Studios, the team responsible for the best-selling and critically acclaimed Age of Empires franchise on the PC. "Halo Wars" can be played online via Xbox LIVE and through the single-player campaign. Published by Microsoft Game Studios, "Halo Wars" is an exclusive title for the Xbox 360 video game system. Despite speculation of a version for the PC, Ensemble and Microsoft have repeatedly stated that no such plans have been made or even considered.

Plot

File:HaloWarsGameplay2.jpg
UNSC and Covenant units clash in-game. Note in particular the apparent Halo in the background.

The game's story is told through in-engine cutscenes and in-game moments, as with the other Halo games. The game is set in 2531.[1] The game focuses around the Marine forces of the UNSC Spirit of Fire as they engage Covenant ground forces after the discovery of an ancient artifact during a journey to the planet Harvest, the first planet to be attacked by the Covenant.[2]

The majority of the campaign will take place in the polar/mountainous regions of the world, allowing Ensemble to "do some great stuff with mountains, snow and ice."[3].

It has been confirmed that the Master Chief will not be in the game, although some characters from the Halo games will make appearances.[4]

Early Plot

File:Mining.jpg
The asteroid that never was...

Originally the storyline was going to feature a Covenant mining asteroid that was located at a Forerunner ore refining machine, this concept tries to show the scale of the Forerunner machinery in place and that it is still operating and going through asteroids (with alterations and now controlled by the Covenant). In the end the mining aspect of the story out was cut out.[5]

Possible Elements

File:Unsc basecamp 1900.jpg
Concept Art released on the 12th of December. Note the large tanks and the building in the distance with a strong resemblance to the Library. Also there's a spartan on the right side of the pelican.

The following are elements that may appear within the game. These have been shown in concept art and pre-rendered trailers for Halo Wars.

It has been confirmed in the February Monthly Update that there will be NO space battles in Halo Wars[6]

File:Halowars-bkg1.jpg
UNSC forces attempting to combat a Scarab.

Game Play Demo

  • At E3 2007, a gameplay demo of Halo Wars was shown. [7]

UNSC

  • Other
    • MAC Cannon Bombardment : Can be used to call in a bombardment from space. Several MAC rounds batter an area, destroying both friend and foe within it.[9]

Covenant

File:Ilmhalowarstheme1SystemBlade.jpg
Concept art for the Elite.
  • Infantry
    • Covenant Elite (confirmed)
  • -Ranger type (as seen in and tagged in a screenshot) (confirmed)
  • -Zealot (seen in demo trailer) (confirmed)
  • -Elite assault armor(seen in screenshot) (unconfirmed)
File:Space Owl.jpg
The Space Owl

Ambient Life

Although only in the conceptual stages at this point, ambient lifeforms may be encountered in the game. They may be found on the battlefield, reacting to the actions of the player's forces (eg. firing a weapon).[12] Examples include the Space Owl, the Harvest Whale, the Artic Beast and Ice Hound.

Trivia

  • There will be Foreunner Structures and Machinery in the game.Cite error: Closing </ref> missing for <ref> tag
  • While there will be an economy mechanic for the game, it may play less of a role in the Campaign missions[13].
  • There will be a unit limit[14].
  • It is possible to play as the Covenant in multiplayer.
  • Halo Wars should perhaps be considered a return to form for the concept of the series, as Halo: Combat Evolved was itself originally a real-time strategy. game.[15]
  • A trailer of this game is on an XBox 360 (middle class) under game videos.
  • The Doritos snack food is holding a sweepstakes where the winner can get a voice role in the game.[16]

Gallery

  • HarvestT-1-.jpg

    A scene from Halo Wars

  • GruntEncounterT-1-.jpg

    Grunts encountered in the game

  • HaloWarsCanyon.jpg

    Covenant and UNSC forces in-game

  • Emag halowarsqa 4 d96d0-1-.jpg

    Trouble coming down the hill. Also, note the Marathon symbol on hill.

  • HaloWarsTanks.jpg

    Scorpions and Warthogs vs Wraiths and Ghosts

  • A titanic clash between dozens of ground and air units (the battle seems to be taking place on a Halo installation)

    A titanic clash between dozens of ground and air units (the battle seems to be taking place on a Halo installation)

  • Concept08 11 1280.jpg

    Concept Art for Forerunner structures.

  • Concept08 10 1280.jpg

    More concept art of Forerunner structures.

Links

Internal

External

Sources

  1. ^ http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=168577
  2. ^ http://uk.gamespot.com/xbox360/strategy/halowars/news.html?sid=6174221
  3. ^ Interview with Lance Hoke
  4. ^ http://games.kikizo.com/news/200709/070_p2.asp
  5. ^ Halo Wars Update: On an Asteroid Far, far away...
  6. ^ [1]
  7. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQty-RgceAc
  8. ^ http://www.halowars.com/news/articles/archive/2008/02/14/Halo-Wars-Monthly-Update-02.14.08.aspx
  9. ^ http://www.shacknews.com/featuredarticle.x?id=446
  10. ^ its lower to the ground, wider and posseses a different gun/canopy.
  11. ^ http://www.halowars.com/news/articles/archive/2008/02/14/Halo-Wars-Monthly-Update-02.14.08.aspx
  12. ^ Halo Wars Update; 2008-02-07, Ambient Life.
  13. ^ Interview by a Bungie Group
  14. ^ Interview by a Bungie Group
  15. ^ [2]
  16. ^ Official Xbox Magazine, Issue 74, page 32
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