Halo Wars demo

[Mirai Gen]

So okay they were bragging about how they were making an RTS controllable and fun for a console controller, and that basically amounted to "Buildings can be put in Building Spots." Yay, waving a flag.

I do like the fact that units all have a secondary attack that relies on Y, and there's lots of support function.

I also like the fact that, from what I can tell, the game is trying to pull back sending hordes of enemies at each other like RTSes can become and instead just focus on small squads with leaders and big units like Warthogs, Pelicans, or Locusts. Marine squads can gain Spartans, I think, which gives them all sorts of cool abilities.

I hate the fact that the tutorial basically is all "Here's how you control the game. Build buildings here. Make a few Locust. Go destroy the UNSC. You're done!"

[Jagos]

Lemme guess... It's all played from the Human point of view also?

[DFM]

Oh man, you're psychic!

[Jagos]

Playing as the cool different race and seeing why a war started just doesn't seem to be something Microsoft would do. That'd be way too much fun for one person to have.

[DFM]

War started because the Covenant are jerks.

[Bells]

War started because the Covenant are jerks.

Or so the humans would want YOU to think...

Quick question, how's the micro-management?

[Osterbaum]

Wait a minute, I thought that you were supposed to be able to play both sides!

[corronchilejano]

Wait a minute, I thought that you were supposed to be able to play both sides!
Read the Title again. On the WC2 demo you could only play Orcs.

[Karrrrrrrrrrrresche]

Or so the humans would want YOU to think...

Quick question, how's the micro-management?

No, that's really the reason.

The Prophets literally felt Jealous because we had developed Interplanetary Space capability without Forerunner tech, so they tried to kill us.

[DFM]

Is there any way to kill your units? By the time I get enough tech/money for a Scarab I'm near my population cap and I don't really want to keep those ghosts around if it means leaving the Scarab out of things.

[Karrrrrrrrrrrresche]

Is there any way to kill your units? By the time I get enough tech/money for a Scarab I'm near my population cap and I don't really want to keep those ghosts around if it means leaving the Scarab out of things.



Suicidal charges against impossible odds work pretty well.

Even in games that have the feature of hitting a button to destroy units, I never do it.

Slaughtering those that serve my will without question for no real reason is a good time.

[Mirai Gen]

Lemme guess... It's all played from the Human point of view also?
Not sure yet. You get to play the Covenant in the tutorial, it's just that the tutorial is over, like, in five minutes. The basic tutorial is "Drive this warthog from A to E, hitting each point in between. Now go attack something. Hey you're done!" Haven't gotten further.

The advanced tutorial - which I figured would immerse me in all the units and teach me how each side works - ended up being "Make a building, and some Marines, now let's do that with the Covenant, hey you're done!"

[corronchilejano]

The demo is 1.4Gb and it only lasts 5 minutes? I haven't been able to try it yet, but man... for an RTS you think we'd get two or three levels at least. Sounds more like a teaser.

[DFM]

There are three levels. There's also a skirmish map with all units/tech available. You can play as the Covenant.


What the hell game are you guys playing?

[corronchilejano]

There are three levels. There's also a skirmish map with all units/tech available. You can play as the Covenant.


What the hell game are you guys playing?
I haven't been able to try it yet

I downloaded it but haven't been able to play it. My brother was actually surprised this was an RTS.

[Mirai Gen]

I had enough time to play the tutorial, and that was it. Going to try again today.

[G.I.R.]

I have never been a fan of RTS games on consoles. C&C 3 Was bad... Red Alert 3 stinks from what I've heard. I'm sorry... I've always been a mouse and keyboard kind of person when it comes to controlling my units and whatnot. I like to be able to drag across and select certain units. As opposed to this LB/RB crap. That bothers me.

That aside, I like the interface. But I don't like the limited base building abilities. I like other RTS games, like the C&C series, where I am allowed to build where the heck I want to and not have to choose which things I will and will not build.

It looks nice and looks like it could be a lot of fun. I hope they turn this over to PC at some point so we can experience it there.

[Azisien]

Yes. I've downloaded and readied the demo for play but I haven't had a chance yet. The crucial point is the control scheme. If it's not fun to use, the game will fail in my eyes. I tried the C&C3 demo because hey RTS is cool in spirit, but after 15 minutes, I don't think I'd accept C&C3 for free.

[Mirai Gen]

Halo Wars does a few things right in the port-to-console aspect. Making buildings and production is a radial menu, which frees up the whole "Take building here," and there's hotkeys to warp from area to area. There's also a focus on smaller, badass units as opposed to Dude Zerg Rush or Carrier Swarm.

Having said thus, still, it would be nice to try it on a computer.

[Azisien]

Okay I had time to try a quick 10-minute skirmish this morning and I must say I was impressed.

Restricted building locations is always wha wha, but close to a necessity for the console. PLUS one of my favourite RTS games in recent years was Battle for Middle Earth, and they had restricted buildings so like, whatever.

Seemed pretty simplistic, but then I was only playing a 1v1 skirmish on a small map against an easy AI.

The jury is still out on whether this would be worth $70.

[Mirai Gen]

The game would be much more enjoyable if I could build anything out of the advanced factories like Pelicans or helicopters in the demo.

Dawn of War 2 spoiled me and I'm not even big on RTSes anyway, so I think I'm skipping. Story can't be that amazing.

[Karrrrrrrrrrrresche]

Me and my friend had a game going, he downloaded the RE 5 Demo first, and I downloaded Halo Wars, then we joined a party together to listen in on each others responses.

I got him ranting about Hammer Zombies and racism.

He got me Giggling like a school girl about my Scarab climbing walls and blowing everything the UNSC could throw at me right to hell.

[Altune]

Imma get it just so I can be part of the crowd! =D
But in all seriousness, it actually looks good, Imma try it.