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1. Video Game Review - Halo Wars
   

   Player Chronicle -- Posted on Mar 14 2009

   I knew what I was getting myself into, when I picked up the latest title within the Halo world, Halo Wars. I wasn't going to be blasting people online all day in a multiplayer FPS fury, but instead, tactically arranging my troops and battling the enemy from a distance in this simple, but fun RTS game.
   
   FIRST IMPRESSIONS
   I'll be the first to admit that I don't get into many RTS video games. I've of course played numerous ones before, but very few on the Xbox 360. I'm not sure if "A Kingdom For Keflings" would count as a RTS game, but that's the only one I can remember playing in a pretty long time. Anyways, for being somewhat of a RTS noob, Halo Wars is actually perfect for me.
   
   The first thing you'll notice is obviously the Halo branding. I have been pleased with the music, the very nice looking graphics, and the great back story that all connects to the Halo storyline very well.
   
   Like some of you know (and I'm embarrassed to say this), I'm pretty bad at playing the single player campaign in almost every game I own...including all three of the Halo games. It's not that I don't want to play through the storyline, it's just a time factor and the quick gaming and communication fix I can get on Xbox Live is too hard to deny!
   
   That being said, I believe Halo Wars being set before all the other three Halo games may have given me the inspiration to work my way through the other titles and follow the story from start to finish...or at least be fully prepared for Halo 4
   
   RyuBlitz recommended that I read the graphic novels, but I'll let him tell me the story instead, lol.
   
   Alright, sorry for getting off track a lot in this review, but let's get back to Halo Wars, shall we?
   
   GAMEPLAY EXPERIENCE
   Like I was saying earlier, this RTS was developed for the console gamer and because of that, may seem like a simplistic experience. I know you can't build endless bases and the options within the gameplay are less than a full blown PC RTS, but I think this is exactly the market they were intending to hit.
   
   You've got mostly FPS gamers who may not play as much RTS games, who can take comfort in something new, but nothing too new or complex that they don't like it. I think the simplicity of Halo Wars SELLS this game for me. There's still plenty of action, awesome battles, and plenty to manage as the player.
   
   Each level will vary in length and that would be my only complaint. When I sit down with 45 minutes to game, will that be enough to get a mission completed (or failed) or will I be late because what seemed to be an easy level is now taking me an hour and half?! Maybe that's more on the side of me sucking at the game, haha, but that's one negative thing I've noticed.
   
   MULTIPLAYER EXPERIENCE
   For once in my life since Xbox Live, I'm actually enjoying the single player campaign BEFORE I go online and give the multiplayer environment a try. I think that say a lot about this game, but obviously this also means I don't have any sort of review for the actual online experience. Maybe an update to this review someday, but I may also leave it to someone else too, haha.
   
   REPLAY-ABILITY
   With a four tier ranking system on how well you complete each mission/level, I could see many gamers getting excited about polishing their approaches and going for the gold medal in each level. I doubt I'll get that into this game, but there are a few levels I would attack completely different and would be interested to see how much better my rank could be.
   
   GRAPHICS
   I'm not playing this game in full HD, but the cinematic videos and actual gameplay graphics have impressed me from the very first time I saw this game at E3 2008. Halo Wars graphics continue to amaze me and I think Ensemble Studios did a very nice job with this important element of the game. The almost neon flavored colors, always changing environments, battle interactions, and huge worlds are all done with very nice attention to detail.
   
   CONCLUSIONS
   I'd first like to apologize that this video game review was a bit scatter-brained, but the fact is that I've really enjoyed Halo Wars so far. I'm only on the 10th or 11th mission, but feel myself wanted to get home just to play more, and I think we all know how that goes
   
   I was excited to play this game ever since E3 and I'm glad this new RTS style has not let me down. As many of us do, I suppose I should give this game a score out of 10. I've not completed the game yet, but I'll end with that...
   
   8.25/10
   
   
   COMPLETION UPDATE
   No sooner after I wrote this, I had a full Saturday to enjoy the end of Halo Wars!
   
   After just under 13 hours of gameplay, I had completed the 15 levels and watched the credits to a video game for the first time in quite awhile. I think it was the fresh RTS game type that got me into this game, but it was the Halo story that made me obsessed.
   
   I'm now looking forward to heading online to see what that is all about, at which time I suppose I'll need to update this Halo Wars video game review one more time!
   
   I also looked at my current game rating and would like to bump it up...
   
   8.5/10
   
   
   ONLINE GAMEPLAY UPDATE
   coming soon

   
   

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BEN has 2 comment s on this chronicle.

1. BigNeen004
   Posted On Mar 14 2009

   I thought Halo Wars was a great idea from the first time I heard mention of it! I watched a friend play the demo, and it looks like it turned out pretty good to me!
   
   I hope it does get released for the PC, I love RTS games, and enjoyed the first 1 and a half Halo games (That's all I've played). I just don't own a 360, although the temptation is overwhelming!

2. Dynafire
   Posted On Mar 13 2009

   I think you mixed up RPG (Roleplaying Game) with RTS. (Real-time Strategy). Nonetheless, a pretty good review.