HALO WARS 2
Fans of the first Halo Wars game had to wait nearly a decade before a sequel was finally announced. Like its predecessor, Halo Wars 2 deals with real-time strategy where players construct their own bases in order to command their armies to claim victory over their opponents.
Although Halo Wars 2 is a decent means of entry for those who might be new to the RTS scene, some who are more familiar with the genre complained it lacked depth when compared to other RTS titles on PC that house more complex gameplay. On console, Halo Wars 2 has a greater appeal since RTS titles are much more scarce when compared to PC, especially titles tied to an iconic IP such as Halo. This is due partly to analog sticks not functioning with the timely accuracy as PC players could do with a mouse, ultimately changing the flow of gameplay between platforms.
Issues with AI are also known to arise, with enemy groups sometimes feeling too easy on normal settings due to their weaker pathfinding algorithms. As for the story’s main purpose, although it offered some character depth and intriguing moments, it was to teach the player strategic methods so they could execute them against real opponents in multiplayer. A more common and larger complaint regarding the story was how it ends on a frustrating cliffhanger, leaving the player dissatisfied.
A few functions are also cut back in comparison from the first Halo Wars. Most of the maps are noticeably smaller, and base building is much more constricted as new buildings have to be placed only on certain points with limited space available.
In all, Halo Wars 2 is much more well received on PC, but still comes at a disappointment due to some withdrawals from its predecessor and a lack of true RTS gameplay depth. It’s great 343 Industries went forward with a sequel and Halo Wars 2 can offer some fun gameplay, especially fighting against other players online. However, it still feels like it didn’t quite reach the potential players had for it, or achieve a success that could attract more accessible RTS titles to console platforms.
