Halo Wars

 Xbox 360
Halo Wars Image
Metascore
82

Generally favorable reviews - based on 92 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 600 Ratings

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  • Summary: Halo Wars is the next big real-time strategy game from Ensemble Studios, creators of "Age of Empires." Designed exclusively for the Xbox 360, Halo Wars allows you to take charge of the human UNSC armies and see the Halo universe from a totally new perspective. Halo Wars takes place beforeHalo Wars is the next big real-time strategy game from Ensemble Studios, creators of "Age of Empires." Designed exclusively for the Xbox 360, Halo Wars allows you to take charge of the human UNSC armies and see the Halo universe from a totally new perspective. Halo Wars takes place before Halo 1 during the UNSC’s first deadly encounters with the Covenant. Players lead the crew of the UNSC's "Spirit of Fire" from initial skirmishes to an all out war against the evil Covenant. [Ensemble Studios]… Expand
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 81 out of 92
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 92
  3. Negative: 0 out of 92
  1. GameShark
    100
    The differences between Halo Wars and a more traditional PC RTS are distinct. Yes, the controls aren’t as precise nor are there a great diversity of units, structures, or resources—but that's the point. By approaching the game as fundamentally different, the resulting design feels native to the console controller. In the end Halo Wars just plain works, and is a huge step in the development of real time strategy gaming on the consoles.
  2. Official Xbox Magazine UK
    90
    Perhaps the most impressive thing, though, is that it's managed to feel like a totally authentic Halo experience, rather than just a cynical spin-off. We've no doubt a strategy game will be a hard sell to a lot of people, but if this introduces even just a small proportion of die-hard Halo fans to a rewarding new genre of game, or indeed just a small proportion of strategy fans to the brilliance of Bungie's rich sci-fi universe, then it can be deemed a success that the now defunct Ensemble Studios can be proud of.
  3. 3DJuegos
    87
    Ensemble Studios achieves which is, probably, the best strategy game in consoles. The fact that Halo Wars had a Xbox 360 only development makes the usual RTS standards shine with a pad for the first time. An interesting campaign with the always exciting cooperative guarantees a long life for this game, but the reception of the skirmishes is the real fact to determinate if Halo Wars will be ranked in the tops of the most played games in Xbox Live.
  4. Play.tm
    81
    What Ensemble have achieved is nothing short of astonishing. It may not prove to be the finest example in presenting lasting appeal – single-player certainly doesn’t last all that long – but ultimately, Halo Wars stands out as an RTS experience that works incredibly well while ticking all of the right boxes for the fans.
  5. Kikizo
    80
    An elegant, lustrous RTS which channels the Bungie spirit to great effect, but takes only a few, baby steps beyond the principles laid down in the developer's Age titles.
  6. Telegraph
    80
    Purists and veterans will probably dismiss Halo Wars due to its lack of depth, but Halo fans and the uninitiated should jump right in. It's probably the strongest RTS game that's ever been released for a console, and as an entry point into the genre, it's pretty much unbeatable.
  7. Gamers' Temple
    54
    Quit reading this, head to the store and buy something that isn't Halo Wars.

See all 92 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 52 out of 93
  2. Mixed: 33 out of 93
  3. Negative: 8 out of 93
  1. SMScorx89
    Sep 24, 2010
    10
    Halo Wars fulfills Halo: Combat Evolved's origins as an RTS. Ensemble did a great job of simplifying the gameplay so you don't have to worryHalo Wars fulfills Halo: Combat Evolved's origins as an RTS. Ensemble did a great job of simplifying the gameplay so you don't have to worry on Micromanaging and concentrate on making strategic maneuvers. The multiplayer can have 3v3, which is pretty good and mostly the number of players goes above 10,000, probably more than Tom Clancy's EndWar. As for Campaign, the cutscenes are great, the music is great (thanks to Stephen Rippy), and has little easter eggs for Halo fans. But, it is short and the reason why it is short is because Microsoft cut the budget (Ensemble had plans for a Covenant campaign, probably featuring the Brute Chieftain since he isn't in the main campaign, but the budget was cut and it was scrapped). According to the Guiness Book of World Records 2010 Gamer's Edition, Halo Wars has sold over 1.21 million units making it the Best Selling Console Based RTS. Not bad, huh? And for all those people out there who don't like it because Bungie was not involved, here is an article on what Bungie has to say about it: http://www.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&link=bwusept29osix For what it's worth, Halo Wars is an excellent addition to the franchise, but it leaves a lot of unanswered questions. In any case, this a great game any Halo fan should have as well as to introduce people to the RTS genre.… Expand
  2. WackoDaSniper
    Mar 29, 2016
    10
    A true gem. Playing it 7 years later brings back nostalgia and it still holds up as quality...........................................................
  4. JoeGG
    Mar 30, 2009
    9
    This game was awful. The game gives you absolutely no freedom to do anything and you have to do the missions exactly the way the game wants This game was awful. The game gives you absolutely no freedom to do anything and you have to do the missions exactly the way the game wants you to or else you cannot move on. You also cannot move while using your knife which makes it very difficult to kill anyone when you are out of bullets. You also cannot shoot unless you aim which makes it difficult especially when all you have is sniper ammo and there are people right in front of you. Oh and there are also long cut scenes every 2mins which you cant skip through. The only good thing about this game are the amazing graphics.… Expand
  5. HydrophobikFish
    Jun 9, 2023
    8
    Pretty fun campaign with lovingly recreated halo fanfare. Mediocre story with bland characters, but the character in the gameplay itself makesPretty fun campaign with lovingly recreated halo fanfare. Mediocre story with bland characters, but the character in the gameplay itself makes up for it. Custom games were pretty fun.… Expand
  6. goodgriff33
    Dec 24, 2022
    7
    Answer: 75 characters is between 10 words and 19 words with spaces included in the character count. If spaces are not included in theAnswer: 75 characters is between 10 words and 19 words with spaces included in the character count. If spaces are not included in the character count, then 75 characters is between 12 words and 25 words.… Expand
  7. potatoes351
    Aug 13, 2012
    7
    As a firm hater of strategy games I only picked up Halo Wars as it was a Halo game. The gameplay was great for a console strategy game butAs a firm hater of strategy games I only picked up Halo Wars as it was a Halo game. The gameplay was great for a console strategy game but that wasn't the saving grace for me. Halo Wars tells you the story of the events on Harvest, pre-Halo:CE you command marines and SPARTANS alike along with vehicles and even a UNSC frigate. By no means is Halo Wars great but its worth picking up if your a Halo fan… Expand
  8. Star
    Mar 4, 2009
    0
    I saw this game on the store shelf and quickly grabbed it to purchase it. I love the Halo games and when I saw a new one I was excited all toI saw this game on the store shelf and quickly grabbed it to purchase it. I love the Halo games and when I saw a new one I was excited all to heck. I speed home to put this into my 360.... when the game started I was sorely disappointed. I was expect a new action packed Halo game. What I got was a slow paced building game. MS this is a wonderful way to kill your best selling franchise. I would not recommend this game to anyone. PC is better for games like this and MS is trying to bank off of name recognition.… Expand

See all 93 User Reviews

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Awards & Rankings

43
#43 Best Xbox 360 Game of 2009
10
#10 Most Discussed Xbox 360 Game of 2009
5
#5 Most Shared Xbox 360 Game of 2009