ScrewyAurum Posted June 4, 2013 Report Share Posted June 4, 2013 Developer: 343 Industries, Co-developer Vanguard Games Publisher: Microsoft Platform: Windows 8 PC, Windows 8 Mobile Devices ETA: July, 2013 Available only for Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8, Halo: Spartan Assault is a new top-down action shooter that brings a Halo video game to touch-based devices for the first time in franchise history. Developed by 343 Industries in conjunction with Vanguard Games, Halo: Spartan Assault provides an accessible, pick-up-and-play experience for fans and newcomers alike. Earlier this month, Microsoft registered a domain name for Halo: Spartan Assault. You can stop guessing what it is now, because I’ve played 343 Industries’ new Halo game. The developer is taking the franchise to mobile devices. The Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 game is inspired by twin-stick shooters like Robotron and tells a new story across 25 campaign missions set between Halo 3 and 4. Halo 4 owners will also earn experience, emblems, and achievements by playing Spartan Assault. I got my hands on the tablet version and blasted apart Covenant forces from the new top-down perspective. The missions of Spartan Assault are a mixture of pivotal UNSC battles told in a framework that expands on Halo 4’s Sarah Palmer and the origins of the Spartan Ops program. Players choose between Commander Sarah Palmer or Spartan Davis. The game is presented like it’s a training tool for prospective soldiers. It allows users to relive the most important Covenant conflicts from the history books. The story is told through slick cinematics, which look like polished motion comics. I played through a section of the game on a Windows 8-powered Surface tablet. Players customize their load-out before each mission, and unlock classic Halo weaponry as they progress. I stick to Halo 2’s classic dual SMGs for my hands-on time. Digital thumbsticks can be a pain, but Spartan Assault mitigates this with controls that pop up wherever you place your thumbs on the touchscreen. Movement is controlled with the left thumb, and your Spartan shoots in the direction of the right stick. Various on-screen buttons let you switch grenade types and swap weapons. The control scheme works well for the missions I played, but we’ll have to wait and see how it holds up during more chaotic skirmishes. An overhead perspective offers a broad look at the lively battlefield. Banshees streak through the air, trailing light from their wings. Blue blood splatters from Covenant grunts and elites as they fall to guns and explosives. The lighting, particle effects, and detailed character models and vehicles make Spartan Assault resemble a zoomed-out look at an intense battle from one of Halo’s console entries. Vehicles play a key role in the game. One mission tasked me with taking out a squad of anti-air Wraiths. I begin by using the powerful and accurate sniper rifle to clear out a pack of elites guarding a Wraith. I hijack it with a press of the touchscreen and hop inside. I proceed to use the commandeered Wraith to destroy the rest of the fleet. Just like in the console games, vehicles gradually begin to smoke and show wear as they take damage, concluding with a dramatic explosion. 343 Industries’ attention to these details keeps the experience grounded in the Halo universe. Halo: Spartan Assault arrives on Windows 8 devices this July. If an accessible, single-player twin-stick Halo game sounds like a good fit for you, be sure to set aside $6.99 for it. 343 Industries is supporting wired Xbox 360 controllers for all versions of the game with a post-launch update, so here’s hoping the downloadable game makes it to XBLA. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScrewyAurum Posted June 4, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 4, 2013 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhiteWolf Posted June 4, 2013 Report Share Posted June 4, 2013 Quantum Break Fable HD Halo-:Spartan ASSAULT Forza 5 Ab bache 11 games..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScrewyAurum Posted June 4, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 4, 2013 This isnt a Xbox One game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhiteWolf Posted June 4, 2013 Report Share Posted June 4, 2013 ok... so 12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScrewyAurum Posted June 4, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 4, 2013 Neither is fable HD. Its only for the 360. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhiteWolf Posted June 4, 2013 Report Share Posted June 4, 2013 Ok...so 13 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ALPHA17 Posted June 4, 2013 Report Share Posted June 4, 2013 Will this be available on ipad??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meaNmachine Posted June 4, 2013 Report Share Posted June 4, 2013 @ank, Never Only on Win 8 phones and Win 8 PC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heaven Angel Posted June 4, 2013 Report Share Posted June 4, 2013 Halo: Spartan Assault Platform: Windows 8 PC, Windows 8 Mobile Devices Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aftrunner Posted June 4, 2013 Report Share Posted June 4, 2013 Twin stick shooter? Could be fun. But since its mobile focused, I imagine it will be terrible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Boss Posted June 5, 2013 Report Share Posted June 5, 2013 Trying to pimp Windows 8. At least do it with a proper game Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rohan Seth Posted June 5, 2013 Report Share Posted June 5, 2013 Twin stick shooter? Could be fun. But since its mobile focused, I imagine it will be terrible. What if it supports controller? I've seen many people connect a controller to their phone and play, that might actually make this game fun to play. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScrewyAurum Posted June 5, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 5, 2013 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avkash Posted June 5, 2013 Report Share Posted June 5, 2013 supports controller in windows 8, so tablets can be cool, I see no reason why they would not support a controller on phone as well, though it may look a little you know odd :| PS: I love the idea of top down shooters, I like them Edit: saw the trailer and gameplay, seems awesome, a game like this should rather be on the VITA, what an irony :| Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avkash Posted June 5, 2013 Report Share Posted June 5, 2013 oho, I like top down shooters and was saying that it would be epic for Vita with its twin sticks, that would be perfect. I loved Killzone liberations BTW, still play it at times on my PSP Go Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heaven Angel Posted July 18, 2013 Report Share Posted July 18, 2013 Available today apparently 343 Industries and Vanguard Games' Halo spin-off title, Halo: Spartan Assault, will be available for download from July 18 for Windows 8-operated PCs, tablets, and Windows Phone 8 devices, according to Microsoft. The game costs $6.99.http://gamespot.com/news/halo-spartan-assault-launches-in-north-america-today-6411622 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScrewyAurum Posted July 18, 2013 Author Report Share Posted July 18, 2013 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heaven Angel Posted July 19, 2013 Report Share Posted July 19, 2013 So anybody tried it yet? It's available on MS store for $6.99. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sach4life Posted July 19, 2013 Report Share Posted July 19, 2013 I read its preview. It said that touch controls are awkward. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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