Xbox One Critic Reviews

I wholeheartedly urge you to check out Halo Wars 2, whether it’s with the release of the Ultimate Edition this week or the standard release next Tuesday. It’s packed with content on both the multiplayer and single-player side, all of which is fun to play. It also has a pretty fantastic story attached to it, incredible cutscenes, and an amazing soundtrack to boot. Ideally we won’t have to wait another 9 years for a Halo Wars 3.

Halo Wars 2 delivers a superb story that ends with a million possibilities on what could happen in future games.

Halo Wars 2 is an absolute masterstroke, taking console RTS limitations and somehow not only bypassing them, but making them unmissable features. This is one of the most well-made and cleverly designed games I have played in a long time. I hope it sets a precedent for other games to follow.

Halo Wars 2 isn't afraid to mess with the standard RTS formula, and it's a better game because of it. Simply put, this is one of the best reasons to own an Xbox One.

Halo Wars 2 has an epic campaign, a complete multiplayer and amazing cinematic moments. Meet a new and fearsome enemy Atriox that endangers the entire galaxy and the UNSC must stop it by all means. It improves all aspects and adds new things like the addictive Blitz mode. Play alone or in company and enjoy one of the best experiences.

Halo Wars 2 does a fantastic job building on the foundation laid out by the original game. New modes and new characters highlight what is a fun return to the Halo universe, even if the campaign is shorter than I’d prefer.

Halo Wars 2 is the best RTS you can play on consoles today. Whether you're a Halo lore junky looking to toy around with the campaign or a competitive RTS player looking for intense multiplayer matches, you can't do much better than this. Creative Assembly definitely stuck the landing with Halo Wars 2, pleasing fans of the original, bringing new players into the fold, and delivering a worthy successor to Ensemble's 2009 cult classic.

I know I’ve mentioned Starcraft II a couple of times in this review, but it’s certainly the yardstick by which most RTS games are measured and this one is no different. There are obvious comparisons to be drawn between both games and Creative Assembly certainly wears its influences proudly, but Halo Wars 2 never strays into clone territory. It stands well on its own, creating an experience that combines cinematic storytelling with varied and interesting strategic gameplay, as well as throwing in a few explosions for which Halo is often known. And best of all, it manages to be accessible enough that even a blunt object like myself can finish the campaign.

While some challenges are simple and involve exploring every corner of the surprisingly large maps, others like keeping certain units alive are much harder. Only those who truly understand Halo Wars 2 will be able to accomplish this. Not only does this enhance replayability aside from the fantastic multiplayer offerings, it also gives you a reason to go back to the campaign.

Halo Wars 2 brings back the RTS genre for the console players. Featuring a very direct and not complex action, this game is accessible for everybody who wants to try this kind of game.