Halo Wars 2 Reviews
Halo Wars 2’s compromise between strategy and speed leaves a system without a functional amount of either. Its story bears the hallmarks of the world Bungie first crafted 16 years ago without any of the melodrama or myth. Missing so much of what makes an RTS work and what makes Halo a fiction so many choose to escape into, it’s easy to wonder who Halo Wars 2 is even for.
Many will argue that Halo Wars 2 can proudly attest to being the greatest RTS game to ever grace a console, and I wouldn’t necessarily argue against that sentiment, but at the same time I’d say that anyone who’s making that claim is clearly trying to make a mountain out of a molehill. Sure, Halo Wars 2 may trump its console-based competition, but when said competition is mostly comprised of disappointing and subpar titles, is that really an achievement worth bragging about? When comparing Halo Wars 2 to its PC exclusive brethren its lack of depth, overly simplistic systems, and shallow design philosophy quickly become apparent. Strip away its stunning cut scenes and its Halo setting and it’s exposed as not much more than a merely average RTS game that’s clearly being held back by the fact that it’s been tethered to a platform that has never, and will never be able to squeeze the full potential out of a Real Time Strategy title.
Halo Wars 2 is fine, but definitely not the real-time strategy genre's long-sought salvation. Same-old missions, same-old structure, and with a layer of console-style oversimplification on top.
Halo Wars 2 isn't a bad game, but compared to the wealth of excellent strategy games we've been spoilt by over the last few years, it feels positively ordinary. Exceptionally well-handled Halo fan service obfuscates a mediocre game that doesn't really have any new ideas. Fans of the franchise will appreciate what is here, but RTS buffs will be better served elsewhere.
'Halo Wars 2' isn't a great competitive strategy game, but it's an enjoyable take on Halo.
This sequel is another decent attempt at bringing strategy games to console, but gameplay can feel shallow at times
Boasting high production value and the minor intrigue of what a new villain might mean for the greater series, Halo Wars 2 is fantastic for casual RTS gamers, but probably not for anyone else. Its relatively flat story, short campaign, and strategically shallow mechanics hold it back from greatness, instead relegating it to being yet another example of why RTS games don’t mix well with consoles.
Halo Wars 2 is an RTS game for Halo fans with stripped-down strategy elements and limited lasting appeal.
Blitz mode aside, Halo Wars 2 sticks with a tried, tested and slightly tired RTS formula that's competent, but lacking in depth and originality.
Whilst boasting a compelling story in the Halo universe, this game's shortcomings bog down an otherwise solid RTS.
Halo Wars 2's cutscenes are pretty, but the controls remains too console-focused for PC and the strategy is a little thin.
Halo Wars 2 doesn’t excel in anything. It’s decent all around but doesn’t really excel in anything. The campaign could have been much longer.
Ben received a physical copy of Halo Wars 2 from Xbox NZ for review.
Each hour is filled with bugs or online disconnects, making it a frustrating experience. I can only hope that Creative Assembly and 343 Industries can fix the game so it can shine like it deserves.
Halo Wars 2 is a decent sucessor of this well known series. It can certainly entertain for many evenings, but is lacking in innovation. However, if you want to play a RTS on your console, it's definitely a good choice.
Review in Slovak | Read full review
Aside from a few graphical improvements and mechanical tweaks, not much has changed. Sadly, a lack of true originality and asymmetry makes this sequel just a tad weaker than its prequel.
Halo Wars 2 is somewhere between a Halo game for RTS fans and a RTS game for Halo fans, never going too in depth into either category so as to put people off.
Fans of the Halo lore may have been hyped by the fact that Halo Wars 2 takes place post-Halo 5, meaning that chronologically it should further the overarching narrative currently taking place in the mainline games. However, this isn’t really the case – Halo Wars 2 is still firmly a side story, and seemingly takes no advantage of the new time period it takes place in.
After the huge success of Halo Wars in 2009, now after 8 years, we have the copy and almost the same game but with some difference and new features. Halo Wars 2 is here to make RTS fans proud and if you are one of those people that always enjoy these games, well this game is for you; but if you are a new player to the series and this type of games, you better go and start with something else.
Review in Persian | Read full review
Halo Wars 2 managed to drag me in kicking and screaming, and left me coming out more intrigued about the Halo universe itself. I have never been an aficionado of the Haloverse, nor have I ever been interested in it before. Halo Wars 2 may just change that. The campaign tells a safe narrative that is made more impressive by the intimacy of the gameplay. The multiplayer Blitz mode may not be for everyone, but between it, and the rest of the multiplayer, there's enough there to keep people going for quite some time.