Halo Wars (Xbox 360)

common sense media says

Well-made strategy game breaks from Halo shooter tradition.

parents & educators say

29% say violence is an issue
29% say there are positive role models

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this is the first Halo game rated "T" instead of "M." Unlike the other Halo incarnations, Halo Wars in not a first person shooter but a real time strategy game with less gore and violence. There is still some violence as you watch tanks, ground troops, flamethrowers, missiles, and other military weapons do damage, the action is far enough away that you can't see the details. For example, you can see bodies flying through the landscape, just not the carnage. A few video cutscenes show closeup fighting with human bodies impaled and some blood which is why the game is rated "Teen." Players will also hear mild cursing. The game can be played online where colorful language is the norm. Common Sense Media does not recommend children under the age of 12 playing online games.

Educational value: Not applicable.

Positive messages: You control an army of humans during an attack by hordes of aliens. This is a war game, but you are trying to save Earth.

Violence: Players attack enemies with a variety of units and weapons, such as gun-toting Infantry, soldiers with flamethrowers, tanks, turrets, and grenades. Big explosions sometimes result in enemies flying in the air, but the attacks are not graphic. Video cutscenes will show closeup battles with blood, and even the impaling of human soldiers.

Sex: Not applicable.

Language: Words like "hell" and "bastard" pop up, but nothing serious beyond that.

Consumerism: This is the fourth installment of the much hyped Halo series, but unlike the first three which were M-rated shooters, this is a real-time strategy game that is T-rated.

Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Not applicable.

Our ratings and reviews are informed by child development guidelines. Learn more.

What to talk about

Talk to your kids

Families can talk about how this game compares to the rest of the Halo franchise. Do you prefer commanding many forces or just one super-powered character? Since this game is T-rated and set 20 years before the other 3 M-rated games, do you think this is a good way for the publisher to expand the Halo's license to younger players?

What's the story?

Long known as a first-person shooter, the Halo franchise shifts gears in HALO WARS, a simple real-time strategy (RTS) game that should entice diehard fans. Set about 20 years before the original Halo game, the game follows the United Nations Space Command (UNSC) as they battle the alien race called the Covenant. Instead of commanding one character, players take charge of multiple UNSC squads. Units range from Infantry and flamethrowers to big vehicles such as the Scorpion Tank.

Players will build up a base, gather supplies, create units, and bolster military technology. They can navigate the map and select single units, or hit the shoulder button to select all units. To attack, players point their cursor to an enemy and hit an attack button. Most units have a standard strike and a stronger secondary attack. For example, Infantry units can lob grenades. Each level is broken down into specific objectives, such as destroy an enemy base or defend a particular area. Players can also engage in online skirmishes against human players, assuming either the UNSC or Covenant armies.

Is it any good?

Halo Wars is a fun RTS that is pretty easy to control. Between excellent tutorials and four levels of difficulty (which can be changed mid-campaign), this is a game that newbies can play. And you don't need to be familiar with the previous Halo games to enjoy it. The game streamlines military commands, making it simple to switch between units in different areas of the map as well as give orders. The one problem is the inability to create custom groups of units. Breaking up units into special groups requires a few too many steps. The action is quite intense, particularly as you progress to the later stages of the single-player campaign. At times, combat is frenetic as you're hopping between units dispersed throughout the environment. One moment, you may fight enemies on one portion of the map while your base is enduring an assault from a surprise attack.

Halo Wars look sharp, an impressive feat when you consider how small each unit looks. When big vehicles or weapons are destroyed, debris flies across the landscape. Battles also look very smooth, even when dozens of units litter the screen. While the real time strategy approach is different from previous Halo titles, Halo Wars is a worthwhile strategy adventure. Plus the cooperative and competitive online modes make it something you can explore with friends.

Game themes & details

Game Details

Available on: Xbox 360
Available online
Genre: Real Time Strategy (RTS)
Developer: Microsoft
Released on: March 3, 2009
Price: 59.99
ESRB Rating: T for Mild blood, mild language, violence

This review was written by Brett Molina

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What parents & educators say

Based on 17 parent & educator reviews:

29% say violence is an issue
29% say there are positive role models

Read the reviews

Most useful reviews by all members

baldwinschool
educator

This is Just an Excuse to Introduce the Real Shoot-Um-Up to Young Kids

This is obviously a Trojan horse to get adults to think this popular ultra-violent, gory shoot-um-up franchise isn't really as bad as it is. These kinds of games and positive articles such as here at this site enable the big video game companies to reach a larger market share. There are only so many rabid teen fanboys, and this will start younger kids on the path to play ‘the real thing’ when they are older. Have them play CIV IV if you must. Then they might actually learn something.

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Halo Wars (Xbox 360)

common sense media says

parents & educators say

What parents need to know

More on Halo Wars

What to talk about

Talk to your kids

What's the story?

What's the story?

Is it any good?

Is it any good?

Game themes & details

Game Details

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Review Halo Wars

What parents & educators say

Most useful reviews by all members

This is Just an Excuse to Introduce the Real Shoot-Um-Up to Young Kids

it is the best game in the would

Well made strategy game

Err..

awsome game!!! :)

Good

okay

perfect for tweens and up

perfect

Alot less violent, and less bad lang than the other Halos

worse than than the mature ones

best for everyone

Hmmm...

ddddddd

Kids 10 and up can handle this strategy game.

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