Review

Halo: Spartan Assault finally makes it to the Xbox 360 after having been released on all other Microsoft platforms throughout 2013. This shows just how little regard there is for the outgoing console in Redmond right now – it's all about the Xbox One now as far as they're concerned.

Halo has only strayed away from the FPS genre once before and the result was the excellent real-time strategy game Halo Wars. Spartan Assault may look similar to that game but it couldn't be more different. This is a twin-stick shooter (because XBLA doesn't have enough of those, right?) which plays exactly as you'd expect with no innovation or originality. All the weapons and enemies are ripped straight out of the previous games in the series but once you've got over seeing you favourite Convenant forces in minuature you'll start to get bored quite quickly.

That's not to say that there isn't fun to be had. Missions where you find yourself guarding a small area under siege are by far the best levels in the game and playing Co-op missions with friends can double the fun. Sadly, local Co-op is not included, which is a major oversight as far as I'm concerned. This is an example of how Microsoft have geared the game towards making money: firsly it's over-priced (the same was true on Windows 8 and Windows Phone), then there are micro-transactions that allow you to get weapons quicker and you'll need to get you friends to buy the game if you want to play Co-op.

The micro-transactions can be ignored though as all additional weapons and skulls – a game-changing Halo tradition that is a welcome inclusion - can be bought with XP earned in game. The game tries to encourage you to replay the missions to earn a gold star rating but there are too many levels that are a slog to play through.

Halo: Spartan Assault is a game that could, and should, have been a lot better. With the quality of twin-stick shooters already available on XBLA you'd be much better off playing one of those instead.

About the Review

Platform

Microsoft Xbox 360

Developer

Vanguard Games

Publisher

Microsoft Game Studios

Released

31st January 2014