With a new iteration to the Halo universe, it’s hard not to have high expectations. This franchise has arguably made the Xbox. Microsoft has made a brand name staple that is clearly here to stay; however, this time it’s time for Halo to leave Master Chief’s shadow and prove it doesn’t need the lone Spartan to save the day -- or does it? Halo Wars attempts to gain support from two clear constituencies: Halo fans and RTS lovers. But at the end of the day, can it appeal to both groups? In short, the answer seems to be yes.

Ensemble has clearly captured the classic Halo feel. Every detail is there from exploding methane tanks on the grunts to the way the suspension works on a warthog. It’s a different type of gameplay, but from a design standpoint it’s exactly what you expect. If you felt Halo’s design wasn’t real enough in the past, this won’t change your mind in the least. It’s all about excitement and some pretty sweet explosions.

In the game there are two playable factions, each with their own unique set of units and powers. All the traditional units from the past Halo games are there: grunts, elites, ghosts, marines, scorpions, etc. Even more interesting are the new entries into the universe. The new units are both exciting and varied, and I can’t help but hope Grizzly Tanks are here to stay. Each faction also has three leaders with different powers and special troops.

The game’s presentation is extremely fluid and well-crafted, and that carries all the way over to the cut scenes and plot. Without going into details, it’s easy to say that you won’t miss Master Chief. The new characters are fairly well developed, and the plot is strong enough to hold your attention. It’s exactly what you’d expect from a Halo title; not quite the next great American tale, but it sure is entertaining. And it helps that the cut scenes look absolutely gorgeous, as CGI rivals just about any other game on the system.