Halo spartan assault windows phone

I got a chance to try out an early version on Windows Phone 8, and while it certainly looks like a mini version of Halo , the controls can be a little awkward on a touch screen. Shooters are incredibly hard to do well with touch , but on Spartan Assault you have a circular area on the left-hand side that controls movement, and an identical area on the right-hand side lets you aim and fire weapons, pick up and use items, and get in and out of vehicles.

While I was unable to test the Windows 8 version, I found it hard to aim with the Windows Phone version. There's a slight swipe gesture you have to trigger at the same time as aiming.

It's not ideal because running while shooting gets complicated, but there's a soft lock auto-aim so you get used to it. If you're a Halo fan then the layout and top-down action will remind you of Halo Wars. This is obviously a shooter, and not a real-time strategy, but I kept being reminded of Halo Wars as I ran around blasting Grunts.

Aside from the gameplay, Spartan Assault is set between the events of Halo 3 and Halo 4 , with a focus on the backstory of Human-Covenant wars.

Along the way there are ways to upgrade your weapons and enable performance boosters by using in-app purchases for credits. Although it's mainly designed for touch, the Windows 8 version works with a keyboard and mouse so you're not forced to use a touchscreen tablet or notebook there. As this is an Xbox Live game on Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8, you'll earn achievements throughout the game that add to your overall gamer score. More interesting still, if you play the game on both phone and PC, your state will sync between the two devices.

There are some unlockable items for Halo 4 as well, with emblems, XP, and new achievements available. The real story here is that this is launching exclusively on Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 as Microsoft continues to push its mobile and tablet platforms.

I can't help but feel that a game like this should have arrived when the Surface launched in October, but it's encouraging to see it finally available. Microsoft continues to push a more common experience and app platform between Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 — and the game sync is evidence of that — but Halo Spartan Assault is a reminder of just how separated Windows is, for now.

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Cybersecurity Mobile Policy Privacy Scooters. Phones Laptops Headphones Cameras. Tablets Smartwatches Speakers Drones. Accessories Buying Guides How-tos Deals. Health Energy Environment. It fits into the overall Halo storyline between Halo 3 and Halo 4. You can view the trailer embedded below. There are 25 missions, 40 in-game achievements, and parts that you can unlock in the Windows Phone game that will be reflected in your Halo 4 Xbox experience.

Like I have wanted to see with cross platform from Microsoft, you can pause Halo on your phone and then pick up where you left off on your PC or tablet. I cannot wait to play on my new Lumia and Surface Pro. I don't know about you, but I am very excited about this game release and my Windows Phone is turning into my primary gaming platform with solid game titles.

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