History VideoGame / HaloWars

-->'''Arbiter (to Forge):''' Like the rest of your race, weak and undisciplined. *Picks up Forge by the head and slams him into a vehicle.*
-->*Scene cuts to Spartans demolishing the remainder of Ripa's minions.*

* OrphanedSeries: Or game, at least. For six years, as soon as Robot Entertainment left, Creator/ThreeFourThreeIndustries treated it as a distraction at best. However, a sequel was ultimately announced for a Winter 2017 release on Xbox One and Windows, bringing back hope that the series might continue even beyond that. Notably, ''VideoGame/HaloWars2'' will be employing a TimeSkip in order to bring the ''Halo Wars'' cast into the ''VideoGame/Halo5Guardians'' era.

* AbortedArc: After accessing the relic on Harvest, Anders sees it points to another relic in Arcadia, and three levels are spent smashing through Covenant to find out what's in those ruins. But it's never found out what was in them, as [[spoiler:Anders is kidnapped and the ''Spirit of Fire'' chases her to a Forerunner shield world.]]

* AxCrazy: The Arbiter of this game, unlike [[{{VideoGame/Halo 2}} his more calm and rational successor]].

** Marines you can purchase in-game fit as well, but the ODST's take the cake.
* BittersweetEnding: [[spoiler: The ''Spirit of Fire'' crew manage to destroy the Shield World and prevent the Covenant from acquiring the Forerunner ships on the planet, but they had to sacrifice Sgt. Forge and their slipspace drive to do so, meaning that they have to go into cryostasis without anyway of getting home. At least, not anytime soon.]]

* BondOneLiner: "And for the record, I'd have kicked your ass the first time if the lady hadn't stopped me!"
* BoringButPractical: Warthogs. While they start off like dung, they can be outfitted with Gauss Cannons and troopers on the side with grenade launchers.
** Also the basic Marines, which can be turned into ODST Troopers.
* TheCavalry: 20 minutes into "Arcadia Outskirts", Spartan Omega Team will come to give your army a hand. (Funnily enough, this is ''enforced''; beating all the Covenant before Omega arrives will not end the mission so Omega can "rescue" you.)

* ClownCarBase: The Elephant. You can train 40 squads - that's 80 flamethrowers or 240 marines out of it. despite the fact it looks like it can hold no more than 20, maybe 30. and even that's pushing it. In fact, if you kill off your guys, you can train even more units out to infinity from this wondrous pachyderm. An achievement requires you to train 100 infantry out of an elephant in a campaign level.

* TheDragon: The previous Arbiter on Harvest seems to have taken up this role for Regret and the other Hierarchs.
** DragonInChief: He's much more threatening than they are as well.

* EnemyChatter: In true Halo fashion, units (infantry in particular) have a staggering array of context-sensitive lines - they complain about the cold on snow-filled maps, they cry out in panic when a friendly leader or powerful unit dies or an enemy leader attacks them, and they cheer when they're winning.

* {{Expy}}: The Grizzly Tank=[[VideoGame/CommandAndConquerTiberianSeries Mammoth Tank]]. They each have 4 sets of tracks, 2 cannons, and crush anything when deployed en masse.

* TheGreatestStoryNeverTold
* HarderThanHard: Legendary difficulty, which features endless respawns of Covenant dropships every minute and dropping a dozen Hunters outside your base.

* HeroicSacrifice / UnplannedManualDetonation: [[spoiler:Sergeant Forge stays behind to detonate the Shaw-Fujikawa drive bomb]].

** The UNSC Cyclops, which is based on the Mark III version of MJOLNIR PoweredArmor. It's not as big as the later Mantis from ''VideoGame/{{Halo 4}}'' but still towers over humans and some vehicles.

* ObviousRulePatch: Vultures and Scarabs are already so powerful that they can not be driven by Spartans (aside from one campaign mission for the latter.)

* OrphanedSeries: Or game, at least. For six years, as soon as Robot Entertainment left, 343 Industries treated it as a distraction at best. However, a sequel was ultimately announced for a Fall 2016 on Xbox One, bringing back hope that the series will continue. Notably, the sequel will be employing a TimeSkip in order to bring the game characters into the ''VideoGame/Halo5Guardians'' era.

* PoweredArmor: The Cyclops powered exoskeletons, and the Spartan MJOLNIR suits of course.

* PsychoForHire: The Arbiter, who is described ''by his own friends'' as evil and picked up right out of prison, to boot.
* ShoutOut: The ''Pillar of Autumn'' is mentioned when the ''Spirit Of Fire'' arrives at Arcadia. It aids in deploying Rhinos for the third mission there.
** The UNSC Vulture Gunship will sometimes say [[Film/{{Aliens}} "Stay Frosty"]]

* TheStinger: Beating the game on Legendary will play a voice clip of [[spoiler:Serina waking up Captain Cutter from cryosleep, telling something has happened.]]

* UnitsNotToScale: Due to gameplay limitations, the Scarab is much smaller here than in ''Halo 2'' and ''Halo 3'', but everything else is the same size the rest of the series depicts it as.
* [[WakeUpCallBoss Wake Up Call Mission]]: The first three missions won't give you too much trouble. Mission 4, Arcadia City, will come as a shock - protecting multiple fragile targets and managing at least 2 bases, all whilst under almost constant enemy attack, serves as a notice to players that things only get harder.

--> "[[CaptainsLog Captain's Report]], Feburary 4th, 2531: Five years. Five, long, years. That's how long it took us to get Harvest back. At first it was going well. Then setback after setback, loss after loss, made what was going to be a quick and decisive win into five years of hell. Of course that's all Harvest is today. It's hell down there. But now it's ours again."

* DefeatMeansFriendship: [[AllThereInTheManual A collectable Black Box reveals]] that Douglas-042 got into an argument with Forge after [[spoiler:Anders was captured by the Covenant]]. The Spartan recommended that the Covenant ship be destroyed to prevent classified information from getting out, leading Forge to fight him and ''hold his own'' against the SuperSoldier. From then on, Forge and Douglas always ate together in the mess hall.

** Spartan Group Omega; Spartan II super soldiers. Distinguished by their roughly 7 ft. height, olive-colored PoweredArmor, and ice-cold combat dialogue.

[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMiiffLQcvE A sequel was announced]] in 2015, which will be available on UsefulNotes/XboxOne and Windows 10.

** ''ComicBook/HaloEscalation'' [[spoiler:may have turned this into a downer ending, depending on what happens next. The final panel of issue six shows empty cryotubes on the ''Spirit of Fire'' while Flood infection forms are floating around. Oh, and the ship is flying into a planet...]] However, ''Halo Wars 2'', which takes place ''after VideoGame/Halo5Guardians'', seems to indicate that the ''Spirit'' and its crew survived that incident mostly intact.

A RealTimeStrategy spin-off of the ''{{Franchise/Halo}}'' games released in 2009 by [[VideoGame/AgeOfEmpires Ensemble Studios]]. It was toted as an ambitious attempt to bring the RTS genre to consoles[[note]] though it is not the only console RTS, with other examples including ''{{VideoGame/Stormrise}}'', ''VideoGame/UniverseAtWar'', and arguably ''[[VideoGame/SupremeCommander Supreme Commander 2]]''[[/note]] and fulfilled the original concept of ''Halo'' as an RTS series instead of a FirstPersonShooter.

The game takes place towards the beginning of the Human-Covenant War in 2530, roughly twenty years before ''VideoGame/HaloCombatEvolved'' and its sequels. It centers on the crew of the UNSC ''Spirit of Fire'', a former colony ship turned warship that uncovers a plot by the Covenant to accelerate their genocidal campaign on humanity through some newfound Forerunner treasures. The prequel setting draws from all corners of the ''Halo'' expanded universe, including more Spartans, preceding Arbiters, other human colonies, and even a Forerunner shield world. It also introduces numerous new units and vehicles, from enormous Vulture airships, to Cyclops mecha, and mini-walker Locusts, among others. Being an RTS also dramatically increases the scale of ''Halo'' battles. Thought fighting two Hunters as the Master Chief was a challenge? How about twenty of them, supplemented by a fleet of Banshees?

Multiplayer allows one to play as the Covenant as well as the UNSC, and offers different bonus and exclusive units based on the leader of the player's army, whether upgrading units quicker, creating mobile mini-bases, allowing ODST troopers dropped across the field, or even calling a Covenant ship to rain fire from above.

** ''ComicBook/HaloEscalation'' [[spoiler:may have turned this into a downer ending, depending on what happens next. The final panel of issue six shows empty cryotubes on the ''Spirit of Fire'' while Flood infection forms are floating around. Oh, and the ship is flying into a planet...]]
** However, this might be a lie, as at the very least, Cutter is shown to be alive and well, facing off against Atriox in ''Halo Wars 2.''

* OrphanedSeries: Or game, at least. For six years, as soon as Robot Entertainment left, 343 Industries treated it as a distraction at best. However, a sequel was ultimately announced for a Fall 2016 on Xbox One, bringing back hope that the series will continue. Notably, the sequel will be employing a TimeSkip in order to bring the game characters into the Halo5 era.

* OrphanedSeries: Or game, at least. For six years, as soon as Robot Entertainment left, 343 Industries treated it as a distraction at best. However, a sequel was ultimately announced for a Fall 2016 on Xbox One, bringing back hope that the series will continue. Notably, the sequel will be employing a Time Skip in order to bring the game characters into the Halo 5 era.

* OrphanedSeries: Or game, at least. For six years, as soon as Robot Entertainment left, 343 Industries treated it as a distraction at best. However, a sequel was ultimately announced for a Fall 2016 on Xbox One, bringing back hope that the series will continue.

->"''This is Spartan Group Omega. If they want war, we'll give them war.''"

* AbortedArc: After accessing the relic on Harvest, Anders sees it points to another relic in Arcadia, and three levels are spent smashing through Covenant to find out what's in those ruins. But it's never found out what was in them, as [[spoiler:Anders is kidnapped and the Spirit of Fire chases her to a Forerunner shield world.]]

* NoCampaignForTheWicked: Ensemble wasn't even going to consider having a Covenant campaign in ''Halo Wars'' unless they were some kind of rebel heretic faction, and therefore presumably not evil enough to fall under this trope.

* OrphanedSeries: Or game, at least. For six years, as soon as Robot Entertainment left, 343 Industries treated it as a distraction at best. However, a sequel was ultimately announced for a Fall 2026 on Xbox One, bringing back hope that the series will continue.

* OrphanedSeries: Or game, at least. As soon as Robot Entertainment left, 343 Industries treated it as a distraction at best. However, a sequel was announced for a Fall 2016 release for Xbox One.

* OrphanedSeries: Or game, at least. As soon as Robot Entertainment left, 343 Industries treated it as a distraction at best.

[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMiiffLQcvE A sequel was announced]] in 2015, continuing the story of the ''Spirit of Fire'''s crew.

A RealTimeStrategy spin-off of the main ''{{Franchise/Halo}}'' games released in 2009 by [[VideoGame/AgeOfEmpires Ensemble Studios]]. It was toted as an ambitious attempt to bring the RTS genre to consoles[[note]] though it is not the only console RTS, with other examples including ''{{VideoGame/Stormrise}}'', ''VideoGame/UniverseAtWar'', and arguably ''[[VideoGame/SupremeCommander Supreme Commander 2]]''[[/note]] and fulfilled the original concept of ''Halo'' as an RTS series instead of a FirstPersonShooter.

->"''[[BadassBoast This is Spartan Group Omega. If they want war, we'll give them war.]]''"

A RealTimeStrategy spin-off of the main ''{{Franchise/Halo}}'' games by [[VideoGame/AgeOfEmpires Ensemble Studios]]. It was toted as an ambitious attempt to bring the RTS genre to consoles[[note]] though it is not the only console RTS, with other examples including ''{{VideoGame/Stormrise}}'', ''VideoGame/UniverseAtWar'', and arguably ''[[VideoGame/SupremeCommander Supreme Commander 2]]''[[/note]] and fulfilled the original concept of ''Halo'' as an RTS series instead of a FirstPersonShooter.

The game takes place towards the beginning of the Human-Covenant War in 2530, roughly twenty years before ''VideoGame/HaloCombatEvolved'' and its sequels. It centers on the crew of the UNSC ''Spirit of Fire'', a former colony ship turned warship that uncovers a plot by the Covenant to accelerate their genocidal campaign on humanity through some newfound Forerunner treasures. The prequel setting draws from corners of the ''Halo'' expanded universe, such as more Spartans, preceding Arbiters, other human colonies, and even a Forerunner shield world. It also introduces numerous new units and vehicles, from enormous Vulture airships, to Cyclops mecha, and mini-walker Locusts, among others. Being an RTS also dramatically increases the scale of ''Halo'' battles. Thought fighting two Hunters as the Master Chief was a challenge? How about twenty of them, supplemented by a fleet of Banshees?

* ShootTheMedic: Engineers are priority target when fighting against the Covenant, as enough of them can heal units faster than you can damage them. Since they are air units, Vampires excel against them.
* TheStinger: Beating the game on Legendary will play a voice clip of [[spoiler:Serena waking up Captain Cutter from cryosleep, telling something has happened.]]

A RealTimeStrategy spin-off of the main ''{{Franchise/Halo}}'' games by [[VideoGame/AgeOfEmpires Ensemble Studios]]. It was toted as an ambitious attempt to bring the RTS genre to consoles, though it is not the only console RTS, with other examples including ''{{VideoGame/Stormrise}}'', ''VideoGame/UniverseAtWar'', and arguably ''[[VideoGame/SupremeCommander Supreme Commander 2]]''.

The game takes place towards the beginning of the Human-Covenant War in 2530, roughly twenty years before ''VideoGame/HaloCombatEvolved'' and its sequels. It centers on the crew of the UNSC ''Spirit of Fire'', a former colony ship turned warship that uncovers a plot by the Covenant to accelerate their genocidal campaign on humanity through some newfound Forerunner treasures. The prequel setting draws from corners of the ''Halo'' expanded universe, such as more Spartans, preceding Arbiters, other human colonies, and even a Forerunner shield world. It also creates numerous new units and vehicles, from enormous Vulture airships, Cyclops mecha, and mini-walker Locusts, among others. Being an RTS also dramatically increases the scale of ''Halo'' battles. Thought fighting two Hunters as the Master Chief was a challenge? How about twenty of them, supplemented by a fleet of Banshees?

* KillItWithFire: The human forces evidently learned that flamethrowers are an excellent way to deal with the Flood spores, so your base defenses can include them.

* BadassNormal: Sergeant Forge. Not just any marine can face an Arbiter one-on-one and [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome WIN]].
** That's not all. One of the game's unlockables hints he got into fight with a Spartan and ''held his own''.

* BittersweetEnding: [[spoiler: The ''Spirit of Fire'' crew manage to destroy the Shield World and prevent the Covenant from acquiring the Forerunner ships on the planet, but they had to sacrifice Sgt. Forge and their slipspace drive to do so, meaning that they have to go into cryo-stasis without anyway of getting home. At least, not anytime soon.]]
** ''ComicBook/HaloEscalation'' [[spoiler:may have turned this into a downer ending, depending on what happens next. The final panel of issue six shows empty cryo-tubes on the ''Spirit of Fire'' while Flood infection forms are floating around. Oh, and the ship is flying into a planet...]]

* BoringButPractical: Warthogs. While they start off like dung, they can be outfitted with Gauss Cannons and troopers on the side with grenade launchers. Also the basic Marines, which can be turned into ODST Troopers.

* EarthShatteringKaboom:[[spoiler:The Forerunner Shield World is destroyed by having the ''Spirit of Fire'''s slipspace drive overload in its sun, causing it to go supernova and destroy the planet.]]
* EliteMooks: Spartan Group Omega; Spartan II super soldiers. Distinguished by their roughly 7 ft. height, olive-colored PoweredArmor , and ice-cold combat dialogue.

* ItHasBeenAnHonor: [[spoiler:Jerome to Sgt. Forge]].

* BoringButPractical: Warthogs. while they start off like dung, they can be outfitted with Gauss Cannons and Troopers on the side with Grenade Launchers. Also the basic Marines, which can be turned into ODST Troopers.
* TheCavalry: 20 minutes into "Arcadia Outskirts", Spartan Omega Team will come to give your army a hand.

* HumongousMecha: The Cyclops, which is based on the Mark III version of MJOLNIR PoweredArmor. It's not as big as most examples but still towers over humans and some vehicles.

* PsychoForHire: The Arbiter, who is described ''by his own friends'' as "Evil" and picked up right out of prison, to boot.
* ShoutOut: The ''Pillar of Autumn'' is mentioned when the ''Spirit Of Fire'' arrives at Arcadia.

* YouCantGoHomeAgain: Might be the fate of the crew of ''The Spirit Of Fire''.

The game takes place towards the beginning of the Human-Covenant War in 2530, roughly twenty years before ''VideoGame/HaloCombatEvolved'' and its sequels. It centers on the crew of the UNSC ''Spirit of Fire'', a former colony ship turned warship that uncovers a plot by the Covenant to accelerate their genocidal campaign on humanity through some newfound Forerunner treasures. The prequel setting draws from corners of the ''Halo'' expanded universe, such as more Spartans, preceding Arbiters, other human colonies, and even a Forerunner shield world. It also creates numerous new units and vehicles, from enormous Vulture airships, Cyclops mecha, and mini-walker Locusts, among others. Being an RTS also dramatically increases the scale of ''Halo'' battles. Thought fighting two Hunters as the Chief was a challenge? How about twenty of them, supplemented by a fleet of Banshees?