...and after playing it a few days, I've fallen in love.
I know this thread is off the topic of halo by a mile... but it is an RTS, and I wanted to share a few things that I'm recently getting used to once more.
Micromanagement: Halo Wars micro is almost non-existant compared to RA3 and the RTS's of my past. I can't believe I tried to compare them in my head.
3 Factions not 2 factions and 6 leaders: There are no leaders, but the three factions are so different you wouldn't be surprised if they were from different games. Okay, not entirely, but they are very unique. They build buildings in different ways that can greatly effect gameplay, there are multiple counter units (almost every unit hard counters something), there are counter units that hard counter more than one type unit, there is a much wider array of powers, and the special abilities not only effect what some units do, but for other units it changes what type of unit they are completely: some go from land to air, others from sea to air, but most ground units are amphibious with no ability needed.
Pace: Not only is the pace great for an average RTS player, but it is at times much faster than HW. Some do complain that it's too slow, but eh...
Rushing: and plenty of it. One of the Allie's simplest rushes is a build that starts with 2 barracks that pump out 20 peace keepers (equal to about 20 rpg marines) in under 2 minutes.
The main thing I have a problem with in this game (meaning HW) is that some players seem to want to rush tanks, or hornets, or HAWKS, or even ODST and then they come on here to figure out the best BO (as though it were like playing chess)! This doesn't work, and it shouldn't in HW (I'm glad it doesn't). One thing you learn right away is there are starting units that you can train, and you have to scout immediately to find out which ones you need. When I say immediately, I mean right when the game starts... every time, no waiting around for 2 minutes. I mean, if I could rush to Athena tanks (basically mobile mac blasting units) in under 3 minutes I would, I soooo would, but it's not gonna happen. Better yet, give me 1 Apoc (the grizzly... except it can insta kill other tanks by running over them) at 2 minutes and I'll never touch another faction.
Anyways, that's my little bit on HW and RA3. I hope to get Kane's Wrath soon. Did you know Jeremy from purepwnage actually helped balance Tiberium Wars and Kane's Wrath? I thought that was kind of cool, not a selling point though.
"You've killed John Belushi, Chris Farley, Mitch Hedberg, Richard Pryor, and George Carlin. Congratulations Mr. Cook, you've killed comedy, will you please stop now?"
-R. Gabriel Turner