Halo Wars to Get Strategic Options DLC Soon

Kris Erickson • Apr 21, 2009 • Comments ()

It seems that massive sales inevitably signal the arrival of downloadable content, and Halo Wars is no exception. Last month, the franchise spinoff sold an amazing 639,000 copies in North America, eclipsing even the highly-anticipated PS3 exclusive Killzone 2. Reminding us that Halo Wars is the best selling real-time strategy game on any current generation console, Microsoft today announced the “Strategic Options” Game Add-on Pack. This paid DLC will be available over Xbox Live sometime "in the coming weeks" for an unannounced price.

According to the publisher, Strategic Options will extend the core game for Halo Wars fans with three new game modes which dramatically change the multiplayer experience and challenge players to rethink their battle tactics. The three new modes include:

• Keepaway Mode is the “Halo Wars” adaptation of Capture the Flag. Teams will battle it out to capture a free-roaming Forerunner Sentinel to score points before the other team. Capture three sentinels to claim victory.

• Tug of War Mode is all about having a stronger army than the opponent. Defeating enemies is essential, but success is determined by a combination of the army, buildings and resources left standing in the end.

• In Reinforcement Mode, all active battle units are provided in successive waves. Players must adapt their tactics and use the ever-changing set of units to outwit and outlast the enemy.

For the completionists out there, Strategic Options also adds four new Achievements worth a total of 100 points:

• “One and Done” (30 points): Score the winning point in a game of Keepaway against Legendary A.I. opponents

• “Pull Hard, Pull Deep” (20 points): Win and never trail in a Tug of War game

• “Freak on a Streak” (20 points): Gain at least 15 population from a single wave in a Reinforcement game

• “Living Loving Bug” (30 points): Obtain a Scarab during a Reinforcement game