We don’t talk about Red Stripe Deals much anymore, but next week’s sale game is too hot not to celebrate. Major Nelson has just announced that the Windows Phone and Windows 8 versions of Halo: Spartan Assault will go on sale for $1.99 from April 3-9. The tablet and phone versions of Spartan Assault usually go for seven bucks apiece, making next week the prime time to scoop one or both of them up.
Halo: Spartan Assault is a twin-stick shooter based on the popular Halo franchise. Microsoft really seems to be pushing the game right now. The Xbox One and Xbox 360 versions have just dropped to $9.99 each (probably permanently), and the Steam version of the game will debut next week as well. More details after the break!
The Halo: Spartan Assault hierarchy
Windows Phone version
Spartan Assault first debuted on Windows Phone and Windows 8 last summer. Microsoft kind of bungled the US release of the Windows Phone version by making it a timed exclusive to Verizon. Non-Verizon customers had to download from other regions or just wait things out. Thankfully the exclusivity window ended and everyone can get it now.
If you were going to get only one or the other, I highly recommend Windows 8 over Windows Phone. The Windows Phone version suffers from absolutely terrible touch controls that never got fixed with an update. The Windows 8 version’s touch controls aren’t great either, but it supports both Xbox 360 controllers and mouse and keyboard as well. So at least that version offers superior control options for people who desire them. See our review for a full comparison.
Xbox One co-op mode
The Xbox One version followed on Christmas Eve. The big-screen version added a new online co-op mode (sadly without local multiplayer). It started out a bit buggy, but a recent patch set things mostly in order. Thanks to the online mode, best graphical performance, 1,000 Gamerscore of Achievements, and automatic controller support, the Xbox One version is the one to get.
Just this January, the Xbox 360 version followed its Xbox One brother. The 360 version (the only one I haven’t played) is feature identical to the Xbox One game, except with only 400 Gamerscore for its Achievements. Both versions launched at $14.99, a too-high price for what essentially amounts to a moderately-budgeted phone game with a few odd design choices. The new price of $9.99 is more appropriate for a game of Spartan Assault’s scope.
Xbox One co-op mode
All four of the aforementioned versions of Halo: Spartan Assault share progress via cloud saves. When you load up one game after having played another, you’ll find your credits and experience transfer seamlessly. The actual process of beating levels and completing challenges must be repeated on each game, but that’s part of the fun. And each one offers its own Achievement list, so Achievement hunters will certainly find it worthwhile to pick up one or more versions of this Halo.
The Windows Phone and Windows 8 versions of Spartan Assault will be on sale for $1.99 from Thursday, April 3-Wednesday the 9th. Here are Store links for each version (current pricing reflected) to make things easier:
- Halo: Spartan Assault – Windows Phone 8 – 716 MB – $6.99 – Store Link
- Halo: Spartan Assault – Windows 8 and RT – 1,078 MB – $6.99 – Store Link
- Halo: Spartan Assault – Xbox One – 2.53 GB – $9.99 – Store Link
- Halo: Spartan Assault – Xbox 360 – 2.18 GB – $9.99 – Store Link
Full Steam ahead
Steam screenshot
Non-Microsoft enthusiasts complained loudly when Halo: Spartan Assault debuted on Windows 8 but not Windows 7. Those haters can soon stop hatin’ because the Windows 7 version of Spartan Assault will at last launch next week on Valve’s popular Steam digital distribution platform.
The Steam version of Spartan Assault contains the same content as the Windows 8 game, meaning it lacks the console versions’ online co-op mode. As for Xbox Live cloud integration and Achievements, those seem unlikely as they don’t appear on the game’s Steam store page. We’ll know for sure when it launches on Friday, April 4.
