Halo: Spartan Assault

Halo Spartan Assault is an addictive shooter that retains enough of the look and elements of the Halo universe to please the most hardcore Halo fans, despite a few minor annoyances.

67%Game Brain Score

story, gameplay

grinding, monetization

75% User Score Based on 4,450 reviews

Critic Score 66%Based on 22 reviews

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About

Halo: Spartan Assault is a single player and multiplayer shooter game with warfare and science fiction themes. It was developed by Vanguard Games and was released on April 4, 2014. It received mostly positive reviews from both critics and players.

"Halo: Spartan Assault" is a top-down shooter game set in the Halo universe. Players take control of Spartans as they complete various missions, battling against the Covenant and Flood. The game features a campaign mode with over 30 missions, as well as online leaderboards and a variety of weapons and abilities to use. It's a great addition to the Halo series for fans looking for a different perspective on the iconic franchise.

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75%

Audience ScoreBased on 4,450 reviews

story372 positive mentions

grinding72 negative mentions

story
2,001 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
74%
7%
The story in "Halo: Spartan Assault" is generally considered minimal and lacks depth, primarily serving as a backdrop for the game's short missions. Players engage in a series of bite-sized scenarios that are framed as training simulations for new Spartans during the Covenant War, with the narrative delivered through text boxes and brief cutscenes. While some players appreciate the connection to the broader Halo lore, many find the plot uninspired and repetitive, with little emotional engagement or significant character development.
- “The game is built in a classic Halo way, with different segments and missions/tasks to do, and you advance through them in chronological order.”
- “The story is all framed as a training sim, or 'a fun game you can play in your spare time,' aboard the UNSC Infinity.”
- “The story itself is entertaining enough, following the various battles across planets against the Covenant, while the gameplay is fast-paced and engaging.”
- “But instead, everything about this game feels cheap and low effort, from most levels featuring no music at all and the story being delivered entirely by text boxes and barely animated images.”
- “The story is bland as one could get; as a halo fan, I'd get some references here and there but I've really just found myself skipping through all the five cutscenes this game could afford.”
- “The story, voice acting, and level design are of a subpar quality, especially when compared to other games in the franchise.”
gameplay
701 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
58%
7%
The gameplay of *Halo: Spartan Assault* is a mixed bag, with many players finding it enjoyable yet simplistic, often likening it to a mobile game port. While the twin-stick shooter mechanics and visuals are praised, the repetitive missions, lack of depth, and absence of multiplayer options detract from the overall experience. Despite its casual appeal and some fun elements, the game struggles to meet the expectations set by the broader Halo franchise, leaving some players feeling underwhelmed.
- “It's not a lengthy game but it does have great replayability and tight gameplay.”
- “The gameplay is fun and interesting, aiming for assault ops completion and high scores for gold medals always keeps you in tension.”
- “The gameplay is solid and everything runs smoothly; it does what you tell it to do without any problems.”
- “Halo: Spartan Assault offers a challenge without reward and, with an unimpressive representation of the Halo universe, will bore players to death in the middle of gameplay.”
- “From the repetitive gameplay to the lack of an interesting story, Spartan Assault is kind of a chore to play through.”
- “The gameplay itself, while capturing some of the Halo essence, is banal.”
graphics
469 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
49%
48%
3%
The graphics of "Halo: Spartan Assault" are generally well-received, with many players appreciating the nostalgic art style that aligns with the classic Halo franchise. While some reviews note that the visuals are decent for a mobile port and feature crisp designs, others mention limited graphical options and occasional glitches. Overall, the game is praised for its solid graphics and engaging environments, making it visually appealing despite being a top-down shooter.
- “The visuals were surprisingly good, some of the environments were quite pretty and I wish they were in a main Halo game.”
- “The graphics looked genuine to the Halo franchise and I was very impressed with how well it looked for being a multiplatform title.”
- “The graphics are really crisp and fit into the Halo universe well, the maps are well thought out.”
- “Graphics options are minimal, with just resolution, anti-aliasing and refresh rate settings.”
- “Halo: Spartan Assault is a fairly mediocre twin-stick shooter with extremely short missions/levels, some frustrating segments, mediocre graphics and a story that only die-hard Halo fans will fully understand.”
- “I'm a big Halo fan and have been with the franchise from day one and I can very confidently say this game was boring as hell...the controls are clunky, the graphics are okay and the UI is really cheap looking.”
music
212 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
49%
50%
1%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising the high-quality soundtrack composed by Tom Salta, which aligns well with the iconic Halo series. While some players find the music to be relaxing and fitting, others criticize it for being repetitive or not matching the action of the gameplay. Overall, the soundtrack is generally regarded as a highlight, contributing to the game's atmosphere, despite some concerns about its originality and placement within the game.
- “What really attracts me to this game and its sequel are their soundtracks, composed by Tom Salta.”
- “The gameplay is a ton of fun, the visuals and music are incredible, and overall it's just a really well-polished game.”
- “The soundtrack is fantastic!!!”
- “But instead, everything about this game feels cheap and low effort, from most levels featuring no music at all and the story being delivered entirely by text boxes and barely animated images.”
- “The only problem with this is that the soundtrack to the game is rather unoriginal, and also not really thought out very well.”
- “Most of the music is the choral stuff, mostly known from title screens and storytelling cutscenes and feels somewhat out of place when you're charging across the field with a fleet of tanks, when the music in previous games has some very action-paced 'heavier' tracks that could have been included in Spartan Assault and weren't.”
replayability
172 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
70%
6%
The game's replayability is generally considered moderate, with many players finding value in pursuing achievements, gold stars, and high scores across its short missions. While the core gameplay is brief, the inclusion of challenges, leaderboards, and customization options provides enough incentive for players to return, especially for those who enjoy perfectionist playstyles. However, some reviewers noted that the lack of personal progression and multiplayer options limits the overall replay value.
- “It's not a lengthy game but it does have great replayability and tight gameplay.”
- “Surprisingly, there's also quite a bit of replayability, whether it's trying to get gold stars on each mission, going for all the achievements and medals, attempting missions with the 'extra credit' parameters, farming for XP to buy upgrades, or playing with various handicaps (skulls) turned on.”
- “The campaign while short is extremely fun and highly replayable including the standard level clearing medals and dozens of additional objectives.”
- “Replayability is limited, with high score goals available for all levels, but no personal progression to speak of; gameplay and equipment variety does not evolve throughout the game.”
- “The game is simple, but some of the challenges they add for replay value are frustratingly tedious.”
- “There is virtually no replayability in this game unless you strive to waste a large portion of your life maintaining a spot on the global leaderboards.”
grinding
78 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
4%
4%
92%
The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being tedious and repetitive, often requiring players to replay missions multiple times for minimal rewards. While some find enjoyment in the simple gameplay and occasional challenges, many reviewers note that the grind can feel shallow and unfulfilling, detracting from the overall experience. Despite its fun moments, the grinding mechanics are seen as a significant drawback, leading to a bland and monotonous gameplay experience.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “A lot of grinding.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “There are some score challenge hurdles and mission-specific goals (of which many are really stupid and require farming the level over and over for virtually no reward).”
- “Assault ops are a main way to acquire all achievements, and they are increasingly tedious to do in some cases, requiring many, *many* runs of a single mission to fully complete due to enemy count per mission run.”
- “The game is extremely short and after a time, the levels become very tedious.”
monetization
42 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
7%
69%
24%
The game's monetization has been a point of contention among users, with many noting the absence of microtransactions compared to its mobile version, which is seen as a positive change. While some players appreciate the shift to an XP system for unlocking weapons and abilities, others express concerns about the potential for future monetization and the overall feeling of the game being a cash grab. Overall, the removal of microtransactions has been welcomed, but skepticism remains regarding the game's long-term monetization strategy.
- “The polish and presentation let you know very quickly this is a mobile port, but it's refreshing to see a game without in-app purchases.”
- “Microtransactions were removed.”
- “This is probably the place to get this game: steam support, trading cards, it often goes on cheap sales and it has no microtransactions.”
- “Control feels bad, the missions are short but feel long, and the microtransactions built into the concept drag down your customization options.”
- “Clearly just a cash grab.”
- “I was expecting this game to be nothing more than a shoddy mobile port and a cash-grab attempt by Microsoft using their most successful game franchise to appeal to casual gamers and nickel & dime them with microtransactions.”
stability
37 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
78%
The game's stability is highly inconsistent, with numerous users reporting severe issues such as complete system freezes and black screens upon startup, requiring a reboot to resolve. While some players experienced smooth gameplay without any glitches or crashes, others highlighted significant bugs and control issues, particularly with twin-stick controls. Overall, the game appears to be a mixed bag, with a notable divide between those who encounter major stability problems and those who find it runs well.
- “This game runs great, even if your PC is not a gaming PC.”
- “Runs great, a few video options to choose from, and plays equally well with mouse and keyboard or controller.”
- “And rather bug-free, I might add.”
- “This game has a bug right now where you get a black screen, and it completely freezes your PC when you start it.”
- “When I hit start to select the controller, again the game freezes completely, not allowing me to progress.”
- “However, the numerous glitches and bugs irritated me to the point I can't stand it.”
optimization
34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
50%
9%
The optimization of Halo: Spartan Assault has received mixed reviews; while some players praise its smooth performance and good optimization options even on lower-end PCs, others criticize it as poorly optimized, rendering it unplayable for some users. Overall, the game runs well with minimal loading times and offers a solid gameplay experience, but performance issues may arise after extended play sessions.
- “It runs smoothly even on my bad computer, and loading screens tend not to take very long.”
- “Everything runs smoothly and has good optimization options as well.”
- “With extremely well scaled and optimized graphics - that don't fail to disappoint at high settings - and great gameplay using a keyboard and mouse combination, one can't argue against it being a good port.”
- “Halo: Spartan Assault is an unplayable piece of garbage that's horrendously optimized for PC.”
- “What makes it feel like an arcade game is the fact that every mission is timed and your performance per mission is ranked as achieving bronze, silver, or gold status based on how fast you complete the levels and how many points you achieve, which are affected by multipliers, such as going hollow (zero health, only shields) or such: challenge handicaps per mission.”
- “With extremely well-scaled and optimized graphics - that don't fail to disappoint at high settings, by the way - and great gameplay using a keyboard and mouse combination, one can't argue against it being a good port.”
atmosphere
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
63%
10%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its strong alignment with the Halo series, featuring well-crafted visuals, immersive soundtracks, and a sense of scale that enhances the experience. While some reviewers note that it may not fully replicate the classic Halo feel, the overall tone, artistic direction, and attention to detail create a compelling environment that resonates with die-hard fans. Despite its brevity, the atmosphere effectively captures the essence of the Halo universe, making it an enjoyable experience for those familiar with the lore.
- “Though it is a short game, I enjoyed the atmosphere that is provided as I ventured through Draetheus V and its moon.”
- “They nailed the music and the atmosphere; some of the locations and backdrops are extremely well done and really show the scale of the conflict.”
- “Fun little game, with cool atmosphere, nice artwork, and great soundtrack - definitely has the Halo look and feel.”
- “The only people who should bother with this are the die-hard Halo fans who love the art, atmosphere, and lore.”
- “It may just be my devotion to the series and being a huge, life-long fan of the universe that is fogging up my glasses of reasoning, or it may be the atmosphere the game immediately creates with the unmistakable soundtrack.”
- “It does have the Halo atmosphere, even though it isn't the same as a classic Halo experience.”
humor
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted by its quirky mechanics and the amusing interactions between enemies, such as grunts fleeing and elites employing unique tactics. Players find the simulation aspect and unexpected control changes lead to hilarious in-game accidents, contributing to an overall lighthearted experience. The game's visual improvements and performance also add to the comedic enjoyment, making it a fun choice for players.
- “The weird/funny thing about this game is that it is literally a simulation.”
- “Controls took only a moment to get the hang of, and I will say that if you get the follow-up, they swapped the grenade button with something else, which led me to some hilarious accidents.”
- “And the funny thing is, even while playing with skulls, I beat two of the five stories in the game.”
emotional
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express a mix of warmth and sadness in their emotional experiences with the game. The nostalgic sound of shield regeneration evokes positive feelings, while interactions that lead to misunderstandings and aggression leave players feeling deflated and disheartened, highlighting the game's ability to elicit a range of emotions. Overall, the emotional aspect is marked by moments of kindness overshadowed by negativity and frustration.
- “The sound of the shield regenerating coming back on after you hear the 'beep beep beep' is heart-warming.”
- “She proceeded to get weird and accusatory, asking why I was trying to steal her flower. When I said I was just trying to be nice and put a smile on her face, her husband swooped in out of nowhere, credit card in hand, and told me how he 'already has money.' I felt really deflated because I just wanted to do a simple act of kindness for a fellow resident of Portland in a hard time. While I can understand why she would be skeptical of my offer, the level of suspicion and aggression I was treated with just made me feel so... sad.”
- “The sound of the shield regenerating coming back on after you hear the 'beep beep beep' is heart-warming.”
character development
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Reviews indicate a mixed reception regarding character development, with some praising 343 Industries for improving storytelling and character arcs compared to Bungie, while others criticize the lack of character development in the game. Overall, the feedback suggests that character development is a significant area of contention among players.
- “There is no character development at all.”
- “But 343 are doing a way better job in telling stories and making character development than Bungie.”

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66%Critics’ scoreBased on 22 critic reviews

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Frequently Asked Questions

Halo: Spartan Assault is a shooter game with warfare and science fiction themes.

Halo: Spartan Assault is available on Steam Deck, iPhone, Windows, Xbox Series X|S and others.

On average players spend around 8 hours playing Halo: Spartan Assault.

Halo: Spartan Assault was released on April 4, 2014.

Halo: Spartan Assault was developed by Vanguard Games.

Halo: Spartan Assault has received mostly positive reviews from both players and critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its grinding.

Halo: Spartan Assault is a single player game with multiplayer and local co-op support.

Similar games include Halo: Spartan Strike, Warhammer 40,000: Kill Team, Dead Effect, Galaxy on Fire 2™ Full HD, Rage and others.

Halo: Spartan Assault

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