Finished the 10 placement matches, got into Gold 6
After that first match I was very dissappointed, but playing a bit more made me realize that yes, this is still Halo Wars. With time it gets all better and you discover that everything has a purpose, it's just a bit different than HW1.
Renaming the flamethrowers got me fooled, thinking they're some Marine replacement, but the're the same as in the previous game, maybe a bit weaker. Snipers seem redundant with the flamethrowers, but actually teaming them up is insane against infantry and the range helps to overcome the Elite Rangers.
Cyclopses got a whole rework, only used them against Warthogs, they're okay I guess, I still miss Cobras a lot. The Kodiak is a beast when used right, add a few snipers and you can shred smaller infantries in seconds, without them even realizing what's happening.
I never really used Warthogs as they seem weak, nor Scorpions as the game ends by the time I build them.
New Covenant feels frehs with the grunts not being totally useless anymore, Jackals replaced by Elite Rangers are not that powerful, and I guess hunters stayed the same.
This domination mode is really a bad way to get to know the game though. It is based solely on rush techniques. Also if you are in a tie with the captures, both teams keep losing their points, which makes the games even shorter and usually the first team who captures two points, wins. It would make more sense to only decrease points on the losing team, based on the point difference between them, allowing for comebacks.
What I said in a previous post about jankyness, still stands, animations are missing, selection is occasionally bugged (D-Pad Right on new unit selects the one next to them too). Camera deadzone is high, it's hard to point at the sentinels flying above capture points.
UI is okay imo, though they went a bit overboard with notifications after every Veterancy. Commander points should be more visible, I only spent them when I heard the announcer say that I got one, or by wanting to check the player score with the back button. Building percentages are missing, and menus are a bit laggy. Could use some options too, after upgrading a supply pad, I'd love if it would just close the ring menu, or switching up LT/LB buttons. Pinging is silent, so useless in current state.
The leader powers seem very weak. Healing being locked behind an unlock is good I think, as you can have it on Covenant side now, but the 1 time mac blast and 1 fucking ODST drop is not enough. It seems that CA is trying to unify the leaders in a way that helps the RPS system more, but if I pick Cutter I wanna spam those dudes all the time
I also miss the 2-3 upgrades on every Unit, I guess for that there is the universal Vehicle/Infantry/Air level.
I don't know what they are planning with new leaders, but locking them behind season pass is uncool, considering Cutter is only Cutter in having a one-time MAC and 1 ODST drop so far. I'd love a way to unlock them like in Rainbow Six Siege instead of paying up front.
