Happy Wars

Happy Wars

Happy Wars cover
Developer(s) Toylogic
Publisher(s) Microsoft Studios
Platform(s) Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows, Xbox One
Release date(s) Xbox Live Arcade
October 12, 2012
Microsoft Windows
July 23, 2014
Xbox One
April 24, 2015[1]
Genre(s) Action, tactical role-playing
Mode(s) Single-player, multiplayer
Distribution Download

Happy Wars is the first free-to-play multiplayer online Xbox Live Arcade game for the Xbox 360.[2][3][4] It was developed by Toylogic. The game was released on October 12, 2012 as a free download for Xbox Live Gold members through the Xbox Live Marketplace. An Xbox One version is in development.

Gameplay

Happy Wars is a multiplayer online game, defined as a role-playing strategy game, although it also has a short story-driven single player campaign mode.[5] The multiplayer mode consists of two teams of up to 15 players attempting to destroy the other team's castle while also defending their own.[6] As of September 3rd, 2014, it is gold account online only.

The players choose from one of three classes: the warrior, the mage, and the cleric. There are also subclasses, although the only ones implemented at the moment is the Warrior-type Berserker as well as the Mage-type Zephyr and the Cleric-type Engineer. Each class has a base attack and other unique abilities that are available as the player gains new levels.[7] Each class also has a unique "Team Skill", where players can gather teammates together to allow the casting player to use more powerful skills. The more players that aid in the use of the team skill, the more powerful the ability becomes.[8]

The game also has items that can be purchased either through playing the game[6] or through microtransactions that allow in-game items to be purchased with Microsoft Points.[9] There are items in Happy Wars that can only be purchased with Microsoft Points. They are usually powerful items that can allow players to get a head start in the game.[7] The developers have announced plans to release new maps and items "every 1-2 months".[3]

Reception

Reception
Aggregate scores
AggregatorScore
GameRankings63.75%[10]
Metacritic61/100[11]
Review scores
PublicationScore
GameSpot5/10[12]
IGN4.0/10[13]
Official Xbox Magazine6/10[14]

Happy Wars has received mixed reviews from critics. It has an aggregate score of 63.75% on GameRankings and 61/100 on Metacritic.[10][11] IGN cited lack of players as a concern with the game and that "Happy Wars went too far in the direction of accessibility with its few classes, lack of distinctive weaponry, and simple game modes."[13] Official Xbox Magazine compared the game to Awesomenauts, but noted that players who pay for additional content appear to have an advantage over other players.[14]

Jason Venter of GameSpot said that the game was "difficult to recommend because of the game's matchmaking and connection issues."[12] A content update was released in November that attempted to fix the connection issues and other small game fixes.[15]

References

  1. ↑ Barnes, Ken (April 21, 2015). "Smile! Happy Wars Xbox One Release Date Finally Locked In". Pure Xbox. Retrieved April 21, 2015.
  2. ↑ Fletcher, JC (4 October 2012). "Happy Wars' free-for-all is free for Xbox Live Gold starting October 12". joystiq. Retrieved 19 November 2012.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Evans-Thirlwell, Edwin (24 October 2012). "Happy Wars updates and DLC planned "every 1-2 months", ToyLogic hoping to run game for years". Official Xbox Magazine. Retrieved 20 November 2012.
  4. ↑ Johnson, Stephen (24 August 2012). "Happy Wars Announced: First Xbox Live Arcade Free-To-Play Game". G4. Retrieved 20 November 2012.
  5. ↑ Wehner, Mike (16 October 2012). "Happy Wars Review". Escapist Magazine. Retrieved 19 November 2012.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Barsanti, Sam (15 October 2012). "Happy Wars brings free-to-play gaming to Xbox 360, and it’s worth every penny". VentureBeat. Retrieved 19 November 2012.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Mian, Bilal (29 October 2012). "Happy Wars Review (XBLA): No Reason Not To Enlist!". Poptimal. Retrieved 20 November 2012.
  8. ↑ Grill, Scott (22 October 2012). "‘Happy Wars’ Interview: The real show has just begun". Video Game Writers. Retrieved 20 November 2012.
  9. ↑ Carter, Johnathan Grey (11 October 2012). "Happy Wars Dev Predicts AAA Games Will Shift Towards F2P". Escapist Magazine. Retrieved 20 November 2012.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Happy Wars". GameRankings. Retrieved November 19, 2012.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 "Happy Wars". Metacritic. Retrieved 20 November 2012.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Venter, Jason (24 October 2012). "Happy Wars Review". GameSpot. Retrieved 20 November 2012.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Cocke, Taylor (19 October 2012). "Happy Wars". IGN. Retrieved 20 November 2012.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Schilling, Chris (19 October 2012). "Happy Wars Review". Official Xbox Magazine. Retrieved 20 November 2012.
  15. ↑ Nunneley, Stephany (10 November 2012). "Happy Wars receives small update to help combat lag, connection issues". vg247. Retrieved 20 November 2012.

External links