Where other expansions typically offer an experience that is a continuation of the base game's formula, Awakening the Nightmare isn't afraid to introduce brand new threats that, in turn, require brand new tactics.

This type of creativity is something that I would kill to see in other games, across all genres. Conventional tactics don't work here only the open-minded commanders will survive the Flood. Forcing you to think outside of your comfort zone to fight this new threat really makes you reconsider the way the game is played. This adds a new type of challenging gameplay to the game.

Between periodic retreats as positions are overrun, navigating a Flood-infested area with a small, stealthy assault team, or trying to balance your resources between unit maintenance and a large drill that you need to power up in order to survive, each mission in Awakening the Nightmare is a brand new way to play Halo Wars 2.

Halo Wars 2 recognizes this, and crafts five excellent levels that take the traditional Halo Wars formula and spin it on its head. The levels of Awakening the Nightmare will make any Halo Wars 2 player, veteran or rookie, reevaluate how they play the game.Īs you might expect, fighting the Flood would be much different than fighting conventional military forces.