I am late with this, but happy UN Russian Language Day. Don't ask me why this is a thing, as I do not know.

Also happy birthday, Pushkin.

[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11]

First few images of Halo Wars 2 came out. The art style doesn't look bad, per se, but does anyone else get a cartoony vibe from these? Seems to clash quite a bit with the gritty Blur cutscenes that we saw in the teaser.

I love with that Pelican though, and that Forerunner beam tower in image 10. Also, I'm glad that they're keeping the Halo Wars-style pre-made multiplayer maps rather than just having randomly generated ones like many other RTSes have (at least, they don't look randomly-generated - they're too detailed).

I'm on the edge about the art style.  It looks like they're tyring to Borderlands-ify it.  But, if it's supposed to be themed as some sort of UNSC sim (like almost every one of 343i's things), I do like it.  It's very clean and minimilst.

Now for everyone's favorite thingy!  Random analyzation!  Right, so in image 7 and a few other places, we see Covenant technology which is...silvery.  Also, no Elites.  Could this be some sort of Brute-lead faction.  Not Truth's loyalits, but a later sect of some description.  The gunmetal gray just screams "Jiralhanae" to me.  

Also, in image 8 we're shown that the Fox Cannon is returning and getting a makeover.  In the same image, the Scropion closest to the Fox has some sort of missile pods on either side?  That was one of the new variants, right?  Maybe those two new variants from Canon Fodder were actually teases for Halo Wars 2 upgrade models?  Or maybe the upgrades were inspired by the Canon Fodder Article.

Either way, it makes sense from a gameplay persective.  The Missile Pod one can be anti-infantry or anti-building upgrade.  And the one with the two 20 mms (I think they were 20 mms) can be an anti-air upgrade.

Also, image 10.  New thing!  Just above the Sparrowhawk.  Looks like either a missile launcher or a troop carrier.  But is it mineral or animal?  Might just be Lekgolo.  Either way, I love it.  It's so Starship Troopers.

Higher quality images here.

What Sparrowhawk? ;)

Also, I'm fairly sure those are Grizzlies, because they have two barrels. My only problem with the Jiralhanae stuff is that it looks more Forerunner. I wish it was less angular, slightly more curvy, and had more jagged edges. Also, blades & other barbaric adornments wouldn't go amiss. Looks like most of the Covenant vehicles are meant to be Brute versions of them, rather than the classic Covenant designs.

Also, is that the Ark? And Brute Banshee/Spirit/Locust variants? And a giant Brute walker?

Also, pizza, Sean?

I could spot some Elites in this image. Looks like a Honor Guardsman attacking the Marines and some Minors in the river. Looks like that they use the H2A design for them.

Oh, wow, didn't see that.  I assume Elites are going to be some sort of special unit then.

Good spot. I doubt that 343i would let CA have a Brute wield an Energy Sword, even if it was an Honour Guard Brute. The title image seems to depict only Brutes though. Maybe Elites are in MP (as all of these pics are from the HW 2 Open Beta next week, which I believe is multiplayer only) but not heavily featured in the campaign, kind of like the opposite of how it was in the original HW (where the Brutes were barely featured in the campaign and appeared as a faction in the MP)?

I do like the art style, there's something in it that grabs me.

Also, does anyone know what that aerial vehicle is it? I don't seem to recognize it. 343i, no Prometheans, please.

That's almost definitely a Brute vehicle, I think. Brute vehicles in this game are looking a lot more Forerunner than Brute, going by the Brute vehicles in the other images.

Edit: New thread link here. - CB