'Halo' for Windows 8 Surprises With Great Gameplay

Halo has transformed from a first-person shooter to a top-down mobile title for a Windows 8-exclusive release. Thankfully, however, nothing fans love about the series gets lost in translation.

Halo Spartan Assault, currently available for Windows 8 devices, forgoes the perspective inside Master Chief's head, instead giving you a bird's-eye view of the world as you use two virtual joysticks to move your character and fire weapons.

You play a new character, Spartan IV Sarah Palmer, as she fights the Covenant in a time period set somewhere between Halo 3 and Halo 4. The game has 25 bite-size missions that make you fight Halo regulars like Grunts and Elites as you complete objectives.