Microsoft is going free-to-play with the game Happy Wars. The game will be the first free-to-play game on Xbox Live, but gamers will need an Xbox Live Gold account to download the game.
Happy Wars is a multi-player action game with comical characters battling in over-the-top combat arenas, according the game's description on its official website. Players get to choice between three types of characters including warriors, mages and clerics.
The game will also feature a variety of battlefields including fantastic grasslands, a dark world, and the ocean floor. Players can extend their territory by taking over bases that are scattered through There will also be an offline campaign mode.
Microsoft has planned another free-to-play game called Ascend: New Gods, which slated to arrive in the first half of 2013. Happy Wars will be available for download sometime this fall. Here are some of the game's features as they are listed on the game's site and below that is the game's trailer.
[Key features]
Three classes of characters with unique roles
The Warrior excels at close combat, the Mage at using spells, and the Cleric at team support activities, so strategic use of each class is your key to victory.
Skills enabling powerful attacks
A total of 27 skills with unique effect are provided for each class, such as "Spinning Blade" (twirling around while slicing enemies), "Heal" (restore friend's health), and "Lightning Strike" (crash down lightning to attack a wide array of enemies).
In addition, impressive team skills capable of turning the course of battle can be launched when a large group of team members gather, such as summoning a "Meteor Storm" or "Tornado", or launching a "Charge" from specific battle formations.
Battlefields in contrasting types of terrain
The "Rainbow" battlefield features radiant grassy plains, "Twilight" is full of craggy mountains and lava fields, and "Coral" has terraced coral reefs -- numerous floating continents connect together forming unique stages.
The stages are filled with characteristic gimmicks such as jumping platforms, poison swamps, antlion traps... Leverage these to your advantage in the game.
Network gaming with players from around the world
Up to 30 players can play together online. A communication system for dialog and commands is provided to effectively overcome the language barrier. Players just select from standardized dialog items, simplifying communication.
You got a problem? Settle it in Happy Wars!
Players have the option to enter text as their "Tag". People with the same "Friendly Tag" are placed in a team together, and they are matched up against players with an "Enemy Tag".
Using the tag system, players have fun battling between clans or between "Dog Lovers" vs. "Cat Lovers", "Star Wars Fans" vs. "Star Trek Fans", and other factions.
Hone your skills with the single-player campaign
Pursue missions that follow the storyline in single-player campaign mode. Even playing alone is completely satisfying in this game.
A spectrum of items to dress up your character
A wide range of weapons, apparel, emotional expressions are provided for sprucing up and customizing each character.
Obtain items while playing the game. Collect items through repeated quests, using them to customize your character and make it a one-off, personal design.
Here is the trailer...