You’re seeing what happened through the eyes of Commander Sarah Palmer and Spartan Davis, both stationed aboard the UNSC Infinity. What’s actually going on is a series of battle simulations showcasing early engagements in the Spartan Ops program. Master Chief sits out this latest campaign against the Covenant, with a story set between the events of Halo 3 and Halo 4. Sort of. You could even say it’s the strongest Windows 8 exclusive to date, though it’s not like there’s a whole lot of competition up to this point. Best to just let it be and focus on the positive: Spartan Assault happens to be an entertaining little game. It’s a question that will cross your eyes if you spend too much time thinking about.

Microsoft promises gamepad support eventually, but why exactly couldn’t this twin-stick shooter support even an Xbox 360 controller at launch? You can play it on any Windows 8 device, including the most decked-out gaming PC, and yet there are only two control options: virtual touchscreen buttons or mouse/keyboard.

It’s got Achievements, it’s got a story that explores previously unseen bits of lore, it’s got space marines in colorful body armor shooting hordes of alien zealots. We’re talking about a Microsoft-published Halo game, the first in the series to be delivered exclusively for Windows 8 platforms. This single absent feature is as baffling as it is unfortunate. Halo: Spartan Assault is a twin-stick shooter without the twin sticks. Pointless microtransactions diminish what could have been a decent hook for long-term play

Free Halo: Spartan Assault Lite