Editing Halo: Spartan Assault

{{Title|''Halo: Spartan Assault''}}
{{Status|RealWorld}}
{{Disambig header|the first video game in the ''Halo: Spartan'' series|other uses|Spartan (disambiguation)}}
{{Game infobox
|name= ''Halo: Spartan Assault''
|image= [[File:HSA-Cover.jpg|300px|center]]
|developer= [[343 Industries]], [[Vanguard Games]]
|publisher= [[Microsoft Studios]]
|engine=[[Blue engine]]
|composer=[[Tom Salta]]
|platform= [[Wikipedia:Windows 8|Windows 8]] (PC and tablet)<br>[[Wikipedia:Windows Phone 8|Windows Phone 8]]<br>[[Xbox 360]]<ref name="HWP">[https://blogs.halowaypoint.com/Headlines/post/2013/10/29/Spartan-Assault-is-coming-to-Xbox-One-and-Xbox-360.aspx '''Halo Waypoint''' - ''Halo: Spartan Assault Is Coming to Xbox One and Xbox 360'']</ref><br>[[Xbox One]]{{Ref/Reuse|HWP}}<br>[[Steam]]{{Ref/Reuse|steam}}<br>[[Wikipedia:iOS|iOS]]<br>[[Xbox Cloud Gaming]]<br>
|releasedate= July 18, [[2013]]{{Ref/Reuse|windows8only}}<ref name="waypoint">[http://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/games/halospartanassault '''Halo Waypoint''' - ''Halo: Spartan Assault'']</ref> {{C|Windows 8}}<br> December 23, 2013<ref name="Xbone">[http://www.oxm.co.uk/68528/halo-spartan-assault-is-out-now-for-xbox-one/ '''Xbox The Official Magazine''' - ''Halo: Spartan Assault is out now for Xbox One'']</ref> {{C|Xbox One}}<br> January 31, 2014{{Ref/Reuse|console dates}}<ref name="XM">[http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-US/Product/Halo-Spartan-Assault/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d80258411412 '''Xbox.com''' - ''Halo: Spartan Assault'']</ref><ref name="official360reldate">[https://blogs.halowaypoint.com/Headlines/post/2014/01/30/Halo-Spartan-Assault-for-Xbox-360-Release-Date-Revealed.aspx '''Halo Waypoint''' - ''Halo: Spartan Assault'' for Xbox 360 Releases Tomorrow!]</ref> {{C|Xbox 360}}<br>April 4, 2014 {{C|Steam}}<ref name="steam">[https://blogs.halowaypoint.com/en-us/blogs/headlines/posts/halo-spartan-assault-is-coming-to-steam '''Halo Waypoint''' - ''Halo: Spartan Assault Is Coming to Steam!'']</ref> 
|genre=Twin-stick shooter
|modes= [[Campaign]]<br>[[Cooperative]]{{Ref/Reuse|HWP}}
|rating= [[Wikipedia:Entertainment Software Ratings Board|ESRB]]: Teen (T) for Blood and Violence

[[Wikipedia:Pan European Game Information|PEGI]]: 16+ (Europe only)
}}
{{Quote|Halo like you have never played before.|Halo Waypoint{{Ref/Reuse|waypoint}}}}

'''''Halo: Spartan Assault''''' is a twin-stick shooter video game developed by [[Vanguard Games]] in collaboration with [[343 Industries]]; it is the eighth game in the ''Halo'' series. Originally designed and released for [[Wikipedia:Windows 8|Microsoft Windows 8]] and [[Wikipedia:Windows Phone 8|Windows Phone 8]], enhanced ports of the game were subsequently released for [[Xbox 360]] and [[Xbox One]].{{Ref/Reuse|HWP}} Set in [[2554]], between the events of ''[[Halo 3]]'' in [[2552]] and ''[[Halo 4]]'' in [[2557]], the game features 30 missions that tell the story of the [[SPARTAN-IV program]]'s earliest operations.<ref name="windows8only">[http://www.gameinformer.com/games/halo_spartan_assault/b/pc/archive/2013/06/04/343-industries-reveals-halo-spartan-assault.aspx '''GameInformer''': ''343 Industries Reveals Halo: Spartan Assault'']</ref><ref name="official">[http://www.halowaypoint.com/en-US/games/halospartanassault '''Halo Waypoint''' - ''Halo: Spartan Assault'']</ref><ref name="firsttrailer">[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxsYQtltOco ''Halo: Spartan Assault'' '''Announce Trailer''']</ref> The game went by the codename "'''Bootcamp'''" prior to its official announcement.<ref name="Waypoint 652013">[http://blogs.halowaypoint.com/Headlines/post/2013/06/05/The-Halo-Bulletin-6513.aspx '''Halo Waypoint:''' ''The Halo Bulletin 6.5.2012'']</ref> ''Spartan Assault'' was released on [[2013|July 18, 2013]] for Windows 8. The complete version of the game (including all DLC) was released on December 23, 2013 for Xbox One and released on [[2014|January 31, 2014]] for Xbox 360.{{Ref/Reuse|Xbone}}<ref name="console dates">[https://blogs.halowaypoint.com/Headlines/post/2013/12/09/Halo-Spartan-Assault-Release-Date-Revealed.aspx '''Halo Waypoint''' - ''Halo: Spartan Assault Release Date Revealed'']</ref>{{Ref/Reuse|XM}}{{Ref/Reuse|official360reldate}}<ref>[http://www.totalxbox.com/70364/halo-spartan-assault-xbox-360-now-available-on-xbox-live '''Xbox The Official Magazine''' - ''Halo: Spartan Assault Xbox 360 now available on Xbox Live'']</ref> The game was released on April 4, 2014 for [[Wikipedia:Steam (software)|Steam]].{{Ref/Reuse|steam}} ''Halo: Spartan Assault'' was also released on the iOS App Store in 2015. The game is no longer available for purchase on the iOS App Store, but people who bought it in the past years are still able to re-download the game through the "Purchased" tab on the App Store as the game is tied to their Apple accounts.

Completing the first mission on an Xbox console grants the player various rewards for use in Halo 4, including Air Assault VISN, C.I.O. RUSH, 'Determined' player stance, DMR STP weapon skin, and 50,000 XP. These bonuses are unlocked after purchasing the Champions Bundle in Halo 4 and entering the 'Flying Colors' glyph on Halo Waypoint. If entered correctly, the next time Halo 4 is launched, a message will thank you for purchasing the bundle and you will unlock the rewards.

A spiritual successor, ''[[Halo: Spartan Strike]]'', released for Windows devices, Steam and Apple devices on April 16, 2015.<ref name="delay">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/community/blog-posts/halo-spartan-strike-coming-in-early-2015 '''Halo Waypoint''' - ''Halo: Spartan Strike Coming in Early 2015'']</ref>

The [[Steam reward]]s available for the game can be viewed [[Steam reward/Halo: Spartan Assault|here]].

==Synopsis==
===Characters and setting===
Set sometime in [[2554]], ''Halo: Spartan Assault''{{'}}s main narrative explores the SPARTAN-IVs' first Spartan Ops<!--This is the in-universe term, not the game mode.--> during the [[Battle of Draetheus V]].<ref name="gameplay 1">[http://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/games/halospartanassault/mediadetail?title=halo-spartan-assault-defend&id=984bc596-d52b-49e4-be4c-93457bd55bf3&category=Videos '''Halo Waypoint''' - ''Halo: Spartan Assault - Defend'']</ref><ref name="gameplay 2">[http://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/games/halospartanassault/mediadetail?title=halo-spartan-assault-clear&id=8704efa0-1cc1-4920-8209-5c9e13440c97&category=Videos '''Halo Waypoint''' - ''Halo: Spartan Assault -Clear'']</ref> This battle is one of the [[Post-Covenant War conflicts|numerous conflicts]] waged between the [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]] and the [[Covenant remnants|remnants]] of the former [[Covenant]] in the years after the end of the [[Human-Covenant War]].{{Ref/Reuse|official}}<ref name="Reed">[http://blogs.halowaypoint.com/Headlines/post/2013/06/03/Halo-Initiation-Writer-Interview.aspx '''Halo Waypoint''' - ''Halo Initiation Writer Interview'']</ref><ref>[http://blogs.windows.com/windows_phone/b/windowsphone/archive/2013/06/04/coming-this-summer-a-new-halo-for-windows-phone-8.aspx Coming this summer: '''Windows Phone Blog''' ''A new Halo for Windows Phone 8'']</ref> The story unfolds through the [[UNSC Tactical Simulator|UNSC TACSIM]], a historical computer simulation which the SPARTAN-IVs use for combat analysis and training, much like ''Halo 4''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s [[War Games]] mode,{{Ref/Reuse|firsttrailer}}<ref name="pareport">[http://penny-arcade.com/report/article/the-next-halo-game-is-coming-to-hardware-you-dont-have-and-software-you-don  '''The PA Report''': ''The next Halo game is coming to hardware you don’t have, and software you don’t want'']</ref> though the framing story takes place at some point after ''Halo 4's'' campaign.{{Ref/Note|[[Roland]] was activated on December 5, 2557, roughly five months after the [[Battle of Requiem]], to replace ''Infinity's'' previous AI, [[Aine]]. The game's framing story thus takes place after the events of ''Halo 4's'' campaign, though when it occurs in relation to ''[[Spartan Ops]]'' is unclear. However, ''[[Halo: Escalation]]'' indicates that ''Infinity'' returned directly to Earth after [[Requiem]]'s destruction, suggesting that the framing narrative takes place in the gap between Roland's creation and the [[Requiem Campaign]].}} This framing structure explains some of the game's arcade-like elements, such as weapons' ability to fire continuously;{{Ref/Reuse|gameplay 1}}{{Ref/Reuse|gameplay 2}} indeed, [[Roland]] jests that the TACSIM doubles as "a fun game you can play in your spare time".{{Ref/Game|SA|Opening Cutscene}}

The campaign has two protagonists, Spartans [[Sarah Palmer]] and [[Edward Davis]], whose first meeting is depicted in the ''[[Halo: Initiation]]'' limited [[Halo comics|comic series]].{{Ref/Reuse|Reed}} Rather than the in-engine cutscenes used in most ''Halo'' games, ''Spartan Assault'' instead makes use of motion comic-style animations between missions, much like the [[CEA:Terminals|Terminal]]s in ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary]]'' and ''Halo 4''.{{Ref/Reuse|windows8only}} [[Halo: Spartan Assault/Quotes|Various quotes]] are displayed in the game's mission loading screens, some acting as gameplay tips while others provide backstory for the events of the game.

''Halo'' franchise writers [[Brian Reed]] and [[Jeremy Patenaude]] were responsible for the writing of ''Spartan Assault''.{{Ref/Game|SA|Spartan Assault credits|credits}}

===Plot===
{{Spoiler/begin}}
''Spartan Assault'' begins with the {{UNSCShip|Infinity}}'s [[AI]] [[Roland]] giving several [[Spartan-IV]]'s a lesson on historical battles. Using [[UNSC Tactical Simulator]]s, Roland reveals that the Spartan users can assume the roles of Spartans [[Edward Davis]] and [[Sarah Palmer]] during the [[Battle of Draetheus V]], to enhance strategic skills. Roland explains that the engagement started when a [[Merg Vol's Covenant|splinter sect of Covenant]] ignored the Ceasefire of [[2552]] and attacked [[UNSC]] forces on the former [[Forerunner]] world of [[Draetheus V]].{{Ref/Game|Id=umbra|SA|Operation A: Umbra}}
[[File:Operation A.png|thumb|250px|Merg Vol's Covenant fleet arriving at [[Draetheus V]].]] 
The splinter Covenant forces are led by [[Sangheili]] [[Zealot]] [[Merg Vol]]. Vol leads a fleet of ships to the planet and his Covenant deploys troops on both Draetheus V and its [[moon]] [[X50]]. Palmer and Davis lead the UNSC in defending the planet from Merg Vol's Covenant. After thwarting the initial assault, Davis moved to secure the UNSC's [[Research Facility Alpha]] and the Forerunner artifact located therein, which appeared to be Vol's Covenant's main target.{{Ref/Level|SA|Mission 1: Assault on CF-32}} However, Vol's Covenant resumed their assault and the UNSC feared the research facility would soon be crushed. Palmer, with a Marine detachment, infiltrated artillery positions Vol's Covenant had set up and destroyed them.{{Ref/Level|SA|Mission 2: The Mirror Mantle Counter-Assault}} Spartan Davis later noticed Vol's Covenant's heavy reliance on dropship insertion. Davis realized they would be vulnerable to focused anti-aircraft fire, so, using [[M9 Wolverine]]s, he began establishing air defenses west of the facility at a location designated [[Glacial Perch]].{{Ref/Level|SA|Mission 3: Reinforcement of the Perch}}

While Spartan Davis was successful in slowing the enemy advance, Merg Vol's Covenant forces were too overwhelming. Sarah Palmer began fighting her way upstream through the invasion in an attempt to reach one of the northern outposts. Her plan was to destroy Covenant air support and give the [[AV-14 Hornet]]s a chance to land near the outposts. The ultimate goal was to get off X50 and warn Draetheus V of Vol's Covenant invasion. Within an hour of their arrival at X50, Vol's Covenant owned the moon. Despite the ferocity of the assault on X50, the UNSC forces on Draetheus V had no idea anything was going on because the planet's unique magnetic resonance frequently made off-world communication nearly impossible.{{Ref/Level|SA|Mission 4: Live to Fight}}
[[File:Operation C.png|thumb|250px|left|[[Merg Vol]] activates [[X50]].]] 
While Davis defends the moon, Palmer and a small amount of UNSC forces remains on Draetheus V, outgunned and out-manned. Merg Vol's Covenant attack Draetheus V's main military outpost, [[Faraday Base]], and breach the first defense lines before the base's sentry turrets were fully operational.{{Ref/Level|SA|Mission 6: Siege of Faraday}} After securing Faraday, Palmer began trying to establish the location of Vol's Covenant officers leading the invasion. After taking significant losses, Marines of the [[21st Scout platoon]] had managed to uncover a set of promising coordinates. After tracking the officers down, she quickly eliminated them.{{Ref/Level|SA|Mission 8: Hunt for the Sangheili Command}}

As Spartan Palmer led the charge on Draetheus V, Spartan Davis continued to face considerable enemy threat on the moon. Furthermore, it was revealed that X50 was not a natural moon after all, but a [[Forerunner]] megastructure capable of constructing and destroying planets. Upon finding his way into the control center, Merg Vol tuned X50's main weapon on Draetheus V and began to dismantle the planet. Merg Vol's Covenant forces activated the primary weapon of the X50 construct. Directed toward the planet, the beam began to disintegrate Draetheus V, destabilizing it.{{Ref/Game|SA|[Operation C: Monolith}} Enormous slabs of rock were slowly floating away from the planet's surface and both UNSC and Covenant troops were scrambling to get to safety as the UNSC continued to evacuate the planet.{{Ref/Level|SA|Mission 16: Escape from the Southern Fields}} Vol's Covenant continued to attack the planet and the UNSC quickly realized that Draetheus V was ill-prepared for a full evacuation. There was not enough transportation to allow everyone to leave Draetheus V. However, the UNSC raided a Covenant airfield and stole numerous Covenant aircraft. With Palmer's help, 23 Covenant aircraft carrying civilians made it off the planet.{{Ref/Level|SA|Mission 20: Defense of the Enemies' Airbase}}

In a stroke of luck, the {{UNSCShip|Eminent Domain}} was able to outmaneuver Covenant forces in orbit over the moon and offer some support by deploying [[ODST]]s to the southern [[Mirror Flats]]. The [[3rd Helljumper Platoon]] was the first to land on Draetheus V's moon. Their drop zone was less than a mile from Alpha facility but the landing scattered them across the razor sharp rock face of the Glacial Perch. They were quickly surrounded by Covenant infantry and taking heavy losses, but Davis came to their assistance.{{Ref/Level|SA|Mission 11: Descend from the Perch}} Davis connected with UNSC combat technicians who believed they could render the Forerunner structure inert; they just needed the chance to get inside the structure.{{Ref/Level|SA|Mission 13: Assault on the Supply Lines}} Davis and the remaining Marines assisted the combat technicians securing the Forerunner structure while Merg Vol's Covenant reinforcements did everything in their power to stop the technicians. With supporting sniper fire from higher grounds, Davis and his men were able to buy the technicians just enough time to do their work. However, even with their job complete, it was too late for Draetheus V. The planet was already breaking apart.{{Ref/Level|SA|Mission 15: Superstructure Stand-off}}
[[File:Davis last stand.jpg|thumb|250px|Davis' last stand.]] 
While defending the moon, Spartan Davis was killed by an overwhelming amount of [[Sangheili]] forces. With transportation secured, one last hurdle remained in getting the colonists safely off of Draetheus V. The leader of the splinter Covenant forces, [[Merg Vol]], was still present on moon X50, providing the remaining Covenant forces with a rallying point and cry. If the colonists were to leave Draetheus V's orbit alive, Merg Vol would need to be terminated. Palmer suspected Vol's officer on Draetheus V, [[Parg Vol]] had a [[R'shwupa-pattern Phantom|personal transport]] hidden away. After completing the evacuation operation, locating Parg Vol's ship became Palmer's highest priority. After fighting through heavy Covenant forces she was able to locate Vol's Phantom and used it to get to X50.{{Ref/Level|SA|Mission 21: Hunt for the Phantom}} Having successfully piloted the Phantom through Vol's Covenant fleet orbiting Draetheus V's moon, Palmer was able to land south of Merg Vol's camp, out of range of his [[Cheru-pattern Tyrant|turrets]].{{Ref/Level|SA|Mission 23: Infiltration of the Cult Leader's Base}}
[[File:Battle for the Moon.png|thumb|250px|left|Palmer approaching Vol.]] 
Merg Vol was convinced he had been chosen by his gods to wield the power contained within the Forerunner structure. Having spent considerable resources to unlock its secrets, Vol managed to activate the structure's emergency defenses. With the deadly defenses at his command, Vol had become extremely dangerous. Unable to contact Spartan Davis since landing on Draetheus V's moon, Palmer prepared to battle Vol on her own. Vol's exact location had not been difficult to find: the direct area at the foot of the Forerunner structure was littered with a trail of dead UNSC soldiers. After facing Merg Vol's final forces and Forerunner [[beam turret]]s, she engaged Merg Vol himself. Despite a difficult fight, Palmer was able to overtake Vol and executed him with her [[M6H magnum]].

With Merg Vol killed and his Covenant forces defeated, the surviving colonists of Draetheus V were able to safely evacuate the system. After killing Vol, Palmer sabotaged the Forerunner device on X50.{{Ref/Level|SA|Mission 25: Battle for the Moon}}

Shortly after the battle, the UNSC discovered a looping transmission of low-frequency static from X50. Palmer and UNSC forces returned to the moon to investigate. However, the UNSC quickly realized that Covenant forces remained on the moon. After fighting through numerous Covenant soldiers, Palmer discovered that the message had originated from Spartan Davis, moments before his death, and that Davis' final impressions had been absorbed into a [[Durance|Forerunner device]]. She shut the device down in order to allow her friend to pass away peacefully.{{Ref/Game|SA|Operation F: Hydra}}
{{Spoiler/end}}

===Campaign===
The [[campaign]] mode is divided into six chapters called "Operations", with five missions each. The [[Cooperative play|co-op]] mode comprises five missions.<ref name="Ellis">[http://venturebeat.com/2013/12/16/halo-spartan-assaults-lead-designer-mike-ellis-tells-us-how-we-can-blast-the-flood-in-co-op-on-xbox-one-interview/ ''Venturebeat'': Mike Ellis interview]</ref>
{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-2}}
;[[Operation A: Umbra]] 
*[[Mission 1: Assault on CF-32|Assault on CF-32]]
*[[Mission 2: The Mirror Mantle Counter-Assault|The Mirror Mantle Counter-Assault]]
*[[Mission 3: Reinforcement of the Perch|Reinforcement of the Perch]]
*[[Mission 4: Live to Fight|Live to Fight]]
*[[Mission 5: The Last Stand|The Last Stand]]

;[[Operation B: Tempered Shield]] 
*[[Mission 6: Siege of Faraday|Siege of Faraday]]
*[[Mission 7: Reactor Field Relief|Reactor Field Relief]]
*[[Mission 8: Hunt for the Sangheili Command|Hunt for the Sangheili Command]]
*[[Mission 9: Battle for Epsilon Expanse|Battle for Epsilon Expanse]]
*[[Mission 10: Battle at Red Slate|Battle at Red Slate]]

;[[Operation C: Monolith]] 
*[[Mission 11: Descend from the Perch|Descend from the Perch]]
*[[Mission 12: Spirit Graveyard Stand-Off|Spirit Graveyard Stand-Off]]
*[[Mission 13: Assault on the Supply Lines|Assault on the Supply Lines]]
*[[Mission 14: Infiltration of the Covenant Perimeter|Infiltration of the Covenant Perimeter]]
*[[Mission 15: Superstructure Stand-off|Superstructure Stand-off]]
{{Col-2}}
;[[Operation D: Captured Chance]] 
*[[Mission 16: Escape from the Southern Fields|Escape from the Southern Fields]]
*[[Mission 17: Liberation of Faraday|Liberation of Faraday]]
*[[Mission 18: Assault on the Covenant Landing Zones|Assault on the Covenant Landing Zones]]
*[[Mission 19: Escape from Faraday|Escape from Faraday]]
*[[Mission 20: Defense of the Enemies' Airbase|Defense of the Enemies' Airbase]]

;[[Operation E: Frostbite]] 
*[[Mission 21: Hunt for the Phantom|Hunt for the Phantom]]
*[[Mission 22: The Scorching of the Thicket|The Scorching of the Thicket]]
*[[Mission 23: Infiltration of the Cult Leader's Base|Infiltration of the Cult Leader's Base]]
*[[Mission 24: Hunt for the Cult Leader|Hunt for the Cult Leader]]
*[[Mission 25: Battle for the Moon|Battle for the Moon]]

;[[Operation F: Hydra]] 
*[[Mission 26: Battle at the Arid Sea|Battle at the Arid Sea]]
*[[Mission 27: Breach of the Bulwark|Breach of the Bulwark]]
*[[Mission 28: Superstructure Assault|Superstructure Assault]]
*[[Mission 29: Infiltration of the Cistern|Infiltration of the Cistern]]
*[[Mission 30: The Source|The Source]]
{{Col-end}}

;[[Halo: Spartan Assault co-op missions|Flood missions]] 
*[[Mission 1: Checkpoint|Checkpoint]]
*[[Mission 2: Holding the Fort|Holding the Fort]]
*[[Mission 3: Structural Integrity|Structural Integrity]]
*[[Mission 4: Transmission Interrupted|Transmission Interrupted]]
*[[Mission 5: Power Net|Power Net]]

==Gameplay==
===Control input===
{{Main|HSA:Control schemes}}
[[File:HSA touch input.jpg|thumb|250px|Touch input for ''Halo: Spartan Assault'']]
As a "twin-stick" top-down shooter title, ''Halo: Spartan Assault'' is developed primarily for touchscreen platforms. The default controls for the game use some of the common control mechanics of touchscreen games: the movement control is located on the left screen whereas the aiming and firing control is located on the right. ''Halo''{{'}}s staple abilities, (such as grenade with a single button and using vehicles seamlessly), are readily accessible to the player and are placed next to the aiming and firing controls for ease of use.<ref name="debut">[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKjakadAOic '''YouTube''': ''Halo: Spartan Assault - Debut Gameplay Reveal'']</ref>

On Windows 8 PCs and tablets, the game can also be played with a mouse and keyboard. Keyboard controls use a standard shooter format: the "WASD" key group controls movement and the mouse is for aiming and firing. On August 29, an update was applied to the game which enables the use of an [[Xbox 360]] controller as well.{{Ref/Reuse|debut}} The console versions of the game feature an altered control scheme in which the player must press the Right Trigger in order to fire weapons; in contrast, the other versions do not distinguish between the "look" and "fire" controls.{{Ref/Reuse|Ellis}}
{{clear}}

===Gameplay mechanics===
Splattering damage in ''Spartan Assault'' is similar to ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'' where a simple prod from a vehicle can instantly kill the player. ''Spartan Assault'' gameplay features weapon racks that will refill ammunition for the weapons they house, granting the player technically unlimited ammo in a given area. Most battlefield debris in the game can be destroyed using brute force such as explosions or ramming it with vehicles larger than the debris. Exceptions include the Spirit and Pelican dropships as well as drop pods, which cannot be destroyed. Hijackings only affect Covenant vehicle, such as Wraiths and Ghosts. While hijacking, the player will gain invulnerability until taking full control of the vehicle or turret. However, when any mounted vehicles and turrets used by the player are destroyed, the player will die. The game features overheat on the machine gun and Plasma Turret; when they overheat, the player cannot use it until the overheat bar drains. Some weapons are given more ammo than standard FPS Games, such as the plasma pistol, sniper rifle, Spartan laser and rocket launcher. Splattering Marines does not kill them; however, if the player is splattered by a friendly vehicle, the player will die.

===Player loadout===
[[File:HSA loadout.jpg|thumb|250px|Player loadout]]
Players are able to customize their Spartan character's primary and secondary weapon [[loadout]], [[armor ability]], and [[Boosters|booster]] (akin to ''Halo 4''{{'}}s [[tactical packages]] and [[support upgrades]]) at the start of each mission. For additional challenge, the player can select up to two of six skulls to gain more bonuses achievements.
{{clear}}

===Cooperative play===
The Xbox 360 and Xbox One versions of the game include a two-player online cooperative mode. In this mode two Spartans battle against hordes of [[Flood]] forms across five missions.{{Ref/Reuse|HWP}} The also mode features never-before-seen weapons and equipment, including [[Machine Pistol|a machine pistol]] (which is [[Dual-wielding|dual-wielded]] like the [[M7/Caseless Submachine Gun|M7]]), a [[Slipspace translocation|teleportation]] armor ability, and a what appears to be a "cryo bomb" which emits a cloud that the Flood cannot penetrate.{{Ref/Reuse|Ellis}}<ref name="WP co-op">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/games/halospartanassault/mediadetail?title=spartan-assault-xbox-one-co-op&id=c6a8539d-34ee-4bda-8b0a-a5f1c2615f14&category=Videos '''Halo Waypoint:''' ''SPARTAN ASSAULT XBOX ONE - CO-OP'']</ref>

===Weekly Challenge===
The Weekly Challenge is where the player will be tasked with a challenge that occurs randomly every week, such as kill a specified target on a specified mission, kill with specified weapons, or even kill with specified methods. The reward is based on the difficulty you will face and the harder the weekly challenge, the more reward will be given. Weekly challenge change randomly every week and the player can take up to three challenges every week.

==Appearances==
{{Featurelist|secondcolumn=title-5|title-1=Characters|
;UNSC
*Spartan [[Edward Davis]] {{1st}}{{Ref/Reuse|windows8only}}
*Spartan [[Sarah Palmer]]{{Ref/Reuse|official}}
*[[Roland]]<ref>[https://vine.co/v/hmgIb1VATxb '''Vine.co''' - ''Xbox: Meet Roland, your A.I. guide in Halo: Spartan Assault'']</ref>

''The following ch