RTS games are still sort of coming into their own on consoles. Hardcore fans of the genre are reluctant to ditch the PC just yet, although games like EndWar are kicking up innovative new ways to try and make the console versions more appealing. However, for the truly devoted – like the hordes of StarCraft players in Korea and everyone else that wants to be able to use Ctrl-number keys to easily group and access their units – it still looks like we're going to be waiting for a while before we see a mass exodus away from the PC.

Halo Wars is a bit of a bold new direction for what is one of the most popular franchises on the Xbox. Taking the Halo universe and making an RTS game out of it might run the risk of irate Halo fans, who might panic upon buying a game with the magic "H" word in the title, only to load it up and find they're presented with some bizarre top-down view .

Currently being developed by Ensemble Studios – famed RTS developers behind titles such as Age of Empires 3 and Age of Mythology – Halo Wars is shaping up to look like a solid first foray into console strategy games. Microsoft gave us some hands-on time in a 2v2 co-op skirmish against the computer to check it out in their very plush Xbox booth upstairs at E3, so I didn't hesitate to jump in and give it a bash.

My Microsoft guide through the game seemed to be a little concerned that I wouldn't really get what to do, but after some introductory information I was up and away creating units, upgrading buildings and attacking things. For veteran RTS gamers, Halo Wars is extremely easy to dive right into and start enjoying – as with most new RTS games the learning curve is limited to getting a handle on some of the basic game mechanics, and then you're on your way. Of course, as a primarily PC-focused RTS player I had to grapple with the controls a little bit, but that's only to be expected.

There's a big focus on making sure the game is easy for gamers new to the RTS genre as well though – the UI has been carefully designed to try and make it simple to use, but at the same time powerful enough for advanced players to get the most out of. One of the core UI elements is a simple wheel with at most eight options, used consistently throughout the game to simplify any of the selection processes.

In terms of gameplay – the usual conventions are in place. You need to build a base, which you can only do in certain spots – your base has a set number of slots which can be occupied by the various building types, so you need to plan out how to construct your base in the most efficient way possible. There are also other locations throughout the map that you can establish bases, but these are all pre-defined – you can't go building just any old place.

The units are the coolest thing about the game. A lot of effort has gone into trying to capture the Halo look and feel in the units. While there's no kick-ass Master Chief character to control, you can build groups of Spartans, which are your special forces equivalent, and can do cool things like capturing Covenant vehicles, busting through the windscreen in a most satisfyingly cool manner. The staple unit in the game though is the Marine squad, your general infantry-type unit. Almost all the units have a neat secondary attack option – for the Marines it's a grenade attack, which is hugely effective.

Another classic Halo element is the fishtailing Warthog, which zips around the map very quickly and is great for scouting out through the fog of war. There's a variety of different vehicles you can build, all coming from the various building types – again, standard RTS fare as you juggle for the optimal combination of infantry, vehicles and airborne units to combat your foe.

In orbit, way, way above you is the massive spacecraft The Spirit of Fire – while you can't see it during the game, it's comforting to know it's there – because it packs a variety of very heavy punches. If you're getting wasted by a Covenant attack you can call in a focused strike or a directional carpet bomb attack to help ease up the pressure.

Visually the game is great; lots of awesome effects. The feel of the Halo universe is captured very well and I suspect this Is almost certainly going to be one of the biggest factors for people when deciding where to throw their money – it'll need to look like a Halo game for people to take it seriously. And it does.

I guess the really big question that should be asked of this title is: if not for the Halo brand, would this game be any good? The rock-solid fundamentals that you'd expect from an Ensemble game are all there, and combined with clever UI work, great graphics and solid production creates an all-around good experience for gamers. Throw in the always-appealing Halo brand as a bonus and it's certainly something to keep an eye out for.