Happy Wars
{{Short description|2012 tactical role-playing video game}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2024}}{{Infobox video game
| title = Happy Wars
| image = Happy Wars.jpg
| caption = Happy Wars cover
| developer = Toylogic
| publisher = Toylogic
| director = Yoichi Take
Yusuke Ochiai
| designer = Daichi Kurumiya (Lead)
Yui Terao
Takumi Kudo
Masafumi Nukita
| artist = Go Takahashi (Art Director)
Chisato End (3D Lead)
Satoko Tsushima (2D Lead)
| platforms = Xbox 360
Microsoft Windows
Xbox One
| released = Xbox Live Arcade
NA: 7 October 2012
AU: 10 October 2012 EU: 12 October 2012
Microsoft Windows
May 28, 2014
Xbox One
April 24, 2015{{cite web | url=http://www.purexbox.com/news/2015/04/smile_happy_wars_xbox_one_release_date_finally_locked_in | title=Smile! Happy Wars Xbox One Release Date Finally Locked In | author=Barnes, Ken | website=Pure Xbox | publisher=Gamer Network | date=April 21, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150915170748/http://www.purexbox.com/news/2015/04/smile_happy_wars_xbox_one_release_date_finally_locked_in | archive-date=September 15, 2015 | access-date=November 9, 2019}}
| genre = Action, tactical role-playing
| modes = Single-player, multiplayer
}}
Happy Wars is a free-to-play tactical role-playing video game developed and published by Toylogic. It was originally released for the Xbox 360 on October 12, 2012 on the Xbox Live Arcade as its first free-to-play title,{{cite web | url=https://www.engadget.com/2012/10/04/happy-wars-free-for-all-is-free-for-xbox-live-gold-starting-oct/ | title=Happy Wars' free-for-all is free for Xbox Live Gold starting October 12 | author=Fletcher, JC | website=Engadget (Joystiq) | publisher=Oath Inc. | date=October 4, 2012 | access-date=November 9, 2019}}{{cite magazine | url=http://www.oxm.co.uk/46963/happy-wars-updates-and-dlc-planned-every-1-2-months-toylogic-hoping-to-run-game-for-years/ | title=Happy Wars updates and DLC planned 'every 1-2 months', ToyLogic hoping to run game for years | author=Evans-Thirlwell, Edwin | magazine=Official Xbox Magazine UK | publisher=Future plc | date=October 24, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130204084757/http://www.oxm.co.uk/46963/happy-wars-updates-and-dlc-planned-every-1-2-months-toylogic-hoping-to-run-game-for-years/ | archive-date=February 4, 2013 | access-date=November 9, 2019}}{{cite web | url=http://www.g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/727296/happy-wars-announced-first-xbox-live-arcade-free-to-play-game/ | title=Happy Wars Announced: First Xbox Live Arcade Free-To-Play Game | author=Johnson, Stephen | website=G4 | publisher=G4 Media | date=August 24, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130114025623/http://www.g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/727296/happy-wars-announced-first-xbox-live-arcade-free-to-play-game/ | archive-date=January 14, 2013 | access-date=November 9, 2019}} and additionally for Microsoft Windows on May 28, 2014, but availability on the online marketplaces of these platforms and service to these platforms has since been discontinued as of December 17, 2018.{{cite web | url=https://www.polygon.com/2018/3/8/17096894/happy-wars-shutdown-xbox-360-windows-pc | title=Happy Wars is shutting down on PC and Xbox 360 | author=Good, Owen S. | website=Polygon | publisher=Vox Media | date=March 8, 2018 |access-date=January 13, 2019}} The Xbox One version was released on April 24, 2015, and is now the only platform the game can be played on.
Gameplay
Happy Wars is a multiplayer online game, defined as a role-playing strategy game, although it also has a short story-driven single player campaign mode.{{cite web | url=https://v1.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/video-games/editorials/reviews/9985-Happy-Wars-Review | title=Happy Wars Review (X360) | author=Wehner, Mike | website=The Escapist | publisher=Enthusiast Gaming | date=October 16, 2012 | access-date=November 9, 2019 | archive-date=November 9, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191109235224/https://v1.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/video-games/editorials/reviews/9985-Happy-Wars-Review | url-status=live }} The multiplayer mode consists of two teams of up to 15 players attempting to destroy the other team's castle while also defending their own.{{cite web | url=https://venturebeat.com/2012/10/15/happy-wars-review/ | title=Happy Wars brings free-to-play gaming to Xbox 360, and it's worth every penny (review) | author=Barsanti, Sam | website=VentureBeat | date=October 15, 2012 | access-date=November 19, 2012 | archive-date=November 18, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121118034624/http://venturebeat.com/2012/10/15/happy-wars-review/ | url-status=live }}
As of September 3, 2014, an Xbox Live Gold account was required to play the game online; due to recent updates, the game now accepts regular Xbox Live members as well.
The players choose from one of three classes: the warrior, the mage, and the cleric. There are also subclasses, although the only ones implemented at the moment are the Warrior-type Berserker, the Mage-type Zephyr, and the Cleric-type Engineer. Each class has a base attack and other unique abilities that are available as the player gains new levels.{{cite web | url=http://poptimal.com/2012/10/happy-wars-review-xbla-no-reason-not-to-enlist/ | title=Happy Wars Review (XBLA): No Reason Not To Enlist! | author=Mian, Bilal | website=Poptimal | publisher=Poptimal LLC | date=October 29, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106114400/http://poptimal.com/2012/10/happy-wars-review-xbla-no-reason-not-to-enlist/ | archive-date=November 6, 2012 | url-status=usurped | access-date=November 9, 2019}} Each class also has a unique "Team Skill", where players can gather teammates together to allow the casting player to use more powerful skills. The more players that aid in the use of the team skill, the more powerful the ability becomes.{{cite web | url=http://videogamewriters.com/happy-wars-interview-the-real-show-has-just-begun-56264 | title='Happy Wars' Interview: The real show has just begun | author=Grill, Scott | website=Video Game Writers | date=October 22, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121101025236/http://videogamewriters.com/happy-wars-interview-the-real-show-has-just-begun-56264 | archive-date=November 1, 2012 | access-date=November 9, 2019}}
The game also had items that can be purchased either through playing the game or through microtransactions that allow in-game items to be purchased with Microsoft Points.{{cite web | url=https://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/120057-Happy-Wars-Dev-Predicts-AAA-Games-Will-Shift-Towards-F2P | title=Happy Wars Dev Predicts AAA Games Will Shift Towards F2P | author=Carter, Grey | website=The Escapist | publisher=Enthusiast Gaming | date=October 11, 2012 | access-date=November 9, 2019 | archive-date=November 9, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191109235224/https://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/120057-Happy-Wars-Dev-Predicts-AAA-Games-Will-Shift-Towards-F2P | url-status=live }} There are items in Happy Wars that can only be purchased with Microsoft Points. They are usually powerful items that can allow players to get a head start in the game.
Reception
{{Video game reviews
| align = left
| MC = X360: 61/100{{cite web | url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/happy-wars/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox-360 | title=Happy Wars for Xbox 360 Reviews | website=Metacritic | publisher=Red Ventures | access-date=November 20, 2012 | archive-date=April 29, 2025 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20250429150516/https://www.metacritic.com/game/happy-wars/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox-360 | url-status=live }}
| GSpot = 5/10{{cite web | url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/happy-wars-review/1900-6398834/ | title=Happy Wars Review (X360)| author=Venter, Jason | website=GameSpot | publisher=CBS Interactive | date=October 24, 2012 | access-date=November 10, 2019}}
| IGN = 4/10{{cite web | url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2012/10/19/happy-wars-review | title=Happy Wars Review (X360) | author=Cocke, Taylor | website=IGN | publisher=Ziff Davis | date=October 19, 2012 | access-date=November 20, 2012 | archive-date=October 30, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121030182004/http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/10/19/happy-wars-review | url-status=live }}
| JXV = 15/20{{cite web | url=http://www.jeuxvideo.com/articles/0001/00018700-happy-wars-test.htm | title=Test: Happy Wars (360) | language=French | author=Vanyr | website=Jeuxvideo.com | publisher=Webedia | date=May 27, 2013 | access-date=November 10, 2019 | archive-date=November 10, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191110040955/http://www.jeuxvideo.com/articles/0001/00018700-happy-wars-test.htm | url-status=live }}
| rev1 = The Escapist
}}
The Xbox 360 version of Happy Wars received "mixed" reviews according to the review aggregation website Metacritic. IGN cited lack of players as a concern with the Xbox 360 version and that "Happy Wars went too far in the direction of accessibility with its few classes, lack of distinctive weaponry, and simple game modes." Official Xbox Magazine UK compared said console version to Awesomenauts, but noted that players who pay for additional content appear to have an advantage over other players.
Jason Venter of GameSpot said that the same console version was "difficult to recommend because of the game's matchmaking and connection issues." A content update was released in November that attempted to fix the connection issues and other small game fixes.{{cite web | url=https://www.vg247.com/2012/11/10/happy-wars-receives-small-update-to-help-combat-lag-connection-issues/ | title=Happy Wars receives small update to help combat lag, connection issues | author=Nunneley, Stephany | website=VG247 | publisher=Gamer Network | date=November 10, 2012 | access-date=November 20, 2012}}
{{clear}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{moby game|id=/happy-wars}}
Category:Free-to-play video games
Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games
Category:Multiplayer online games
Category:Role-playing video games
Category:Tactical role-playing video games
Category:Video games developed in Japan
Category:Video games set in castles