Halo 2
Map Pack: Bungie gives the people what they want.
Tags: Halo 2 Categories: Reviews, Xbox Reviews
Posted by David Hinkle on Jul 25th, 2005
| Title | Players | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Halo 2 (title page) | 1-2 + | ||
| Developer | Publisher | Genre | Online |
| First Person Shooter | Yes | ||
Bungie recently released the long-awaited new maps for Halo 2. We’re going to break it down for you and give you the details on all of the 9 new maps. Let’s begin, shall we?
Warlock
 |
One of the smaller maps, Warlock is set in ancient Forerunner ruins. For those looking to get a little close for some melee or intimate firearms play, this is a good choice. Halo veterans will notice the map closely resembles that of the old level Wizard. With a few tweaks and a darker tone of lighting, Warlock manages to bring some nostalgia to fans of Slayer, Team Slayer, and Oddball.
Gemini
 |
Another of the smaller maps that are in the new packs, Gemini hovers high above the warm glow of the Covenant’s High Charity. An area of relaxation and meditation for the prophets, a lone tree stands tall in the map’s center. For those long-time fans of Bungie, the map is designed after Duality, a classic map from their Marathon series. Being a small map, it’s best used with a few players for some Slayer, Team Slayer, and Oddball.
Containment
Taking place on the Delta Halo, Containment is a gigantic, icy level with a massive trench splitting the area between the red and blue bases. Designed to accomodate every vehicle in Halo 2, Snipers and would-be pilots and drivers will find the level to be a sweet experience. Created for 16-player matches, this level is best utilized in Capture the Flag and Assault modes.
 |
Turf
Probably my favorite of the bunch, Turf is an asymmetrical map set in Old Mombosa. An urban environment with plenty of rooftops and blind corners, Turf is wonderful for Territories. Even those that don’t enjoy the gametype can find it plenty fun in Double Team and Team Slayer. Featuring one area that houses a Warthog and several shortcuts all around, Turf is a good starting place for the new maps to just jump in and enjoy some futuristic carnage.
Terminal
 |
A bust hub of travel and commerve, Terminal is an area of New Mombosa with many areas of possible assination. Lots of heights and skywalks for the distant-minded killer to position themself for gathering heads to adjorn the walls of their hunter’s den, Terminal is a map where one shouldn’t go wandering into open areas. On top of that, the level itself has a speeding train following a track that goes through the heart of the level, destroying would-be combatants upon contact. One of the larger asymmetrical maps in the new pack, Terminal is ideal for Capture the Flag-based gametypes and Assault.
Relic
 |
On the red-hot sands of a lonely island, Relic houses a crashed Albatross Dropship. Scattered throughout the level, along with its cargo, the ship’s wreckage makes for several nooks and crannies that can be used as hiding places while one snipes unsuspecting Spartans and Elites. A medium-large level home to Ghosts and Warthogs, Snipers do well here, but the Battle Rifle comes in handy as well. The usual medium-to-large-level gametypes work well here, such as Capture the Flag and Assault.
Elongation
Another map of nostalgia, Elongathon is designed after the map Longest from the original Halo. Set high above Earth on an orbitting space station, Elongathon is a smaller level for some intimate combat. Littering the main hall are moving conveyor belts, which upon stepping on and riding allows you to move without coming up on an enemy’s motion detector. One flag games of Capture the Flag, Slayer, and Team Slayer work well on this map.
Sanctuary
Set on Delta Halo, Sanctuary is set among the temple grounds and lush greenery seen in the single player campaign. A medium-sized level, 2 bases are connected by a crumbling structure of skywalks and debris. Players will find the Battle Rifle and Sniper Rifle useful, and those who’re fans of the Covenant weaponry will be happy with the Carbine. With several large rocks littering the floor, players will find excellent vantage points both above and below.
Backwash
 |
Last, but not least, is the mirky swamps of Backwash. Inspired by the single-player campaign mission 343 Guilty Spark in the original Halo, Backwash is alive with fauna and rain, making for a dewey swamp of death. A small-medium map, Backwash works best with Double Team and Slayer variants. Any player who is lucky enough to grab the camoulflage will find themselves very much hidden against the dark textures of the ground. Crouch, wait, shoot…
 |
Aside form the maps, you’ll also find the Map Pack is home to a behind the scenes look at each new map along with a cutscene made specifically for the Pack (shows what happens to the third pelican before Master Chief arrives in Old Mombosa). The behind the scenes featurette is not only very informative in presenting the new maps, it gives you a look at the people who are responsible for the multiplayer gaming you’re enjoying and the reasons why they decide to do the things they do. Balance issues are their top concern, and just from seeing them discuss each map they put so much work in, you can tell they really care about their work. For around 20 bucks, this Map Pack is worth it.
| What Works | Score |
|---|---|
|
+ A good balance of small to large maps |
8.0 |
| What Doesn't | |
| - The specially-made cutscene was short and kind of pointless | |
| Under the Shrink-wrap | |
| For those who enjoy multiplayer offline, pick this up. For the rest of us, it's better to skip the trip to the store and nab these via Xbox LIVE! | |
[ Post the first comment | View related posts ]
Tags: Halo 2
Posted by David Hinkle on Jul 25th, 2005 and is filed under Reviews, Xbox Reviews. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can post a comment, or trackback from your own site.
