I finally downloaded and played all the additions from the Heroic map pack and I stand pretty firm in my favorites.  However, before I get into the ditty of the maps, I want to explain a bit about the Forge and why Halo 3 brings in reviews that range from “Whatever?” and “Boring!” to “FPS Utopia!” and “online gaming brilliance!”.    I promise you that all the melon heads that say Halo 3 isn’t all it’s cracked up to be have not played the game and should have their controllers removed forthwith!    The campaign is fly, no argument possible there, even though you can nitpick your way through it if you want, it’s still solid.  However, the brilliance is in the multiplayer mode and all the options and customization features you can marry therein.  I’m just learning about the forge even though I’ve been playing online and multiplayer for sometime now.  So I wanted to take a sec to explain it. 

The Forge is an in game object layout editor, a tool to allows you to customize just about anything in the game!   This means you can add, remove, or change weapons, vehicles, and scenic components like crates, gravity transporters, walls, fences, stairs, bridges, etc that make up a particular map.  This tool takes dynamic multiplayer options to another level for players.  You have the custom powerup and it’s properties are determined in the custom game type settings, and amazing set of attributes you can set on the buffee who gets it, and you can set it’s lifespan from 3-90 seconds.  Think about the possibilities when considering some of the stock live games out there like Oddball, King of the Hill, or single weapon games only like Swords, or my doom lover, the Hammer.    I played a game my coworker made where all parties and all weapons spawned in the guardian ring.  This kind of chaotic creation is likely common at first try, but the complex possibilities are really quite endless. 

Onto the Map pack which adds 3 news maps to the menu, The Rats Nest, Standoff, and The Foundry.  I wasn’t sure how the map pack effected multiplayer, but in reality that’s its target.   Essentially, all of the maps will be rolled in to the regular Matchmaking playlists and then as peeps are getting matched up, the game will take into account who has what maps in the matchmaking process.  So you’ll see Team Slayer on Standoff show up in the Team Slayer hopper as well as in the new playlist.  SWEET!

Rats Nest

First thing is that any new map is going to have a coolness factor to it cause, well, it’s new.  Just like a new lover or a new pair shoes, it’s exciting and fresh and you want to use them all the time.  That gives rats nest a pretty good head start, considering.   However, playing around in the map for a bit on local with 2 people to 25 kills was an easy way to make you want to shoot your own self in the head with the needler, but also teaches you the best way to win.  The map is a large indoor track with lots of vehicles and firepower with some hallways and connecter ramps in the middle.  This map made for the Ghost, a hovering craft that fires plasma bolts or splatters your opponents into the ground while providing awesome protection.  Hop in and drive around the map over and over again real fast, shooting up and obliterating everyone in your path until you hit 25 kills, then lean back and snicker at your win. 

Standoff

This is a great bunker style top level outdoors map that reminded me of an above ground Isolation in the desert with monstrous satellite dishes.   I think its a good large map, great for big team slayer with lots of rocks and hills to slink amongst.  On standoff, your lovin’ the rocket launcher.  Then again you love the rocket launcher everywhere!

Foundry

The foundry feels like a second generation of The Pit, but not quite as interactive.  Of course if you played Halo or Halo 2 its a third or forth generation of the warehouse style map with a cool look and feel that cry’s out for some time in the forge!  The crates and bridges can all be moved around to your liking or to create crazy obstacle courses.   The possibilities are endless.  Carpe Diem!

Though my favs are still back on Construct, Guardian, Highground and The Narrows, I love anything new so I am tickled pink to have to new map to tromp on.   If you haven’t checked out anything past the campaign, I encourage you to do so.  Come find in Lone Wolves sometime and I’ll introduce your to my hammer *grin*.

Kiss Kiss,

Dawngrrl Gametart

This entry was posted on Sunday, January 6th, 2008 at 2:07 am and is filed under Gaming. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.