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[XenoRaven]

Ugh, no to Halo 2's assault mode. I much prefer the fluid fights that come from halo 3's assault mode. Assault on Burial mounds? Please, never bring that up again.

Serious question, am I the only person who thought one sided territories was the best game type of any Halo game? Loved that shit, but you never see it in matchmaking any more

I've always enjoyed Territories, especially on High Ground. I played a Territories game on Sandtrap not too long ago and it was awesome.

I also enjoyed VIP from time to time. It was just that VIP came up so damn often.

 

[Kapura]

Halo 3 had some really excellent maps for certain team sizes. Guardian was the pinnacle of small, asym maps IMO. Last Resort and High Ground are both excellent larger asym maps. But then there are merely passable maps, like isolation and snowbound. I'm hoping that in Reach Forge makes it so you can modify the maps more, so that you can take the suck out of a lot of the maps. Make more of the maps like Sandbox in different settings, you can not only multiply the custom content, you also make a wider variety party sizes basic maps are made for. Take a huge map, cut it down the centre, make it a medium size asym. Cut it again, make it a small map. God damnit it would be awesome to have huge walls to place anywhere. A map like Avalanche could multiply it's value.

plz mak bungie.

 

[Kuroyume]

BTW, agree completely about your Assault/Bomb note. Halo 3's Assault was ass. Hardly any intensity was felt in an Assault game, unless the timer was counting down to :10 seconds or something. With Halo 2's, you had to have teamwork and the firepower to protect the bomb carrier trying to arm the bomb. Think 1-Bomb in Zanzibar or Burial Mounds. Both places were quite hard to arm the bomb, especially Burial Mounds. Huge maps like Coagulation, Waterworks, Headlong, etc. were also difficult, but as the same time, insanely entertaining.

I can still recall those games where people would crouch with the bomb next to a destroyed warthog on Terminal trying to arm the bomb while remaining undetected. Arming the bomb in Halo 2 was so much more satisfying and fun. It sucks what they did to it in Halo 3.

 

[kylej]

Eh, I'm kind of inclined to agree with Sage's notions regarding sandbox design... Yeah, memorable spaces are important, but you could put me in a big gray box littered with little gray boxes stacked up like Legos, and if the core mechanics (controls, weapons, movement, etc.) feel right, I'll play it all day.

Ugly maps filled with brown blocks equate to 2/3rds of the Halo 3 DLC. Maps need to have an appealing aesthetic and play well. It's a mutualistic relationship.

 

[Syracuse022]

Ugly maps filled with brown blocks equate to 2/3rds of the Halo 3 DLC. Maps need to have an appealing aesthetic and play well. It's a mutualistic relationship.

Yeah, I wasn't wild about the brown blocks, but that's because I wasn't wild about the gameplay (H3 is best on very big maps with vehicles in the mix - neither of the Lego maps did much in that area).

Gray blocks, though? Well I like gray blocks...

 

[Gui_PT]

Bungie sure loved to use Extrude back then :lol

 

[Striker]

Ugh, no to Halo 2's assault mode. I much prefer the fluid fights that come from halo 3's assault mode. Assault on Burial mounds? Please, never bring that up again.

Serious question, am I the only person who thought one sided territories was the best game type of any Halo game? Loved that shit, but you never see it in matchmaking any more

Halo 3's "Assault" boils down to a guy running in a room, walking over the spot, and flying grenades and power drainers all other the place. No thanks.

What I liked about Halo 2's Assault was, like Kuro said, it became satisfying, and it showed the teamwork and technical workmanship to getting a goal that is extremely pleasing to achieve. A map like Burial Mounds was brutal to accomplish because of the Sniper Rifle being a near spawn at the main base, and the Rockets and Ghost were also the heavyweights in the map. The Sword would some times make its way, and if the defense got ahold of it, good luck arming that bomb. It comes down to preferences, but being pressured like that brought all the intensity, frantic and relishing gameplay.

Terminal was rough, but the main goal was simply to get the bomb inside. It's easier to arm and grab a hold of it once it is, because the door is small enough to deflect the Wraith's blasts from careless shots. If the person manning the Wraith is precisive, it is difficult.

 

[The Librarian]

I was just thinking of this, but I can't seem to come up with my own answer, so I'll just ask you guys.

What do you think the villain will be in Halo Reach? Would it be one of the Prophets, or will it be a completely new character that we haven't seen before?

The Covenant!

Edit -

Campaign solo, co-op and firefight are my main draw.

Competitive multiplayer just holds less and less sway over me nowadays. The ultra competitive crowd tends to bring out the worst in an online community, brings out the glitches, exploits and cheats and has more potential to turn casual game time into frustration.

Haven't you got the memo? Halo isn't suppose to be casual fun, it's suppose to be some form of Eazy's meta-game and the super hardcore 1337 MLG.

 

[kylej]

Yeah, I wasn't wild about the brown blocks, but that's because I wasn't wild about the gameplay (H3 is best on very big maps with vehicles in the mix - neither of the Lego maps did much in that area).

Gray blocks, though? Well I like gray blocks...

Huh, you like maps filled with clean surfaces that are tinted with an nice color? Bungie knows just what you're looking for!

 

[GhaleonEB]

I just want Three Plots - or the ability via options to create Three Plots - back. Territories in Halo 3 was garbage.

 

[bobs...onGaf]

Campaign solo, co-op and firefight are my main draw.

Competitive multiplayer just holds less and less sway over me nowadays. The ultra competitive crowd tends to bring out the worst in an online community, brings out the glitches, exploits and cheats and has more potential to turn casual game time into frustration.

All multiplayer games have these possible pitfalls. But Halo's AI and sandbox are what I like about the game most. So the idea of replaying the campaign levels, or just taking on an advanced firefight mode is making this wait for release already feel way too long.

Of course, having a great multiplayer versus suite is also appreciated. I'm sure I'll give it a solid try once the beta is available.

Hey dont complain about the competative crowd, its the griefers and the people who want to find hiding spots/ glitches that cause you frustration.

Competitivness with games like Halo makes it a lot more fun in my opinion, when I first got into Halo I had no idea what I was doing and got bored of running around with a AR within a month, luckily a friend of mine got the game and we learned about the more competative stuff and im still playing daily now thanks to that.

Im not saying being ultra casual isnt fun, it just depends - Halo is perfect at providing a HUGE variety, so if I want to I can take a break from the competative stuff and play some Grifball or Zombies or make a map in Forge (the list is endless). What I am saying though is playing matchmaking without being competative can get stale.

 

[Zeouterlimits]

For me it's simple kind of open map-layouts with "hidden" complexity (complexity than isn't seen from just a glance).
E.g. Valhalla, High Ground, The Pit, Lockout, Headlong, Guardian, Blood Gulch, Beaver Creek, Prisoner, Ascension

 

[The Librarian]

Just got the latest edition of OXM and they say they're gonna have a blow-out of Reach in their next issue. That's early March, so hopefully it's mostly MP info.

 

[Falagard]

I'll take Terminal, Headlong, Waterworks, Relic and Coagulation over Valhalla and Avalanche any day.

Okay. I wouldn't, and not by a long shot, but there's not much sense arguing it. I've gone map by map before and stated my preferences and why (were seach enabled I'd just reference that). No sense re-litigating it.

Yeah okay to be honest I'm not sure I would either, but it wouldn't be a long shot. I want my cake and eat it too - IE all the good Halo 2 AND Halo 3 maps together. I honestly don't understand why one of the biggest development companies in the world with one of the biggest franchises in the world backed by one of the biggest game publishers in the world who also happens to be THE biggest software company in the world can't remake all those maps or at least outsource them. Anger.

 

[Arnie]

The Pit needs to be in Reach, whether that be DLC or at launch. It is such a well crafted map, potentially one of the top 3 ever in a Halo game. Infinitely replayable.

 

[Tashi]

Ok so here's something that's part of Halo 3 that I hope is NOT for Reach. The dead bodies in multiplayer and the things left behind (grenades/guns) in Halo 3 have actual physics properties on the maps. Which means that dead bodies, guns and loose grenades get in the way of my shots or my grenades. It doesn't happen often but it's really fucking annoying when it does. There's no real need for them to have these properties. What does it add to the game? Sure, it's more realistic but it does more harm (not much) than good. I would argue that it does no good.

and while we're talking about maps...Midship or bust.

 

[Arnie]

Ok so here's something that's part of Halo 3 that I hope is NOT for Reach. The dead bodies in multiplayer and the things left behind (grenades/guns) in Halo 3 have actual physics properties on the maps. Which means that dead bodies, guns and loose grenades get in the way of my shots or my grenades. It doesn't happen often but it's really fucking annoying when it does. There's no real need for them to have these properties. What does it add to the game? Sure, it's more realistic but it does more harm (not much) than good. I would argue that it does no good.

and while we're talking about maps...Midship or bust.

Agree. Was playing some MLG king Construct today and the dead bodies that clog up in open purple and closed purple really prevent you from skating grenades across the floor. Very annoying, however I suppose it is the player's job to account for such things.

Also, although I enjoyed Midship immensely in Halo 2, the map doesn't hold up as well for me nowadays, despite it being a direct port. Most of my teammates veto it too. The scent of nostalgia is too great to ignore though.

 

[Gui_PT]

Ok so here's something that's part of Halo 3 that I hope is NOT for Reach. The dead bodies in multiplayer and the things left behind (grenades/guns) in Halo 3 have actual physics properties on the maps. Which means that dead bodies, guns and loose grenades get in the way of my shots or my grenades. It doesn't happen often but it's really fucking annoying when it does. There's no real need for them to have these properties. What does it add to the game? Sure, it's more realistic but it does more harm (not much) than good. I would argue that it does no good.

and while we're talking about maps...Midship or bust.

 

[Striker]

Heretic is another good one, but that's a direct-remake (shame on Blackout and Avalanche, though with the right settings they aren't bad; Avalanche is probably the best MP large map for Halo 3, though I noted Valhalla earlier because it can support 5v5 and 6v6 as well in some manner).

Nearly all Halo 2 maps were from good to great. Maps like Ivory Tower, Beaver Creek, Lockout, Colossus, and Sanctuary -- goodness.

 

[Kapura]

I think we might be seeing some of this through Rose-tinted glasses. Many of the maps (Midship in particular) were really good, but not all of them were. If I remember correctly a dude with a sniper could completely rape Colossus. I didn't play a whole lot of Halo 2 multiplayer, but all of the maps can't always be good.

 

[Captain Blood]

I just want Three Plots - or the ability via options to create Three Plots - back. Territories in Halo 3 was garbage.

Sometimes I wake up at night thinking I can play 3-plots in Halo 3 but then I slowly creep to the sad realization that it was just a beautiful dream.

 

[2 Minutes Turkish]

Man this game looks fucking amazing.

The Gameinformer issue just makes the wait more agonising.

Just need to finish off the last handful of achievements I need in Halo Wars, and Endure in ODST so I can give Reach my full attention.

 

[Hydranockz]

Thinking back, Containment was a far better map than I ever gave it credit for. More gates...? Do we want?

 

[JohnIIVII]

Heretic is another good one, but that's a direct-remake (shame on Blackout and Avalanche, though with the right settings they aren't bad; Avalanche is probably the best MP large map for Halo 3, though I noted Valhalla earlier because it can support 5v5 and 6v6 as well in some manner).

Nearly all Halo 2 maps were from good to great. Maps like Ivory Tower, Beaver Creek, Lockout, Colossus, and Sanctuary -- goodness.

I concur. I absolutely loved nearly every halo 2 map. I still go back and play it every now and then. Yes there were a few I didn't much care for, but there were far more in Halo 3.

 

[GhaleonEB]

Sometimes I wake up at night thinking I can play 3-plots in Halo 3 but then I slowly creep to the sad realization that it was just a beautiful dream.

On occasion I have a similar dream about multi-flag/bomb (as in, more than two). It's one of those things I just assumed was in, only to be woken up by cold, cruel reality. I really wanted to set up a BTB neutral bomb game with three neutral bombs the other day. :\

 

[Striker]

Thinking back, Containment was a far better map than I ever gave it credit for. More gates...? Do we want?

Would have been a very solid BTB map if they fixed the hole in the corner. They designed it for Banshees but they were never set forth in the actual MM process in there because of that exploit. That map allowed all goodness to take set forth, and lots of ammo to go around. Only default map with a Scorpion, but then add Banshee, two Warthogs, plus Rockets to each side - Sniper in front, Invisible lying in front of the rocks near the Scorpion, and the Overshield underneath the middle bridge.

Still, it's hard to fathom how good the other large maps were. Coagulation, Terminal, Relic, Headlong, Waterworks... even maps like Zanzibar, Colossus, and Burial Mounds were outstanding if it dropped to 5v5 or 6v6 (Squad Battle numbers). That and add in that Ninja 0n Fire used a million doses of variants of Flag, Bomb, Slayer, and there was 3 Plots on Terminal. The plot in the middle of the train track? So good.

Tons and TONS of variety was used.

 

[Kibbles]

Just got the latest edition of OXM and they say they're gonna have a blow-out of Reach in their next issue. That's early March, so hopefully it's mostly MP info.

Soo far! It's gonna be MP, getting ready for the Beta, which will launch in April. Woo!

I hope X10 brings some new Reach (preferably gameplay) media.

 

[Oozer3993]

+1 for inclusion of Halo 2's assault mode. Terminal + sticky arming = crazy delicious. I know I might be in the minority, but I had a blast as my team mates and I hurled ourselves at the station in glorious, suicidal bomb touching runs.

It's still on my to-do list, but I played the Arkham Asylum demo last night, and I gotta get me some more of that. So I'll be good for at least a few more weeks, I think.

If you like the demo, you are gonna love the game. Easily my favorite game from last year.

 

[GhaleonEB]

If you like the demo, you are gonna love the game. Easily my favorite game from last year.

Looking forward to it. Amazon sez I have a few days since I'm cheap and did the free shipping option.

 

[NullPointer]

Hey dont complain about the competative crowd, its the griefers and the people who want to find hiding spots/ glitches that cause you frustration.

Competitivness with games like Halo makes it a lot more fun in my opinion, when I first got into Halo I had no idea what I was doing and got bored of running around with a AR within a month, luckily a friend of mine got the game and we learned about the more competative stuff and im still playing daily now thanks to that.

Im not saying being ultra casual isnt fun, it just depends - Halo is perfect at providing a HUGE variety, so if I want to I can take a break from the competative stuff and play some Grifball or Zombies or make a map in Forge (the list is endless). What I am saying though is playing matchmaking without being competitive can get stale.

Yeah. I don't mean to knock competitive play, as long as it doesn't come at the expense of the casual/recreational crowd. Halo balances this just about as well as anybody could want. And adding a new Firefight mode into the mix just takes the whole package to another level.

Its just nice to know I can have my own way of playing the game without feeling forced into hardcore competition all the time. After a week of playing way too much MAG, smaller scale games feel like a comfy couch in comparison.

Edit: Also, just noticed that Halo Wars is available in On-Demand for $30. I never wanted to pay full price, and I think there are much better examples of getting a console RTS right, I'll probably end up biting on this one just for the change of pace, and yeah, co-op

 

[Stormtrooper30]

Halo 3 had some really excellent maps for certain team sizes. Guardian was the pinnacle of small, asym maps IMO. Last Resort and High Ground are both excellent larger asym maps. .

No. Zanzibar was a really excellent map. Last Resort is garbage.

If I remember correctly a dude with a plasma pistol could completely rape Colossus.

Fixed. The sniper really wasn't that powerful on Colossus. The noob combo dominated to a rediculous extent on that map.

Throw me on the boat that Halo 2's bomb mechanic was better. I wouldnt mind, however, a Halo 2 and 3 hybrid. ie: you must arm it like Halo 2, but then also protect it for a short amount of time ala Halo 3. Would require large amounts of coordination.

 

[Hydranockz]

Would have been a very solid BTB map if they fixed the hole in the corner. They designed it for Banshees but they were never set forth in the actual MM process in there because of that exploit. That map allowed all goodness to take set forth, and lots of ammo to go around. Only default map with a Scorpion, but then add Banshee, two Warthogs, plus Rockets to each side - Sniper in front, Invisible lying in front of the rocks near the Scorpion, and the Overshield underneath the middle bridge.

Still, it's hard to fathom how good the other large maps were. Coagulation, Terminal, Relic, Headlong, Waterworks... even maps like Zanzibar, Colossus, and Burial Mounds were outstanding if it dropped to 5v5 or 6v6 (Squad Battle numbers). That and add in that Ninja 0n Fire used a million doses of variants of Flag, Bomb, Slayer, and there was 3 Plots on Terminal. The plot in the middle of the train track? So good.

Tons and TONS of variety was used.

I never got a chance to play Halo 2 online. I am unaware of this hole in the corner though. Not having Live, I was confined to the very rare 4v4 system link game with my friends.

Variety was pretty much the key word for Halo 2's maps. I loved the gimmickz though. They added the variety, the feeling that you had to base your tactics around those unique key parts of the map.

Swinging doors. Need I say more?

 

[Plywood]

Huh, you like maps filled with clean surfaces that are tinted with an nice color? Bungie knows just what you're looking for!

:lol It's so true!

 

[NOKYARD]

awe, and then some :lol

 

[Kibbles]

awe, and then some :lol

Who's Bob?

 

[Slightly Live]

Mythic Map Pack 2 Now Available on Marketplace

 

[BerserkerBarage]

The sniper really wasn't that powerful on Colossus.

Wut?

The beam rifle on Colossus dominated the map so much that it had to be subsequently removed in later map editions. If you controlled Beam Rifle from the start (which meant you could control when it spawned as well) you were pretty much guaranteed victory.

Beam Rifle on Colossus = Laser on Standoff.

I'm hoping that they use both versions of certain gametypes (H2 Assault and H3 Assault; H2 Territories and H3 Territories) because I think it will add some more diversity to the playlists. I'm hoping that Neutral Flag also makes a comeback in Reach. Neutral Flag on Sanctuary was a great gametype.

I'm hoping that they bring back some HCEC maps because I figure most people haven't played the awesomeness that is Death Island and Danger Canyon.

~B.B.

 

[BerserkerBarage]

Who's Bob?

Bob is the name of the 'snowman' constructed out of kill-balls that references where Shishka abused kill-balls back when Mythic 1 was being released.

~B.B.

 

[Arnie]

That "~ B.B" shit is annoying as hell.

I really need X10 to show me some new footage. Even if it is just the stuff we have read about, except actual gameplay footage, that would scratch my Reach shaped itch.

 

[electricpirate]

Wut?

The beam rifle on Colossus dominated the map so much that it had to be subsequently removed in later map editions. If you controlled Beam Rifle from the start (which meant you could control when it spawned as well) you were pretty much guaranteed victory.

Beam Rifle on Colossus = Laser on Standoff.

I'm hoping that they use both versions of certain gametypes (H2 Assault and H3 Assault; H2 Territories and H3 Territories) because I think it will add some more diversity to the playlists. I'm hoping that Neutral Flag also makes a comeback in Reach. Neutral Flag on Sanctuary was a great gametype.

I'm hoping that they bring back some HCEC maps because I figure most people haven't played the awesomeness that is Death Island and Danger Canyon.

~B.B.

Unless you're name is fnordchan, end the sig.

But yea, agreed on the colussus beam rifle. Also like standoff, it had terrible spawns , where you could effectively trap a team on one side.

Hey, I'm down with both modes and both options. I agree that H3 assault is more offensively balanced, but H2's is so defensively balanced that it makes it boring as shit. With the exception of a few maps (Ivory tower with it's two plant spots for example) you barely had to work on defense. I got so sick of 0-0 stalemates on assault, that even while the occasional plant felt good, the overall experience was still frustrating.

Neutral bomb worked a bit better, since you could draw out and separate teams, but one bomb assault in Halo 2 was flat out broken.

one thing everyone should agree on,

we need more sanctuary in halo: reach

 

[Magni]

Unless you're name is fnordchan, end the sig.

But yea, agreed on the colussus beam rifle. Also like standoff, it had terrible spawns , where you could effectively trap a team on one side.

Hey, I'm down with both modes and both options. I agree that H3 assault is more offensively balanced, but H2's is so defensively balanced that it makes it boring as shit. With the exception of a few maps (Ivory tower with it's two plant spots for example) you barely had to work on defense. I got so sick of 0-0 stalemates on assault, that even while the occasional plant felt good, the overall experience was still frustrating.

Neutral bomb worked a bit better, since you could draw out and separate teams, but one bomb assault in Halo 2 was flat out broken.

one thing everyone should agree on,

we need more sanctuary in halo: reach

YES. AJ's (I think it was them) article on what turned out to be Assembly had me hyped, total letdown in the end =(

edit: Maybe it was a Mr Voc post in the H3 thread, with search down I can't check..

 

[Apath]

I never even realized that they changed the way assault worked from Halo 2 to 3, but now that it's mentioned... yeah, it was better in Halo 2. Fond memories of playing Headlong and after taking out the defender with the sword, sitting there squating, praying no one else would turn the corner before you could get the bomb off.

Kind of sad when you think about just how many great maps Halo 2 had, and how few Halo 3 has.

 

[rar]

reach needs some BOARDING ACTION

 

[Gui_PT]

NO!

 

[electricpirate]

reach needs some BOARDING ACTION

moar chiron.

 

[Gui_PT]

NOOO!!!

 

[big ander]

YES. AJ's (I think it was them) article on what turned out to be Assembly had me hyped, total letdown in the end =(

edit: Maybe it was a Mr Voc post in the H3 thread, with search down I can't check..

Anyone know what Magni was banned for?

Can't wait for the MP blowout. 1 Month!!

 

[Slightly Live]

Can't wait for the MP blowout. 1 Month!!

We're getting a multiplayer blowout in one month? Have I missed something? What's this?

BTW, is the Mythic II map pack old news or what? I imagine everyone has the maps now thanks to ODST but I'm sure there is a few left that don't or might even find it convenient to have the original Halo 3 with full DLC or something.

 

[The Librarian]

We're getting a multiplayer blowout in one month? Have I missed something? What's this?

Not sure where everyone is getting that from, but I made this post saying I was hoping there would be some MP info.

 

[GhaleonEB]

Not sure where everyone is getting that from, but I made this post saying I was hoping there would be some MP info.

Dax is the source of Big Ander's hopes and dreams, confirmed.