A Noble Cause

Bungie releases ‘Noble Map Pack’ for ‘Halo: Reach.’

A week ago today, on Nov. 30, 2010, gamers rejoiced around the world as Bungie, video game developer behind “Halo: Reach,” released their “Noble Map Pack.”

An expansion to the first-person-shooter’s already huge online multiplayer world, the “Noble Map Pack” is available packs three new multiplayer maps into a modest 393 MB download for just 800 Microsoft points—equivalent to $9.99.

Game Informer, a popular video game magazine and website, spoke with writer and community developer for Bungie, Eric Osborne.  Osborne spoke about each map individually, and about the many things that Bungie has in store for it’s fans.

“We wanted to make sure each map supported a large variety of popular game modes.”  Osborne said. 

The maps, as beautiful as they are well programmed and designed, are known as “Anchor 9,” “Breakpoint,” and “Tempest.”

An incredible planetary vista can be seen on the map,
"Anchor 9," as a Spartan III jet-packs through space.
Screenshot by Mike Choromanski

“Anchor 9,” located in a space station orbiting the fictional planet, Reach, is a mostly indoor map with no vehicles or mountains to get in the way of a perfect kill.  Just pulse-pounding twists and turns throughout a maze-like facility.  This sets players up to run into danger around every corner, and allows enemy players to easily sneak up from behind.

From a technical perspective, “Anchor 9” is incredibly impressive.  The symmetrical, compact layout of the map enables players to be both hidden and exposed at once, no matter where they are. This turns combat in to a frantic explosion of chaos that can provide for an exciting gaming experience.  Also commendable about the programming is the fact that players can leave the orbiting station and fight in space.  The blend between gravity and lack there of flows beautifully and any player is sure to enjoy the feeling of gliding through the vacuum of space, blasting away opponents.

“Breakpoint,” an asymmetrical arena located deep within the bowels of Reach’s ancient caverns, is the polar opposite of “Anchor 9.”  In the dim glow of crystalline ice, “Breakpoint’s” sheer size is enough to overwhelm even veteran gamers.  The map is so large, that even tanks can sometimes look like dots in the distance.  While this becomes problematic when searching for a specific goal or enemy player, “Breakpoint’s” colossal expanse allows players to feel as though they are in a battle of epic proportions.

Two players run towards an objective on "Halo: Reach's"
newest map, "Breakpoint."  Screenshot by Mike
Choromanski

From a technical point of view, “Breakpoint” makes remarkably efficient use of it’s space.  The map may have huge snow-covered mountains and buildings, but it is honeycombed with creepy tunnels and secret rooms saturated with hidden weapons.  “Breakpoint” also has a multitude of vehicles that players can take control of take into battle.  

The final map, known as “Tempest,” takes place on an alien construct a valley of abandoned ancient ruins, paying homage to some of Bungie’s “Halo” games of the past.  

From a design perspective, “Tempest” serves to further prove Bungie’s layout genius.  Players are put into separate teams with bases on opposite sides of the ruins.  While the bases are far apart, daring players can launch themselves directly into battle with cannons that launch them across the map.  While the outskirts of the map offer plenty of cover behind rocks, the center of the map is an open field and turns into an absolute blood-bath during gameplay.  Since the map is only medium sized it can efficiently accommodate both large and small battles, depending on how many players there are.

The “Noble Map Pack” isn’t the only thing that Bungie has in store for it’s fans, however.  When players download the pack, they will also unlock extra achievements, or special goals, in “Halo: Reach.”  Bungie will also be updating their playlists to further expand “Halo: Reach’s” online playground.

“Soon after, we’ll also introduce the official MLG Playlist and begin rolling out multiple Grab Bag playlists, beginning with Firefight Versus.”  Osborne said.

“Halo: Reach” may now be out for nearly three months, but despite fierce competition from other new games like “Call of Duty: Black Ops” and “Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood,” Bungie’s release of the “Noble Map Pack” is proof that players’ passion for online “Halo” action still rages on.

For those that are still curious, Bungie’s official “Noble Map Pack” Trailer can be found here.