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Tomorrow, the Defiant Map Pack for Halo Reach will hit Xbox Live for 800 Microsoft Points. One of the biggest qualms for gamers when buying brand new content is not knowing whether the content is worth the price. Well, we have managed to acquire the map pack a few days before the release (legally, of course!) and have some good news for you, the Defiant Map Pack is worth the cost.
Featuring three brand new maps, Condemned, Highlands, and Unearthed, the Defiant Map Pack is the first real attempt by 343 Industries to create playable Halo content. In conjunction with Certain Affinity, 343 has brought forth content that is not only beautifully created and steeped in Halo lore but also a complete blast to play.
First, we will look at Highlands. For anyone who read The Fall of Reach
, this map should fit right into the Halo lore for you. The original SPARTAN IIs trained at secret locations on Reach before they eventually went to fight the Covenant. This map appears to be one of those facilities. Centered around a small river and a crashed Pelican, the map has to symmetrical bases with various other buildings such as a communications and operations stations, as well as some small caves and rappelling towers.
Small vehicle combat on the map is a blast since there is plenty of cover and several small hills to hide in. The race gametype on Highlands is also fun due to the natural racetrack feel of the map. Whether using Warthogs, Ghosts, Mongooses, or Banshees, watch out for the landmines or low bridges. But, fear not, the vehicular impaired!
Now we move onto Condemned. This map pits players on a doomed orbital station over Reach. Out the windows, Reach has mostly been glassed and what remains of the UNSC fleet is taking a beating. The focal point of the map is the Central Core room, which features some near zero-G conditions. Four other main areas, Communications, Generator Room, Tram Station, and the Sabre Room, circle around the Central core. You always have three exits from a room whether you go left, right, or out into the Core.
Standard Slayer and King of the Hill proved to be the most fun on this map, though the space was a little too big for Free-for-all. Perhaps forge can be utilized to cut off some spaces to shrink the map. The key is knowing what room you are in and what rooms are next in the sequence. For reference the sequence goes Sabre Room, Generator Room, Tram Station, and Communications. Just remember, keep moving and Rockets are in the center.
The final map of the DLC is a rare Firefight Map, Unearthed. Around an abandoned mining facility, SPARTANs must counter and defeat inserted Covenant forces. The backdrop features a well mined crater with a large, possible, asteroid deposit. You will spend a lot of time in a large central courtyard outside the primary spawn but remember that the Rocket Warthog is in the rear of the map. Walkways connect the main facility with a smaller set of structures from which some serious combat can occur.
The amount of open space on this map immediately reminds me of the Lost Platoon map in Halo 3: ODST. Sadly, I could not find a Brute Chopper anywhere. Make use of the Rocket Hog and definitely hijack any other vehicle you can. I do believe the Revenant could make an appearance on this map since there is definitely enough space. As well, utilize the wide areas to the side to evade and flank covenant forces.
The DLC also has three additional achievements worth 150 gamerscore. Sadly, these achievements are lacking in comparison to the rest of Reach’s list. None of the three even require you to play the Defiant Maps and will mostly likely be done on the shipped maps in the Team Objective playlist. As well, the Noble Map Pack had seven achievements for 250 additional gamerscore that were quite challenging. The Defiant Achievements should have been better.
Only two things detract from this DLC and prevent it from receiving a full five stars. First, the achievements are not up to the Halo standard. Secondly, the DLC seems to be having some issues loading with other content present, such as pre-order bonuses and the Noble Map Pack. As of this moment, the issue has not been resolved. No doubt it will be soon, but it is still a detraction.
Overall, the Defiant Map Pack receives four stars. The DLC will be available on March 15th on Xbox Live for 800 Microsoft Points.
Tomorrow, the Defiant Map Pack for Halo Reach will hit Xbox Live for 800 Microsoft Points. One of the biggest qualms for gamers when buying brand new content is not knowing whether the content is worth the price. Well, we have managed to acquire the map pack a few days before the release (legally, of course!) and have some good news for you, the Defiant Map Pack is worth the cost.
Featuring three brand new maps, Condemned, Highlands, and Unearthed, the Defiant Map Pack is the first real attempt by 343 Industries to create playable Halo content. In conjunction with Certain Affinity, 343 has brought forth content that is not only beautifully created and steeped in Halo lore but also a complete blast to play.
First, we will look at Highlands. For anyone who read The Fall of Reach
, this map should fit right into the Halo lore for you. The original SPARTAN IIs trained at secret locations on Reach before they eventually went to fight the Covenant. This map appears to be one of those facilities. Centered around a small river and a crashed Pelican, the map has to symmetrical bases with various other buildings such as a communications and operations stations, as well as some small caves and rappelling towers.Small vehicle combat on the map is a blast since there is plenty of cover and several small hills to hide in. The race gametype on Highlands is also fun due to the natural racetrack feel of the map. Whether using Warthogs, Ghosts, Mongooses, or Banshees, watch out for the landmines or low bridges. But, fear not, the vehicular impaired!
Now we move onto Condemned. This map pits players on a doomed orbital station over Reach. Out the windows, Reach has mostly been glassed and what remains of the UNSC fleet is taking a beating. The focal point of the map is the Central Core room, which features some near zero-G conditions. Four other main areas, Communications, Generator Room, Tram Station, and the Sabre Room, circle around the Central core. You always have three exits from a room whether you go left, right, or out into the Core.
Standard Slayer and King of the Hill proved to be the most fun on this map, though the space was a little too big for Free-for-all. Perhaps forge can be utilized to cut off some spaces to shrink the map. The key is knowing what room you are in and what rooms are next in the sequence. For reference the sequence goes Sabre Room, Generator Room, Tram Station, and Communications. Just remember, keep moving and Rockets are in the center.
The final map of the DLC is a rare Firefight Map, Unearthed. Around an abandoned mining facility, SPARTANs must counter and defeat inserted Covenant forces. The backdrop features a well mined crater with a large, possible, asteroid deposit. You will spend a lot of time in a large central courtyard outside the primary spawn but remember that the Rocket Warthog is in the rear of the map. Walkways connect the main facility with a smaller set of structures from which some serious combat can occur.
The amount of open space on this map immediately reminds me of the Lost Platoon map in Halo 3: ODST. Sadly, I could not find a Brute Chopper anywhere. Make use of the Rocket Hog and definitely hijack any other vehicle you can. I do believe the Revenant could make an appearance on this map since there is definitely enough space. As well, utilize the wide areas to the side to evade and flank covenant forces.
The DLC also has three additional achievements worth 150 gamerscore. Sadly, these achievements are lacking in comparison to the rest of Reach’s list. None of the three even require you to play the Defiant Maps and will mostly likely be done on the shipped maps in the Team Objective playlist. As well, the Noble Map Pack had seven achievements for 250 additional gamerscore that were quite challenging. The Defiant Achievements should have been better.
Only two things detract from this DLC and prevent it from receiving a full five stars. First, the achievements are not up to the Halo standard. Secondly, the DLC seems to be having some issues loading with other content present, such as pre-order bonuses and the Noble Map Pack. As of this moment, the issue has not been resolved. No doubt it will be soon, but it is still a detraction.
Overall, the Defiant Map Pack receives four stars. The DLC will be available on March 15th on Xbox Live for 800 Microsoft Points.
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