Pre-Release Briefing

It's hard to believe it, but it's almost time. With Halo 3 now completely finished and in the manufacturing stage, we only have about 20 more days before it releases. Are you ready to be surprised or do you want to know more about it so you can jump right in without reading the game booklet?

I'm not giving away any spoilers to the storyline because I've tried to stay away from that kind of info myself and I don't know anything. However, without going into every single possible detail, I will give you as much info as I can in terms of functions/options, weapons, vehicles, and more. Lots more. I'm not going to repeat myself so you'll have to re-read "Halo3: The Magazine Shelf" for a refresher.

**Not all information may be correct. However, we'll all know for sure when the game releases.

Maps:

Last Resort

Previously, it was thought that High Ground was the successor to Zanzibar. However, High Ground didn't look anything like Zanzibar. That's wear Last Resort comes in. Though it looks very similar to Zanzibar, there are some differences. The large gate on the left of the fortress has been replaced by large cement blocks that can be lowered by switch. Catwalks have been installed making it easier to get to Camp Froman from the fortress's second story and there are tunnels that run beneath Camp Froman. The energy sword in the middle of the wheel has been replaced with active camo.

Epitaph

Epitaph is a cathedral-like Forerunner structure in the shape of a rectangle with a base at each end. Raised pathways are accessible by stairways to either side of the bases. A small, wobbly platform in one section of the map holds the energy sword. It sounds similar to Midship, but this platform is more unstable and can be flipped.

Guardian

Guardian seems to be a mixture of Ascension's and Lockout's best features and set in a structure surrounded by jungle. While it has a rather large opening as did Ascension, it also has weapon respawns that are similar to Lockout. The September issue of EGM mentions the "green tinted dead end that houses a shotgun." Sounds like this one will become the favorite of many.

Narrows

Set in a snowy environment, Narrows may remind you of the bridges you had to cross in the campaign of Halo: Combat Evolve. You'd cross them during the Assault on the Control Room mission, which was also set in a snowy environment. There is a base on each end of the bridge with nearly identical weapon sets. At the rear of each base lies a man cannon that will launch the player closer to the enemy base. There is also a lower under-bridge. Beneath that there is an energy bridge.

Sandtrap is to be the second largest multiplayer map in the Halo universe. It's a large desert area with random forerunner structures surrounded with automatic turrets to define the boundery. Sandtrap has a very high emphasis on vehicular combat, seeing how every vehicle is allowed on the map, including the UNSC Elephant (more on that later).

Gym Class was first seen in one of the Halo 3 documentaries. It's named Gym Class most likely because the geometry is set up to allow players to move/jump around more. The map is rather symmetrical in terms of layout and weapon placement. There are three major sections. One contains overshield, another carries the active camo, and the other has a rocket launcher.

Other maps, not yet given information on are listed as such: Construct, Cyberdyne, Isolation, and Warthog Inc. These maps have been reference in the Halo 3 Beta code, as told by haxors. These being on the final game may ore may not be true. No information is really given about them.

Wanna see more map images? Go to 1up.

Weapons:

•Mauler: (Brute) a dual-wieldable shotgun-like weapon. Isn't as powerful as the shotgun, but has a bayonet-like blade.
•Gravity Hammer: (Brute) Remember the sledge-hammer-like weapon Tartarus (final boss) had in Halo 2? Yeah, you get to use that.
•The Incendiary Grenade: (Brute) basically very similar to a molotov cocktail.
•Flamethrower: (Human) shoots fire, what else could it do?
•Missile Pod: (Human) a rapid fire anti-vehicle missile launcher capable of tracking.
•Ball Turret: (Covenant) a stationary plasma turret with more physical shielding covering the user.
•Though not new, the Fuel Rod Cannon is now allowable in multiplayer and Xbox Live matchmaking.

Vehicles:

You have the normal vehicles like the Ghost and Warthog, but now there are some new additions.

•The Scarab: (Covenant) was in Halo 2, but is rumored to be drivable in Halo 3.
•Shadow: (Covenant) also in Halo 2 and is also rumored to be usable in Halo 3.
•The Chopper: (Brute) heavily armored, single wheeled motorbike carrying 4 x 35mm Autocannons. Click for picture.
•Brute Prowler: (Brute) two-man ground vehicle with mannable plasma turret at the front and driver in back. Click for picture .
•Elephant: (human) a heavy, three story mobile base and repair vehicle. Carries 12 passengers and sports a turret. Featured in the multiplayer map, Sandtrap. Click for picture.
•Hornet: (human) not a lot of info is given on this vehicle, but will be seen in Halo Wars. Click for picture.
•M831 TT Warthog: (human) a troop transport warthog. Though it doesn't have a turret, it can carry 3 passengers who can all fire their weapons.

Multiplayer:

Most game-types are the standard, such as Assault and Capture the Flag. However, some are new or have changed.

•Territories: instead of three basic territories, you now play the match as an offense/defense game where defending team keeps the offending team from getting a territory. Once a territory is captured, it is another point added to the offending teams total score. Whoever collects more territories wins.
•VIP: a new game type where each team has an "important player." He/she is hard to kill, but you must protect your VIP. If the enemy team kills your VIP, they get another point. The team with more VIP kills wins.
•Infection: basically, exactly like Zombie. However, with Halo 3's more specific multiplayer option set, you don't have to switch teams, it's all automatic now.

Other multiplayer options include specific options for the currently leading or losing team, gravity options, and much much more I don't know about.

4-Player Co-op:

The most important add-on to multiplayer enjoyment is 4-Player Co-op. Yep, even online. However, not four to a screen. It's 2 per screen, but four over Xbox Live or System Link. One player as Master Chief, one player as the Arbiter, and the other two are playing as two new Elites named N’tho ‘Sraom and Usze ‘Taham.

Saved Films:

If you played the Halo 3 Beta then you got a chance to see saved films in action. If you didn't, no big deal. In the Halo 3 Beta, players were able to record their matches and play them back whenever they wanted. However, there was only one camera mode: your own first person view. In the manufactured version of Halo 3, you'll be able to see other players' first person views, detach the camera and move to any angle, and edit your film to save and share. Saved films are also available in campaign mode either when you're by yourself or when you are playing 4-player Co-op. Another great features is taking screen shots. If you see something you like in a saved film, you can pause it, take a screen shot, and it will upload to Bungie's website. From there, you can login to Bungie, find your screen-shot, and use it as your computer background or something else.

Forge:

Forge in Action

Forge is Halo 3's map editor. The Geography and land can't be edited. However, lose objects, weapons, weapon spawn points, weapon spawn times, player spawn points, player spawn times, flag reset points, flag score points and more can be... well forged. You can save your map and share with your friends and play online with it. You can even play a multiplayer match in Forge mode. Just toggle over to be a Guilty Spark and you can spawn vehicles or weapons down for your team-mates, but watch out, you can still be killed as Guilty Spark.

Equipment

•Bubble Shield
•Power Drainer
•Trip Mine
•Portable Gravity Lift
•Radar Jammer
•Flare
•Regenerator
•Portable Shield Generator

Power-Ups

•Active Camouflage
•Overshield
•Agility
•Invincibility - don't worry, it's temporary
•Custom Power Up - we'll find out more about this one later