Halo 3: The Magazine Shelf

So far we've covered the 'X' button and the new revamped assault rifle. However, Bungie has lots more in store for us. Yes, we all know there was a release date going around. Uhm, what was it? Oh, "the same day as the PS3." Well, yeah, that's specific. Well, it's now set for November 2007. Why that far away? Well, it would suck if they shipped it now. However, we got some details to share with you about what's in store. We'll take a look at the three new maps, weapons, possible gametypes, and options.

Maps:

Valhalla looks sweet, different, yet still familiar. Of course! It's Bungie's successor to Blood Gulch. Yes, two bases on opposite ends still contain guns and vehicles. However, the playing field is a bit more rocky, making it harder for snipers to pick you off in the open. Oh, and more jumps as you see in the picture while a Spartan laser is fired toward a Mongoose (more on that later). Valhalla has the normal objects such as a gun turret in the middle. Wait! What is that little speck to the right of that last tree? Oh! I get it. If you look really closely (click the picture), you'll see a Master Chief. This map also has man cannons. Yep, that's what Bungie is calling them now, but maybe its name will change later.

Snowbound is the first snow map to consist of covenant structures (since everything the covenant makes is purple). Looks big, but really isn't. Of course the 360 can do it, but we can't have players wondering off. So how are they going to keep us in? With automated sentry guns, duh! You step out, they fire. Cool, huh? That means that boundaries aren't just kept with cliffs, or surrounding oceans that auto-magically kill you when you decide to take a swim.

Snowbound also has the new shield doors. These doors are shields, but the shields are also doors. Make sense? They don't open, but characters will be able to pass through with ease while bullets won't. Click on the picture to the right to see one. It's above the 1up emblem. As I've heard from different sources, the shield doors can lead to a pretty good cat and mouse game. I'm sure you could set up some traps with that.

For the successor to Zanzibar, High Ground is pretty much lacking a wind-mill. Again, it's boundaries are set up by auto-cannons. Just like Zanzibar, there is a main base. However, we now have even more options to get inside. One includes a cracked pipe that forces you to crawl through it to sneak in. Of course, there's the gate which is controlled by a switch. Let's hope we're given an option to close it this time. That would make it a bit easier to keep those warthogs and ghosts out.

EDIT: From personal experience in the Halo 3 Beta, we've found out that High Ground doesn't contain auto-cannons.

Weapons: (Real quick!)

•The Spiker: a dual-wieldable weapon from the Brutes. Fires sharp metal bolts and has sharp blades at the end of the barrel.
•The Assault Rifle (MA5C): more accurate and more powerful with less ammo.
•The Spartan Laser: an anti-vehicle weapon. It doesn't fire a constant laser, but charges to fire a short, but very dangerous laser segment that will destroy anything in its path.
•The Spike Grenade: a basic mix between the frag and plasma grenades. This time it sticks to anything and everything. It may shoot spikes in a conical explosion, but depending on its direction, it may not be greatly harmful. The grenades have been reduced to two grenades each now that the spike grenade has arrived.
•Though it's not really a weapon, we'll give you the mongoose: an ATV. Almost just like a 4-wheeler. It's really a super fast mini-warthog with room for only one passenger. Even though there's no turret, the passenger can fire his weapon.

Multiplayer:

Oh, man. Very big difference from Halo 2. Well, for one, we have a new variant. It's called Eliminatio, which rings a bell to Elimination. However, instead of dying with no respawn, Eliminatio gives more of a chance. Five kills win this team based match, but if someone dies, it's an extensive respawn, making it harder for the rest of your team. Going right on to the options, we have massive amounts of options that surpasses Halo 2's option sets. Just to generalize it, you can have specific options for a team, specific options for the person with the most kills, and even more. You even get gravity options.

The 'X' Button (revisited):

Of course, we still don't know what the 'X' button does, but unlike the "steal his weapon" idea that people have been thinking about, 1up makes a good argument that it's something else. You'll have to get the magazine to find out. However, the previous question regarding what button will cycle through grenades is answered. Click on the picture to see a larger image. It may require a little time for us to get used to it. However, for those who will hate it, Bungie says they'll offer a classic control scheme.

To see all the other pictures of the maps and more, visit 1up by clicking here. Also, to make sure you know, I've left out a lot! To get all the info I've left out, go pick up 1up's December issue of Electronic Gaming Monthly. One last thing: to make it clear, because people have been arguing, the Legendary package for Halo 3 includes the replica Master Chief helmet. However, it's not life-size. So putting it on your head would not feel too good. Have a good day.