Halo 2 Multiplayer Map Pack

The Halo 2 Multiplayer Map Pack is here! Should you pay for the DVD version now, or wait and download it for free later this summer? Decisions, decisions.

Halo 2 didn't sell millions of copies and receive countless industry awards because it had a massive marketing campaign; it earned that success because, in the end, it's a great game. It introduced tight, taut FPS mechanics and a polished online experience to the great unwashed console masses. That online component ended up making Xbox Live a colossal hit. Now, Bungie Studios and Microsoft are returning the favor with the Halo 2 Multiplayer Map Pack, a collection of nine new multiplayer arenas. Not bad, we say, not bad.

Ring of Fire
It's been said that God--or is it the Devil?--is in the details. Judging by the austere, rough-edged presentation of the Multiplayer Map Pack, Bungie doesn't necessarily agree with that particular maxim. It works like this: you insert the Multiplayer Map Pack DVD into your Xbox and "install" its contents; once that process is complete, you insert the Halo 2 disc and play the game as usual. Problem is, you have to separately install each component (the Auto Update, the Killtacular and Maptacular packs, and the final five maps) one by one. The question is, why? Okay, it's a small gripe, but isn't there an easier way to implement this upgrade? The patching process isn't an enormous hassle--it only takes five minutes or so--but it's inelegant and clumsy. Whaddup, Bungie?

Of course, you can bypass all that hassle and just buy the whole damn Multiplayer Map Pack online through Xbox Live. Or if you're the patient type, you can wait until sometime later this summer--Bungie and Microsoft aren't being terribly clear on the exact date--and you'll be able to download all nine maps for free via Xbox Live. So why even buy the retail DVD version at all? Good question. The lackluster DVD bonus features are disappointing, bordering on no-frills. The standouts include a short but enlightening behind-the-scenes video showing Bungee employees hard at work, and a brief, anticlimactic storyline cinema. It's a shame that Bungie didn't include some really vibrant bonus content, with videos or narratives giving Halo fans what they've been clamoring for. The origins of Red vs. Blue, maybe? Fan videos? Perhaps a wider array of interviews, covering the original game's problem-prone development period? Or even a discussion of weapons, enemies, or environments that were left on the cutting-room floor? Sorry, folks. Maybe next time. But at least you'll get to catch a glimpse of an early, crude E3 demo of the original Halo--it's amazing to see how far this franchise has evolved.

Maptacular Indeed
As for the actual maps, well, this is Halo 2, so they're predictably spectacular. There are nine in all, and all are well-balanced and breathtakingly gorgeous. The standouts are easily Turf and Sanctuary, two medium-sized maps that have been available through Xbox Live and are perfect for medium-sized CTF matches. Fans of traditional Slayer (ahem, deathmatch) games will adore Backwash, a putrid, festering swamp, Gemini, a Quake 3-style level with sprawling corridors, and Elongation, an interstellar cargo hold with sneaking conveyor belts. And for massive team-based scenarios, the sun-drenched beaches of Relic make an ideal battleground. It's a diverse roster of maps, and they're sure to please fans of Halo 2's popular online modes. And the good news is that they're finally starting to trickle onto some of the Xbox Live playlists. It's about time!

Halo 3, Please
In the end, it's a simple situation. If you only care about the single-player portion of Halo 2, don't waste your cash. But if you're a Halo 2 multiplayer nut, you have no choice: you simply must invest in the Multiplayer Map Pack. If you're an Xbox Live player, buy the new maps over Xbox Live and save yourself the hassle (and a few bucks). Or, if you're lazy, you can always wait for the free release. Not a bad deal, huh?

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