Halo 2 Expansion Pack Confirmed
Bungie’s website officially confirmed the rumors of downloadable
content for their mega blockbuster, Halo 2. Xbox Live! players have
been buzzing about possible new since the game’s release and have been
looking forward to any hint of additional variety.
Gods be praised, our prayers are being answered, but do not come
without a price. Like a drug dealer and his addict, only the first hit
is free. Starting late April, Xbox Live! players will have the
privelage of download two brand new multiplayer maps for online and LAN
play. Containment is described as one of the largest Halo maps ever and
is easily reminiscent of the classic Sidewinder map, not only for it’s
immense size and snowy terrain, but of its general required strategic
positions. Two large bases seperated by a gaping trench. A switch dead
center of the map will allow vehicles to pass across the trench, but
getting to it will put the player in clear sniping range.
Warlock is your second freebie, a map loosely based off Wizard from the
first game. A multi-tiered smaller map, Warlock is dotted with
transporters, ramps and bridges designed for quick hit and run tactics,
perfect for slayer or multi-team territory matches.
On that same, as yet unnamed, day players can purchase an additional 2
maps for $5.99. Turf, an urban warzone with storefronts and roof
access, as well as Sanctuary, a map spawned from the unholy copulation
of Blood Gulch and Beaver Creek from the first game.
Then in late June, the remaining 5 maps can be purchased, again via
Xbox Live, for $11.99. Terminal, Relic, Elongation, Gemini and Backwash
round out the list at 9 and will also be available, along with the 4
previous maps and some bonus material on retail shelves for $19.99.
However, for those with any amount of patience, everything will be made
available for free through a deal with the Mountain Dew soft drink
manuafacturer. No word yet on how this will pan out.
Sadly, in their monumentous announcement, Bungie has also put to rest
any possibility of seeing arguably the most popular map of the
franchise, Hang Em high, being ported to Halo 2. The site quotes “our
preliminary tests with Hang ‘Em High proved pretty quickly that the
changed weapons and physics made it far less fun than you remember it
being in Halo: Combat Evolved.” Personally, we fail to see how that
could possibly be, but that’s why we keep the original on our gaming
shelves. More screenshots as we get em!
