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Noble Map Pack Adds To Halo: Reach

Posted on Monday, October 25 @ 17:14:26 Eastern by Daniel Bischoff

Already sick of all those maps that came on Halo: Reach's disc? Boneyard and Spire gotten stale? How's three brand new maps sound?

I've been playing Halo: Reach multiplayer interspersed with games I'm reviewing for the site right now. Honestly, Invasion Slayer is totally broken, I'm tired of Boneyard, and the Forge World maps, while a nice addition, get kind of tired after a while. These new additions sound like a welcome expansion, but there is one caveat. Modern Warfare 2 offered 5 maps (two remakes) for $15. Halo: Reach is selling 3 new maps for $10 (800 MS Points).

The Noble Map Pack throws down Tempest, Anchor 9, and Breakpoint, each map catering to a handful of different game modes. You can check out the maps in motion in the trailer below. Screenshots and descriptions of each map follow.

Tempest – “Though we may never fully understand these devices, it is not our nature to leave ancient stones unturned.” This abandoned shoreline facility bends both sea and sky to an unnatural purpose, but the ground itself has quickly become another all too familiar battlefield. Though the two opposing symmetrical bases may never reveal their ancient purpose, both now offer makeshift shelter and access to strategic routes perfectly suited for small and large scale skirmishes alike. Tempest supports 8 – 16 players and offers a variety of modes including Free for All, Team Slayer, Team Objective and Big Team Battle. Tempest also provides players with a huge Forge palette, allowing them to create new custom map variants that can be shared with the community-at-large.

Anchor 9 – “Orbital dockyards provide rapid refueling and repairs for a variety of UNSC vessels.” Within the confines of this low orbit dry-dock, UNSC craft undergo rapid repair and rearmament in support of the enduring war effort. But for the small squads of infantry who now fight over the mirrored interior hallways and open central hangar bay, this platform no longer provides any safe harbor – whether the close quarters combat is occurring inside or out of its artificial gravitational field. Anchor 9 allows 2-8 players to face off in game variants including Free for All, Team Slayer and Team Objective.

Breakpoint – “ONI officials believe the data buried within this artifact is key to our survival.” Atop this icy precipice, the Invasion continues. These modular archaeological labs were never intended to withstand such a large scale onslaught of Covenant military power, but the information being extracted here may prove vital to humanity’s survival. In response to the imminent Covenant threat, UNSC ground and air assets have been deployed to bolster entrenched Spartan countermeasures. This dig site must yield salvation, or it will become a grave. Breakpoint offers multiplayer mayhem for 8-16 players, and supports the Invasion and Big Team Battle game variants.

Tags: Halo Reach, Xbox 360, trailer