14 DAY TRIAL // Halo: Anniversary, formerly known as Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary Edition, has received a few more details as well as a video, this time concerning its multiplayer maps, which will include classic levels from the original game alongside reimagined versions that were optimized for a more dynamic experience.
Microsoft held a very special Halo panel at last weekend's PAX conference, during which it revealed not just details about next year's Halo 4, but also concerning Halo: Anniversary, which is set to appear this October for the Xbox 360.
Among the info about the upcoming title, the company, alongside the game's developer, 343 Industries, showcased to the fans were some of the maps that will appear in it when it's launched.
Each of the maps mentioned below will include two versions, one with the classic layout from Halo: Combat Evolved, and the other, a modified edition, which takes into account the dynamic gameplay generated by the Armor Abilities from last year's Halo: Reach.
Check out some of the maps confirmed for Halo: Anniversary below.
- Timberland –Timberland is “Halo: Anniversary’s” beautifully reimagined multiplayer map from “Halo PC,” set in the classically alpine environment so familiar to “Halo.” Once serving as a watch point for the immense relay complex below, the monitoring outposts nestled atop this ridge became a staging ground for human forces during their time on Installation 04. Toward the end of the conflict, a Covenant assault brought the marines here to a tragic end. Timberland is a tree-covered valley, sporting undulating hills, surging rivers, and a terrain perfect for large-scale vehicle mayhem. (8 – 16 players)
- Prisoner –The return of “Halo: Combat Evolved’s” Prisoner delivers a claustrophobic and frenetic multiplayer experience now elaborately recreated for “Halo: Anniversary.” These spinning confinement platforms are a testament to the technological prowess of the Forerunners. In the event of a security breach, the facility’s suborbital location and frigid temperature were thought to be able to keep any threat at bay, but it appears those plans were… optimistic. Prisoner is a multi-level facility, with tightly-woven corridors and many bridges and ramps, perfect for the chaos of close-range combat. (2 – 8 players)
- Installation 04 – Installation 04 brings fans back to one of the most iconic environments in “Halo’s” history, the base of an enormous Forerunner spire from “Halo: Combat Evolved’s” campaign mission “Halo,” now stunningly returning in “Halo: Anniversary’s” Firefight mode. Set on one of the many cliff sides of Alpha Halo, this beacon served as a rendezvous point for survivors of the Covenant attack on the UNSC Pillar of Autumn. These survivors, including the legendary Orbital Drop Shock Troopers, were forced to stave off numerous Covenant attacks until rescue finally came. Installation 04 is a familiar precipice studded with ancient Forerunner structures which make a perfect defensive position against an invading alien enemy and marks the first Firefight experience to include ally AI players who will defend the installation alongside you. (1 – 4 players) The aforementioned maps join the previously announced Damnation and Beaver Creek in the upcoming game.
- Damnation –A fan favorite multiplayer battleground from “Halo: Combat Evolved,” Damnation is impressively brought back to life with amazing detail. As the primary satellite of the Unggoy home world, Buwan provides the perfect environment for this massive Covenant hydro-facility used to power and refuel a variety of capital ships. Though still operational via automated subsystems, the station was abandoned shortly after the breaking of the Covenant. Damnation is an asymmetrical, multi-tiered complex, replete with long lines of sight and tightly-crafted choke points. (2 – 8 players)
- Beaver Creek – The classic “Halo 2” multiplayer map Beaver Creek returns, tracing its roots back all the way to “Halo: Combat Evolved’s” legendary Battle Creek. The rocky warrens of this part of Halo provide the ideal environment for an array of impressive telemetry clusters. These spires’ synchronization conduits ensure that the ring’s translocation grid is always fully operational. Beaver Creek’s symmetrical bases in a small, creek-fed canyon are excellent for both free-for-all and team-based game types. (2 – 8 players) For the first look at how these new maps look and feel, check out the special behind-the-scenes video below. Halo: Anniversary hits the Xbox 360 console on November 15.