Halo 3 maps now Legendary

  • By TomM_GScom, GameSpot
  • Posted Apr 15, 2008 12:40 pm PT

Tax day cometh, and as promised, Microsoft and Bungie are giving Halo 3 fans a good use for their rebate with the Legendary Map Pack. Available for 800 Microsoft points ($10), the Legendary Map Pack adds three new maps to the game's lauded multiplayer component. The map pack should appeal to...

Tax day cometh, and as promised, Microsoft and Bungie are giving Halo 3 fans a good use for their rebate with the Legendary Map Pack. Available for 800 Microsoft points ($10), the Legendary Map Pack adds three new maps to the game's lauded multiplayer component.

The map pack should appeal to Halo fans looking for a new environment as well as those interested in reliving multiplayer mayhem from previous installments in the series. As for all-new maps, Ghost Town offers an asymmetrical arena emphasizing close-quarter combat as well as long-range firefights. The map is designed for midsize battles, and is catered toward traditional game types, such as team slayer and objective-based missions.

The other two maps will be no stranger to Halo aficionados. Avalanche is a large-scale, vehicle-oriented map that reimagines Sidewinder from Halo: Combat Evolved. Blackout is less a reinterpretation as it is a straight-up remake of Halo 2's Lockout. The map features the same long sightlines and interconnected platforms seen in its predecessor, but has vacated the abandoned alien background in favor of an industrialized UNSC base.

The Heroic Map Pack released in December was made available free of charge at the end of March. Neither Microsoft nor Bungie have indicated whether the Legendary Map Pack will receive similar treatment, but for those that buy now, Bungie is throwing in the added incentive of a free four-month subscription to Bungie PRO. The service allows gamers to upload and share more films, maps, screenshots, and gametypes by increasing storage slots from six to 24 and upping total space to 250MB.

Bungie's Web site has a more detailed description of what gamers can expect from the new Halo 3 map pack.

(Note: GameSpot initially incorrectly reported that the Legendary Map Pack would be made free at some later date through Xbox Live. However, Microsoft has not announced any intention to do so. GameSpot regrets the error.)

85 Comments

  • Hockey4life29

    Posted Aug 26, 2008 6:39 pm PT

    I downloaded the Legendary Map Pack. But for some reason it will not let me play on the DLC Slayer, SWAT, or Head to Head playlist's. Does anybody have any feadback on what I can do to help me with this problem.

  • dtoml14

    Posted May 28, 2008 9:54 pm PT

    iv'e got legendary map pack and katana sword

  • rockutd

    Posted Apr 25, 2008 3:34 am PT

    erm..free maps maybe?

  • olisaoli

    Posted Apr 20, 2008 9:04 am PT

    I'm sorry, but I've moved on from halo in general. It's a good game don't get me wrong, but other games such as gears and call of duty took my soul completely away from halo regarding online play. This is good for the people who still love and play halo.

  • Spartan_418

    Posted Apr 19, 2008 7:00 am PT

    too bad Bungie doesn't like reusing old content. Some sort of patch that would allow you to play on Halo 2's maps but with higher-res textures would be pretty cool, though. For now I guess its remakes forthewin.

  • AsianGammer94

    Posted Apr 18, 2008 8:12 pm PT

    I think these maps are a rip off. I mean one new map and two old revised maps. I think Bungie is taking advantage of the fan. Best wait ill there free!

  • ctg867

    Posted Apr 18, 2008 7:58 pm PT

    Totally worth it. The Heroic Map Pack wasn't, since all three maps in Matchmaking/Custom Games were average to mediocre, and Foundry being a Forge template (that should of just been in the full game) doesn't help that too much.

    Though this is completely different. Blackout is loads of fun, stays true to Lockout with a couple of changes. It looks and plays amazing. Avalanche is huge, but doesn't play that much like Sidewinder. It really feels new once you jump in a Hornet or a Hog and start getting into fights. We really needed a quality large sized map, and we got one. Also, Ghost Town is surprisingly fun, especially with BR start, and should be a good mid sized Slayer map.

    Also, not only do you get the three maps, but all three come with a lot of new custom Forge options that really change up the way the map plays, like the Energy Doors on Avalanche, or custom walls and boxess on Blackout and Ghost Town, or any of the new map specific items (meaning they match the map). Also, Avalanche has the new snow camo vehicles, and the new version of the Hornet, which is balanced perfectly. You also got stuff like the new Forge FX, which change the coloring and lighting of the levels in real time.

    Really guys, if you have any interest in Halo, this pack is 100% worth it. I highly recommend you drop the $10 and pick it up. And if you pick it up soon, you get Bungie Pro, which expands you File Share from 6 to 24 slots and from 50 to 250MB in size. It's better quality wise, and quantity wise then the Heroic Pack. I cannot stress enough how worth it the pack really is.

  • mattda111

    Posted Apr 18, 2008 3:32 am PT

    new maps are awsome!!!

  • Flaming_Zill

    Posted Apr 17, 2008 9:17 am PT

    about time for some new maps.

  • mattda111

    Posted Apr 17, 2008 6:56 am PT

    do you have to complete the campaign on legendary to play the maps?

  • djburnzy1

    Posted Apr 17, 2008 1:43 am PT

    was looking at these. havent even go thte heroic pack yet cuz my dad bought the core version instead of pro so i dont have HDD. LAME. Cant wait to get both packs tho.

  • 901Hallion

    Posted Apr 16, 2008 7:13 pm PT

    These maps are worth the money...no questions asked. Well, minus Avalanche.

  • MetalMan300

    Posted Apr 16, 2008 2:38 pm PT

    Nice. These maps are pretty awesome. These maps are easily worth the points, especially with the new FX. I dont know how people these maps milk Halo 3 at all. Apparantly games cant release map packs without milking a game these days.

  • Plucking

    Posted Apr 16, 2008 1:04 pm PT

    umm 10$, one new map... two remakes... bungie your getting lazy... h2 you got 4 new maps in the packs and they were cheaper... i am completely anti buying maps... exept for hang em' high, best map ever

  • XXMadManVII

    Posted Apr 16, 2008 12:35 pm PT

    "(Note: GameSpot initially incorrectly reported that the Legendary Map Pack would be made free at some later date through Xbox Live. However, Microsoft has not announced any intention to do so. GameSpot regrets the error.)" But I betcha they will in fact be free soon enough....

  • ChaseAH

    Posted Apr 16, 2008 11:30 am PT

    Great maps, I like them all a lot!!! It brings life back into halo 3.

  • Numb-Stump

    Posted Apr 16, 2008 11:16 am PT

    I'll wait till it becomes F R E E. I can't afford everything I want to right now. It's like the second Great Depression.

    I really do hope it becomes F R E E. The least they could do is tell us right now whether or not it will ever become F R E E. So I don't have false hope or something.

  • godzillavskong

    Posted Apr 16, 2008 10:05 am PT

    I'll wait until their free.

  • DemonI81

    Posted Apr 16, 2008 8:08 am PT

    Don't waste your money. While Ghost Town is beautifully done, Blackout is just a remake as is Avalanche and seeing as how all you can play on them is 4x4 you're gonna be pulling your hair out when you get stuck on the massive Avalanche map.
    Give it a week or 2 till bungie can get their s*it together with it and get it all situated in matchmaking.
    Hell, when they released it, it wasn't even in the hoppers for hours. They're not the brightest crayon in the box over there at bungie.

  • CptObvious1031

    Posted Apr 16, 2008 7:46 am PT

    The maps are okay. They're not a MUST HAVE unless your a Forge junkie, or just want the free Bungie Pro temp account. I got the maps last night and played them for a few hours. I've posted my thoughts on them in my blog. But if your deciding wether to get the new maps or spend your $10 on Taco Bell...unless your an avid Halo fan/player, go make a run for the border and enjoy your meal. The maps will be free sometime down the road anyway.

  • nobdow

    Posted Apr 16, 2008 7:23 am PT

    I am just going to wait until they decide it is going to be free.

  • mrtweed2

    Posted Apr 16, 2008 7:14 am PT

    avalanche is a huge map! ghost town is my favorite map of all of them so many places to hide!!!

  • royalpierre

    Posted Apr 16, 2008 1:45 am PT

    i bought these maps today and have been playing them for hours, I don't know what it is but they are really enjoyable, especially avalanche. That could be the new valhalla

  • haloboy10

    Posted Apr 15, 2008 11:46 pm PT

    All multiplayer in all halo games are oddly small for a strange reason like on snowbound what is the point of having vehicles if your going to drive out into the open and get shot by those godamn auto turrets.

  • marbigmarbig

    Posted Apr 15, 2008 10:37 pm PT

    This map pack is awesome, the most fun maps in any game, I say.

  • JLytle92

    Posted Apr 15, 2008 10:06 pm PT

    unless you are a true halo fan, i would stick to call of duty 4 and its new maps because these ones didnt keep me interested for half an hour

  • NintendoSpartan

    Posted Apr 15, 2008 9:20 pm PT

    can bungie add additional armer please

  • NintendoSpartan

    Posted Apr 15, 2008 9:18 pm PT

    and now i can make insane maps make a ship and have fun on ghost town ,black out and avalanche

  • Hedfix

    Posted Apr 15, 2008 9:09 pm PT

    Additional achievements please.

  • NintendoSpartan

    Posted Apr 15, 2008 9:06 pm PT

    yes finally i can play on legendary maps

  • mjc0961

    Posted Apr 15, 2008 7:28 pm PT

    $10 for 3 maps? Getting screwed much? Used to be you played FPS games on a PC and you got so many awesome free maps that you never had time to play on them all.

  • Chris_555_TK

    Posted Apr 15, 2008 6:41 pm PT

    "$10 is WAY too much to pay for new maps"

    -Bungie

  • -HaloHitman-

    Posted Apr 15, 2008 5:58 pm PT

    Cool.

  • RaiKageRyu

    Posted Apr 15, 2008 5:48 pm PT

    Ugh, again.

  • JackRipper6

    Posted Apr 15, 2008 4:44 pm PT

    screw this im not wastin my money! anyway im getting GTA IV :]

  • datniccah187

    Posted Apr 15, 2008 4:39 pm PT

    i'll probally download the maps after i get out of work tonight.

  • illini1010

    Posted Apr 15, 2008 4:38 pm PT

    for all of you complaining about the price... bungie has no say on how much to charge. Microsoft is in charge of pricing DLC.

  • IKRITaiNT

    Posted Apr 15, 2008 4:35 pm PT

    Bungie, if you are listening, how about a remake of ascention or burial mounds. New is good but remakes are just as fun!

  • ChickenHounk911

    Posted Apr 15, 2008 4:30 pm PT

    Here is MY dilema: When the Heroic Map pack came out, I paid my 800 points but not a lot of people on matchmaking bought those maps, so I couldn't play them. Ah! but when those maps were made FREE, I am playing those new maps often. Now that Legendary map pack is out, I fear my purchasing this pack will do me no good again. I know bungie made no comment about them being released later for free, but I know they will. So, what to do?

    Oh and P.S. I am pretty tired of people not knowing the difference in words like "of" and "off" or "to" and "too", I know they sound alike, but C'mon at least give it a good try to spell and use them correctly!

  • ocdog45

    Posted Apr 15, 2008 4:29 pm PT

    man i love halo. too bad i got rid of my 360

  • IKRITaiNT

    Posted Apr 15, 2008 4:23 pm PT

    All three maps are worth it. Blackout is by far my favorite, but the other two are quite nice as well. Well done Bungie, well done!

  • PatchMaster

    Posted Apr 15, 2008 4:13 pm PT

    C'mon Bungie we all know it will be free eventually. I love how they jumpped on Gamespot so quickly for even hinting that the fee will be dropped in the future.

  • xtremeskiia15

    Posted Apr 15, 2008 4:03 pm PT

    So guys I understand CoD4 had an extra map but....
    It doesn't have a forge mode, or the ridiculous custom game possibilities that Halo has. Technically forge creates the possibility for almost an infinite amount of maps since it allows you to create your own maps. Therefore, this pack is definitely worth it because with the option of forge it becomes a great deal.

  • mute9dude

    Posted Apr 15, 2008 4:00 pm PT

    Time to dust of Halo 3

  • Gubitz

    Posted Apr 15, 2008 3:55 pm PT

    i dont play halo anymore but i do like the sound of that blackout map, i loved lockout. I just bought the COD4 map pack and that rocked so maybe this will too, ill give another 10 bucks for awesomeness. but my favorite things to download are AC6 extra paint schemes and the ace of aces missions, they never dissapoint me.

  • okassar

    Posted Apr 15, 2008 3:51 pm PT

    Those maps definitely look like they're worth the 10 bucks and I hope they are,because I'm buying them. But Gamespot shouldn't have written a "Regret" phrase about Bungie making Legendary map pack free later.I'm sure Bungie will,I'm sure when GoW 2 comes out,the maps will be free.Maybe even before that,but that sounds about right.

  • n3ck

    Posted Apr 15, 2008 3:45 pm PT

    Just played the new maps, WOW back on Halo3, Love Cod4 and Forza2 Map Pack and car packs too, been a good month for downloads. Best download for me was Forzas March car pack (LOVE THE 2008GT3 and the F40 competizion) but this Map pack comes close, its much better than the last pack. And for people moaning about paying - No one is forcing you to buy them and they will be free one day so just wait or buy now , its your choice.

  • zeldafan1234

    Posted Apr 15, 2008 3:30 pm PT

    the maps are amazing was so worth the money. So much detail was put into these maps. I hear these might never go free according to bungie saying this will be permanently priced source bungie.net podcast. If you love sidewinder that alone is worth 10 bucks but ghost town and black out are awesome. Yes black out is a remake but this map fixes alot of things that were wrong with the original one instance is the lower section where you have to jump to the other section is no impossible to kill your self which i think is good because it doesnt slow you down anymore and also there are more places to take cover and the detail is amazing. Ghost town looks amazing is really fun to play.

  • Pete5506

    Posted Apr 15, 2008 3:29 pm PT

    I can wait tell they are free

  • gagan21

    Posted Apr 15, 2008 3:23 pm PT

    got the new maps today its really good , i like avalanche & ghost town . thanx for the awesome maps bungie . i highly recommend the new dlc to halo fans .

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