So what about the offline players? Well is this really worth it for you? Do you REALLY get together a decent group of people often enough to take advantage of this? Especially considering the maps on this little compilation that are more suited to medium team and big team battles? Imagine 2 people slugging it out on the already existing huge maps, when matchmaking throws up the occasion 4 vs 4 on some of the larger maps feels, it feels a touch sparse with 8 players on the go. Perhaps the lucky bods who can LAN up a few Xboxes to get 4+ players on the go at one time will find this useful ... but I'm assuming here that anybody who is prepared to go to those lengths will more than likely be on Live already.

Resist the temptation, wait til the 28th and save your cash ... this so called 'premium content' is going to be the new way for developers to drain cash from the Live community, a captive audience who don't know any better. You've already forked out enough money for your subscription and game, why bother spending money on add-ons that the PC community would usually get for free?

On a side note, the extra maps are excellent to play on. The initial bonus pack I got as a freebie, and now Turf and Sanctuary have been added into Matchmaking to co-incide with the recent 2nd freebie date. After a couple of shakey 'getting to know you' runs, they are wonderful additions to the Halo world. Sanctuary is vicious when played in Neutral Flag mode and Turf is excellent for Slayer matches with all its little alleys and hidey-holes. Very much looking forward to shelling out 0 for the remaining bunch of maps next month, especially with 25 a month net fees and the almighty 40 of Live fees making a bit of a dent in the old cash already.


worth it for system link only   July 24, 2005
 2 out of 8 found this review helpful

This is worth buying if you have system links often, or wanted to share the disk between freinds. For example, if you wanted a system link with three xboxes, you could downloaded them of Xbox Live for 7 3 times. Note: you would need to make sure that each xbox has an active xbox live account on them. OR you could buy this and download them onto each xbox for 12.


A fanstastic anthology of 9 great new maps   July 16, 2005
 35 out of 39 found this review helpful

Okay, before I write this review, I would like to say that I am putting aside the fact that they will all become free later this year, and that they are cheaper if you download them from Xbox Live.
SO! This is the time all you Halo 2 fans have been waiting for. New maps to expand the gameplay of, in my opinion, the world's greatest online game. The map pack will cost you a small fee of 12.99, contains the 9 maps you've been waiting for (Warlock, Sanctuary, Containment, Turf, Elongation, Backwash, Relic, Terminal, Elongation and Gemini), and a few extra bits and bobs, like a 'making of' featurette and a short animation.
Lets have an in-depth look at the maps:
Warlock:
A small, dark, claustrophobic map ideal for games like slayers, ctf classics, and oddball, Warlock is a map you'll be seeing a lot of in matchmaking. It plays an integral part of the double team, rumble pit, Team Slayer, and Team Skirmish playlists. Perhaps not the greatest map graphically, but great for a quick blast with your mates. Warlock is a 4-way symmetrical map with 4 bases and ramps leading up to a central structure which houses a useful invisibility power-up. Players will find no real power weapons on this map, so grab one of the 4 battle rifles placed on this map, use a plasma rifle - SMG combo or nab a handy shotgun and you should be okay. Rating: 8/10

Containment:
A huge map, about the same size of Waterworks, which is best played with 16 people. On xbox live, this is only found in the Big Team Battle playlist. Taking place on a vast, icy landscape (perhaps taking a leaf out of Sidewinder's book), the map is symmetrical, has two bases, and is ideal for assault and CTF games. In order for vehicles to gain easy access to the opponent's base, you'll have to press the switch in the middle of the map, which is conveniently placed next to the exit of a teleport that you can gain access to from your own base. There is an intricate maze of trenches in the middle of the map, ideal for sneaking your way into the opponent's base. Vehicle wise, this maps is great. Banshees, warthogs, and scorpions: you name it, the map can support it. Watch out for the mines scattered around the map! If shot, or driven into (trust me, it happens a-plenty) then it will immediately explode, causing an instant, painful death for any poor soul stupid enough to get in its way. Rating: 9/10

Turf:
A great looking, New Mombassa style feel to this map. Good for team slayers, and 3 plots. Has a good, varied weapon set, and introduces the brute plasma rifle into multiplayer. There is a chaingun warthog that is useful for scouring the streets. The two brute shots play a big part in this map. Rating: 8/10

Sanctuary:
Possibly one of the best maps, graphically, because of the great water effects. Again, a symmetrical map with two bases, a room in the middle of the map holds the sword, a big fight usually happens at the beginning of the game for this. This map is good for slayers, and multi-flag CTF. The bases have a good texture to them, with sandy looking brickwork in all its splendour. Rating: 8/10

Elongation: Based on the Halo map 'Longest', this map is a blast - literally! It is a small map, with two conveyor belts running lengthways, for speedy getaways. These conveyor belts are littered with boxes, ideal for cover. Again, this map has little or no power weapons, so grab a battle rifle, chuck some of the plentiful grenades, and pop a few caps in their head and watch the bodycount pile up! This map is ideal for slayers and ctf classics. Great for a 2v2 match. Rating: 9/10

Gemini: A map that should only really be played for team slayer. Has a nice, covenant, purple theme, and a big prophet statue with an overshield at the bottom. I really like the colours and graphics of this map. There isn't much to say about this one, really. Rating: 8/10

Relic: A map ideal for 1 flag ctf. It's a big like Zanzibar, really. There is a big structure which the defending team have to hold, housing the flag. The main attraction of this map is the 2-way teleporter, which is situated at the attacker's starting point, and in the defender's base. This must be activated by hitting a switch in the defending team's base. This map can be a bit dominated by snipers, but I still think it's amazing. Rating: 9/10

Backwash:
A map ideal for slayer, or 'Rumble Pit.' It has great fog effects, meaning that you can only see about 10 feet in front of you. The sword is the weapon you really want on this map, and the sentinel beam that makes a welcome debut can also be handy for picking off people with no shield. This map is really tense, and has great little features, like a 'guilty spark' (although that's not exactly what it is) wandering the map, singing to itself. This map is one of my favourites. Rating: 9/10

Terminal:
The best map of all. It takes place in a train station. Ideal for 16 players, it's great for 1 flag ctf, as it is A-symmetrical. There is a massive railway going through the map, in which a bullet train speeds past every 10 seconds. Don't get in its way - you will die. There is a sword and an overshield on the tracks, adding a risk element to the gameplay. Loads of cool weapons, and the defending team get a wraith. This is what we've been waiting for. Rating: 10/10

So, in conclusion, get the map pack. You won't regret it.

Thank you for your time.


Good,if you have no access to xbox live and play multiplayer   July 12, 2005
 8 out of 10 found this review helpful

The map pack for Halo 2 contains all of the maps released to date and all of the updates which have been released via xbox live to balance gameplay and stop cheaters online. However in all honesty it simply isn't worth it, yes it is only 12.99 but on August 30 the maps will be available for FREE for anyone who has Xbox Live. Also the maps will not even be integrated into the playlists of the matchmaking system online until then as well. In conclusion only get this if you play a lot and I mean a lot of system link games and don't have access to xbox live. This isn't for the guy that picks up halo occasionally and also maybe for a bit of slayer when friends are around. So if you have Xbox Live just wait and if you don't but play Halo 2 multiplayer regularly then feel free.


OK   July 12, 2005
 3 out of 3 found this review helpful

The new maps are fine - good to play, nicely designed etc. You should be reminded that they are for the multiplayer game and only worht it if you frequently have friends around to play. The live download is 5.99 and they become free at the end of august, so if you have live you might as well get it there.

The extras include a 2ish minute in game cut scene style film of marines in one of the campaign levels, a series of interviews with the level creators, and two older game trailers. - ok, but quite dissapointingly short and not particularily thourough.

overall - 5stars for the maps, 1 star for the price and extras.