Halo Anniversary's multiplayer map pack

[^APEX^Cove]

Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary includes several map packs for use in Halo Reach's multiplayer mode. The Anniversary Map Pack--which includes six multiplayer maps and one Firefight map--will also be available to download separately on November 15, for 1200 Microsoft Points ($15).

Microsoft explains how the Halo Anniversary maps will integrate into both the new Halo release, as well as Halo: Reach.



While very cool, this cross-game content does raise some interesting questions about how it will all work if you own only one game or the other, or both. Thankfully, 343 explains:



¡If you own Halo: Anniversary but not Halo: Reach, you will launch the Anniversary maps from the disc menu.


¡If you own Halo: Anniversary and Halo: Reach, we recommend installing the maps using the Anniversary Map Pack code that comes with Anniversary. You will then be able to launch the Anniversary maps from both the Anniversary and Reach menus.


¡If you purchase the Anniversary Map Pack, you will install the maps like any other piece of DLC. You will then be able to launch the Anniversary maps from the Reach menu.




Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary blasts off to retail this Tuesday, November 15.

www.shacknews.com/article/71060/halo-anniversaryreach-map-pack-integration-explained

[^APEX^Oneder]

I was excited about this game until I found out the MP ran on the reach engine. Which I could not stand at all. I'm not paying $60 for a game I played 10 years ago when the MP is worthless to me.

[^APEX^Cove]

$40 for the game. Basicaly works out to be $25 for the game and $15 for the maps.

The game will play two ways online really. One with all the perks and and toy's that Reach has to offer, Jet packs and so on. Then the classic Halo, with none of the perks and quirks that reach has. When you play with the reach stuff on some of the maps will have a few new areas open up, when you go classic it's all bare bones.

Anniversary Classic game types have the following settings: no Armor Abilities, Anniversary Pistol (pistol traits have been modified to replicate CE behavior), one Frag Grenade upon loadout, player speed increased, gravity increased, jump height increased, shield and health recharge rates increased, and melee damage reduced. Please note that the standard TU changes also apply to Anniversary Classic game types.



TU Game types are our standard Reach Matchmaking settings with the Title Update changes. Those changes are: damage bleed enabled, modified reticle bloom, sword block removed, Armor Lock modified, and Active Camo modified.

[^APEX^Sokar]

This will more than likely be one of those games I pick up with a Best Buy gift card I got for Christmas.

No rush to get it but I probably will around Christmas or something. Will mostly be to play the single player, get some achievements, and thats it.

[^APEX^Oneder]

Still the reach engine. Possibly the worst MP engine I've seen in a while.

[^APEX^Cove]

Well after playing some of the MP in this I can say it plays somewhat like the first halo, in a crude sort of way that is. If your looking for the old MP your still going to be better off playing the PC or the console version of the game. My vote would be for the console as the PC was never really right to begin with.

The campaign is what this release is all about. It stays faithful to the first game utilizing the original engine. Outside of the graphics and sound updates the only real major changes to the campaign are the addition of terminals and skulls. Unlike halo3 the terminals in this game use FVM rather then giant walls of text to add to the back story.

Anyways if you are interested in picking this up it should be for the single player or co-op over live. If it's MP your after, I'd say you may be better off looking some where else.