Legendary Review

Oh look at that- I did find some time. So here it is: my review of the Halo 3 Legendary Map Pack.

Ghost Town: This map was the only actual "new" map in the pack as it's not a reimagination or remake of any previous Halo maps. Was it worth a third of 10 bucks? Hell yes. When I first played it on my own in custom games the first word out of my mouth was "wow" and that's how I would still describe the map. It looks and plays like a dream. It is a medium sized map around the size of isolation but much more detailed and structured. It is a very assymetrical map and plays a lot like Halo 2's Turf. The over-grown and crumbling buildings that this map features make it just stunning to look at. The outside ledges, high bridges, pen pipe structures and lush jungle make this a great map to play. I would surely put it in my top ten Halo 3 maps. Forge-wise this map is not the best. Bungie made it as good it could possible be to forge on with all the awesome objects they made for it but just the fact that the map contains so much of its own unchangeable design without any large open areas makes it a weak forge. I believe the only decent maps that could be created on this would be a racing one or possibly an infection one but any other variants would play pretty much the exact same way as the default Ghost Town does.
And so because it has great graphics and gameplay but not great forging, I give Ghost Town a 8.5/10

Blackout: Well this was the remake of Lockout that everyone wanted so badly. And although Bungie changed up a few jumps and the theme of the place it doesn't fail its former self. Not only does it play like Lockout (very well indeed) but it also looks amazing now too. Bungie set this map in the antartic at the edge of an ice-sheet as scientific weather station. The station itself looks awesome with frost-bitten walk-ways, glacier core samples, and other interesting gadgets and gizmos. Not to mention that it all takes place in the dark of nigh which gives the map an extremely unique feel. Plus Bungie threw the Aurora Borealis in the sky for a final effect to complete the experience. When you play this map and hear your footsteps clanking on the frozen metal and the sound of a discrete freezing wind passing by, you actually feel the chilling effect of the place as it immerses you into its presence. If you actually look back at Lockout you'll see how incredibly plain it seems in comparrison to its newer version. Forge-wise Blackout is one of the better maps on Halo 3. The numerous ramps and walk-ways make for great race-track possibilities, the doors can really change up the map, and the large areas of open space above, below and around the main structure make for a bunch of other possibilities. For all the above greatness mentioned I give Blackout a 9/10 (it is a remake).

Avalanche: This is an absolutely awesome map. I loved Sidewinder but this map absolutely blows that one out of the water. The massive mancannons allow for infinite fun launching warthogs and other vehicles into the enemy's base. The covenant versus human layout is also an extremely cool feature to include. I never get bored of playing this map- 5, 6, 7 times in a row on DLC team objective and I'm still wishing for it to be selected. The snow-covered trees, ice patches, and frosty structures make this map breath-taking (just as I imagine the climate would if it were real). The forging on this map is 5-star next to foundry. The open space and man-cannon cave give a great amount of room for imaginations to run wild. This map is more of a reimagination of Sidewinder than it is a remake since it has changed dramatically with the mancannons, and caves and such resulting in much more enjoyable gameplay and so that's my excuse for giving it a 10/10.

Now I know I've been pretty decent to the map pack but that's honestly because I love each of the maps excessively. And I'm not like that with all the maps as I detest Stand-Off and dislike Rat's Nest. Foundry wouldn't be very great either if it weren't for its astounding forge play. So there is my 27.5/30 total for the truly legendary Legendary Map Pack.

And just for kicks heres a few of my top ten lists:
Top Ten Halo maps through out the series: (game-play wise)
1. Relic
2. Headlong
3. Avalanche
4. Ascension
5. Blackout
6. The Pit
7. Turf
8. Epitaph
9. Ghost Town
10. Last Resort

Close calls= Guardian, Naorrows, & Coagulation.
(yes I know there are no Halo 1 maps- that's because all my favourite ones of those have been remade better i.e. Blood Gulch and Sidewinder)

Top Five Forge Maps:
1. Foundry
2. Avalanche
3. Blackout
4. Standoff
5. Last Resort

Top Five Least Favourite Halo 3 Maps (gameplay-wise)
1. Isolation
2. Standoff
3. Rat's Nest
4. High Ground (unless it's snipers)
5. Foundry

And that's it - feel free to post your top tens in your comments.