Halo 5 seems to be lacking memorable maps with heart and soul that stand out from each other. I am really curious if they have a plan to release a paid map pack to help keep H5 relevant until H6, whenever we will be getting that. They must be aware that towards the end of 2017, there are a few games that are being released that are bound to slice away at the already hurt population. From a business perspective, it would be considerably wise to have something up their sleeve to spark interest into players eyes after those games drop. I am fine with forge created maps, but I feel as if we need way more developer maps created because that is a big reason I don’t spend to much time playing H5 for hours at a time. I just get a tad bit bored. Your thoughts on this?
They have stated that H5 is a complete package which means there will be no further dlc. However, that does not mean they won’t incorporate more community made maps into the rotation of some of the playlists.
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> They have stated that H5 is a complete package which means there will be no further dlc. However, that does not mean they won’t incorporate more community made maps into the rotation of some of the playlists.
Who’s “they”?
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> > They have stated that H5 is a complete package which means there will be no further dlc. However, that does not mean they won’t incorporate more community made maps into the rotation of some of the playlists.
>
> Who’s “they”?
- No, I don’t have a link to whatever post or tweet they said it in, but 343 has called Halo 5 a “complete package” for at least a few months now.
Halo 5 maps, I only like Plaza, and maybe Stasis is okay.
Forge maps, only Halo 3 Valhalla and Standoff remakes. Shamed.
The only problem I can see with the current map portfolio, if a problem you want to call it, is the community BTB maps. Dev maps obviously would have been better, but community maps engage the community (hence the name) and they free up the developer to make warzone maps, which are more important in my opinion. I guess what I’d really like to see is more involvement from 343 in vetting those forge projects and choosing which make it into rotation. The current system is too insular, too arbitrary, and produces maps that, again in my opinion, conform too rigidly to questionable standards of gameplay.
Saying that this game lacks memorable, stand-out maps seems kinda crazy to me. If you’re talking about gameplay, then I stand down because my opinions are based on preferences that are not shared by a majority of players - maybe not by any other players at all. But aesthetically these maps are mostly pretty extraordinary. Find me any map from any previous Halo that’s as richly detailed and well-imagined as Plaza or Riptide. Find me any map from any previous Halo with a sky box as mind blowing as Torque. The only one that even comes close is Condemned - another 343 map. Find me any example of a lackluster map like Haven getting a total aesthetic overhaul to produce something so vastly superior to the original that, despite playing identically to the original, it still feels like a completely new map. Others may disagree but that’s how I see it.
The maps from h1, h2, and H3 were all so memorable. H5 has done better than Reach and h4 with memorable maps though
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> > > They have stated that H5 is a complete package which means there will be no further dlc. However, that does not mean they won’t incorporate more community made maps into the rotation of some of the playlists.
> >
> > Who’s “they”?
>
> 343. No, I don’t have a link to whatever post or tweet they said it in, but 343 has called Halo 5 a “complete package” for at least a few months now.
Hmmm. I try to keep up on things like this and I haven’t heard a thing… It would of also been a pretty huge deal on Waypoint.
More maps = more players.
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> The only problem I can see with the current map portfolio, if a problem you want to call it, is the community BTB maps. Dev maps obviously would have been better, but community maps engage the community (hence the name) and they free up the developer to make warzone maps, which are more important in my opinion. I guess what I’d really like to see is more involvement from 343 in vetting those forge projects and choosing which make it into rotation. The current system is too insular, too arbitrary, and produces maps that, again in my opinion, conform too rigidly to questionable standards of gameplay.
>
> Saying that this game lacks memorable, stand-out maps seems kinda crazy to me. If you’re talking about gameplay, then I stand down because my opinions are based on preferences that are not shared by a majority of players - maybe not by any other players at all. But aesthetically these maps are mostly pretty extraordinary. Find me any map from any previous Halo that’s as richly detailed and well-imagined as Plaza or Riptide. Find me any map from any previous Halo with a sky box as mind blowing as Torque. The only one that even comes close is Condemned - another 343 map. Find me any example of a lackluster map like Haven getting a total aesthetic overhaul to produce something so vastly superior to the original that, despite playing identically to the original, it still feels like a completely new map. Others may disagree but that’s how I see it.
They might not look identical, but take a hard look at eden and empire. They use almost the same concept but one lacks not having a bridge connecting to security. Overgrowth and Regret are basically older and worn out versions of Plaza and Truth. The majority of the maps use almost the same UNSC themes, They are almost structurally the same given that aspect. Don’t get me wrong, the maps look good despite the terrible over lighting in an attempt to add a better visual conception. When I say “Memorable” and “Heart” I am referring to maps like Guardian, construct, narrows, hang em high, battle creek, lockdown, etc. Each of those maps set themselves apart from each other and brought their own memorable atmosphere. Again, this is not an attempt to bring H5 down, but rather an area I feel needs an improvement moving on to H6.
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> They might not look identical, but take a hard look at eden and empire. They use almost the same concept but one lacks not having a bridge connecting to security. Overgrowth and Regret are basically older and worn out versions of Plaza and Truth. The majority of the maps use almost the same UNSC themes, They are almost structurally the same given that aspect. Don’t get me wrong, the maps look good despite the terrible over lighting in an attempt to add a better visual conception. When I say “Memorable” and “Heart” I am referring to maps like Guardian, construct, narrows, hang em high, battle creek, lockdown, etc. Each of those maps set themselves apart from each other and brought their own memorable atmosphere. Again, this is not an attempt to bring H5 down, but rather an area I feel needs an improvement moving on to H6.
Now that’s kinda what I was waiting for - for you to mention specific older maps that you felt set the bar.
There isn’t a single map you named that I wouldn’t back you up on as being exemplary… except maybe Battle Creek which I never thought highly of, but that’s just nit picking. But much as I appreciate them, and many more, especially from Halo 3, they don’t individually or taken as a whole detract from my appreciation of H5 maps. The fact that many H5 maps are “remixes” seems to be a sore point for many others just as it is for you - but I think they’re masterful re-imaginings of one and other. To me those pairings look far more different than alike. And the layout differences are, to me, more than subtle. I think the layout differences get short shrift because so many players assume that maps which look cursorily similar must necessarily play similarly. And, in fact, they do play similarly… but that is as much about the homogeneity of H5 gameplay, and about the hyper-competitive nature of the game, as it is about the maps themselves. As a thought experiment: try to imagine if Halo 5 had launched with a Hang 'Em High re-make. It would have completely unsuited the style of play that 343 was trying to create with this game and no one but old timers, like us, would have understood its purpose. Too open, not symmetrical, what the heck are all those high cat walks for, why is there a rocket launcher in a place where no one can get to it without dying… these are the kinds of criticisms that map would get from people who didn’t learn Halo on the original.
But the thing that nobody ever wants to talk about, as they tear into the slayer maps, is the Warzone portfolio. I certainly have preferences for some over others in terms of gameplay, but each one individually represents a high point in Halo map making as far as I’m concerned. And it isn’t hard to see what resource hogs they must have been. I don’t mean that to be an excuse for a lackluster 4v4 map collection, because I don’t see the 4v4 collection as lackluster. But it certainly is food for thought for anyone who finds the slayer maps to be wanting.
I’m sure that 343 also assumed that they would supplement the 4v4 maps with community creations, and so they have. I don’t have much that’s charitable to say about those maps, but I will say that the idea of forge maps getting into rotation is one of the best ways I can think of to engage the community beyond simple gameplay. There’s a lot that needs to happen for the promise to live up to the reality, but it’s a start.
Add weather and time of day to Maps and more maps…
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> > They have stated that H5 is a complete package which means there will be no further dlc. However, that does not mean they won’t incorporate more community made maps into the rotation of some of the playlists.
>
> Who’s “they”?
Mmm maybe 343 I don’t know who is referring to
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> > > 2533274843634673;2:
> > > They have stated that H5 is a complete package which means there will be no further dlc. However, that does not mean they won’t incorporate more community made maps into the rotation of some of the playlists.
> >
> > Who’s “they”?
>
> Mmm maybe 343 I don’t know who is referring to
Yup. It was 343 and 343 actually just released an Community Update saying they ate far from done with Halo 5.
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> > > > 2533274843634673;2:
> > > > They have stated that H5 is a complete package which means there will be no further dlc. However, that does not mean they won’t incorporate more community made maps into the rotation of some of the playlists.
> > >
> > > Who’s “they”?
> >
> > Mmm maybe 343 I don’t know who is referring to
>
> Yup. It was 343 and 343 actually just released an Community Update saying they ate far from done with Halo 5.
Yup that’s there is more to come we will see
Mix in custum map weekend on play lists
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> free up the developer to make warzone maps, which are more important in my opinion.
>
> Saying that this game lacks memorable, stand-out maps seems kinda crazy to me. But aesthetically these maps are mostly pretty extraordinary. Find me any map from any previous Halo that’s as richly detailed and well-imagined as Plaza or Riptide. Find me any map from any previous Halo with a sky box as mind blowing as Torque. The only one that even comes close is Condemned - another 343 map. Find me any example of a lackluster map like Haven getting a total aesthetic overhaul to produce something so vastly superior to the original that, despite playing identically to the original, it still feels like a completely new map. Others may disagree but that’s how I see it.
Its pretty obvious that a huge chunk of dev effort went into Warzone, hence the need to “save assets” by remixing maps. Which is an unimaginative bad thing in my opinion, and something that stands out in the MP map design (or lack thereof).
Aesthetically and extraordinary are definitely not words I would put together when describing 343s maps. Yes they are detailed and benefit from new hardware but that’s where the pros end. None of their maps play particularly great, there uninspired, boring and forgettable, save for Riptide and Plaza like you mentioned.
When I think of Halo, I don’t think about cities, warehouses or factories, I imagine ancient mysterious places that are unique and interesting. But in H5 that sense is not conveyed. H5s maps are almost entirely influenced by industrial/urban designs that don’t lend themselves to Halos universe or sandbox at all. They don’t fit. They don’t feel like Halo. Bungie’s maps scream imagination. 343s maps, not even close!
Find a map with a skybox as mind blowing as Torque…
EASY. Any map with a Halo ring stretching into the horizon. I mean that is what the game is named for right?! But more specifically maps like Acension, Guardian and Relic. And better still remakes like Lockdown, Remnant, Zenith and Shrine, which play great, are unique, highly detailed and benefit from newer hardware! And all those maps can be appreciated without staring straight up like you have to do on Torque, and I’m not doing that mid match. And it’s still not that impressive.
But I agree, your description of 343s maps being lackluster is accurate. Remaking Haven with new paint doesnt make it play any better. And that is the ONLY example of a remixed map that feels new. Every other remix is way too similar to Its counterpart.
I’m with the OP on this one. H5s maps are the weakest in the series and easily one of the top 3 things I hate most about H5. The addition of Warzone doesn’t make up for that, it taints the entire experience.
This game’s map selection was really hurt by the free updates since it gave 343 less incentive to design new maps and only a handful of maps have been added. Making remixes for multiple maps shows their lack of effort. They’ve added almost no original community maps either. All they’ve given us are a bunch of community remakes of classic maps. Bungie used to add community maps and new gametypes to matchmaking almost every month even when their games were out a couple years. I wouldve gladly payed $10 for 3 original maps multiple times instead of the half–Yoinked!- updates we got instead.
I guess this model works better for the population of this game since most people probably dont play it enough to want to spend money on a map pack. The worst part is 343 knows now that they can spend a few minutes changing the color of weapons or making a helmet and earn way more off little kids stealing their parents’ credit cards to buy Gold Packs. I can only see H6 having less maps and more armor
I agree, they need better maps. The original breakout maps looked so amazing
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> The maps from h1, h2, and H3 were all so memorable. H5 has done better than Reach and h4 with memorable maps though
I don’t think I can agree with you on this. I feel H5 maps aren’t as good as Reach by a long shot. Reach probably had the most multiplayer-oriented map diversity of any games in the series…and alot of them worked extremely well for FFA games and 1-sided objective due to their asymmetrical nature. One thing I moss from Reach. Even symmetrical maps had their asymmetries to differentiate areas of the maps.