We need more maps like Halo Reach's

Games Halo 5: Guardians
1

Now before I get slaughtered for saying this, I’ll be the first to admit Halo 5’s gameplay is far beyond Reach’s but the map design in the latter game was phenomenal. The fact that a forge map (the cage) was more fun than a majority of Halo 5’s maps is saddening. I apologize if I come off as very biased towards Reach but I strongly think it had the best art direction of the entire franchise in terms of aesthetics (maps, guns, armor, lighting). Here’s how I think 343 can improve:

  1. Stop using the same style building. All of the blocks in Halo 5 look the same. That same curvature-lined-bricky building that we see across the entire sandbox. Reach never did this. Look at the Ivory Tower remake (can’t remember the name) against powerhouse. Totally different composition and structure in terms of building design. You can really tell they were created by different designers on planet Reach.

  2. More creative maps. Symmetrical maps are wonderful and all but not if they’re being remixed all the time so they feel the same. Sword Base was one of my favorite maps in Reach, totally unlike anything I’ve ever seen, not symmetrical but very unique.

  3. Don’t be scared to reuse play spaces from the campaign. It creates a unique connection making you remember being in a totally different situation when you were in the campaign versus fighting fellow Spartans.

  4. Lighting and color need to be toned down a lot. Halo 4 suffered dramatically from this and Halo 5 still. Halo 3’s was a bit too colorful but it worked well, however Reach’s color was spot on. Not too brooding but realistically full of color (if that makes sense). It’s because of this I still feel Reach casted the illusion of having the best graphics in the franchise.

  5. Don’t intentionally limit the player’s movement. This was a HUGE flaw in Riptide. Most of the pathways on the map had a small curb on the side to prevent you from going off it without jumping. Walking, sliding or thrusting off it are impossible. Coupled with the piss poor short radar and the map is nothing but a headache. This is terrible and the person who thought of this should be fired immediately.

2

That third point is really good. There were some AWESOME sections in the campaign I’d love to fight in. The Meridian space elevator’s base for example. Or even on the side of a Guardian.

3

Reach’s maps were simpler, without massive sightlines across the whole map. When there were sightlines they were obvious to know where they are, and there were also more isolated places where small battles can occur.

I think 343 overcomplicated the maps, and whenever you try to find a place to regen your shield there’s always three places an enemy can have a sightline on you, and you can’t run anyway while regening so you feel like a sitting duck caught in the headlights