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(Note: This is the second part of TAG’s Halo 3: Mythic Map Pack review. For the first part, click here.)

Six months ago, I got a chance to explore the first three maps in Halo 3′s Mythic Map Pack. As a Halo fan, I was happy that Bungie released new content for devoted fans of their blockbuster shooter. Even if it stole some thunder from the launch of Ensemble’s Halo Wars, the Mythic Map Pack helped secure Halo 3′s spot in the top half of the monthly Xbox Live charts for months to come. Perhaps Bungie felt that Halo 3: ODST – the latest Halo spin-off – would steal some of the limelight from the “old Halo”, or maybe they just wanted to be consistent: the last three maps in the Mythic Map Pack have arrived, bundled inside ODST’s bonus “Multiplayer” disc.

Assembly, Orbital, and Sandbox were all great additions to Halo 3′s bulky roster of maps. The newest maps – Citadel, Heretic, and Longshore – are just as good, if not better. Bungie has perfected the art of balancing multiplayer maps, and as a result, the latest maps fit comfortably in the game.

Is this latest addition to Halo 3 worth your attention, or should you pass it up and hone your Firefight skills? After the jump, we’ll fill you in on all of the information you need to know about each map.

In my review of the first three Mythic Maps, I focused too much on describing the sights and sounds of each map through text. I don’t think it was very effective, so I’ll let the pictures below do their job. For round two, I am going to detail the strategic elements of each map. I will leave the surprises of each map for you to explore and discover.

 

“Citadel”

Size: Small (4-10 players)

Theme: Forerunner

Best Gametypes: Multi-Flag, Team Slayer matches

This is Citadel’s middle area, which is home to the coveted Rockets and Overshields.

The first new map – Citadel – was the one I played the most in my Matchmaking experience. Citadel is based on Forerunner architecture, and it reminded me of Halo 1 maps like Wizard, Derelict, and Prisoner. It is a small map, and there is definitely a focus on weapons like the Battle Rifle, Carbine, and Assault Rifle. Sniper Rifles on each side of the map give each team an equal advantage, but the Overshields and Rocket Launcher in the middle of the map are the most prized pick-ups. The close-to-mid-range battles are slightly claustrophobic in Citadel, but there is enough room to support games of Capture the Flag or Neutral Assault.

Most of the encounters in Citadel are up-close-and-personal, but snipers can still utilize the Sniper Rifles.

I played a lot of Citadel when Bungie’s Double Experience playlist was set to the “Prepare to Drop” gametype. If you missed “Prepare to Drop”, it was basically the same as Team SWAT, but each player was given the same arsenal as the characters in Halo 3: ODST. The weapons on each map were the same ones that were common in ODST, so each round felt more like ODST and less like Halo 3. This was fun for a while, but the matches I played in Citadel were the most lopsided. Although most of the map consists of hallways and ramps to the upper level, the middle of the map was completely dominated by Carbine crack-shots. I couldn’t imagine playing Citadel in a standard Team SWAT game; the Battle Rifle would be far too effective.

Overall: Citadel is a solid small map, but it isn’t the best in the Mythic Map Pack.

“Heretic”

Size: Small (4-10 players)

Theme: Covenant

Best Gametypes: Any Flag match, Team Slayer matches

Does it bring back memories? Ahh, all those times of taking a gravity lift and getting cut down by the Sword Guy…

Heretic is the remake of Midship, and it plays like Midship in almost every way. The design changes are almost purely aesthetic, so there are no new strategies or factors to consider when you play it. The weapon layout is almost exactly the same, and the Sticky Grenades are the “default” grenades for each Heretic match. Frag Grenades can be found around the map, but skilled Sticky-tossers will have a field day on inexperienced players.

Heretic hosts some exciting Capture the Flag matches.

It is always exciting to play on an enhanced map; some of Halo 3′s most popular maps are remakes. Avalanche, Last Resort, Cold Storage, and Blackout come to mind. Compared to those maps, Heretic is even more faithful to its original form. If you liked Midship in Halo 2, you should really enjoy Heretic. Unfortunately, I was never the biggest fan of Midship. I am absolutely terrible with Sticky Grenades, and I was never the biggest fan of the Energy Sword in Midship. It makes sense to include the Sword in this map, but the steep ramps and wide-open middle area can make it difficult to avoid the “Sword Guy”

Overall: Heretic is a faithful remake of a classic map. If I liked the classic map, I might have loved Heretic. Objectively, however, I can’t complain about a map that is actually quite balanced and well-constructed.

 

“Longshore”

Size: Large (10-16 players)

Theme: Human

Best Gametypes: Any Flag / Assault match, Team Slayer / SWAT matches

This is the “Shotgun Side” of Longshore, with one of the bases in the lower-left side of the screen.

Longshore is, beyond a shadow of doubt, my favorite Halo 3 map. It is basically a larger version of The Pit, and I was also reminded of Halo 2′s Headlong. Each side is balanced perfectly and sports a base, Sniper Rifle, Battle Rifles, and plenty of cover. Power weapons like the Shotgun, the Energy Sword, and the Rocket Launcher can be found around the middle portion of the map. There are plenty of sniping positions, and the interior structure that houses the Rockets and the Sword is a playground for taking out inexperienced players. Active Camo and Overshield power-ups are also located in the middle portion of the map, so picking up one of those makes a good “Rocket Guy” into an unstoppable threat.

The crates outside offer cover, but the middle area is a battlezone for players with power weapons.

The Team Slayer matches in Longshore are great, and SWAT is fun, but it is clear that this map is a better choice for objective games. The base layouts are prime for sneaking in with the bomb during Assault matches, and controlling the middle area helps flag carriers return their opponent’s flag without too much trouble. I wasn’t expecting much from Longshore, but it comes away from the Mythic Map Pack as my top pick. I would place it alongside Hang ‘Em High, Valhalla, and The Pit as one of my favorite maps in any Halo game to date.

Overall: Longshore is a fantastic map that supports a wide variety of Slayer and objective-type matches. It is definitely the cherry on top of the Mythic Map Pack.

Ultimately, the latest trio in the Mythic Map Pack is “free” as part of the package you get with Halo 3: ODST. If you were upset with ODST’s $60 price tag, the new Mythic maps should justify the cost pretty well. Citadel is a solid new map, Heretic will appeal to fans of Halo 2, and Longshore is one of the best Halo 3 maps ever released. I would say that it’s a pretty sweet deal – and there are even new Achievements to make it sweeter.

Final Score: A-