The Halo 2 Multiplayer Map Pack is a collection of downloadable content for Halo 2, a manual highlighting the maps and lore, as well as behind-the-scenes footage and various trailers. For those that didn’t have internet at the time, it allowed them to play on new maps and experience a more balanced game thanks to the inclusion of some system updates.
Because I was online for Halo 2, I had no need of the physical release as I purchased the content digitally. But now, I see value in having this. Even though I may never need it, it’s nice knowing I’ve got a piece of history here and that I’m able to keep playing these maps in the original format, should anything happen to my digital purchases.
As for the map pack, it’s actually split into three separate collections of maps. The first of the map packs was called Bonus Map Pack and launched on the 25th of April, 2005. This downloadable content included Containment and Warlock. The first was a massive, Big Team Battle arena in a snowy canyon set on Halo. The later was a remake of the Halo: Combat Evolved map, Wizard. These maps were free!
Alongside this free pack was a paid pack called the Killtacular Pack. This one offered Sanctuary and Turf. I think I would have told my mum all about it and requested if I could purchase it using her credit card. I still love the symmetry and movement of Sanctuary. As for Turf, it’s such an odd map. The flow and energy is constantly shifting. Just when you think you’ve got a good place to hold, you’ll wind up fighting elsewhere.
The last of the three is the Maptacular Pack. This beast was released on the 5th of July, 2005 (less than a year after the release of Halo 2) and included five new maps. You had to spend a whopping $11.99 USD (probably like $20 bucks for me then?) to get these maps and play them early. They would become free on the 30th of August, 2005 – which is wild to think about these days.
The five maps include Backwash, a small map set in a swampy location; Elongation, a remake of a Halo: Combat Evolved map called Longest; Gemini, which was set on High Charity; Relic, a massive map with a large Forerunner base to defend, perfect for Capture the Flag or Assault; and Terminal, another large map with a train running through the middle.
Unfortunately, this physical release is missing Desolation and Tombstone. These were created by Certain Affinity in 2007. Because the Halo 2 servers are now offline, these maps can no longer be acquired through any official means – which I find to be quite sad.
It certainly feels great to finally have this piece of Halo 2 history added to my collection. It’s sitting proudly alongside my unfortunately rusty Halo 2 Collector’s Edition. Halo 2 still stands tall in my books as one of my favourite games of all time. The bulk of my online play when I was a teenager took place in the hallowed halls of Halo 2. It’s where I cut my teeth on competitive multiplayer and honed my skills. It’s probably why I’m still as good at Halo as I am today.
I fondly remember anticipating the addition of new maps to the game. I would read Bungie.net, soaking in as much of the announcements as I could, poring over the images to get an idea of how they would play. I’m pleased to have another little piece of that history with me.
