343 releases new trailer and details for the Halo 4 Majestic map Pack

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Are there two words that make Halo fans happier than “map pack?” I submit that there are not. 343 is getting ready to release a new one, and we’ve got all the details, including a snazzy little making-of video, after the jump.

343 Industries made the announcement this morning on the official Halo Waypoint website.  But since that site continues to be a bit unresponsive at times, just keep it here.  I’ve got all the details for you, and you won’t even have to install a new version of Silverlight. Yikes.  Anyway, the Majestic Map Pack will feature three new maps, entitled Landfall, Monolith, and Skyline.  All three are small to medium sized, and were designed to answer fan concerns that Halo 4 multiplayer was lacking some of the frenzied, close quarters combat that was so popular on prior Halo titles.  But don’t take it from me.  Listen to the folks to made the maps in the video below.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLycGF8_6P8]

One of the things that I always enjoyed about Halo multiplayer was how the maps fit into the larger fiction of the game.  As Major Nelson showed on his blog, these new maps continue that tradition.  Here’s his detailed description of Landfall, Monolith, and Skyline.

Landfall: A shining city under attack…
The world of Tribute is now a graveyard, but its capital was once a bright beacon of commerce among the inner colonies. Fight in the corridors and courtyards of Casbah’s port authority buildings, but don’t stand still too long. Perfect for Infinity Slayer, this small to midsize asymmetrical map offers interiors with sparse cover, which encourages close-range combat, while the exteriors offer long lines of sight to stalk your opponents. Awesome jump routes let players spring around the outside of the map, incidentally offering a perfect view of the city as it is razed by the Covenant’s brutal assault.

Monolith: Adrift in a forgotten asteroid belt…
This monument and many like it were built by the Forerunners after their final victory over the ancient humans. This small map has central man-cannons, short corridors, almost no cover, and open sightlines which make the location great for a mixture of close and mid-range battle. Monolith harkens back to more classic “Halo” arena-based maps, and its symmetry lends nicely to objective-based modes like Capture the Flag. Monolith is an open battlefield; wherever you look, you will witness the ferocious action that only a small and open map can provide.

Skyline: Combat analysts agree…
The rooftop terrain on this new space tether construction site is an ideal training environment for close-quarters infantry combat. This map, perched high above the sights of reconstruction in Cascade’s capital city, is small and symmetrical, perfect for Regicide with a mixture of high and low spaces and plenty of cover. Don’t think cover means you’re safe, however – this map holds explosive fuel cells that can and will wreak havoc in Skyline’s confined spaces, not to mention the long, long drop if you misstep.

But wait, there’s more.  The Majestic Map Pack will bring two new playlists, as well as a whole new game type to Halo 4.  The new game type, entitled Infinity Rumble, is a free-for-all in which players use personal ordinance and power weapons to build up massive amounts of points.  Infinity Rumble is being advertised as an exclusive to the Majestic Map Pack, but I wouldn’t count on that lasting for very long, especially if it proves to be a popular game type.

The Majestic Map Pack will be released on February 25th, and will retail for 800 Microsoft points.  Players who received the War Games Map Pass, either through the Halo 4 Limited Edition, or by purchasing it separately, will be able to get the maps at no additional charge.


About the Author: (@Joe_of_the_Dead) Lead Editor, Writer

Joe was born in a time of war. A console war. Two electronic titans were locked in a heated battle for the living rooms of America. Which titans, you ask? Well, the Fairchild Channel F and the Atari 2600 of course. You see, Joe is old. So many of his favorite games tend to be on the older side as well. But that hasn’t stopped him from developing unhealthy obsessions with such modern franchises as Halo and Mass Effect. Just don’t tell him how long it’s been since the original Metroid was released. His aging heart can’t take the shock.

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