“Narrows” nabs a spot on the Halo 3 multiplayer map list.
In an interview with IGN, Bungie Multiplayer Designer Lars described a new Halo 3 multiplayer map, “Narrows,” before giving the reporters a trial run-through.
It’s a Forerunner structure. It’s embedded in this cliff wall and it’s a bridge. Imagine the – if you’re familiar with Halo 1 – imagine the bridge from Assault on the Control Room, expanded, and made for multiplayer, so it’s got multiple levels and each side has kind of a dug in section, and it’s mirrored so on one side of each of the bases there’s actually a Man Cannon, and if both sides take it at the same time they’ll actually meet in mid-air, which is pretty cool.
There are multiple areas that you fight over; there are some power weapons in the centre of the map. I’ll give you guys a heads-up right now – there’s actually a rocket launcher on top and a shotgun on the lowest level dead centre of the map, so when you guys play it tonight you’ll have a little extra edge on the competition….
A follow-up report on the hands-on experience noted “Narrows” as one of new maps that will grab gamers’ attention when the game is released.
Wow. What a great map. Bungie has stepped up to the plate with this one. Narrows takes place on a massive Forerunner structure that strafes a huge chasm. Two bases – joined by a multi-level bridge – are embedded into opposing snow covered cliffs, giving this map a great sense of scale, while still keeping most of the combat up close and personal. The bridge has two levels – a main one above, with plenty of cover objects, and another below, which ‘narrows’ in to a single path at the centre. Ramps and underpasses on either side mean players can quickly move between levels if needed.
Each base is comprised of multiple rooms, with paths that take you up onto the main bridge, down onto the lower bridge and around to the Man Cannon. Yes, directly opposite one another in each base is a Man Cannon, which fires players parallel to the bridge, high over a seemingly bottomless drop. It’s a thrilling jump, and great for jousting spars over the gap. Plus, if two people launch from opposite sides at roughly the same time, they’ll clunk into each other and fall into the inky abyss. Or, as we witnessed, they’ll blow each other up in mid-air and send each other’s corpses flinging off into the haze.
Our session with Narrows grabbed us in a way the maps in the beta didn’t, and judging by many of the comments from other players, they felt the same way. With its appealing symmetry, good weapon line-up and almost constant action, Narrows is a winner. Looks like Bungie may be saving the best for last.
