Playing Halo isn’t just about shooting your opponent in the face. It’s also about planting a sticky grenade on their ass. Beyond that though, the designers behind many of the multiplayer maps gave us numerous opportunities to interact with our environment. Many times utilizing these reciprocal features gives us a distinct advantage during gameplay. Other times they are merely good for shits and giggles. On the not so rare occasion they can even be the direct cause of our untimely death. They always keep us on our virtual toes though so in appreciation for these tasty little tidbits, I offer you what are, in my opinion, the top ten interactive features scoping the very full library of Halo maps.
Snowbound is widely adored and equally despised. Regardless of where you fall on the love/hate spectrum, I guarantee you have, at some point during your online career, toyed with the automatic turrets that diligently guard the boundaries. Shooting anybody who ventures beyond the designated area, it’s fun deploying a bubble shield and watching them fruitlessly attempt to gun you down. It’s even more fun watching an enemy ghost flip out of control and get blown to smithereens. Assuming it’s not me.
While I have never been a big fan of Elongation, I will readily admit that the crates are a never-ending source of entertainment. And by entertainment I mean complete and total frustration. If I were to receive a single plasma grenade for every time I got pinned behind one and fell down the black hole of death (both purposely from conveyor belt dance parties and accidentally from poor maneuvering), my pockets would be bulging. And not because I’m happy to see you either.
The Pit, which is a small training grounds for UNSC forces, has a total of four Brute targets (and two Jackal ones as well) that pop up when they sense nearby movement. While they may provide excellent shooting practice, they have also been known to startle approaching players. I would like to take a moment to say they have never caught me by surprise or made me jump. Because that would just be silly. As firing a few rounds at them out of reactive fright would be as well. :cough:
If you thought Colossus’ shining glory was the numerous easily accessible n00b combos, you missed out on a brief time period that allowed for one of the most fun flag tricks ever. At one point in time, if you threw the flag just right from the top part of the base down to the lowest level, it would bounce off the conveyor belt directly into the opposing base. Unfortunately that glitch was fixed but that doesn’t stop it from making my list. Super bouncing flags ftw!
The top bridge of Midship is home to the highly sought after energy sword. It also has four little indentations (two on each side) that roundly jut out ever so slightly. Those small gray circular sections, which comfortably fit one, double as trampolines. Jumping on them gets you glorious air, especially when done in coordination with someone on the opposite side. Bouncing on the bridge may even be more fun than playing an actual game on that map. So you can take your rocket ball and shove it.
Successfully maneuvering a vehicle in Halo is difficult for some. Successfully maneuvering a vehicle on the icy patches of Sidewinder is difficult for all. Located in front of the horseshoe and in between the bases are treacherous patches of slippery ice just waiting to throw you violently off course. What should be a source of frustration always ends up as a hilarity, no more than when the sliding results in running someone over. Slippery splatters have never been so satisfying.
The vast majority of offensive objective games on Zanzibar start with someone stating their intent of opening the gate. Allowing vehicular entry into the base, it is an excellent strategic move. It’s also entertaining as the screen that appears after the gate opens reads, “A total FU exception has occurred at your location. All system functionality will be terminated. Press any key to power cycle the system. If system does not restart; scream at top of lungs and pound on keypad.” As humorous as that is, I think screaming was the usual response when faced with the all too frequent blue screen of death. For me it was anyways, along with a controller hurling directly at the tv of course.
The easiest way to get from the top of Isolation all the way down to the Flood-infested bottom is by falling down the tube located above the shotgun. Because of its appearance and the way it closes after it ejects you, it’s often fondly referred to as the “poop chute.” If you’ve ever wanted to know more about the basics of the defecation process, I would think that’s the perfect glimpse into what it would be like to take a ride out of your own ass. Which I heard, by the way, is quite the pleasurable experience.
Terminal’s setting is a huge train station in the city of New Mombasa. Considering that vital bit of information, it only seems fitting that one of the most prominent features on the map is a light rail train that periodically speeds down the tracks. Doubling as a killball, the train kills almost everything it touches. I would say much like my sniper rifle but that would be a complete and total lie. Curses.
Playing neutral flag on Waterworks? Not so fun. Dropping an icicle-shaped mineral deposit on the top of an opponent’s unsuspecting head? Now we’re talking. Waterwork’s ceiling is home to a handful of stalactites that can be convinced into falling with a few well-placed bullets. There is no better feeling than starting a game, shooting the stalactite above the enemy’s base, and having it come crashing down, crushing anybody who has the misfortune of being directly underneath it. Actually, there is one better feeling but there’s no reason to bring your mom into this, right?
Honorable Mentions
- Turf’s Beams: The two large beams on the buildings on the street can be lowered with a simple melee. I would have included them on this list if I could cross them without falling off.
- Narrow’s Icicles: Super bad ass Spartans can jump off the icicles hanging on the tops of the doorways that lead underneath the bridge (9:36). Unfortunately I am not one of them.
- Last Resort’s Container: It’s possible to flip the container inside the base on Last Resort, adding an extra layer of protection to the objective area. It’s a cool trick when messing around, but cheap as hell in matchmaking. Thus, DENIED.
*Did I miss your favorite? Do you have a fun story that involves one of these features? Share it in a comment!
Posted by the Light Show on April 28, 2009 at 3:16 am
yeah teabagging bodies in halo 3! XD
Posted by Doc on April 28, 2009 at 7:54 pm
and the fact in halo 3 the bodies will re-act to your teabagging, just awesomeness.
Posted by JLay on April 28, 2009 at 4:00 am
How does Avalanche’s many mancannons not make this list? And while the train in Terminal is my personal #1, I recall the ‘telefrag’ on Beaver Creek was very interesting.
Posted by Das Kalk on April 28, 2009 at 4:42 am
good list, i definitely agree
Posted by NartFOpc on April 28, 2009 at 5:40 am
My top 2 match your top 2 :D
Posted by NartFOpc on April 28, 2009 at 5:40 am
Oooh but I just remembered, the swinging highway section on Headlong gets my number 3 spot.
Posted by bs angel on April 28, 2009 at 9:16 am
Aaahhh, good call. I forgot about that one!
Posted by Blake on April 29, 2009 at 6:52 am
I always loved hitting it with a banshee at full speed, 90% of the time it would splatter anyone standing on it at the time.
Posted by Yin117 on April 28, 2009 at 5:40 am
Waterworks:
Playing 1 Flag on Matchmaking and having both Tanks head for the Middle with each either destroying the Teams Hogs Racing to the Flag, or just waiting for the other to go far enough Forward to get Blown-up by the Other.
Posted by dickbutt on April 28, 2009 at 6:13 am
How is last resort/zanzibar’s wheel not on here?
Posted by Herr Zrbo on April 28, 2009 at 2:30 pm
I was sure that was going to be #1 too.
Posted by xMixMasterx on April 28, 2009 at 6:20 am
Odd association with ‘Poop Chute’ – Check.
When I went on spring break at Daytona after my senior year in HS, my friends and I had this hilarious thing where we would be walking down the street pretending to tell an enthralling story to our friends. As a group of girls would get closer the story would get more and more animated until finally the story-teller would yell “and then Kaboom!! Right up the poop-chute!!” and make an upward driving, pointing motion into the air.
Eventually, after a few drinks this turned into us just running through the streets taking turns yelling “Kaboom! Right up the poop-chute!”
Mature… I know
Posted by bs angel on April 28, 2009 at 9:17 am
LOL, … strange looks in 3, 2, 1!
Posted by XMixMasterX on April 28, 2009 at 8:02 pm
lol
That was the point!
The only thing worse than a strange look was no look at all ;-)
Posted by Leeumm on April 28, 2009 at 6:32 am
I don’t think there’s anything I disagree with up there. Waterwork’s Stalactites has always been my favorite interactive thing in a map by far. So fun to watch a huge stalactite dropping on a tank thinking he’s gonna own some noobs. =P
Posted by Morpheus on April 28, 2009 at 7:07 am
Relic’s teleporter switch.
It turns on the whole damn level, it’s awesome!!
Posted by Gi85on on April 28, 2009 at 7:24 am
Yeah! Snowbound makes the list!
Posted by Kato on April 28, 2009 at 7:28 am
What about Shield Doors? They’re the best–
Oh, wait, nobody likes shield doors, what was I thinking.
Posted by bs angel on April 28, 2009 at 9:18 am
I was considering that one (especially since I love playing the shield door game with a pocket full of stickies) but ultimately left it off.
Posted by Kato on April 28, 2009 at 11:39 am
Bungie needs to create a shotgun that shoots plasma grenades. And put it on Snowbound. And sit back and laugh and laugh and laugh.
Posted by bs angel on April 28, 2009 at 11:42 am
Why must you tease me with such an amazing concept that will never see fruition?!?!
Posted by D taktics on April 28, 2009 at 12:18 pm
Ya know whats great…In Halo 2 I had a shotgun that shot stickies. Ahhh…The good old modding days.
Posted by Socket on April 28, 2009 at 12:34 pm
I can mod that into Halo pc…
Just switch some stuff and it works, I’ve actually done it before.
Posted by bs angel on April 28, 2009 at 1:53 pm
Jealous. Very, very jealous.
Posted by COL0NEL SANDERS on April 28, 2009 at 3:05 pm
Speaking of that, I had friend who modded the needler so it shot rockets.
Good times….
:D
Posted by Gilver on April 28, 2009 at 7:37 am
Definitely the Teleporter switch on RElic. I agree with that.
Posted by Naepa34 on April 28, 2009 at 7:55 am
I’d have to say last resort’s wheel of death.
Posted by Pkmnrulz240 on April 28, 2009 at 8:56 am
The stalactites are definitely noteworthy… but I don’t think they quite deserve the top spot. I never had any problems with Terminal’s train syncing except in ridiculously laggy gameplay, but every Big Team Battle game I ever played on Waterworks had laggy stalactites, even if the game itself didn’t seem laggy. Hell, I’ve even had those things like, fly at my banshee a mile away to splatter me… even when I was the one that shot it down (again, from a significant distance away.).
IMO, Terminal should be #1. That train provides for endless hours of fun… and it’s continuous, unlike the stalactites. :P
Posted by Rayzer on April 28, 2009 at 9:33 am
What about Foundry and Sandbox, you can’t get more interactive than that
Posted by COL0NEL SANDERS on April 28, 2009 at 9:50 am
What about the disorienting maze of teleporters on Chiron TL 34 from Halo: CE?
Good times, good times.
=P
Or the big dish thing on Ascension in Halo 2?
Standing up there with a sniper does not make you invisible.
lol
Posted by Fred on April 28, 2009 at 9:59 am
I favourite for me is the those rocks by the snipers on beaver creek. I used to push them over the edge and kill unsuspecting enemies down below ; )
Posted by bs angel on April 28, 2009 at 10:03 am
Good call Fred! I totally forget about those. I have many fond memories of dropping those suckers onto people in the creek below me too!
Posted by Halo God1990 on April 28, 2009 at 10:38 am
If your including the new maps in this then i think the massive “sauron-like” towers located in sandbox should make this list. I mean, how many ways have you tried to survive out there, and trying to get to the hidden skull. I know i enjoy pinning myself inside a giant tube while the death towers launch their futile attacks on me
Posted by jhon on April 28, 2009 at 11:28 am
YEAH SANDBOX’S LAZERS ARE WAY STRONGER THEN SNOWBOUND TURETS
Posted by Tentimook on April 28, 2009 at 11:54 am
I would also include mancannons, I mean what isnt more fun than flying halfway across a map only to be headshot in mid-air?
Or maybe in The Pit’s sword room there are tables and chairs and stuff to play with, and that phone on the wall.
Posted by bs angel on April 28, 2009 at 12:48 pm
What’s more fun than getting sniped mid mancannon jump? Uuuummm, EVERYTHING?!
Posted by NartFOpc on April 28, 2009 at 6:40 pm
:whistle:
Posted by bs angel on April 28, 2009 at 7:11 pm
Bastard. ;)
Posted by mdp11 on April 28, 2009 at 12:05 pm
How could you have left out the golf club on Sandbox? Toying around with that thing is so much fun. XD
Posted by scootiee on April 28, 2009 at 12:13 pm
where is thelast resort wheel????
and I think that conveyer belts rule!!!!
FTA
Posted by Ragingterror on April 28, 2009 at 12:13 pm
Slippery splatters have never been so satisfying.
Indeed they have not… just ask the Mrs. ;)
Posted by bs angel on April 28, 2009 at 1:54 pm
Somebody got my reference. w00t!
Posted by liphttam1 on April 29, 2009 at 4:33 pm
I got it too!
Posted by I Jewbaca I on April 28, 2009 at 12:18 pm
No one has mentioned fusion coils. I love shooting them as people run by them on the pit or guardian or dropping them from the top of ivory tower.
Posted by goregasm on April 28, 2009 at 8:52 pm
wow.
Posted by Scooter Pie on April 28, 2009 at 12:32 pm
Lately banking snipe shots have become popular. Nothing like starting the match with banking a snipe off rocket hall on the Pit for a douple head shot.
Posted by Steven on April 28, 2009 at 12:38 pm
I loved pushing the garbage bin behind the defending base on Terminal using the Wraith. Blocks off the backdoor. Increases amount of cursing from opposing team. Double win.
Posted by bs angel on April 28, 2009 at 12:46 pm
:facepalm: So many things I forgot! That was definitely one of those must do strategies for objective gametypes on that map. Just like the boxes behind Waterworks!
Posted by Rez on April 28, 2009 at 1:05 pm
Speaking of closing entrances, I loved getting an Energy Sword and pushing random objects on Headlong into areas they shouldn’t be. It is so amusing to push crates, even, onto the highway, and watch enemy Warthogs slam into them. Even more amusing – xploshuning said ‘hogs.
Posted by bs angel on April 28, 2009 at 1:09 pm
Ya know now that you mention it, I used to do a whole lot more goofing off (such as moving random objects, especially up and down the lifts!) while waiting for the action back in H2 than I do now in H3, I’m not sure why. Maybe there were more crates and maneuverable objects back then?
Posted by mastirchaef on April 28, 2009 at 1:26 pm
umm, what abput sandtraps elephants? those moving bases are insanely fun. and all you can do with them on forge is priceless.
Posted by brickfungus on April 28, 2009 at 1:37 pm
1st off… netrual flag on waterworks, or as i like to call it, “braveheart”… was one of the most fun matchtypes i’ve ever played. get into any vehicle you can find, and throw it into the middle as hard as you can. as long as you can NOT think of it as a tatical match and more of the fustercluck that it is, it’s good times.
and the train was great, but often the demise of a hog driver like me.
Posted by Tantrik on April 28, 2009 at 1:47 pm
I wouldn’t consider this as an interactive object, but remember the lock-on rocket launchers? On Ascension i would always jump down and bum-rush those things, and me any me friends would do awesome tricks. Like, one would fly the Banshee into the mancannon, whilst I had already shot a rocket, and try to disorient it. Ah, good times..
Posted by xLAS3RP01NT3Rx on April 28, 2009 at 1:52 pm
Good list, I have to say…
I think I’m gonna have to try that container trick in matchmaking…
Posted by bs angel on April 28, 2009 at 1:55 pm
Nnnnnnooooooo!
Posted by ThreeSixXero on April 28, 2009 at 1:58 pm
Ive always found Eelphants to be a fun edition to Sandtrap. Especially when you steal the other teams Elephant and back them into each other making a fortress dominated by 50-cal. machine guns! (Thousands of bodies would litter the ground! Muhuhuahaha!) And I think they should make a Covenant shotgun. Not one the shoots stickys though, people would over use it (Oh, I forgot, you can only hold two stickys anyway)
Posted by Whaappened on April 28, 2009 at 2:22 pm
I count any explosion-starting device interactive…I’ve killed so many people by shooting fusion coils on Last Resort. And Chiron TL 34 was amazing with rockets.
Posted by bs angel on April 28, 2009 at 2:24 pm
I think Last Resort has the best fusion coils. I can’t even tell you how much I love watching snipers make their way around the catwalk, obliviously thinking nobody is watching, then shooting the coils right as they go past. Muhahahaha!
Posted by x Encounter x on April 28, 2009 at 6:48 pm
I hate people like you! The other day I had CAMO and I sniped my unsuspecting friend on the other team. He respawns and guessed where he got sniped from and randomly shot the coils on the catwalk. I wasn’t even by the coils when I shot him the first time, but I just happened to be walking by when I explode out of no where. I was angry faced!
Posted by alex on April 28, 2009 at 2:26 pm
what about the barriers on relic
the ones that you can stand on and shoot the front with a rocket launching you to the top of the tower
Posted by Mat on April 28, 2009 at 3:10 pm
I think that the train on Terminal was my favourite thing ever. Especially after I leave a Scorpion on the tracks…
And stealing the enemy elephant during CTF and driving it in front of ours…”Flag Taken! Flag Captured!” (x3) :)
Posted by m4573rz3r0 on April 28, 2009 at 3:35 pm
Dude. Terminal’s train? Best thing Bungie ever did for their multiplayer.
Posted by Gooser0102 on April 28, 2009 at 3:42 pm
What about fusion coil launching mongooses? Crazy how a single trip mine takes out a goose, but when you throw a frag on the fusion coils and get in your goose, you only loose your shields as you fly across the map at like 500 mph.
Posted by Justin on April 28, 2009 at 3:43 pm
I always loved the rocket guardians under the sand in Sandtrap. My friends and I would have crazy mongoose/warthog chases out there. You flip your vehicle, and you’re toast.
Posted by DethPwn on April 28, 2009 at 4:06 pm
9: Lmao!
What about High Ground?!?!
Posted by Gooser0102 on April 28, 2009 at 4:12 pm
I love trying to get up the poop chute. Just when your a few feet from the top you go back down. Then you go back up, then down, then up. It’s fun.
DON’T THAT’S WHAT SHE SAID ME!
Posted by bs angel on April 28, 2009 at 4:30 pm
That’s what he said?
Posted by xHipAlbatross on April 28, 2009 at 4:37 pm
I must say The train is my number one. I don’t think I even knew about the stalactites being able to fall, though. :D
Posted by Top Posts « WordPress.com on April 28, 2009 at 4:38 pm
[...] Top Ten Interactive Features on Halo Multiplayer Maps Playing Halo isn’t just about shooting your opponent in the face. It’s also about planting a sticky grenade [...] [...]
Posted by Gooser0102 on April 28, 2009 at 4:57 pm
Um well, uh, ya that’s what I meant to say
you cheater
Posted by bs angel on April 28, 2009 at 5:21 pm
I didn’t cheat! I totally followed your rules. ;)
Posted by Admiral Madden on April 28, 2009 at 7:09 pm
how could any of you forget the exploding testicles on Containment?!?!?!?!
(if you watched the H2 making of DVD, you’d know that certain Bungie employees were soo fascinated with the Idea of those testicles that babies started to cry.)
Posted by Halodude117 on April 28, 2009 at 7:11 pm
Hey guys what about zombies in H2 on Foundation the crates there should probably be there what do u think (Blocking the entrance to the room?)
Posted by goregasm on April 28, 2009 at 8:55 pm
whatever happened to good ol’ sword canceling on turf?
you could launch yourself up on top of the scarab and chill with a buddy!!!
Posted by HellCat on April 28, 2009 at 9:52 pm
The train is fantastic. Pit’s hologram targets are helpful to me when sniping. I always love the gates and bridges that you can mess around with. I’ve found it easy to drive on sidewinder.
My favourite is standoffs doors or blackouts lift. oh and narrows mancannons. I love them all!
And for the record even though i hate the map i always called it isolations rectum
Posted by Admiral Madden on April 28, 2009 at 10:12 pm
I always called it the sphincter…
Posted by Idlewheelman on April 28, 2009 at 10:29 pm
Interesting list, but i always liked Containment’s gates and Explosives…
Posted by bs angel on April 28, 2009 at 10:40 pm
Containment’s gates almost made the list. I think it’s one of the best gates for the sheer fact that once you heard yours opening, you knew some vehicles were going to come storming in. It was just a matter of if it was going to be a hog or a tank!
Posted by Shirdel7221 on April 28, 2009 at 11:24 pm
I wish you had played Halo Wars… They have some awesome stuff. Who doesn’t want to open a Flood Containment Unit? XD
Posted by tb2571989 on April 28, 2009 at 11:39 pm
Maybe you should do a top 25, like a community vote or something.
And the train/stalagtites were a good no 1 and 2. I found the stalagtites by mistake when messing around in a tank. Scared the hell out my brother :P.
Nice work, keep it up.
Posted by bs angel on April 28, 2009 at 11:48 pm
A vote may be fun! While I spent a a decent amount of time making the list, people reminded me of numerous things I had forgotten, some of which I probably would have included.
And thanks for the kind words. :)
Posted by Feeniix on April 29, 2009 at 4:14 am
Also, the iron pole on Turf which you could shoot down and then make your way across from wall to wall…cover half the map in seconds :)
The swinging door in turf was also hilarious…many a circumstance of popping out and shooting a rocket…ro reversing that scenario and pummeling a camper behind that door with frags until they got splattered by the door….
Posted by Assassin Mr X on April 29, 2009 at 6:51 am
Loved this list and all the comments!
I love the way bullets can bounce in halo 3, esp when u bounce shots round overshield spawn on the pit. Getting a head shot after 3 bounces is always amazing :P
Posted by Halodude117 on April 29, 2009 at 8:09 am
I got one. The gates on Containment from H2 also. Ah the good ol’ jumping hogs onto someone days. Come on that was really fun.
Posted by Alex on April 29, 2009 at 11:22 am
I wanted Containments Big-ass fusion coils and gates to be in this list ! :|
Posted by Gooser0102 on April 29, 2009 at 12:13 pm
Don’t laugh- The gate on High Ground. Whenever I am playing 1 sided objectives and I’m on offense, I immediately grab the shotgun and go to the door switch so my teammate’s ghost can get through. Then I go pwn the guy with the splazer. Seriously though, your odds of arming the bomb/capturing the flag/whatever is much higher. What would be cool is is it was possible to close the gate too. I would just camp up there and try to squish people ;)
Posted by Stinger503 on April 29, 2009 at 1:36 pm
Forgot a big one, the lift on Ivory Tower. Nothing like watching some unsuspecting sap come up to meet your shotty :)
Posted by Halodude117 on April 29, 2009 at 3:44 pm
Not sure if u guys have heard of this one but on Backwash H2 the red guilty spark. IT IS POSSIBLE to jump on top of him and fly around the map sniping.
Posted by tb2571989 on April 29, 2009 at 11:33 pm
Hmm hmm hmm…so you are a genius? :P
The gates in Containement were pretty awesome…the scream of metal as they were opened and furious warthog races to get out, up to one base and back again before they closed.
Posted by Jo Haines on April 30, 2009 at 12:05 am
Me and my friends always call it the vagina (Isolation’s chute thing).
Posted by Matty on April 30, 2009 at 3:47 am
what about the big,BIG black hole in Boarding Action
ahh, endless hours of entertainment watching spartans go “swimming”
Posted by jason on April 30, 2009 at 8:45 am
What about the gas tanks on headlong. If you shot the top off the tank they would turn into a flying deadly missile, literally. I t was fun to line them up on ctf. Guys would run into the base with the flag expecting to capture it, you shoot the tanks, and they fly all over and splat. Good fun
Posted by Halodude117 on April 30, 2009 at 9:32 pm
I remember that and also if your on the right spot and ur balanced you can surf them around headlong. That’s fun. Another one I thought of were the shields on turf and relic that lauched you really high in the air if you shot them in the ight place with a rocket. Come on someone oughta know those huh?