Halo 2 Multiplayer Maps (Expansion Pack) (Xbox)

Containment:
A huge map, about the same size of Waterworks, which is best played with 16 people. On xbox live, this is only found in the Big Team Battle playlist. Taking place on a vast, icy landscape (perhaps taking a leaf out of Sidewinder's book), the map is symmetrical, has two bases, and is ideal for assault and CTF games. In order for vehicles to gain easy access to the opponent's base, you'll have to press the switch in the middle of the map, which is conveniently placed next to the exit of a teleport that you can gain access to from your own base. There is an intricate maze of trenches in the middle of the map, ideal for sneaking your way into the opponent's base. Vehicle wise, this maps is great. Banshees, warthogs, and scorpions: you name it, the map can support it. Watch out for the mines scattered around the map! If shot, or driven into (trust me, it happens a-plenty) then it will immediately explode, causing an instant, painful death for any poor soul stupid enough to get in its way. Rating: 9/10

Turf:
A great looking, New Mombassa style feel to this map. Good for team slayers, and 3 plots. Has a good, varied weapon set, and introduces the brute plasma rifle into multiplayer. There is a chaingun warthog that is useful for scouring the streets. The two brute shots play a big part in this map. Rating: 8/10

Sanctuary:
Possibly one of the best maps, graphically, because of the great water effects. Again, a symmetrical map with two bases, a room in the middle of the map holds the sword, a big fight usually happens at the beginning of the game for this. This map is good for slayers, and multi-flag CTF. The bases have a good texture to them, with sandy looking brickwork in all its splendour. Rating: 8/10

Elongation: Based on the Halo map 'Longest', this map is a blast - literally! It is a small map, with two conveyor belts running lengthways, for speedy getaways. These conveyor belts are littered with boxes, ideal for cover. Again, this map has little or no power weapons, so grab a battle rifle, chuck some of the plentiful grenades, and pop a few caps in their head and watch the bodycount pile up! This map is ideal for slayers and ctf classics. Great for a 2v2 match. Rating: 9/10

Gemini: A map that should only really be played for team slayer. Has a nice, covenant, purple theme, and a big prophet statue with an overshield at the bottom. I really like the colours and graphics of this map. There isn't much to say about this one, really. Rating: 8/10

Relic: A map ideal for 1 flag ctf. It's a big like Zanzibar, really. There is a big structure which the defending team have to hold, housing the flag. The main attraction of this map is the 2-way teleporter, which is situated at the attacker's starting point, and in the defender's base. This must be activated by hitting a switch in the defending team's base. This map can be a bit dominated by snipers, but I still think it's amazing. Rating: 9/10

Backwash:
A map ideal for slayer, or 'Rumble Pit.' It has great fog effects, meaning that you can only see about 10 feet in front of you. The sword is the weapon you really want on this map, and the sentinel beam that makes a welcome debut can also be handy for picking off people with no shield. This map is really tense, and has great little features, like a 'guilty spark' (although that's not exactly what it is) wandering the map, singing to itself. This map is one of my favourites. Rating: 9/10

Terminal:
The best map of all. It takes place in a train station. Ideal for 16 players, it's great for 1 flag ctf, as it is A-symmetrical. There is a massive railway going through the map, in which a bullet train speeds past every 10 seconds. Don't get in its way - you will die. There is a sword and an overshield on the tracks, adding a risk element to the gameplay. Loads of cool weapons, and the defending team get a wraith. This is what we've been waiting for. Rating: 10/10

So, in conclusion, get the map pack. You won't regret it.

Thank you for your time.

So all in all, if your planning on buying the expansion pack, it is only worth buying if you regularly play system links with 8-16 players, or if money is buying a hole in your pocket and you are too lazy to log onto Xbox live and download the content for free on August 30th.

So what about the offline players? Well is this really worth it for you? Do you REALLY get together a decent group of people often enough to take advantage of this? Especially considering the maps on this little compilation that are more suited to medium team and big team battles? Imagine 2 people slugging it out on the already existing huge maps, when matchmaking throws up the occasion 4 vs 4 on some of the larger maps feels, it feels a touch sparse with 8 players on the go. Perhaps the lucky bods who can LAN up a few Xboxes to get 4+ players on the go at one time will find this useful ... but I'm assuming here that anybody who is prepared to go to those lengths will more than likely be on Live already.

Resist the temptation, wait til the 28th and save your cash ... this so called 'premium content' is going to be the new way for developers to drain cash from the Live community, a captive audience who don't know any better. You've already forked out enough money for your subscription and game, why bother spending money on add-ons that the PC community would usually get for free?

On a side note, the extra maps are excellent to play on. The initial bonus pack I got as a freebie, and now Turf and Sanctuary have been added into Matchmaking to co-incide with the recent 2nd freebie date. After a couple of shakey 'getting to know you' runs, they are wonderful additions to the Halo world. Sanctuary is vicious when played in Neutral Flag mode and Turf is excellent for Slayer matches with all its little alleys and hidey-holes. Very much looking forward to shelling out £0 for the remaining bunch of maps next month, especially with £25 a month net fees and the almighty £40 of Live fees making a bit of a dent in the old cash already.