Mythic Map Pack unlike any other

If you are like me and enjoy the competitive side of Halo, then the majority of Halo 3 maps released so far have left you somewhat disappointed.  It's not that the maps released aren’t good maps, they just aren’t very good competitive maps.  You  know, MLG friendly.  Most aren't very symmetrical, most are too big or too open, or most just don’t have the long shooting lanes, the choke points, the multiple entrances and exits we've come to know and love from MLG Halo MP maps.  In my opinion, it’s taken a little shine off what has arguably been the best supported Multiplayer game on any console to date.  Well, I'm here to say the Mythic Map Pack is going to bring that shine back on.  I was lucky enough to get the game a night early as were a couple of my local friends so I got home, helped with the kid and spent some time with the wifey, then got on around 9ish. 

I have to say, these new maps, (Orbital being the exception) are exactly what the Competitive community needed.  Assembly as has been written in numerous preview write ups is a great comp. map and has the visual stylings of Midship with the playability of a Sanctuary.  The angles, the shooting lanes, the jump-ups all provide multiple options if you are chasing someone or being chased for that matter.  I can easily see it being adopted into the MLG line of maps for games like TS, Ball and especially KOTH.  It's the first map since Pit where I can say, I wouldn’t change a thing about it.  It’s a Bungie created map with the competitive community in mind and that’s pretty evident when you play it.  The best part about Assembly?  Its not even the best map in the Mythic Map pack.

That title imo belongs to Sandbox.  Its hard to describe Sandbox since as most of you are aware, its 3 maps in 1.  There is the open level on the main floor simply called Sandbox which in itself is a great BR map.  Now it’s a little too open for MLG fans I'm sure but that can easily be fixed with some slight modifications and removal of the vehicles.  Last night, playing on the default Bungie Matchmaking setup, it was a blast to play....as long as you spawned with a BR or near a BR.  As is the case with most Bungie maps of the past for H3, if you didn’t have a BR, it was a little too open to control but with slight changes, its going to be another strong comp. map. 

Next, there is Skybox which is the map in the sky atop Sandbox and the thing you notice before anything else is how large it is.  It’s HUGE.  Not the map itself but the area you are given in the sky to create the map.  If you found a way around the spending limit (which I'm positive people will), you could create Blood Gultch if you wanted to.  Yeah, that’s how big it is.  This map is going to be the canvas in which we see some incredibly creative NEW maps.  I'm all for playing some old favorites like Lockout or Hang em High but just from the layout , the size and the options available, people are going to create some really amazing maps for competitive game play. 

Lastly, we come to the Crypt, the underground map in Sandbox which was created for GriftBall but really, its PERFECT for MLG.  Its larger than most people realize, easily as big as Midship if not bigger, and a perfect square without any dividers to throw a wrench into the customization.  I played some MM games on it and even the Bungie versions of the map are incredibly fun to play.  Tundra which is a Bungie created map in the Crypt is a great map and I could easily see it being a TS or KOTH map.  I downloaded a custom created version of Sanctuary on the Crypt and it played so damn well, I was gushing throughout the game.  More than any of the other maps, its this one, the Crypt that is going to give the MLG community so many options for arena style maps.  I played for almost 4 hours last night and went to bed almost 2 hours later than  I normally do and cant wait to stay up again tonight.  Bungie, thank you for finally giving the MLG community what we've wanted for quite some time.  Now get working on Halo 4.

P.S.  I wasn't sure whether paying $90 for Halo Wars just to get the maps a few weeks early was worth it.  I was never going to play Halo Wars and in fact was able to resell the game on the same day for $60 so it only cost me $30 but still, to buy a new game just to get 3 Halo maps that will eventually be released to the rest of the community soon enough seemed a little TOO hardcore.  That being said, I am so glad that I did because I haven't been this excited about Halo maps since I heard they were remaking Hang em High for Halo 2.  I'm not saying its worth the $90 for those out there thinking about it but I don't regret it for a second.