New Halo 3 Multiplayer maps finally released (includes trailers)

They’ve been a long time coming, but aspiring Master Chiefs will be thrilled to learn that Bungie has finally released a trio of Halo 3 multiplayer maps to the Xbox Live Marketplace. Bungie finally releases the Halo 3 'Heroic Map Pack' to Xbox Live Marketplace. Credit: Bungie.

Bungie finally releases the Halo 3 'Heroic Map Pack' to Xbox Live Marketplace. Credit: Bungie. Packaged as the ‘Halo 3 Heroic Map Pack,’ the three new environments are all-but guaranteed to add yet more appeal and interest to the massively popular world of Halo 3 multiplayer, which has already drawn the attention of five million online players since the ‘finish the fight’ sequel launched at the end of September.Described by Bungie as "the first in a series of downloadable content," the Heroic Map Pack will damage player pockets to the tune of 800 Microsoft Points and is sure to deliver plenty of new FPS thrills and spills by way of return.The three new maps are: ‘Standoff,’ which arrives as a symmetrical valley offering up entrenched bases and fields of boulders, making it perfect for mid-sized objective and Slayer game types; and Rat’s Nest, which delivers unique labyrinthine passages where players can enjoy huge vehicle-rich team battles while remaining indoors at all times. And then there’s Foundry, which Bungie claims is "the ultimate Forge map," where players are able to edit every in-world object littered throughout the level’s "voluminous industrial warehouse." That means they can place stairways, walls, bridges and tunnels in order to create an original play space and craft almost any kind of map design they choose. Further to that, Halo 3’s innovative Forge feature also allows player to apply its flexibility to all three of the new maps, which will help the Heroic Map Pack remain fresh and exciting for considerably longer than standard multiplayer map expansions.

For those not willing to splash the cash for Bungie’s latest offering, the trio of new environments will be made available for free to all Xbox Live users in the spring of 2008 – directly before Bungie releases Halo 3’s next batch of multiplayer maps.In related news, Halo 3 yesterday received its first ‘Game of the Year’ honour, with print publication TIME Magazine placing the FPS sci-fi epic at the pinnacle of its top-ten games of 2007 listing.And, should you require more convinving, then here are the three maps in action, courtesy of GameTrailers.com.