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Game Debate to the Death! Best and Worst Halo: Combat Evolved multiplayer level? photo

Last week's Counter-Strike map debate was one of the few times I've ever seen readers so split on a topic. Not just one or two, but nearly every map voted for received as many negative votes as it did positive votes. It just goes to show how many different gamer preferences there are out there, and that we can't always agree. Sometimes we just all have to STFUAJPG. That's what these debates are all about -- not just to give credit where it's due, but also to help us all realize there's other opinions out there, and that things aren't always black and white. Shades of gray is definitely the case for last week's debate, here are the top results from each category:
  • Favorite CS Maps:
  • 1st: Office (22 votes) -- Winner!
  • 2nd: Dust 2 (21 votes)
  • 3rd: Dust (17 votes)
  • 4th: (TIE) Iceworld, Aztec, Nuke, Italy (6 votes)
  • Least Favorite CS Maps:
  • 1st: Dust (23 votes) -- Loser! But almost winner!
  • 2nd: Militia (13 votes)
  • 3rd: Aztec (12 votes)

For this week we move on to a FPS that's on the other side of the fence of many gamers' hearts out there. Take note that this week's debate is only for the first Halo game, with the rest of the series on schedule for the following weeks. Of all the Halo levels, which one is your favorite, and why? Give it some serious thought, cast your vote and reasons, get some Xbox friends to share their opinions as well, and check back next week for the winner.

Bonus Question: Which of the three Halo games was your favorite? Why?


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98 comments | showing # 1 to 50

DaedHead8's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/18/2008 22:51
DaedHead8
My favorite map is Wizard by far. I just love the close quarters fighting. Nobody can escape, it makes it more fun that way.

I'm going to go the un-popular route and pick Halo 2 as my favorite of the haloz. Between Midship, lockout and Warlock it had my favorite mix of maps.
Aerox's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/18/2008 22:52
Aerox
I'm voting for Marathon 2.
Hamza CTZ Aziz's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/18/2008 22:57
Hamza CTZ Aziz
I loved Side Winder or whatever the hell it was. The snow map with the tanks. It was so big. Although, I've heard that the Halo CE exclusive maps are beyond amazing. Never tried them though.
Burkhart's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/18/2008 22:57
Burkhart
Two Words: Blood Gulch!
Fronz's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/18/2008 23:02
Fronz
My favorite level was Hang 'Em High, and honestly it was one of the only maps I liked. I loved having vehicles to use, but they still didn't make most of the huge ass levels fun to explore and fight in. Whereas most were crazy about Blood Gulch, I thought it was just okay, because it was the only big terrain level I could stand. Hang Em High was definitely the one I had the most fun on.

Bonus Question:

As for my favorite of the three Halos, I'm gonna go with Halo 2. For me FPS games are the same as the Super Smash Bros games. How much I love the levels is one of the top deciding factors on how much I love the games, and I loved more levels in Halo 2 than the first one. So I vote for Halo 2. I Still haven't gotten much time with Halo 3 yet though, so maybe that will change in the future.
OmniscientJudge's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/18/2008 23:03
OmniscientJudge
Blood Gulch for all of the CTF fun.
mistic's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/18/2008 23:06
mistic
well my favourite map was 'Rat Race'

and my favourite game of the series is the first one based on the SP/co-op part but the third one in the MP-department...
Hamza CTZ Aziz's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/18/2008 23:06
Hamza CTZ Aziz
Oh my bad, didn't see the bonus question.

I gotta go with Halo 1. It really was one of the best in terms of gameplay and balance and all of that. The story was great too and I actually loved back tracking in a couple of the levels because I loved the level designs of them (the snow levels).

You know, now that I write this, Halo is like the Matrix. Everyone was blown away by the original. Then the second one came and everyone was like, yeah, that was cool too. And then here's Halo 3 and it's just like, eh. I'm starting to even get bored with the game finally.
killatia's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/18/2008 23:07
killatia
@burkhart
hell yes i should reinstall the pc version just for that map.
HarassmentPanda's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/18/2008 23:10
HarassmentPanda
Chiron TL-34 is by far the worst level. There is no good or fun way to play that map. Boarding Action is a close second.

There are a lot of great Halo: CE maps though. I'm going to say Hang 'em High is my favorite just because of all the epic CTF games I used to play on LANs with that map. However, I love Longest, Damnation, Wizard, Chill Out, Prisoner... Halo:CE had some damn good maps.
AfroJoel's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/18/2008 23:10
AfroJoel
Blood Gultch

Halo 3
njsykora's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/18/2008 23:10
njsykora
Hang 'em High gets my vote for worst as I could never get a decent game out of that map.

Best vote goes to Battle Creek, downright brilliant little map.
Resonance's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/18/2008 23:10
Resonance
I think it's gona have to be blood gulch, I would have gone with sidewinder, but its no good if you dont have enough people.

I'm going to have to agree completely with Hamza on this one, the first halo blew me away at the time but then the others were so-so.
king3vbo's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/18/2008 23:20
king3vbo
I'm voting for Marathon 2.
mikeyed's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/18/2008 23:23
mikeyed
I'll play the favourite, Blood Gulch.

Halo was always at the top of my list, cause the pistol was the best gun of the game. Oh, the shotgun wasn't shitty either. Also the story is way more memorable and so is the ending.

ACTUALLY, to just come out and say it, basically Halo 1 was the only really great Halo game of the three. The other two are nowhere even close.

side note: I have fallen in love with the halo3 Battle Rifle, which feels tweaked to perfection from the previous entry.
Neonie's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/18/2008 23:26
Neonie
I forget the name of it. But it have like two sides to it and a giant endless hole in the middle. And you go between the two sides with teleporters. Ya that map.
Sharpless's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/18/2008 23:27
Sharpless
Sidewinder was the best. I don't know what the worst one would be.

Halo 3 is the best of the three, IMO. Each game managed to improve on different things, and Halo 3 is a sort of culmination of a lot of those good things.
Bluefusion's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/18/2008 23:37
Bluefusion
Blood Gulch. Sidewinder was the ice level with the tanks right? That one was pretty sweet too. But, blood gulch.

In regard to multiplayer, I had the most memorable experiences with Halo 1 just because it was new. Some of my best memories of high school was going to a rich friend's house and getting some serious LAN-on with 13 others. We pulled many all-nighters.. Ahem..I deviate..

Anyway, Halo 2 IMO had the best multiplayer because of the ability to destroy vehicles. Plus, they nerfed the pistol, which was my favorite gun, but seriously, way too powerful. Halo 3 MP is the worst.
Crumpet Lips's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/18/2008 23:43
Crumpet Lips
Sidewinder
Chillout
Hang Em High

Enough said.
vexed alex's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/18/2008 23:43
vexed alex
My favorite map has to be Sidewinder. My least favorite has to be Chiron.

Bonus Question

In terms of single player, I choose the original Halo. In terms of multiplayer I choose Halo 3. People who say the original Halo was balanced are right, but only because the pistol was the only weapon that was useful. While that is technically balanced, it's annoying and boring now.

I guess if I was given the choice to pick one and only one, I'd say 3. I can't play original Halo multiplayer. The nostalgia wears off pretty fast.
maverick535's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/18/2008 23:44
maverick535
Prisoner, preferabbly with rockets and and no radars

The original Halo is definitely the best out of the three. Just the work that went into a big game with all the tv's and xboxes, and basically a whole dorm floor playing, it's so nostalgic for me.
Cheeburga's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/18/2008 23:46
Cheeburga
Blood Gulch. Nothings better than rumble warthogs.

Also, Halo 2 is my favorite, when it first came out it was just so damn epic, and honestly, Halo 3 really let me down. I spent more time playing Halo 2 multiplayer than I did Halo 3's single campaign on every difficulty, and multiplayer combined.
---AMARU---'s Avatar - Comment posted on 03/18/2008 23:46
---AMARU---
Gulch of Blood or Creek of Beaver
worst- hang em' high
Ellipson's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/18/2008 23:47
Ellipson
Best H1 level: Chill out by far. Damnnation was also excellent. Hang em High and Blood Gulch are iconic, but not as good as the first two.

Worst: Boarding Action or Chiron. Did anyone like these maps?

As far as the Halo games go, it goes 1 > 3 > 2 for me. 2 was a travesty, rushed, horrible balance, you name it. 3 managed to save some competitive balance through Forge; if I couldn't play the MLG variants made in H3's Forge, the rankings would be readjusted to 1 > 2 > 3. Forge is a huge development for console FPS and I hope more big name developers copypaste it.

Halo 1 is still amazing and is still the best console FPS of all time, in my opinion. Of course, there are a dozens of FPS games on PC that equal or surpass it, but that's a different story...

On a side note: one reason I think the Halo series has stayed great over three games is the guys behind it. The Bungie guys are gamers. I had a chance to play in the Humpday challenge with them last week, and if I didn't know I was playing them, it would have been just another competitive group of guys on live. The Halo games are by gamers, for gamers, IMO, and that's how it has great staying power.
HarassmentPanda's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/19/2008 00:05
HarassmentPanda
I missed the bonus question, but:

Halo 3 > Halo 1 > Halo 2

If Halo 1 had online multiplayer and some of the added features in Halo 3, it would be #1 though.
Mongrel's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/19/2008 00:05
Mongrel
Sidewinder is the best halo map ever, 4 v 4 is just beautiful on this baby. as far as the worst goes i dont remember any other.
DJDuffy 's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/19/2008 00:09
DJDuffy
"Longest" is my fav actually...no love for Longest?
Jehutus's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/19/2008 00:11
Jehutus
My favorite was Gehryepedosomethingorother, and my least favorite was sidewinder.

Favorite Halo was Halo 3. The game is so beautiful it brings me to tears, and the story bungie was trying to tell reached its zenith of delivery in Halo 3.
Hawkeye's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/19/2008 00:14
Hawkeye
Blood Gulch and Boarding Action were my favorite levels with Hang Em' High coming in at third. Chiron would have to be the worst level. Halo 2 is my favorite because of how many people were playing custom games whereas halo 3 where everyone is on social or ranked.
brainpower4's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/19/2008 00:19
brainpower4
OMG perfect timing. Last night me and some friends where playing halo 1 on Xbox classics. HOLY SH*T I have not had that much fun with an FPS in the last 5 years, and I play A LOT of FPS.

I would say Blood Gulch was the best, but it was far too hard to gt enough people for. So Battle Creek takes it for me, with hang um high as a pretty close second.

Best game is halo 1 no contest. Halo 3 is an above average game, but halo 2 can just suck my balls. Lock Out was the only map worth playing.

Ellison had it right as far as I am concerned, though even without forge,3 is way better than 2. Honestly could they have made the needler a worse weapon in 2? Terrible damage that shots rounds that can be side stepped.

Oh wait this isn't supposed to be a rant...so yeah Halo 1 FTW end of topic.
ajaxender's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/19/2008 00:21
ajaxender
My favourite map is Hang em' High. Always had good times on that. I enjoy Boarding Action too, and Longest is always fun, with some infinite ammo and explosive weapons >:D
Least favourite would be... Prisoner (had to load up Halo to remember which few i didnt like :P).

Halo 3 has the best multiplayer. Heck, based on the maps and game-type options alone, its technically the best multiplayer game i know of, although of course the gameplay isnt everyones cup of tea(i enjoy it, but its not my favourite).

For single player... Halo 1 edges out 3. I still enjoy playing it. I enjoy playing it so much that i actually like the Library... And the Maw is possibly the most epic ending level ever. So much that they repeated it in 3... not as good though.
TheBrain's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/19/2008 00:24
TheBrain
Blood Gulch was the best.

The worst was the level with the bisected spaceship. I forget what it was called.
Paustinj's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/19/2008 00:26
Paustinj
Favorite: Blood Gulch

Least Favorite: Chiron TL 34

Favorite Halo: Halo 3
marko72's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/19/2008 00:32
marko72
Blood to the motherfuckin’ Gulch. 8-player CTF on that map — with two Xboxes in two different rooms in my freshman dorm — was absolutely insane. And I don’t even like Halo.

As for the bonus question, I haven’t really played enough of the series to fairly rank them, but here goes:

Halo 3 > Halo > Halo 2
ZanyIce's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/19/2008 00:34
ZanyIce
Blood Gulch was my fave for no particular reason and one of those ones I never played would be my least fave....Chiron and stuff. I tried playing Halo 1 MP recently and I can't get into it. It hasn't aged well. Not even the nostalgia can stop me from taking it out and putting in Halo 3.
bluegonzod's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/19/2008 00:39
bluegonzod
*blood gulch* has to be my favorite with hang'em high a close second. it is great when you have 8 vs 8 with hogs and nades everywhere.

halo 1 ftw!!!

bungie got it right the first time. the pistol was imbalanced but it still required skill so it everything is K. no lock rocket and indestructible hog made for amazing flying kills. the reason people dont like halo 1 is because it takes actual skill to play, it is not noobified like halo 2. halo 1 is the best for me, i still play it online (against a bunch of noobs tho)
Nintendragon's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/19/2008 00:44
Nintendragon
Battle Creek
SenorCalavera's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/19/2008 00:47
SenorCalavera
Sidewinder for its legendary capture the flag games, but Prisoner rockets as a close second. The other haloz just didn't have another huge ass capture the flag or rocket maps done right, which is disappointing that they didn't remake 'em in the others.
rbrooks's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/19/2008 00:58
rbrooks
Battle Creek...damn i can't decide between battle creek and Hang'em High.
rbrooks's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/19/2008 01:12
rbrooks
bonus question- halo 3...halo 1 very close second. pistol is fun but it's just a little boring because thats all anyone uses.
brobots's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/19/2008 01:13
brobots
Blood Gulch
Hang Em High
Sidewinder
Shalashaska's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/19/2008 01:15
Shalashaska
Hang Em High followed by Blood Gulch. As for best Halo game? Halo 3 for multiplayer and Halo 1 for singleplayer.
rbrooks's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/19/2008 01:17
rbrooks
bonus question- halo 3...halo 1 very close second. pistol is fun but it's just a little boring because thats all anyone uses.
joemoemino's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/19/2008 01:21
joemoemino
Since I really only played a little bit of Halo 1s maps anline through the PC and having the choice very limited, Id say that Chiron is by far the most ridiculous and nonsenseable. Whoever thought a map made entirely out of teleporters is wack.

The best I would not know but I think Hang em High was pretty decent.

Also the best Halo is prolly Halo 2. While the ending sucked, and the online glitches were pretty lame, I think I had the most fun in it especially since I played it alot in high school. I thnk Halo 3s multiplayer in the long run is better, but its campaign is a big let down, whereas Halo 2s campaign was rather fun even though you do end up fighting a big albino monkey with a hammer.
hammburglar's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/19/2008 01:33
hammburglar
im a huge fan of prisoner. with hang em high getting second and boarding action taking bronze. even though it seems pretty unpopular on here as far as ive read.

bonus question: as far as single player goes halo CE walks around with 2 and 3 as shoes. but i dont think ive every played a game as much as i played halo multiplayer. anyway id just have to give the win to halo CE for memories...oooooh the memories.
Phoenix0783's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/19/2008 01:54
Phoenix0783
The first halo came out when I was a freshman in college, that was a long time ago. I remember playing in on my buddy's tv during winter break when the xbox first came out. The three of us played it for hours on end. Then three other people got one and they were all networked. My grades that term blew. There were really only a couple of maps that just weren't really that good; boarding action and chiron. My favs are damnation, prisoner (the rocket launcher was key,) hang 'em high, and chill out.

Favorite: Blood Gulch (big open spaces & vehicles ftw)
Not so much: Rat Race. I don't remember the level itself very well, I just remember that I didn't like it.
Phoenix0783's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/19/2008 01:56
Phoenix0783
Oh yeah, the first is the best by far. It was revolutionary. The next never brought as much to the table.
pizzaface's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/19/2008 02:04
pizzaface
Probably Blood Gulch, since I have so many good memories from that map.

Bonus Qweschun:
In terms of Campaign: Halo 1. The beautiful scenery and gigantic battle areas were just full of pure win. Halo 2 comes at a close second, then halo 3 is last :[. I was dissapointed by H3's campaign...
Flakor's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/19/2008 02:08
Flakor
I have a lot of fond memories of Blood Gulch.

Bonus: The First Halo (while amazing) was linear and Halo 2 was something else...my favorite is Halo 3 by far, to me everything just worked.
Kinjiro's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/19/2008 02:20
Kinjiro
Fave: Hang' Em High

Close to faves: Sidewinder, Blood Gulch, Chill Out

Honorable mentions: Damnation, Wizard (Sticky Wars!), Prisoner (rockets!), Rat Race (rockets!)

Shitty: Boarding Action

Super Shitty: Chiron


Favorite halo?

1>3>2

One feels slow, yet deliberate, and the power weapons are important, but you can hold your own without them. Plus fall damage (or not, if you knew the trick), health packs, and super grenade throwing arms made it less realistic, but more fun.

Three is close, but I don't like the sword in general, so the EXTRA melee battles with the sword are not fun. Equipment is nice, but many of the multiplayer maps are somewhat lacking.

Two had huge hitboxes, and crazy magnetism and autoaim, plus nerfed nades (eventually only in throw distance) make it feel less Halo-y and more twitchy. Plus button glitches.
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