Have you heard? Halo 3, the game so big it's inspired millions of multiplayer matches and over two dozen HaloRadars thus far, is due for an expansion. On Tuesday, April 15, the game will be updated with three new maps in a downloadable pack labeled "Legendary."

For 800 Microsoft points (or $10), you'll receive the arenas Blackout, Avalanche and Ghost Town. But this weekend, we're diving way deeper than a simple series of names. To help you prepare for the fresh dose of mayhem, and to help if you decide if the pack is even worth the money, we've got everything you need. Read on for tips, strategy and expert guide videos from Bungie... plus our analysis, impressions and custom gameplay footage. Let's go! 

 

Q&A with Brian Jarrard,
Community Lead at Bungie


What makes Blackout unique from all other Halo 3 maps?

BJ: Blackout is a remake of the Halo 2 classic "Lockout." It's somewhat similar to Guardian since both feature elevated platforms and catwalks but otherwise it plays unlike anything else available in Halo 3.

What weapons and vehicles tend to dominate this map?

BJ: Vehicles can be added via Forge but they're not really part of Blackout. As far as weapons go, the same weapons that dominate in Halo 2 will work here - the sniper rifle, shotgun and sword can all get you well on your way to victory.

What game modes play best here?

BJ: Blackout works great with all the Halo gametypes. Team Slayer is perhaps most common, but smaller objective games can also be very intense.

What's your favorite strategy for Blackout?

BJ: For Team Slayer, it's generally best to control the weapons and try to hunker down at either BR tower or Sniper Tower. I prefer the latter simply because the rifle spawns there as well and it feels a bit easier to lock down and defend. Just be sure to clear out the fusion coils before you go topside.

VIDEO (below): Bungie's Expert Guide to "Blackout"




GamesRadar's Review

Will you love Blackout? The answer to that question depends heavily on your answer to a different question... Did you love Lockout in Halo 2?

If yes, then go ahead and download this sucker right away - you'll feel like you've reconnected with a long lost friend. Blackout may be a visual "re-imagining" of Lockout, dropping the isolated military base in the middle of a black arctic sea instead of on the edge of a sheer and snowy cliff, but the gameplay is practically identical. The central platform is still a nonstop, all-out brawl. The ramps connecting floors are still available only on the edges. The sniper tower is still there; so is the shotgun tunnel. In fact, if you remember where to find any weapon or flag, chances are damn good it'll still be at that exact spot.

If your answer was no, however, Blackout will probably be your least favorite of the new maps. Although the small base is apparently three times larger than that in Lockout, the multiplayer feels unnecessarily cramped. If Halo 3's engine is capable of wide open spaces like Valhalla and intricate interiors like Epitaph or Narrows, why are we running around an endless series of straight hallways and 90 degree corners? Plus, if you're a complete newcomer to Blackout and Lockout, competing against the folks who have the confusing layout memorized already will be a bitch.

Verdict: Wonderful fan service... but services longtime fans only.

VIDEO (below): "Blackout" Gameplay Footage