Last Resort (Level)

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Last Resort is a Halo 3 multiplayer map. It is a remake of Halo 2's multiplayer map Zanzibar.

Discovery

This level briefly appeared in the Halo 3 ViDoc: Is Quisnam Protero Damno! at about 0:56-0:57. Soon after, the map's name and existence were confirmed in a leaked video of the internal Halo 3 Beta. Although many were quick to call modding, it was shown that this was, in fact, a Beta build of Halo 3, by appearance of the Bubble Shield. By careful observation of the video, it was confirmed that the level was named "Last Resort", and that it was indeed a remake of classic Zanzibar.

It was officially confirmed on July 3rd, 2007 by Bungie Studios on a top story.

Layout

Fortress

Last Resort is extremely similar to Zanzibar. At one end of the map is a large urban fortress, a larger more expanded version of the one featured in Zanzibar, offering more defensible positions and points of egress. The "prison bars" gate that once blocked the vulnerable right flank of the fortress is now replaced by three hazardous massive cement speed bumps, preventing vehicles from intruding and giving defenders more cover. There is, however, an internal switch to lower the bumps. The "flag room" of the fortress has also been maximized by a factor of three or four in terms of surface area, making it more spacious. A turbo engine also sits in the center of the flag room.

The two passages that allowed attackers at the "front door" of the fortress to enter have been widened and elongated. A secondary point of entrance for vehicles has been added to the far wall (perpendicular to the main gate entrance). The gate here is also controlled by the internal switch located in the "flag room" of the fortress.

Camp Froman

Camp Froman, familiar to many Zanzibar players as the sniper spawn, is still mid-map, but is now more accessible. There is an open room underneath Camp Froman that is accessible from four different fronts (a drop-down from above, a door under each set of stairs, and a primary door in-between the stairs). Furthermore, a second catwalk stems from the second story of the fortress to Camp Froman, which allows base defenders to reach the Sniper just as quickly as attackers. In Zanzibar, players could exit the fortress on the right hand side by jumping down from the windows, or walking down a dirt ramp. This alternative catwalk replaces the dirt ramp and edges along the cement wall that walls off the map, makes a perpendicular turn midway and connects to Camp Froman. There is also a sign on the wall that says Camp Froman.

Pillars

Next to Camp Froman, there are three large pillars which provide much better coverage than the rocks in Zanzibar. This is an adequate fighting spot, considering the only possible places of attack are the Fortress and the Wheel. The Pillars protect players from a majority of fire from the Wheel though. The Sea Wall is not a threat, due to the protection Camp Froman offers.

File:Last Resort Beach Overlook.jpg

A vista from the beach to the towering fortress in the distance.

Beach

At the other end of the map is the beach, next to a cinematic seashore, where the Warthog, Ghost, and two Mongooses spawn. There a large chunk of land between the fortress and the beach. This chunk of land is home to the Sea Wall. Now more easily defended, the Sea Wall runs along the length of the beach as it did in Halo 2, and moves up towards the middle of the map (opposite from Camp Froman) with a path to the fortress or wind wheel.

Wind Wheel

File:Halo 3 Last Resort.jpg

An underside look at the wind wheel.

The iconic Wind Wheel still is placed squarely between the Sea Wall and the fortress. The Energy Sword that was present in the small wheel on the center of the windmill, has now been replaced with Active Camouflage. A Bubble Shield now resides where the Active Camouflage was in Zanzibar, the tower to the wind wheel via the Sea Wall.

The tower on the right hand side of the Sea Wall still allows players onto the wind wheel, although now an unknown red-colored mechanism replaces the yellow-colored fusion mechanism to stabilize (drop the bridge) the pathway from the tower to the wheel. The broken pathway from the tower to the fortress has not changed much aesthetically, but has been lengthened. There are now stairs and gratings around the base of the wind wheel giving players more mobility and freedom to move around the map.

Strategy

In team games, The Pillars are the best place to gain and control. The team should acquire the Sniper Rifle, Battle Rifle, and Brute Shot from Camp Froman. Have another player get the Battle Rifle from the Fortress. This way, the team is protected from close to long range. Then, have the Brute Shot protect the sniper, and have the Battle Rifle watch the catwalk near the Wheel. Have another Battle Rifle watch the Fortress and have the sniper take our long-range threats before they get too close to attack. In the case of a close range threat or vehicle, have your Brute Shot clean up with support fire from the Battle Rifle. Be sure to use grenades and equipment when required.

Comparison

Bungie, however, originally said they would not do remakes of old maps, even at the beginning of the multiplayer revealing, they stated High Ground was the "new Zanzibar". Many took this as a loss. But after the confirmation of this remake, more are certain to be on the way.

A fan's comparison of Zanzibar and Last Resort. Note the differences.

http://www.maj.com/gallery/Sparkie92/Halo/comparison.png

Trivia

• It is possible that the name, Last Resort, is a joking reference to Zanzibar's idyllic, island setting.
• Last Resort was in the Halo 3 Alpha, but was not placed in the Halo 3 Multiplayer Beta.
• Last Resort is the only direct remake of a map present in the shipping version of Halo 3.
• Last resort meticulously resembles Zanzibar, but looks 'newer'. Since next to none of the scenery looks damaged and the main building looks newly constructed, it is quite possible that this level is a version of Zanzibar before the Human-Covenant War or maybe earlier. It is unlikely to be after the war due to the old stone buildings being mostly repaired.
• There are seagulls flying out over the sea, it is possible to snipe them down, in which they will float on the water/sink below the water, before they disappear after a few minutes.
• While on the beach, and looking to the right up in the sky, you'll see a cloud that looks like Master Chief (flexing). http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=14056626
• Another possibility as to the time period of Last Resort is hinted at in the description text. It is possible that this is the representation of Camp Froman/Zanzibar during the training of the Spartan super-soldiers, before the Human-Covenant War, as Halo 3 also features The Pit, another UNSC training facility.

References

Last Resort was in the Halo 3 Internal Beta but not the Public Beta