Gameplay

Powerhouse

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Powerhouse
HaloReach - Powerhouse.jpg
Map overview

Game:

Halo: Reach

Map file name (?):

30_settlement[1]

Lore information

Location:

Ütközet hydroelectric power plant, Reach

Gameplay overview

Terrain:

Human structures

 
Hydroelectric plants like this one provide clean, sustainable energy for the inhabitants of Reach.

Powerhouse is an asymmetrical multiplayer map appearing in Halo: Reach.[2] It is set in a hydroelectric facility on planet Reach.[3]

Universe and lore

Main article: Ütközet hydroelectric power plant

Set in Ütközet, one of Reach's more desolate regions,[4] the hydroelectric power plant was built by settlers in 2507, allowing a nearby river to run through the plant. It provides alternative power supply to every rural settlement in the region.[5] With the Covenant's invasion, it was repurposed to support the military war efforts.[4] The Covenant notably built a stealth pylon at the plant to cloak its invasion force.[5]

Overview

Layout

Powerhouse is an asymmetrical map with a central circular arena encircled by Concrete Path and Dirt Path. There are three adjacent areas. To the east, Cliffside is an open rocky terrain with minimal cover. However, it grants access through the Dormitory to the neighbouring indoor areas to the south: either through Yard to the Powerhouse 1st Floor, or along Ridge to Powerhouse 2nd Floor. The main Powerhouse building has two floors, accessible through four doorways. The other side of the building leads to the third area. The 1st Floor doorway connects to Concrete Path, which runs along the edge of the Spillway to Cliffside, while the 2nd Floor doorway leads to Dirt Path, which runs along the outer edge of the map. Both paths lead northwest to a two-floor building atop the central Spillway. The Rock Garden is situated behind the building, with doorways to both floors. The lower floor, Lockers, is a small room that serves as a path between Rock Garden and the center of the map, but also has a staircase to the upper floor. The upper floor, Green Residence, connects Dirt Path to Concrete Path, which leads to the Shed, which is situated between Cliffside and the middle of the map. The Spillway runs through the map from the Powerhouse building, with an additional entrance from Yard, to the center of the map, then off the edge of the map between Rock Garden and Cliffside. Each of the three main areas have a direct path to the center of the map: Water Tank, Yard, and Lockers.

Callouts

  • Cliffside
  • Dormitory
  • Dormitory Roof
  • Water Tank
  • Yard
  • Powerhouse 1st Floor
  • Powerhouse 2nd Floor
  • Ridge
  • Dirt Path
  • Concrete Vents
  • Shed Roof
  • Shed
  • Concrete Path
  • Spillway
  • Rock Garden
  • Green Roof
  • Green Residence
  • Lockers
  • Ravine
  • Vaya Con Dios!

Production notes

  • The map was known as "Settlement" at some point in development.[4] It retains the name in the game files.[1]
  • Like almost all Halo: Reach multiplayer maps (excluding Forge World), the map has been repurposed and used in the campaign level Nightfall. However, unlike other maps, Powerhouse uses daytime lighting rather than reusing the nighttime setting of the campaign level.[6]
  • Powerhouse was featured in the Halo: Reach Multiplayer Beta, appearing in the Grab Bag and Arena playlists. Originally, there were toilets and showerheads in the Beta; however they were removed in the final game due to players getting stuck in the showerhead's geometry.[7]
  • Based on text strings files, a remake of Powerhouse was planned for inclusion in Halo Online before the game's cancellation.

Trivia

  • There are two rocks west of the waterfall, accessible by jumping off from Rock Garden, where players cannot be killed by barriers; while standing here, the callout next to the motion sensor reads, "Vaya con Dios!" which means "Go with God!"
  • The map makes an appearance in the TV show Psych in the episode, "Not Even Close, Encounters." It can be seen at the end of the episode where Gus and Dennis are playing a split-screen multiplayer match in Dennis' office. This can also be seen as a goof as Gus tells Dennis to detonate the Pillar of Autumn, mistakenly referring to the last level of Halo: Combat Evolved.

Gallery

Concept art

Development images

Screenshots

Sources

  1. ^ a b Halo: Reach Editing Kit, game file HREK\tags\levels\multi\30_settlement\30_settlement.scenario
  2. ^ Bungie.net, Halo: Reach - Maps - Powerhouse (Retrieved on Jan 15, 2021) [archive]
  3. ^ Bungie.net, Halo: Reach Rolls Into Fog City (Retrieved on Oct 13, 2014) [archive]
  4. ^ a b c Bungie.net, Bungie Weekly Update 04.09.10 (Retrieved on Oct 12, 2014) [archive]
  5. ^ a b Halo: Reach, campaign level Nightfall
  6. ^ GameSpot, Halo: Reach First Look (Retrieved on Oct 13, 2024) [archive]
  7. ^ Twitter, Ken Taya (@enfu): "Hey, I had to remove them because in the end, after playtesting, players would get caught up on the geometry of the showerheads." (Retrieved on Aug 6, 2012) [archive]