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| “ | High altitude. Highly classified. | ” |
Cliffhanger is a multiplayer arena map that was included in Halo Infinite's Season 03: Echoes Within.[2][4][3]
Universe and loreEdit
Cliffhanger is set in and around the Office of Naval Intelligence's Ilex Facility,[1] a black site atop an ice-covered mountain on an unknown planet.[2][3] This ONI facility was established as early as 2555 with the launch of the Zeta Halo project and it is dedicated to the study and analysis of UNSC findings brought back from Installation 07. Particular attention has been invested in attempting to reverse engineer Forerunner architectural structures, as well as construction and remediation techniques utilized within the species various facilities. However, in order to replicate such systems, it would require immense amounts of power and creative solutions on an equally immense scale.[5][1]
Another Halo Infinite map, Illusion, is set in the same facility as Cliffhanger.
OverviewEdit
LayoutEdit
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CalloutsEdit
The following are locations on the map that are so named on the player's heads-up display during gameplay:
- Cliffside Trail
- Platform
- Antenna
- Deck
- Pipes
- Hex Roof
Hex Roof from Horseshoe.
- Horseshoe
- Enclave
- Icicles
- Tanks
- Hex Basement
- Radiator
- Sanctuary
Sanctuary.
- Creek
The man cannon at Creek.
- Red Hallway
Where Red Hallway and Hex Basement connect.
Production notesEdit
- Biome diversity was a major consideration for the art team when designing Cliffhanger. The team wanted it to feel different from other maps based around human structures.[3]
- Cliffhanger was first designed with zone control modes like King of the Hill and Strongholds in mind, which led the design team to ensure that each "zone" has a unique look and feel.[3] Another goal when designing the map was the emphasis of environmental control and ownership of power positions.[2]
Easter eggsEdit
- Several cave paintings can be found on the map.
- In the tunnel between Tanks and Radiator, a cave painting can be found depicting a stick figure of John-117 defending a herd of sheep from two wolves.
- At Cliffside Trail across from the power weapon spawn pad, a cave painting can be found depicting two pigeons rendered in the style of the Nazca Lines. The left pigeon features the symbol representing the mysterious organization SEELE from the Neon Genesis Evangelion franchise, possibly intending to draw connections between SEELE and ONI. The right pigeon wears a hard hat and a safety vest, referencing the pigeon-themed art on the map Streets.
- In one of the concept arts for Cliffhanger, it shows one of the pigeons screaming "Zenkoku na tenshi no you ni", this being the first line of "Zankoku na Tenshi no These" ("A Cruel Angel's Thesis"), Neon Genesis Evangelion's theme song.
- On the ledge with the sleeping bag on Cliffside Trail, pixel art of a pigeon wearing a MJOLNIR Mark VI helmet can be found. This pixel art was originally created for the map Streets.
- At the top of the central spire, there is a weather vane in the shape of a rooster.
GalleryEdit
Concept artEdit
Early concept exploration of Cliffhanger.
Early concept exploration of Cliffhanger.
Early concept exploration of Cliffhanger.
Early concept exploration of Cliffhanger.
Early concept exploration of Cliffhanger.
Concept art of the skybox of Cliffhanger.
More concept art of the skybox.
Concept art of part of the mountain.
Concept art of two vistas on the map.
Concept art of terrain detail.
Concept art of the stream.
More concept art of the stream.
Concept art for the ONI atmospheric tower.
Concept art for the ONI atmospheric tower.
![Concept art for the ONI atmospheric tower, envisioned by concept artist Sergey Snegirev as a large lightning rod/ capacitor.[6]](https://halo.wiki.gallery/images/thumb/e/e5/HINF_Cliffhanger_ONIAtmosphericTower_Concept_3.jpg/200px-HINF_Cliffhanger_ONIAtmosphericTower_Concept_3.jpg)
Concept art for the ONI atmospheric tower, envisioned by concept artist Sergey Snegirev as a large lightning rod/ capacitor.[6]
Concept art of the central spire.
More concept art of the central spire.
More concept art of the central spire.
More concept art of the central spire.
Concept art of the central structure.
More concept art of the central structure.
Concept art of the interior of the central structure.
More concept art of the interior of the central structure.
Concept art of the pillar-like devices in the central structure.
Concept art of a hallway within the central structure.
Concept art of an exterior area adjacent to the central structure.
Concept art of the structure built into the side of the mountain.
Concept art of the path along this structure.
Concept art of the structure on the edge of the cliff.
More concept art of this structure.
Concept art of this structure from above.
Concept art of details on this structure.
More concept art of this structure and its surrounding terrain.
Concept art of a catwalk on the edge of the cliff.
Concept art of the man cannon structure and adjacent cave.
Concept art of a tunnel on another edge of the map.
More concept art of the tunnel.
Concept art of the central cliffside path.
Concept art of a climbable ledge.
Concept art of another ledge.
Concept art of another ledge.
Concept art of the previous ledge from a different angle.
Concept art of a ventilation unit.
Concept art of the separated platform.
Concept art of wall details on the separated platform.
Concept art of more wall details in this area of the map.
Concept art of the tanks near the center of the map.
Concept art of radio equipment props for the map.
Concept art of the previous radio equipment on the map.
Concept art of pipes on the map.
Concept art of cave paintings on Cliffhanger.
![Concept art for the ONI atmospheric tower, envisioned by concept artist Sergey Snegirev as a large lightning rod/ capacitor.[6]](/File:HINF_Cliffhanger_ONIAtmosphericTower_Concept_3.jpg)
ScreenshotsEdit
A view of the central structure of Cliffhanger.
A view of the roof of the central structure.
The structure that the man cannon leads to.
A bird's eye view of a large portion of the map.
Radio telescopes in the valley below the cliff.
A multiplayer match on Cliffhanger.
Spartans in combat on Cliffhanger.
A Gungoose on Cliffhanger.
A view of Cliffhanger from a distance.
Eagle Team wins a match on Cliffhanger.
Easter eggsEdit
The cave painting of John-117 defending a herd of sheep from two wolves.
The cave painting of pigeons in the style of the Nazca Lines; one features the logo of SEELE from Neon Genesis Evangelion and the other wears construction gear.
The pixel art of a pigeon wearing a MJOLNIR Mark VI helmet.
The weather vane atop the map's central spire.
SourcesEdit
- ^ a b c Halo Waypoint, Halo Infinite - Echoes Within Intel (Retrieved on Apr 17, 2023) [local archive] [external archive]
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j YouTube - HALO, Halo Infinite | Update - September 2022 (Retrieved on Nov 21, 2022)
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Halo Waypoint, Season 3: Maps & Modes Preview (Retrieved on Mar 1, 2023) [archive]
- ^ YouTube - HALO, Season 3: Echoes Within Launch Trailer | Halo Infinite (Retrieved on Feb 24, 2023)
- ^ Halo Waypoint, Canon Fodder - Echoes With-Dinh (Retrieved on Mar 24, 2023) [archive]
- ^ ArtStation, Halo Infinite S03 - Cliffhanger MP map concepts (Retrieved on May 6, 2023) [archive]