| Avalanche | |
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| Map overview | |
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Game: |
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Map file name (?): |
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| Lore information | |
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Location: |
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| Gameplay overview | |
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Terrain: |
Glacial shelf, Forerunner Installation |
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Semi-symmetrical |
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Recommended number of players: |
6-16 |
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| “ | Freezing winds scour blasted terrain, and ancient battle scars are a grim reminder that this is a precious prize. | ” |
Avalanche is a large, symmetrical multiplayer map featured in Halo 3.[2] It is featured as one of the three maps in the Legendary Map Pack that was made available on April 15, 2008.
Universe and lore
Avalanche is set on a large Forerunner power station set on the front of a huge glacial shelf on Installation 04's replacement. The structure pulls its power out of the densely compacted glacial ice that constantly builds up behind the station before it cascades into the ocean below it.[2]
Overview
Layout
This map is a re-imagination, and, some would say, the successor of the map Sidewinder, from Halo: Combat Evolved. As the original Sidewinder featured elements that created slower gameplay, Avalanche was Bungie's chance to start over again. Certain obvious design elements have been removed due to their slowing effect on multiplayer, such as the tunnel in between the two bases, while at the same time adding new ones, such as the many man cannons. The man cannons located in Avalanche are much more powerful than those located in other Halo maps, being able to launch players halfway across this huge map.
Avalanche is an almost symmetrical map, with the only differences being the placement of rocks, and a small bridge leading to a small shelf in the canyon, minus the bridge the shelf is almost identical on the other side. There is a mountain that separates the two bases, but there is a path though the mountain creating a T-shape in the U, about mid way though the map there is a tunnel in the upper part of the map that connects the two sides, from that cavern there is a man cannon leading to a lower level that has an exit at the crest of the U. There are man cannons placed about the map in such a way that a foot soldier can move throughout the map at a fast pace, though vehicles are still the main choice of transport.
The map itself is centered around two bases at each end of a U-shaped snowy valley. One side is noticeably lighter than the other with trees and bare rocky walls, and the other is much darker with more shadows, no trees, and icy walls. To add an interesting dynamic in one-sided objective games, there's an asymmetry in vehicles; the assaulting team has exclusive snow-camo UNSC vehicles at their disposal, while the defending team has ordinary Covenant vehicles to begin with. The map is set to prefer objective gametypes, but works well with BTB slayer and snipers as well.
Avalanche Map.
Weapon, vehicle and equipment spawn points.
Variants
Avalanche Heavy
Soon after the release of the Legendary Map Pack, a variant was introduced to Big Team Battle called Avalanche Heavy. This variant of Avalanche mirrors Sidewinder in many ways by adding scorpions at both bases and adding teleporters in the middle (the U-Bend specifically), along with additional vehicles and weapons, such as a Spartan Laser within each base. Avalanche Heavy can be downloaded here.
Remakes
Halo Online
Avalanche was remade as Diamondback in Halo Online.
Forge
New Forge objects have been created just for this map, which can dramatically alter gameplay. These objects include energy blockers to restrict access to entrances and exits, large watchtower bases, and Forerunner ramps among other common objects which can be used to make an entirely new base, if you are creative enough to do so. Map effects have been added to the Forge palette, called Forge Filters. These items are found in the other two Legendary Map Pack maps, Cold Storage and the Mythic Map Pack.
For the release of Halo 3 on PC, Avalanche was one of maps given the "Thorage" overhauls, bringing several new props and vehicles - including the Anti-Air Wraith and Elephant to the map.[3]
Production notes
During production, Avalanche's code-name was Cottonball. In creating Avalanche, designer Mike Buelterman was given the original geometry of Sidewinder from Halo: Combat Evolved and "worked to beat it into submission in the architecting stage." Most of the design changes were intended to make the map less tedious for traversal as infantry, and increase the amount of vehicles on the map for a true BTB experience.
The map was first teased in December 2007, described as a large map with "familiar" terrain in the upcoming map pack.[4] In March 2008, the updated snow camouflages for the UNSC's vehicles were revealed,[5] and the map was officially unveiled a week later on March 13, 2008.[2]
G4-TV held a promotional contest named the Sarkatholon on this map for the winner to receive the Recon armor permutation.[citation needed]
Trivia
- The Hornets in this map are identical to the Transport Hornets on Sandbox.
- The Avalanche vacation can be done on this level.
Gallery
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Browse more images in this article's gallery page. |
Red base.
Inside a base.
Blue base.
A Sangheili on Avalanche.
The snow-camo Mongoose.
The M864 Arctic Warthog featured on the map.
The snow-camouflaged Scorpion on the map.
The snow-camouflaged Hornet.
Blue Team using the snow-camo Hornet.
Red Team battling Blue Team's Hornet.
Banshee and Hornet dueling.
Sources
- ^ Halo 3 Editing Kit, game file
H3EK\tags\levels\dlc\sidewinder\sidewinder.scenario - ^ a b c d Bungie.net: Legendary Map: Avalanche
- ^ Halo Waypoint, MCC Development Update - May 2020 (Retrieved on Jun 1, 2020) [archive]
- ^ Bungie.net: Bungie Weekly Update 12/21/07
- ^ Bungie.net: Bungie Weekly Update: 3/14/08
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