Why Halo Reach Defiant Maps Suck:

Unlike many a 12- year old who might make such a statement, I'll try and back up my claims with actual reason. The maps have moments where they seem like fun might ensue, but at the end of a typical 12 minute round, you find yourself wondering why the hell you just tossed away ten bucks for. Don't get me wrong, the maps in defiant are very pretty to look at, and are some of the most interesting aesthetically pleasing maps around, but the beauty is completely overshadowed by a lack of actual fun game play mechanics, totally ignoring the fundamentals that make an FPS fun to play. Let me break it down section by section and try and layout some ways to correct each.

Map Size Matters:

Simply put, these maps are just too damn big. I know that within certain game types (such as a flag match), that a larger map is welcome, and I totally get that, but you can't offer up 3 maps at $10 a set and then let it slide with a one-size-fits-all view of map making. That just isn't cool! Not everyone likes firefight, or big team battles, flags etc., so by trying to shoehorn in maps for every occasion, it just leaves the average Halo gamer with a piss poor selection of maps that aren't exactly suited for any one game type. An example would be Condemned, an overall nice looking map, but when the largest number of player is typically 6v6, it's not as much fun as it should be. I personally ran around that map three times before I found someone to shoot, very annoying! Now, if say, there was a 12v12, that would be much better.

Pick A Game Type, And Stick With It:

Lets be honest, Highlands is a great looking map and if broken down into smaller bites could really be something to take note of, but as it stands now, it really does very little of anything right. The map is suffering from an identity crisis; does it want to be a run-n-gun Slayer type, with some good vehicle shootouts, or, does it want to be a campers-whore-paradise for Snipers? As it stands now, when one or two sniper shots and your vehicle is toast; the Snipers have to much the advantage. I mean, considering the run-n-gunners and the vehicle specialists are battling it out (like real men), down on the ground, the Snipers are up on the rooftops (out of firing range and hiding with their lil blankies and their bah-bahs playing slap ass with each other like the cowards that they are), armed with Spartan lasers and one-hit-wonders, it just takes the fun out of the game. Either make it a full on sniper game, or make the Snipers less powerful. By playing both sides like this, neither side gets the representation they deserve, and it's a damn shame!

Once Bought, Never Played:

I may feel more generous about giving up $10 for maps, if said maps would actually carry over to the next game. Sure, I get that each game is different and that Halo 3 maps might not translate over well considering that Reach now has jetpacks, but let's be honest, who wouldn't want to pay old (mostly newly punched) Halo 3 maps with a jetpacks? There is zero reason that games like Halo and Call of Duty couldn't carry the map packs over. Sure, there might need to be a few tweaks to make that happen. But come on, we are paying $10-$15, the developers can make that happen. I'm sick of buying maps and not being able to play them. Because of the idiocy that is the Halo 3 search, there maps I bought and have never gotten to play online.