Map Strategy: Terminal
In the Terminal map, it's important to keep the train schedule in mind. The two tracks run in alternate directions, and each one cycles roughly every thirty seconds—in other words, every fifteen seconds you have to worry about a train barreling down the track from one direction or the other.
Call it "train bait."
In addition to King of the Hill (KotH) matches, Terminal is excellent for medium- to large-sized Capture the Flag (CTF) games, with a clear, deadly "no man's land" between bases. I'll run through a few places where you can frag (or be fragged) on this map.
No blood on the tracks—but there is an overshield.
The Tracks
Naturally, most of the good stuff is up here on the tracks, in the middle of the map, so you're a prime target. The juicy overshield power-up sits not far from the ever-popular energy sword. As you retrieve these goodies, an oncoming train does not necessarily mean instant death—act fast and hop over to the other monorail track when you see it coming, then hop back in another few seconds. This is especially important in games like Crazy King, where the hill may materialize right on the tracks.
Crazy King: hill on the tracks.
The Parking Garage
There are no valets in this three-story building sprawled across one side of the map. The top story, which is heaven for a sniper, is very, very difficult to reach without spawning there. The second floor, a more frequent spawn point, has access from a ramp that leads down to the bottom floor, as well as an exit on either end. Strangely enough, the parking garage contains no vehicles.
The view from the parking garage.
The Blast Zone
On the other side of the tracks, the Covenant bombardment of New Mombasa has ravaged the area. A rocky rubble pile leads up to a higher level—complete with mounted turret—and a long, narrow road that winds all the way back the Wraith Yard. Another part of the rubble pile represents the simplest way to get onto the tracks—head right instead of left up the rubble path to get there. This area also connects to …
Cool car. Not drivable.
The Vehicle Garage
Need a ghost or warthog to even the odds? Look no further than the ground floor of a small, open-walled structure facing the Parking Garage. A cool futuristic car perches in here on the rack, but you can't drive it. Believe me, I tried!
Need a 'hog?
The Wraith Yard
The only substantial portion of the map where the thundering train isn't an ever-present threat is a small courtyard, open to the sky, containing a Covenant wraith tank, a ghost, and a mounted turret. It sits on the far side of the map from the Vehicle Garage, close to one of the CTF bases. It's also surrounded by tunnels and the few patches of open, unpaved ground on the map.
Free tank—if you can reach it.
The Underpass
This simple concrete bridge runs under the train in the area of the map opposite the Wraith Yard. It's a good way to move the flag quickly from base to base, and the sniper rifle is sitting on the side opposite the Parking Garage.
Looking to snipe? Here you go …
Ground Level
Here's where you realize just how big this map really is—much bigger than it appears at first glance. At ground level, use the small tunnel system to keep out of sight from snipers and move the flag (or set an ambush) from concrete cover. Just watch out for that wraith, which can make entering and exiting a hair-raising experience!
A turret with a view of the car park.
Terminal is one of five new maps included in the appropriately titled Maptacular Map Pack for Halo® 2. Hardened warriors can purchase these playgrounds of destruction in one of two ways. For a paltry $11.99, Xbox Live®subscribers download the pack to their Xbox® hard drives. Unlucky offline gamers (non-subscribers) who can't take their consoles online can get the new content on DVD in a deluxe edition called the Halo 2 Multiplayer Map Pack, which includes five Maptacular Maps, both Killtacular Maps, two Bonus Maps, the Halo 2 1.1 update, and some extra goodies—all for $19.99.
By Danny Chihdo
