Despite not having online multiplayer, Halo: Combat Evolved's player-versus-player modes set the stage for the series to come, launching many LAN parties and late-night Slayer matches. Halo: CE's multiplayer maps provided prime examples of what works for this style of deathmatch and what doesn't, and the game produced both iconic locations iterated upon throughout the series and arenas better forgotten.
Including the maps added for Gearbox's PC port of Combat Evolved, there are 19 total maps for Slayer, Capture the Flag, and Oddball in the original Halo. These provide a fairly even split between tight spaces designed for deathmatches and large destinations made for Big Team Battles, filled with Scorpion tanks and sniper rifles - though only two of these bigger maps appeared in the Xbox version. Still, even with the PC additions, Halo feels more at home in tight quarters, and that mostly stayed the same during Bungie's work on the Halo franchise.
From Blood Gulch to Infinity, which maps stand the test of time? Some arenas inspired others to come in the Halo franchise, while others were left behind until Halo: The Master Chief Collection. The following are the best multiplayer maps in the original Xbox FPS, as well as the ones that stand out for all the wrong reasons.
Blood Gulch is likely the most beloved map in the franchise. It has found its way into almost every Halo sequel in one way or another, served as the main setting for the popular Red vs. Blue machinima series, and introduced countless gamers to the joys of slamming indestructible Warthogs together. It even ended up recreated in Fortnite as part of Halo's recent crossover. Blood Gulch is much more than just a box canyon in the middle of nowhere; it's the Halo map where many players feel most at home.
Boarding Action has the advantage of a unique premise: Navigating the whole map requires teleporting between two ships with open sides. Combined with the legendary Halo: CE pistol, this means plenty of opportunities to catch foes off guard with a few headshots. But the map's downfall is its inclusion of Sniper Rifles. A skilled sniper on Boarding Action can keep an entire team trapped in spawn with little chance of escape, killing them again and again. With the right custom game settings (like an all-rocket-launcher FFA), there is some potential here, but it mostly feels like one of Combat Evolved's failed experiments.
Hang 'Em High is a map that feels perfectly designed for Sniper Rifle use - along with pretty much every other weapon in Combat Evolved's arsenal. With power weapons stored high above the action on exposed catwalks, every attempt to gain an advantage creates more tension. Players can easily pick off opponents with the pistol from either base, but there's generally nowhere to hide once a shot misses. If Blood Gulch is the iconic Halo: CE map for fun with friends, Hang 'Em High is the proving ground for those looking to hone their headshot skills against the best their local LAN center can offer.
The second of two particularly experimental Halo: Combat Evolved multiplayer maps, Chiron TL-34 is a maze of teleporters that's notoriously hard to get a grip on, even after multiple sessions. Each green doorway leads to a seemingly random new room that looks highly similar to the last one. The result is a map that confounds all but the most veteran Halo fans and removes most of the skill from the proceedings. Halo: The Master Chief Collection does have a fun game type that combines the map with Flamethrowers for a chaotic good time, but it's almost unusable for standard rounds of Slayer.
In a standard 2v2 or 4v4 matchup, Halo: CE's best maps are typically symmetrical arenas with easy-to-learn power weapon locations. Derelict combines this setup with the verticality of a map like Prisoner. To achieve victory, players need to both stay on top of the map to keep the best sightlines and secure the rockets, Sniper Rifle, and Active Camo before the enemy team. The teleporters that gate access to the second level force a lot of interaction between teams, making both Slayer and objective play fun and engaging. While Derelict hasn't seen nearly as many remakes as other classic maps, it's certainly one of the best from the original collection.
While there are many Halo fans who enjoy its huge open spaces for Warthog runs and target practice, Sidewinder is a drag in standard Big Team Battle matchups. Vehicles are practically required, snipers have sightlines across half the map no matter where they camp, and the ice physics can lead to some unfortunate and completely avoidable deaths. Back when it was one of the only two vehicle maps available, players made Sidewinder work, but those playing The Master Chief Collection have many much better options than this icy horseshoe.
Chill Out is another tiny map, but it makes up for its size with a masterful design. Each of the handful of rooms is interconnected with open windows, teleporters, and vertical platforms. Enemies can come from almost anywhere, so there's always a feeling of forward momentum, creating aggressive plays that speed up Halo: CE's supposedly slow pace. Add in the great placement of weapons and unique Covenant theming, and Chill Out emerges as an underdog contender for the best map in the whole game.
The five additional maps added in the PC version of Halo: CE rounded out the original game's lineup by going big. This was the first version of the game to support online multiplayer, after all, making 16-player outings much easier. Infinity stretches Bungie's version of deathmatch to its limits, thanks to its immense size, resulting in a rather unenjoyable experience. Poor souls playing Capture The Flag on Halo: Combat Evolved's biggest map have to embark on a grueling expedition towards the opposing team's base, either via a Warthog through the usually dangerous middle section or slowly on foot via the gigantic bridges that overlook the action. The common occurrence of making it all the way to the base, only to eat a progress-erasing rocket to the face, is just a bridge (or four) too far.
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