Sandbox
From Halopedia, the Halo wiki
| Sandbox | |
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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: |
Unknown world |
| Gameplay overview | |
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Terrain: |
Slightly eroded Forerunner structures, desert sand |
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Recommended number of players: |
4-12 |
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Recommended gametype(s): |
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| “ | This endless wasteland still holds many secrets. Some of them are held more deeply than others. | ” |
Sandbox is a multiplayer map for Halo 3 included in the Mythic Map Pack, the Halo 3 multiplayer components of the Halo 3: Mythic disc, and Halo: The Master Chief Collection.
Universe and lore[edit]
Sandbox is set in the midst of a barren desert surrounded by many rolling sand dunes, similar to Sandtrap. Like Sandtrap, several Forerunner "obelisk" towers can be seen in the distance. Bungie hinted that, similar to Sandtrap, the Covenant may have also conducted archaeological excavations here. The map is based at sunset, with a ringed gas giant in the sky, and a setting sun on the horizon.
Overview[edit]
Layout[edit]
Sandbox was designed by Bungie to be the "ultimate forging map", and as such primarily works best for use in Forge mode. To give map makers a variety of environments to play in, Sandbox is divided into three distinct levels. The main level is that of the desert, a mostly-flat area surrounded by sand similar to Sandtrap. Underneath the desert is a large underground area called The Crypt, a large flat space that allows players to do interior Forging. Above the desert area is a large level referred to as the Sky Bubble - in forge, an invisible floor allows objects to be placed hovering in the air, allowing players to build maps that players can potentially fall off. For more information on these forge-specific areas, see the Forge section below.
Despite its intended nature as a Forge canvas, Sandbox does ship on the disc with a default layout, suitable for play in larger scale games. This multiplayer variant is symmetrical in nature, taking the form of two opposing stone temples in the midst of the desert. These two bases are multi-tiered structures, with the rest of the map situated on the desert floor and offering little in the way of verticality. To the right of each base is a small bunker hosting a Battle Rifle spawn, and in front of that a small stone block hosting a Rocket Launcher. To the base's left are a Brute Shot and two Anskum-pattern plasma grenades. Each team spawns with a Warthog and a Chopper in their base, and a Missile Pod spawns in the front of the base. The middle of the map has a bunker below a small pillar, inside which lies a Gravity Lift pickup, allowing players to reach the Overshield found up at the top.[2]
Sandbox loading screen map in Halo: The Master Chief Collection.
Sandbox heatmap.
The map, like Sandtrap, is surrounded by a series of obelisks, that fire lasers at players who attempt to exit the map's bounds. Each laser is an instant kill on a regular player - though heavy vehicles can take a hit or two before being destroyed. The beams are similar to those emitted by the towers on Sandtrap, though in that case, the beams trigger the Brute landmines scattered around the map rather than damage the player directly. The lasers can be blocked by standing in a bubble shield, or using Forge items to block line-of-sight.[3] Players driving the Elephant in Halo: The Master Chief Collection will be immune to the obelisks.
Strategies[edit]
- The Chopper is an extremely dominant vehicle on Sandbox thanks to the map's flat and open nature. Enemy Choppers should be a priority target for your team.[4]
- The Rocket Launcher is one of the most powerful weapons on Sandbox, as it is one of the few tools capable of combating the Warthog and Chopper. Using the Mongoose to pick up the Rockets can allow you to use them for advantage early in the game.[4]
- For infantry players using Battle Rifles and Carbines, the outskirts of the map can be an extremely powerful zone to pick off players engaged in firefights in the map's centre.[4]
- To control the overshield, have players on your team head to the top of your base; from here, they can fire down onto players on the enemy team and provide cover for another player to head for the overshield. With the overshield, players can then try and push for the enemy rocket launcher.[4]
- To make effective use of the Missile Pod, bring it to the higher areas of the map; this allows the missiles to do a better job of tracking their targets than the desert floor allows.[4]
- In a 2-player game, use the sniper rifle to take down the warthog driver or if you have the missile turret, you can destroy the warthog with ease.
Forge[edit]
- "Sandbox combines large-scale vehicular combat with a limitless amount of Forge customization. Boasting a tiered, open-world layout, “Halo 3” players will be able to build their own unique game experiences using the Forge map editor. Sandbox is a map unlike any Bungie has ever created."
- — Bungie.net[5]
The center of the main level of Sandbox is a flat, empty floor, similar to Foundry, but visually resembling Sandtrap. The map includes "just about every kind of building block you could ever want"; for example, tunnels, crouch-only doorways and quarter-pyramids are usable; see here for a full list. The item limits have been loosened; for example, unlike Foundry's 20 wall limit, it is possible to place 40 walls in Sandbox. In the standard Halo 3 game, Sandbox also supports every vehicle in Halo 3 multiplayer except the Elephant.
A new Forge item included in Sandbox is an orb of light that colors its surroundings in either red or blue; it can be used to differentiate the two bases, similar to most maps made by Bungie. Another is the Kill Ball, a large orange sphere that kills anyone who comes into contact with it. A golf club (called the 7 wood) that acts like a gravity hammer, a golf ball, and a cup to hit it into are also available. The cup is like a magnet to the golf ball; if the ball touches the grassy part of it, the ball will automatically roll into it. It takes two swings to get it back out. Like the soccer ball, it is purely for aesthetic purposes and in no way will score you a point. In Forge mode,