Desolation

Desolation is a remake of the Derelict map from Halo: Combat Evolved. The map was designed from the ground up by video game company Certain Affinity.

Background
Desolation has an entirely new setting. Rather than a facility of some kind in deep space, as Derelict was, Desolation is located on Delta Halo. The architecture appears to be of Forerunner origin and looks similar to the structures seen on Delta Halo in Campaign.

Gameplay
It features a similar weapon set to its precursor, but adjusted to account for Halo 2's different arsenal. For example, the Assault Rifle spawn is replaced by a Battle Rifle.

Desolation also has certain structural differences between itself and Derelict. The Teleporters have been replaced by Gravity Lifts that propel players from the ground to upper level. However, the tunnels on the upper level have not been replaced by ramps that lead down the the ground level, as Bungie said in a Weekly Update.

Easter Eggs

 * If you look up at one of the many lights on the upper level with your back ligned up along the wall looking at the light it appears to be in the shape of the Autobot symbol from the popular cartoon series the Transformers

Trivia

 * Desolation is a remake of Derelict. In Desolation's official description, it is described as a "derelict forerunner structure awaiting to be reactivated." This is a obvious reference to the original map, Derelict.
 * On Bungie.net, the images for Desolation are in the /derelict/ directory, another obvious reference to the former version of this level.
 * Even though this is the official remake of Derelict, many people will not call it as such because of some rather large differences. The main one being that the original was not only not constructed the same way, but was in space rather than on a planet surface.  The lack of certain elements make it so that many won't accept it as a true remake.  The same can be said about Tombstone and its differences to Hang em' High.
 * Desolation was added to Halo 2 in the Blastacular Pack.
 * Desolation is exclusive to the Xbox version of Halo 2 which is backwards compatible on Xbox 360.

Links

 * Bungie Top Story
 * Xbox.com