Heretic

For other uses, see Heretic (disambiguation).

Heretic is a Halo 3 map that was shipped on September 22, 2009 with Halo 3: ODST, as a part of the Mythic Map Pack. It is a remake of Midship, a Halo 2 multiplayer level.

Setting
Heretic, like Midship, is set inside the Covenant Pious Inquisitor shortly after the Fall of High Charity, part of the Fleet of Retribution. Outside the map, several s and CCS-class battlecruisers part of the fleet can be seen flying towards a gas giant and another planet. A distant star illuminates the planets and a massive orange nebula surrounds the sun.

Design
Heretic is a remake of the Halo 2 multiplayer map Midship, and as such was built off the original Halo 2 map geometry to maintain accuracy with the original map. The map has been visually updated for the specifications of the Xbox 360, with some minor alterations such as locked doors on the level's exterior that better ground the map in the universe.

Skull
The crest of the hidden skull on this level appears to be the Mark of Shame.

It is located on one of the blue ledges beside the sword platform. If you enter Monitor Mode while on the sword platform, and fly up and look to the right, the skull should be disturbingly staring at you.

Strategies

 * It is wise to avoid rushing for the sword, largely because you are in full view of both bases and the ramps. Instead, attempt to pick off the early rushers before grabbing the weapon.
 * Plasma grenades are abundant on this map, use them frequently.
 * It is optional to stick to the outer parts of the map, as the center is barely covered and susceptible to grenade throws,
 * Players start with plasma grenades, which can counter the sword carrier if you stick them as they lunge at you.
 * Once again, there are curved and slanted walls around the map. Use them to angle in grenades.

Achievements
On Heretic, there are two achievements available to get, the first being the hidden Skull which will award you 25 Gamerscore, and the second being Blades of Fury, the requirements of which being to get a Sword Spree on Heretic (ranked or social), and will also award you 25 gamerscore.

Production notes

 * Heretic was first officially unveiled on Bungie Day 2009, after teases in the run-up beforehand.
 * Heretic's map geometry is built off the original Midship geometry from Halo 2. This was done to help maintain consistency with the original Halo 2 level. The floating platform in the original map was made static in Heretic due to a bug present with a similar platform on Epitaph that would cause dead players to look as though they were floating in water like on Valhalla.
 * Heretic was primarily developed by a team consisting of Dan Miller, environment artist Jason Keith and art director Justin Hayward.

Miscellaneous

 * The assault carriers seen outside the view ports have a Marathon symbol on each side.
 * In Bungie.net's Halo 3: ODST Pre-Pax Podcast, Bungie level developers joked that an Easter egg may occur on Heretic in which, after 40 to 44 hours of playing on the map, the Pious Inquisitor will arrive at Assembly.
 * There are Marathon symbols reflecting off of the curved surfaces inside the ship.