Cut Halo 2 levels: Difference between revisions

===covenantship===

This level was to take place immediately following [[Cairo Station]]. The level would have seen the player, as John-117, board a Covenant {{Class|CAS|assault carrier}} with a team of [[ODST]]s, serving as the main introduction for [[Miranda Keyes]]. After opening the airlock of the [[Cairo Station (station)|Cairo Station]]'s docking bay, the player would be blasted toward the Covenant ship and board it instead of destroying it with the [[antimatter charge|bomb]] as seen in the final game. This level would have involved infiltrating the Covenant ship, taking on and killing its crew and eventually stealing a [[Zurdo-pattern Wraith|Wraith]] and end up destroying the ship by bombarding its power core with the Wraith's [[plasma mortar|mortar]].

===forerunnertank===

Not to be confused with a [[Cut Halo: Combat Evolved vehicles|cut ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' vehicle]] of the same name, the level named forerunnertank was only revealed on the ''Halo 2'' [[cutscene]] commentary contained in the [[Halo 3 Legendary Edition|''Halo 3'' Legendary Edition]]'s ''Halo 2'' cinematics commentary.<ref name="Commentary">''[[Halo 3]] [[Halo 3 Legendary Edition|Legendary Edition]]'': Essentials, Disc Two - Halo 2 cinematics commentary</ref> The purpose of the level was to tie in plot between the end of the level [[Regret (Halo 2 level)|Regret]] and the cutscene after the end of the level [[Quarantine Zone]]. The level was said to be placed after the cutscene in Quarantine Zone where the [[Thel 'Vadam|Arbiter]] is pushed down the index chamber by [[Tartarus]] and before the cutscene where the Arbiter meets the Master Chief and talks to the [[Gravemind]]. This level was supposed to be the Gravemind's introduction; in the level, the Gravemind's tentacles were going to slam down all around the player, and move behind doors like racing freight trains.

</gallery>

Overboard is a map ill-recalled by Max Hoberman, who remembers little of its existence - and suggested it may have morphed into another map. In April of 2023, he posted several design layouts by [[Chris Carney]] on his Twitter, further adding that the reason for the map's cutting may have been due to his preference for mirrored map layouts over rotational symmetry.{{Ref/Twitter|Id=OB1|MaxHoberman|1579585211658272775|Max Hoberman|Quote=Everyone is always asking about cut mp maps from Halo 2. Well here's one I have no recollection of: Overboard. Maybe it morphed into another? Carney would remember, they're his drawings. I recall being adamant that mirrored > rotational symmetry, so that may have been a factor.|D=11|M=04|Y=2023}} This is due to his belief that mirrored symmetry is more intuitive for allowing a player to navigate a map - something that is an issue in rotational symmetry style maps.{{Ref/Twitter|MaxHoberman|1579591050884440064|Max Hoberman|Quote=It's easier to intuitively know where you are on a map that uses mirrored symmetry – something to your left, vs to your right on the opposite side.|D=11|M=04|Y=2023}}

<gallery>

File:H2 OverboardMap DesignDoc 1.jpg|A top-down layout for Overboard.

</gallery>

The [[Blastacular Pack]] was originally conceived to release with three multiplayer maps; two remakes and one original map. The two remakes - [[Desolation]] and [[Tombstone]] - were able to make the cut but the original map had to be cut, as the map pack's original release date would have clashed with the timing of the ''[[Halo 3 Beta]]''. As such, the map was cut for "the wrong reasons" to allow the map pack to release earlier in [[2007 (real world)|2007]]. Unlike other cut maps, this map was described by Max Hoberman as coming along fairly well and having potential.{{Ref/Site|Id=Blastacular|D=01|M=6|Y=2020|URL=https://youtu.be/9BURsPjNKck?t=2280|Site=YouTube|Page=Ex-Bungie Dev Shares Halo 2 Stories - Podcast Unlocked|Detail=38:00}}

This map was to be an asymmetric level similar to [[Zanzibar]], and feature many dynamic elements. A focal dynamic element on the map was intended to be a [[light bridge]] which could be turned on or off by the players. As of [[2014]], Hoberman has yet to resurrect this level, though still wants to.{{Ref/Reuse|Blastacular}}

==''Halo 2'' for Windows Vista map editor examples==

"Earth City", known by the filename <code>human_sample</code>, serves as a small test environment similar to Example set in [[Old Mombasa]]. The map consists of a short street surrounded by buildings, with a [[Gauss Warthog]] present in the middle. The extremely small nature of the map makes it best suited for 1v1 or 2v2 play, and features weapons such as [[Battle Rifle]]s.{{Ref/Reuse|H2VMaps}}

<gallery>

File:H2V HumanSample Screenshot 1.jpg|A screenshot of human_sample.

"Beach Battle" serves as the [[Forerunner]] counterpart to Earth City, under the filename <code>forerunner_sample</code>. The map is set on a small coastal outcropping presumably on Delta Halo, and notably features the [[M7S SMG|Suppressed SMG]] - similarly to Example.{{Ref/Reuse|H2VMaps}}

<gallery>

File:H2V ForerunnerSample Screenshot 1.jpg|A screenshot of forerunner_sample.

===covenant_sample===

==Development and testing levels==