Halo 3 Rats Nest Map - Halo 3 Rats Nest Tips

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Halo 3 Map : Rats Nest

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Bungie Rats Nest Quick Tips:

• Remember you can neatly bisect the entire track by running through the central corridor system.
• By the same token, you can make an entire loop of the track faster than a Spartan can run through the length of the center.
  Use the crates, concrete barriers and more to hide from splash damage in Territories.
• The Turret above the central canal – backing onto the open Cliffside – can be a game changing trap for pursuing defenders.
  If using a Hog for offensive duties – keep your foot on the pedal – a slow Hog in a narrow corridor is a double kill waiting to happen.
• Control the close-quarters weapons – Shotgun, Hammer or suffer the consequences.
• The hanging pipes above the vehicle corridors are a nice safe place to hide from Zombies if you can figure out how to get there.
• A lone Sniper can do a lot of damage down a long gloomy corridor. But pick the right corridor for the right game type.
  

Key Rats Nest Map Locations - Anyway the power weapons in Rats Nest are the Sniper Rifle, located behind the Ghost leaning against 2 safes. The Ghost, located in the middle of the map, above the Active Camo. The Shotgun, located on either side of the map on the outer door leading to the middle.(Beside Bubble Shield) The Gravity Hammer is located in the middle of the map with 2 Plasma Grenades on either side. And finally, drum roll....... the ROCKET LAUNCHER! Located on the outer portion of the map about 4 Warthogs away from the Grav Hammer. (contributed by: Halo 3 Expert Austin, added January 8, 2008)

Other tips - What you need to know about Rats Nest:

Rat's Nest is a map that feels so small. Team based objective games like multiflag CTF, Assault, and Team Deathmatch go very quick. This map, especially because of its size, requires excellent team coordination.

Despite its size, Rat's Nest still turns out to be a level where vehicles can play an extremely important role. Each base has two Warthogs <i>and</i> two Mongooses outside its rear entrance. Tempting as it may be to have four of your team hop in and operate both Warthogs, you'll probably find that you will just get in the way of one another. Instead, pick your two most qualified teammates and let them get to the vehicular slaughter. If nothing else, they can distract the enemy Warthog who is trying to do the same thing.

If you are playing a CTF or Assault map, the Mongeese are incredibly useful. Use these vehicles to quickly work your way around the sides of the map, avoiding the center path that will house most of the confrontations.

Last but certainly not least is the Ghost. There is only one of these vehicles--located towards the center of the map--but it can provide an effective distraction. It will almost definitely lose in a head to head with an enemy Warthog team, but its small size will allow it to work the center area with relative ease.

If you want to play defensively, we highly recommend grabbing the Needler that will be right next to the flag or bomb site. Use the Needler and find a position, preferably one that gives you a high ground advantage, and wait for your prey to close in. Just make sure to keep yourself stocked with grenades so that you can blast the enemy vehicles who try to rush in through the rear entrance.

Other key weapons are mostly located along the center pathway that divides the map. Located in the true center is the Gravity Hammer, with the Sniper Rifle and Active Camo placed just off the center, on the portion that is raised. The rocket launcher is located on the outer most part of the circular track, making it dangerous to get to if the enemy is running a vehicle. Players who work their way through the center corridor will find dual Maulers, dual Spikers, a Brute Shot, and a shotgun. A great offensive weapon is the mounted turret that is located just across from the Ghost and Sniper Rifle; this weapon is all too often overlooked, and is a great weapon as long as the enemy team isn't wielding the sniper rifle on the other side of the tunnel.

(source: MyCheats.com, added March 30, 2008)

Side by side comparison shots of Rat's Nest's two bases. Not-so-subtle coloring distinguishes the two bookends to the battlezone.


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The hallway between Territory three and four, a massive collection of treats at your disposal.


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Perspective is somewhat distorting this corner around the racetrack.


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Halo 3 Rats Nest Gameplay Video!
GamesRadar.com for more Rats Nest
(added December 17, 2007)

Halo 3 Rats Nest Map Flythrough Video!
(added December 11, 2007)

Heroic Map Pack (Standoff, Rats Nest, Foundry)

Now Free to Download - March 25, 2008!

Release Date: December 11, 2007
Price: $10 or 800 Microsoft Points

How to Get the Map Pack

To download the map pack, sign into Xbox LIVE on your Xbox 360 and then go to the Marketplace blade. Select "Game Store," then select "All Games." Scroll down to "Halo 3" (you can hold down the right trigger to scroll a page at a time) and select it. Finally, select the "Heroic Map Pack," then select "Confirm Download."

Halo 3 Rats Nest is one of the three new maps in the Heroic map pack!

Rats Nest map is described as a vast, labyrinthine of passages. According to Bungie, it is an indoor vehicle paradise, inspired by the campaign. It is a great map for big team battles.

Here is an interview from Bungie.net about Halo 3 Rats Nest Map

Q: Rats Nest, that sounds like Crow’s Nest, the second level from the Halo 3 campaign, surely this isn’ t a coincidence – but it’s also not simply reused space, what’s the deal?

Christopher Barrett: We really wanted to create an indoor multiplayer level, something we hadn’t done a lot of in Halo 3 and the setting of Crow’s Nest was a perfect fit.

Steve Cotton: Rats Nest is a great example of a simple idea that turned out to be a great map. And it was only a simple idea because Barry came up with it.

CB: We felt that the single-player mission wasn’t long enough so we wanted to make you play through it again over and over in multiplayer.

Q: It’s a pretty big map with a lot of smaller, tighter combat spaces, how do art and design create those spaces and make sure they play nicely?

CB: A lot of testing and iteration. We also wanted to give a nice balance to larger open spaces where big battles can occur with vehicles and also allow some close quarters combat. The combination really worked great.

The first part of this question makes me feel weird. I’m not sure why.

Q: What kind of items will populate Rats Nest’s Forge palette?

CB: A hamster wheel and wood shavings.

SC: Who hasn't always wanted to drive a Scorpion tank inside.

Q: What’s been the biggest change in Rats Nest from the prototype/concept phase to the “ship it” phase?

CB: Originally the entire map was indoor and underground. We had the idea of opening up the wall to let in the sunlight, give an epic view and create a memorable space. Doing that really added a lot to the visual feel of the level.

We almost forgot to put any rats in the level.

SC: That better not be why we were losing performance!

Q: What’s the ideal player count for Rats Nest?

CB: 6-16 Players, it will really add to the Big Team Battle matchmaking hoppers online.

Q: Which gametypes have worked the best? What would you guys like to see in Matchmaking?

SC: The typical symmetrical games work well, Multi-flag, Territories, Neutral bomb, Team Slayer.

CB: Infection on Rats Nest is great, the dark moody atmosphere and all the hiding places make it idea for zombie hunting. There is a perfect race track around the outside!