Powerhouse
Every multiplayer beta needs a classic all-purpose map, and this is it. Powerhouse is a ton of fun, and it'll probably end up being a fan favorite. It's based on a hydroelectric plant, and there's something for everyone here: lofty heights, tight corridors, sneaky spillways, deadly inclines and more. Jet Packers will have a blast on Powerhouse because the sight lines are tricky, and it's easy to get the jump on people fighting below you, clueless. Like all the Reach beta maps, it's a real looker, and the water effects are a nice touch. Speaking of water, make sure you poke around at the bottom of the dam. There's a rocket launcher down there that's perfect for swatting people out of the sky.
Boneyard
This is where starships go to die. Loosely modeled on an aircraft boneyard, this map is massive, complicated and altogether impressive. It's the only map in the Reach beta where you can play Invasion, a new objective-based mode that pits Elites against Spartans. There is a ton of elevation in Boneyard, so snipers will have a field day. Oh, and if you like vehicles, you'll definitely want to hang out on this map. Invasion is a multi-tiered tug-of-war between Elites and Spartans. Every time the aliens manage to push past the humans and hit a particular objective, new loadouts and vehicles open up. So what starts out as a simple infantry assault can turn into all-out war by the end of the round. Two words of caution: fall damage.
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Swordbase
Like all the multiplayer areas in Halo: Reach, Swordbase was developed as a multiplayer map first and handed over to the single-player team to incorporate into the campaign. That's a big change for Halo, and Bungie hopes it will make the competitive portion of the game feel more closely tied to the story elements. Also, it looks cool that way. You'll see Swordbase – an abandoned Office of Naval Intelligence building – in the campaign, but Bungie hasn't said exactly when or where it will show up. Regardless, it's a fun one. Super vertical and really tight, it's packed full of gravity lifts and death opportunities. In the rounds I played during the preview event, there was an assassination every 30 seconds as people Jet Packed or grav lifted through gaps in walls to sneak up behind people and stab them in the back. This should be a nutty map once the beta gets underway.
Overlook
Overlook is another map you might not see until later in the beta. Bungie is set to test the Generator Defense game type on May 14, and that's the mode specifically suited to this map. It's one of my favorites, too. I'm a big fan of smallish outdoor areas complemented by close-quarters indoor sections. Yeah, I'm one of those people who like Snowbound. Anyway, that's a good description for Overlook, too, although it's prettier. Then again, everything in the Reach beta is prettier than everything in Halo 3. Elites start off in a grassy area, across a wooden bridge from the Spartans, who are guarding an outpost powered by three small generators. Can you guess what the goal of the Generator Defense mode is? Keep those mandible-havin' jerks from destroying your stuff. Every so often a Longsword will fly by and drop off some supplies, so Spartans will want to own that area (just over the bridge from the Elites). Because if the enemy gets a hold of that Spartan Laser, it's lights out.
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