As Microsoft and Bungie release more information on Halo 3: ODST, it’s become clear that this upcoming shooter is neither a sequel nor an expansion. Rather, it’s a combination of new and familiar that doesn’t fit very neatly into either definition. You’ll find a new cooperative mode called Firefight and a full-fledged single-player campaign that dives into unexplored territory from Halo 3’s storyline, but the competitive multiplayer component is both identical to and compatible with its predecessor Halo 3. However, one major piece that pushes ODST deeper into “all-new” territory is the inclusion of three exclusive multiplayer maps that regular old Halo 3 players won’t be able to download anytime soon. We traveled to Bungie this week to get a hands-on run through all three of these maps and to take a quick look at a brand-new setting in the Firefight mode.

First, here's a primer for those unfamiliar with ODST’s unique packaging. The aforementioned campaign and Firefight modes will come on one disc, while the competitive multiplayer comes on a separate disc within the same box. It’s the same exact Halo 3 multiplayer fans have been playing for nearly two years now, but with every downloadable map pack ever released for the game on the disc. And, of course, there’s also the trio of exclusive maps known as Heretic, Citadel, and Longshore.

We’ll start with Heretic. This one is the resident re-creation of the bunch because it’s closely based on Midship from Halo 2. Midship, as you’ll recall, is a smallish, circular map with a wide-open space in the middle and a number of sprawling ramps leading up to perches that flank the outside walls. Bungie reps were quick to note that it’s a much more faithful re-imagining than the update from Lockout to Blackout. They described it as being not quite “pixel perfect,” but close enough that all those strategies from the second game will still work here. The inclusion of Halo 3 equipment, such as the bubble shield, adds a new layer of gameplay though, as anyone who’s trying to hold the middle area during a game of King of the Hill while plasma grenades rain down from every direction can attest.

Next on the list is Citadel. According to Bungie, the inspiration for this map comes directly from the studio’s voracious fan base. The Halo 3 community has been clamoring for a small, symmetrical arena-style map for quite some time now, and Citadel is designed to be just that. It’s somewhat of an oval-shaped map inspired from a citadel environment from the Halo 3 campaign, with a fairly open space in the middle and continuous paths around the outside that include both a ground level and second level. It’s a very straightforward map that keeps the focus directly on the players and the action while keeping things fast and frantic. In Oddball, picking up the skull is akin to asking for instant death because there’s nowhere to hide, but in multi-Capture the Flag, there’s enough space between sides that you can score somewhat easily but still keep good enough sightlines on the enemy to play solid defense.