Bungie and Microsoft released a new pack of downloadable maps for Halo 3, called the Heroic Map Pack. It features three new battle arenas ripened for your fragging pleasure -- Foundry, Rat's Nest and Standoff. The pack costs 800 points ($10), but is it really worth it? Let's break it down.

Standoff is a gigantic symmetrical map, the largest of the three. It features two separate bases scattered across a field of rocky terrain. Along with exploring the outer trenches to set up infiltration points, you can go inside the bases through main and back entrances. The bases are multi-leveled, with staircases leading into other rooms. This is a good spot to hide temporarily if you need to recover your energy. Just make sure you're aware of where the nearest exit is, in case you need to make a quick escape.

Rat's Nest is a smaller map, consisting of a small perimeter surrounded by a big circular track. The inside base has numerous levels so you can fire at opponents from above or below. The outer circle is perfect for vehicular combat. You'll find Warthogs parked all along the trail, complete with rear turrets so a buddy can blast at opposing teams while you drive (or vice versa). Be careful, however. The outer edge of the driving path leads to a deep drop-off. Go over the edge and say goodbye to your vehicle.

The most significant of the three maps, though, is Foundry. At first, the appearance of this warehouse-based map isn't much. You roam around crates, staircases and gated areas while shooting at enemies. However, it ties in tremendously with Forge mode. You're able to clear away all of the objects and set it up how you see fit. Furthermore, you can take objects out of this map and use them in the Standoff and Rat's Nest maps. Unfortunately, you can't use these new items with the game's previous maps. No biggie, however -- it provides an excuse to play around with the new ones.

Overall, these new maps have excellent design. Standoff will remind some players of Blood Gulch, with its immense size and the ability to set up ambush points. It's perfect for Team Slayer matches, as you spread your players out for the maximum number of kills. Rat's Nest, with its smaller area, is a cool map, especially if you like tooling around in a Warthog and running over opponents. It's perfect for solo or team-based Slayer matches. Finally, Foundry will really bring out your creative side, as you set up your own specialty maps to share with others. The default map is noteworthy, as you can jump atop crates to get a frag from higher ground or reach lower ground and take on opponents head-to-head. No matter what your approach, it's good stuff.

Overall, we're quite pleased with these new maps. They really add to the already overflowing multiplayer experience with their intricate design. If you've got 800 points lying around and live for Slayer match-ups, you should download it without hesitation.