Nostalgia and Emptiness in Halo Multiplayer Maps

i've never really been a "halo guy". i only beat the campaign for the first game a year or two ago. but i thought i'd give it a shot with this video, see if i have what it takes to be a "halo guy". turns out I don't think I do, but the world is cool anyway so i talk about it now
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Patreon: / pertzel
Twitter: / pertzel_
Discord: / discord
Second Channel: / @pretzelunsalted
www.pretzel.cc/
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Music Used:
Intro - Truth and Reconciliation (Halo: Combat Evolved)
00:42 - Under Cover of Night (Halo: Combat Evolved)
04:38 - Ambient Wonder (Halo: Combat Evolved)
07:13 - What Once Was Lost (Halo: Combat Evolved)
10:16 - Trace Amounts (Halo: Combat Evolved)
12:39 - The Maw (Halo: Combat Evolved)
14:37 - Perchance to Dream (Halo: Combat Evolved)
16:03 - A Walk in the Woods (Halo: Combat Evolved)
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[@jocastadidntknew5980]

A lot of the “human” buildings you mention are actually Forerunner, though… I guess at one point they were considered one and the same. Despite this little snag, you made an endlessly compelling video. Thank you so much for this.

[@Henskelion]

It makes sense you only ever encounter Forerunner land structures in CE maps since the entire game takes place on Halo the Forerunner superstructure, and the only man-made structures you find in multiplayer are spaceship interiors, since the only human-made levels in CE are inside the Pillar of Autumn.

[@kendromeda42]

Ironically, I don't have much nostalgia for halo 1s multiplayer maps as multiplayer maps despite playing them a ton. For me they will always always be associated with early machinima, RvB in particular. Gooooood times

[@arturkim1378]

Yea those were the days.

[@Sgt-Wolf]

6:56 "Yeah i do... i think any time, any place people can fall in love with each other... but... if you love someone you have to be able to protect them"

[@torb-no]

Around the turn of the millenium was the transition period from levels having abstract non-sensical to trying to represent real spaces… and Halo: CE captures the combination of that in such a wonderful way. I really miss these more abstract spaces from games these days. They are beautiful in ways that reminds me of abstract paintings (as opposed to more photo-realistic ones). CE levels also have this great sense solitude. It's just oozing with vibes. Wish we had more games like that.

[@SebastianGarcia-go4tx]

Dude your videos are so relaxing to watch they help me fall into a deep sleep ( not because they are boring) after a long day of work. They're just so soothing and nostalgic 🔥🔥👌

[@AlteQT]

Please do more of these. I love the long shots of just admiring the maps. Alot of old games with baked lighting have beautiful views we just dont get anymore

[@user-73a]

Halo 2 is such a nostalgia trip, Now those places in solo multiplayer hold some weight.

[@ianfinrir8724]

"You ever wonder why we're here?"

[@Dave.A.R]

Red vs Blue??

[@JoboGamezzz]

@@Dave.A.Rmaybe it’s just some cosmic coincidence

[@bshap495]

I didn't have Xbox Live when I was a kid, and not many people I could play with, so I mainly just explored these maps alone. It definitely hits different when there's no gunfire or explosions, just you and the ambient noise. And just a small correction, maps like Battle Creek are based on Forerunner locations, not human. Forerunners being the ancient species that built the Halo rings (though it was strongly implied they were the same species before being retconned).

[@hellman9655]

Halo 1 didn’t have XBL support so most of us explored them alone or split screens local.

[@ArnieMcStranglehold]

So fun thing, I brought my Xbox to my 7th grade last week of school no-more-work-to-do math class, and got to play it with some people, and i made a few of them play Chiron TL-34. It IS a meat grinder of a map, especially when only one person is good at the game and everyone, EVERYONE, is screen-looking. God that was so much fun. Never did it again though, lugging that backpack around with 4 controllers was so heavy.

[@finalfantasu7615]

thats cool AF , ngl..🙌

[@Wishes_for_Fishes]

I love the teleporter map. 'Muskets' was my favorite gamemode to play on it. No shields, shotguns only. Super frantic and fun

[@larimars8184]

Lmao that love on the battlefield line sounded just like otocon in your voice

[@valettashepard909]

Ngl i love that you’re leaning into the otacon thing after the comments about you sounding a lot like his voice actor, on halo’s snowy map no less

[@JoeFilms5420]

Man I have a million good memories playing these maps with my brothers. CE is old, janky, and goofy. And that makes it so much fun. It has a very unique feel and atmosphere, and I think you did a fantastic job highlighting that in this video. And I'm glad you included Chiron TL-34. That's one of my favorite maps, it's absolute chaos in the best way possible. Especially when someone grabs a flamethrower.

[@LILAC_CHAOS]

Modern games shy away from jank like it doesn't give games personality. Game jank is like ink spots on art and I love both.

[@TheBreadPirate]

3:45 Jimmy had it coming.

[@vitorgdc]

They always bring such an eerie feeling when you're in them alone, in a similar way Counter-Strike maps always did

[@Robbie_Haruna]

Halo 2 has a bunch of maps like this for me. In particular, Terminal, Waterworks, Zanzibar, Ivory Tower, Headlong, Lockout, and Backwash

[@PandaJerk007]

For sure! I love Halo CE but Halo 2 and 3 have amazing maps as well!! (and like you said Lockout, Terminal, and Waterworks would be great for a video like this!)

[@zonk834]

Looking forward to this one! Halo 1 started my love for exploring empty maps.

[@Henskelion]

Gephyrophobia threw me for a loop since I for a moment thought that I just forgot about the map, despite playing Halo CE a ton back in the day, but looking it up it was a map that was only found on the 2003 PC port of Halo CE, and was never on the original Xbox version.

[@SubstantialSubstance]

Thats it, youre going on my cozy playlist.

[@BrianM_3rd]

Really digging this concept of exploring multiplayer spaces you didn't personally experience, and getting a whole new perspective on them by simply imagining what they must have felt like. I also used to just wander around empty MP maps and come up with little stories to myself because I didn't have anyone else to play with. Would love to see a similar video about TimeSplitters sometime!

[@silent_pete]

2:04 Somebody should make a machinima about this...

[@Hutffvv]

Bet get back to you Not a joke im working on it

[@PenguinLotion522]

@@Hutffvv I think they were joking ab Red vs Blue

[@XanderW104]

Nah. That'd be stupid.

[@dcobs123]

I watched an interview on Halo 1 multiplayer. About rat race, it was the first Halo multiplayer map that was made. the person in charge of the multiplayer was still figuring out how to use 3D modeling software when he made it. apparently he was working through the extrude function tutorial which explains why it's mostly tunnels and nothing else.

[@CrayvenCarnage]

Halo 1 was really special. The level design , colors, and of course the soundtrack made it feel so otherworldly.

[@QalOrt]

Damnation and Boarding Action and Hang 'em High are some nostalgic multiplayer maps for me.

[@TheStarSquid]

Halo CE was the first fps game I remember ever playing. I used to love just wandering around in the multi-player maps as well as just explore the campaign levels

[@worldscoolestperson7672]

Your vids always have this great vibe. Really unique and massively under-appreciated.

[@stephaniewilbur7115]

I love how your video shows so much appreciation for the subtle arts in video games that people might not consciously notice sometimes, but are definitely worth enjoying and being nostalgic and sentimental for. You have an excellent way of expressing that as well! Wonderful video!

[@picahudsoniaunflocked5426]

I'm with Snake. Yes, love can bloom on battlefields. & yes, gorgeous skybox.

[@Henskelion]

13:54 I watched Quarter Life and Half Life Consequences as a kid so often that "smitheroons" became part of my vocabulary, so hearing someone else speak that word made me do a double take.

[@_Lostinthesky]

hey man, i really enjoy your content and i think it would be a good idea to make a video on the cozy little spaces of kingdom hearts. specifically traverse town, twilight town, and those types of areas. keep doing your thing man i love it!

[@THEGOOD360]

Before i had xbox live as a kid i would just mess around on the multiplayer maps and yes the words empty and lonely come to mind yet cozy because halo was one of my favorites. The thing i always came back to was that i never felt 100% alone on halo mp maps. I suppose it was the immaculate ambience of older games i always took for granted or just how Halo 1 was creepier and had a more mature setting then its sequels.

[@Shralla]

I would love a tour of the original Unreal Tournament maps, from 1999.

[@RednekGamurz]

The only human map you showed was Chiron. The rest are either Forerunner or Covenant in origin. I actually really enjoy Chiron. It's not a competitive map in the slightest, but it's a blast in large FFA lobbies, where everyone only uses close range weapons, like the shotgun and flamethrower. If you ever do a follow-up to this video in CE specifically, I'd highly recommend looking at Prisoner and Hang 'em High. Damnation and Boarding Action should be considerations as well.

[@Monkeymario.]

0:47 me too i wasnt even a big fps fan back then

[@PandaJerk007]

15:57 That's a cool transition :D

[@SoupRoutine]

I've only played on Chrion TL-34 a couple of times in multiplayer, but I remember it being a good amount of wandering around aimlessly and sometimes getting jump scared by an enemy or two.

[@trentonhigh3059]

Just found this channel Big fan Love nuanced content like this. Reminds me a bit of AnyAustin

[@TercesGarret]

Your video is very interesting. Listening it through my speaker at low volume, it felt like an ASMR video, and I was nearly falling asleep. So I put it aside for sleep time, and then when I was listening to it through my earphones, the ASMR was no more. So it's quite relaxing through speakers, but not so much with earphones.

[@PretzelYT]

That's interesting, I edit the videos while wearing headphones. Sometimes I even forget to watch the video back through speakers at all before uploading😅 Then again, I dont think I've ever truly experienced ASMR, so I dont know what that sounds like.

[@TercesGarret]

@@PretzelYT It's really just a relaxing voice that makes you sleepy. Like KingK OoT or Majoras retrospective videos. They're not meant as ASMR either, but they have a pleasing auditory effect. Can't say I've listened to it in lots of other videos. So it's not so much a suggestion rather a comment.

[@PandaJerk007]

I love Halo so much and try to watch everything I can on it. Your video is very cool! but I feel sad seeing the video effect at 4:25 -- You're showing 12 seconds of exploration footage, it is interesting and cinematic. But that timer bar at the bottom damages my immersion a bit, and it's like our culture is in a race-to-the-bottom with short attention spans. If people are checking out your well-crafted 20minute video on a mega-classic old-school game then people need to chill and be patient, they don't need that timer bar! ^_^

[@trashbirdie]

Timesplitters would be a good candidate for this series

[@jjukijjuki]

I would die a little if you ever covered Pac Man World on PS1... Buccaneer Beach, Space Race, and Barrel Blast all have some great weird spots. Honestly the whole game has areas that feel strange because they're all supposed to exist in the world of the ghosts. Would be a little different from previous videos since the game is so linear, but the world design and music is incredibly charming and nostalgic! All said, love your videos regardless if I know the game or not, Pretzel!

[@PretzelYT]

Pac Man World 2 was a staple of my childhood. I played that game to bits... but I never played the original. Honestly I forgot to include the sequel in my big list of games to eventually cover, so I'll add that (as well as the original). Thanks for bringing it up!

[@jjukijjuki]

@@PretzelYT AWESOME!! Pac Man World 2 is fabulous, taking it's first big leap into a truly 3D space. (I really like the 3rd installment too but it is weird...lol)

[@B-ot2xx]

I would love to see you do a video on Go Vacation! It’s a pretty ninche and old Wii game, but it’s a personal favorite of mine. Personally, I could go for an Extended Stay myself, but I understand you may or may not be busy. Have a great night!

[@IBHID]

Great video! If you're playing on PC you should try out some mods - there are obviously loads of completely custom maps, but you can also find altered versions of the default maps, including a version of Chiron TL-34 with corridors instead of teleporters, and a hilariously big scaled-up Battle Creek with vehicles!

[@mightythistle]

weird half life vibes

[@blackpan577]

your videos are addictive to watch for some reason

[@ugoboom]

Halo 1 my beloved, played so many thousands of hours of the old PC port. such a good game... custom edition for me what gmod was for so many others... your new view on these reminds me a bit of how I first saw these maps so long ago, its great. I like how you quickly arrived at the same core joke that started off the red vs blue machinima. why are we here, after all. That is really interesting how you accidentally picked up forerunner architecture as human. that was wrong, but actually no, funny you mention that... Chiron was such an odd map, a pure enigma.... and let me tell you, no shields, spawn with shotguns? 16 players? yeah dude it was shipment alright, what an absolute meatgrinder. Ya gotta check out death island, even if for your own time. My favorite big battle CTF map. so many nooks and crannies and places you never actually go in real games. There's even a secret little sniper nook inside both of the bases, way up top in the dark of the ceiling.

[@PretzelYT]

It has been a couple years since I played the campaign, I forget most of the story details. If I do ever get around to covering the campaign levels I'll definitely give it a replay.

[@ugoboom]

@@PretzelYT hell yeah brotha

[@Sebastian-ib2ww]

While playing you only think in winning, or being "not the worst" of the team, but while visiting old/dead maps, in whatever game, you are like "¿where are we?", "¿what are we doing here?", "¿what are they doing here?", "¿is there more outside this?", it is a weird feeling

[@The_Horse-leafs_Cabbage]

Before I discovered Garry's Mod, I'd spend hours in Halo 1 custom maps, just exploring what random people made by myself. Not only that, but I can't even imagine how many hours I spent in the original maps, sucking at the game against other players. Halo 1 will forever be a nostalgia trip for me. It was a gateway into FPS games, into map exploration, and into one of my favorite series of all time, Red vs Blue

[@JaydenOsborne96]

Fabulous video! Love seeing your take on all these maps, would love to see this done for the sequel games.

[@Chiefy117]

Pretzel is so underrated man. I love your videos never stop uploading ❤️

[@Henskelion]

I have my suspicion that Chiron TL-34 may be a sort of reference and continuation to Bungie's Marathon, since the super claustrophobic level design, the abundance of teleporters, and the name being an allusion to Greek mythology followed by seemingly gibberish alphanumeric nonsense seems very Marathon to me. EDIT: Just divided 34 by 7, which results in a decimal sequence of two-digit numbers which (when in integer form) produce integers when divided by seven, so yeah that is 100% a Marathon thing.

[@alrodriguezzzz]

Black Tigger

[@LilOak]

This video is amazing man

[@Zelgados]

I'd love to hear you talk about some Halo 2 multiplayer maps (none in particular).

[@blondfoss]

Gosh, your voice sounds so familiar, like from another influencer but I can't put my finger on it Great video btw, subbing

[@greenhowie]

Yeah, this feels weirdly nostalgic even though I never played Halo. There's a surprising amount of bright, clear colour - almost feels like Banjo-Kazooie. If I hadn't been a PS2 kid with timesplitters and unreal tournament I'd have explored these solo for sure.

[@Zurenarrh]

How can something feel nostalgic when this is what I play every day currently. Halo 1 is the best halo. There is nothing nostalgic about it. Its simply the best game in the franchise. Campaign and multiplayer too.

[@TheStrayHALOMAN]

Halo CE on MCC still is missing it's audio features like 5.1 surround sound and EAX support. You should walk around these maps with both of those things using either Patched Custom Edition or playing on a Original Xbox. "Damnation is the best map in CE and Halo 5... Fight me."

[@albertosigler4374]

i would be nice to connect all maps in a single one, imagine!!!

[@EmperorDarthOP]

Hello Pretzle, i was wondering. Do you thing that you pretty please could make a Could You SURVIVE in Metroid Prime 1 video?

[@bloodhound1182]

6:56 is that a metal gear solid reference

[@malikross6152]

You still go play this on MCC customs games on console and there is always a game going on even more fun now

[@Poptart21000]

Pretzel, love IS the battlefield.

[@ThatGuy1797]

I liked the Metal Gear reference ❤

[@TheRealCatof]

You forgot to cover Death Island, although granted they didn't include it in MCC for whatever reason. Death Island was the best map in my opinion

[@Squiddy0912]

Was that the Silent Catropgrapher style map? If so, it's in MCC.

[@TheRealCatof]

@@Squiddy0912 Oh, they must have added it after I stopped playing. But yeah, that map is awesome.

[@KYPJH]

16:49 ... Yeah. 🥲

[@XxguaxinimxX.]

I don't know if I'm the only one, but all these places reminds me a lot of some images from Orion's Arm!

[@pirate4460]

at 17:25 - there is something of interest, at least in the xbox version. it's a small cave that you can hide in.

[@glorbojibbins2485]

Any Austin did this same concept

[@pepsitate8019]

Lol the day with SpongeBob SquarePants kid

[@harrisonposting]

Please please please do Silent Hill 2

[@bluetangsrock938]

17:56 Might be some sort of lichen?

[@mattguy1773]

Halo ce is the perfect example of a game that does everything well Except for the library

[@graduator14]

"Why are we here?"

[@thelizardking3807]

Can we get more of these halo videos?

[@JJAB91]

Derelict is a map you might enjoy. You keep mentioning what the maps may have played like "back in the day" but if you wanna play Halo its still very easy to do. You can easily get a group together and play online MCC.

[@specter_of_thestars2500]

He should go to backwash and go schizophrenic

[@AeroStark]

NEW PRETZEL ABOUT HALO AHHH

[@PretzelYT]

GRAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@mapoleoncopypaste7764]

what are your thoughts on Rayman 2 maps? I remember I used to be scared of the huge textures they used for bodies of water and skyboxes

[@scootinand]

Just found your channel, loving it so far! Please do Halo 2!! I spent countless hours screwing around alone on the multiplayer maps because i didn't have X-Box Live

[@bloodhound1182]

10:58 Jumpscare warning btw

[@flarpo6008]

you could’ve asked I would have played with you

[@baphalopod]

have you considered making a videogame world tours of a mariokart game? i think something like mariokart wii could work really well for the formula of this series

[@PretzelYT]

I've thought about it, but I haven't been sure how a video like that would go. I should give them a peep to see what kind of areas I could find.

[@3dburger]

How are you able to explore these maps without getting into a multiplayer map?

[@AmeHart]

I was thinking this whole video you sounded like otacon. Then you dropped the "Do you think love can bloom even on a battlefield" line and i lost it

[@HiddenSpaces23154]

Song used in your intro and outro?

[@dannydorito2954]

P. Retzel

[@vaelegoro7782]

How about doing the game fable?

[@vaelegoro7782]

Or the smash bros backgrounds and all star mode backgrounds

[@picahudsoniaunflocked5426]

11:38 urinals?

[@P3PP3RM1NTPR3TZ3L]

🗿🗿

[@kellykellybumbum]

💯💌

[@G.Freeman92]

2rd.

[@Vulpas]

Meh, Halo... I love this channel but Halo is boring.

[@Vulpas]

@@LeetHaxington Metroid Prime >>>>>>>>>> Killzone >>> Halo

[@RootVegetabIe]

​@@VulpasIs this a comment from 2003?

[@Vulpas]

@@RootVegetabIe Facts don't age.

[@Henskelion]

@@RootVegetabIe Seeing someone complain about Halo CE and compare it to unrelated games in the current year is so funny, like discovering the internet version of an uncontacted tribe.