LOADING ZONE
The power is still on.
Loading Zone was one of my earlier projects for Halo 5: Guardians. I wanted to create an intuitive design with inspiration from iconic Halo maps. I wanted to centralize gameplay around a massive elevator shaft that is seemingly endless in depth. Once the idea was in place, the map may as well have built itself. I played with verticality and sightline control while everything was falling into place. This design came very naturally to me, and holds up well.
My design goals were to wrap gameplay around an intensely vertical hollow shaft. Players are meant to fight their way up through the map, and push their enemy downward. There are essentially three atriums, set inside of a larger central room that all tie together seamlessly. Players have plenty of options to go about contesting each position. The highest area of the map is the most vulnerable, but allows a strong flank into the side atrium.