Spartan_X Posted January 11, 2007 Share Posted January 11, 2007 Bungie intros Halo 3's ATV In-depth "from the field" report on the Mongoose dished out on Bungie.net; new screens of the two-man vehicle posted. Bungie Studios is up to its old tricks. The maker of the Halo franchise is once again slowly trickling details about its upcoming game, the surefire top-seller Halo 3 for the Xbox 360. But instead of talking game mechanics, storyline, or basic release details, the developers are concentrating on one new vehicle--the Mongoose. Over the next 500 years, the Mongoose will make the jump from mountain bike to combat ATV. The brief, posted on Bungie.net, on the M274 Ultra-Light All-Terrain Vehicle (as it is formally known) is written as part of a Legends of Halo series, a faux military report on the "Machines, Materiel and Munitions from the Human-Covenant Conflict, 2525 - Present." The hard details for gearheads see the two-man vehicle with a top speed of 60mph (96kph), a weight of 896 pounds (406 kilograms), and a "1000cc liquid-cooled, longitudinally mounted, four-stroke, hydrogen-injected ICE." As mentioned in previous reports, the Mongoose won't feature a mounted weapon ("The (M274) is definitely the most Buddhist land-based motive system in the UNSC's arsenal," harps one Marine). The vehicle is intended solely for reconnaissance or quick transport of infantry, but in a pinch, its speed makes a great escape pod for a flag carrier in a game of Capture the Flag. Though veteran drivers of Halo 2's Warthog should be fairly familiar with the Mongoose's handling, one Space Marine cautions that the vehicle is "unarmored, noisy, and prone to roll-over." Hooooo-eeee! Let's get a six-pack and shoot stuff! The report stresses the Mongoose's speed and acceleration, saying that it's too quick to be damaged by small-arms fire. On the other hand, Bungie does not consider the Spartan Laser--a new shoulder-mounted energy weapon that takes three seconds to power up before discharging--"small-arms." "The Mongoose?s biggest foe on the battlefield will likely be the Spartan Laser," reads the article. "The Laser?s three second warm-up can make all the difference between a kill and a wasted shot, however. ... As soon as you see the little red beam following you (and if you?re near enough, you?ll hear the weapon heating up), it?s wise to count off a second and then swerve the hell out of way to make as difficult a target as possible." http://img.gamespot.com/gamespot/images/2007/010/KPisanoobValhalla382_embed.It's the lasers that validate this as "extreme" off-roading.ading. Bungie also gives a few examples of the proper use of vehicles on two of the game's multiplayer maps, Valhalla and High Ground. Details on said maps are sparse, however, with Bungie only copping to a user-controlled "protective gate" (which allows speedy Mongooses to take control of the map when opened) in High Ground and a downed Pelican in the center of Valhalla. Halo 3 is due out later this year, with a public beta test beginning this spring. For more information, read GameSpot's previous coverage. By Tim Surette -- GameSpot Posted Jan 11, 2007 12:37 pm CT Story from GameSpot: http://www.gamespot.com/news/6164069.html Copyright ?2006 CNET Networks, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magik Posted January 11, 2007 Share Posted January 11, 2007 Here's the original Bungie story: http://www.bungie.net/News/TopStory.aspx?link=mongi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger H. Veteran Posted January 12, 2007 Veteran Share Posted January 12, 2007 looking good i must say.. looking real good :) I'm gonna miss GOW when Halo comes out :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Veteran Posted January 12, 2007 Veteran Share Posted January 12, 2007 It looks top-heavy :p Like you would roll it if you made a sharp turn. Of course, I doubt that would happen, but it would be cool :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AimLXJ Posted January 12, 2007 Share Posted January 12, 2007 Imagine the 1 hit kill vehicle bump is back? >.> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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