Name: Highrise
Location:Setting: Skyscraper rooftop / Building site
Size:/b] Medium
Description: The uncharacteristic, but entirely welcome setting – the roof of an unfinished skyscraper, and parts of its interior office space and access passages – makes Highrise a gem of a map. It’s also full of strategic quirks, choke points, and sniping spots if you know where to look for them. Expect average players to hover around the interior sections at opposite sides of the map, and run through the central throughways.
Beams: Access the beams from the roof of the elevators. These suspended beams can (and should) be utilized, though don’t run around on them for too long because they offer little cover. What they do offer is a path to the second floor of the northern interior, which is a great place to hunker down and practice marksmanship. You can leap onto one of these beams from the helipad on the right side of the map.
Interiors: The two opposing interiors offer some extra-personal combat. Stay in a crouch and sneak through the cubicles – anyone who foolishly lets their head stick out above one of the half-walls can easily be fragged to pieces through the thin dividers (watch as papers go everywhere). Shotguns (remember these are secondary weapons now) are particularly effective. And remember to use your environment when the opportunity arises – a large copy machine will explode after being beaten into submission, just like cars.
Scaffolding: A bit of scaffolding at the southeast of the exterior gives you access to a barely perceptible ledge that runs along the side of the building, which is an excellent secret route for carrying flags or bombs in objective modes. Even if the enemy kills you while you’re carrying the objective, they’ll have a tough time retrieving it from its perch, giving you and your team the opportunity to catch them while they’re distracted.
Red Pit: There’s a passageway (not visible) which runs across the entire map, from the norther interior to the southern. Here, in the middle, an opening exposes a passage to the air, making lower-level travelers vulnerable for a second. This isn’t the most secretive route – everyone knows its there – but if you’re lucky, you’ll make it to the other side and pop up behind the opposing team without tipping anyone off. Slaughter time!
Parkour Opp: There’s a piece of scaffolding hanging out about 10 feet from the edge of the building at the southeast corner (outside). If you enjoy a little parkour, and don’t mind dying a few times, you can leap from the building , grab onto scaffolding by pressing the Jump/Action button, climb it like a ladder, shimmy across a slither of the ledge, walk up another piece of scaffolding, and reach the roof of the southern interior – the highest point of the map. You might also find a little surprise up there!
