Metropolis

Take the bridge, break the Covenant's grip on the city-center.

Metropolis is the fifth campaign level of Halo 2. It is the first level where you are able to drive the Scorpion Tank and the first level with Wraiths and Banshees. Metropolis is one of two levels where you can acquire the Gauss Warthog (the other being Quarantine Zone). It takes place in New Mombasa, and starts as soon as the player emerges from the highway tunnel that was the last part of Outskirts.

Plot[]

John-117 and two Marines must battle across a long bridge guarded by Covenant forces and another but shorter tunnel than the one at the end of Outskirts. After that, there is a small park, where another Marine-controlled Warthog lurks, and an open urban area with Wraiths, before going onto catwalks attached to buildings in order to attempt to board the Scarab and take out the Covenant piloting it.

Transcript[]

{Cutscene} {Anniversary}

A Marine sitting on the ground, breathing erratically, watches as John-117 approaches. John steps over him to a standing female Marine.

• Female Marine: "It blew right through us. (They watch as the Scarab ramps over the bridge, out of view) 50-cal, rockets... didn't do a thing."

A Pelican drops a tank. Sergeant Major Avery J. Johnson gets out, John-117 and Marines walk over.

• Sergeant Johnson: "Where's the rest of your platoon?"

• Female Marine: "Wasted, Sarge."

• Marine 1: "And we will be, too, sir, if we don't get the hell outta here!"

• Sergeant Johnson: (Puts a hand on Marine's shoulder) "You hit, Marine?"

• Marine 1: "N-no, Sir."

• Sergeant Johnson : "Then listen up!"

(Note: The following dialogue varies according to difficulty)

• (Easy): "You had your chance to be afraid before you joined my beloved Corps. But to guide you back to the true path, I brought this motivational device. Our big green style cannot be defeated!"

• (Normal): "The Chief is gonna jump in this tank, roll across the bridge, and blow up any inhuman-son-of-a-bitch dumb enough to get between him and the Prophet of Regret! Pull yourself together, because you're going with him!"

• (Heroic): "When I joined the Corps, we didn't have any fancy-shmancy tanks. We had sticks! Two sticks, and a rock for the whole platoon - and we had to share the rock! Buck up, boy, you're one very lucky Marine!"

• (Legendary): "Usually the good Lord works in mysterious ways. But not today! This here is sixty-six tons of straight up, H-E-spewing dee-vine intervention! If God is love, then you can call me Cupid!"

• Female Marine: "What about that Scarab?"

• Sergeant Johnson: "We've all run the simulations, they're tough, but they ain't invincible. Stay with the Master Chief, he'll know what to do."

• Female Marine: "Yes, sir, Sergeant!"

• Cortana (COM): "Thanks for the tank. He never gets me anything."

Sergeant Johnson climbs back on the Pelican, and cocks its machine gun.

• Sergeant Johnson: (smirks) "Oh, I know what the ladies like." (puts a cigar between his lips)

Ladies Like Armor Plating/Grinding Treads/Superior Firepower[]

{Gameplay}

(Note: On Easy and Normal, the chapter will be called "Ladies like Armor Plating." On Heroic, it will be called "Ladies like Grinding Treads," and on Legendary, "Ladies like Superior Firepower").

John starts out next to the tank, holding a Battle rifle, and an SMG as a sidearm. There is also a Warthog to John's right. The burning skyline with the Covenant CAS-class assault carrier hovering over it is visible in the distance. The bridge is strewn with the wreckage of cars, trucks and buses. A multitude of Ghosts patrol the bridge, as well as a Covenant Wraith tank.

About halfway across, Banshees swoop in for an attack from either side, and three Phantoms fly by, deploying troops and another Wraith tank. A lone Marine (or two, if one of the two accompanying you was killed) stationed on the bridge joins you and the other two Marines (if you took the Scorpion). At the other end of the bridge, a group of Banshees flies in over the rooftops.

As you approach the second speed tunnel

• Cortana: "That's quite a welcome party."

A pack of Ghosts skitter into view and open fire on you. They are soon joined by a pair of Wraith tanks which come in from the nearby highway tunnel, as well as another pair of Banshees.

You enter the highway tunnel meeting little resistance until a barrier supposedly prevents you from taking your vehicle any further. A Warthog pulls up and joins your cause, while a trio of Jackals stationed on the barrier fires down at you.

• Female Marine: "Secure the area!"

A different female Marine walks up to you and offers you a Shotgun.

• Female Marine 2: "It's tight quarters on the other side, sir. Use this."

You enter a dark wreckage and Covenant strewn section of the highway tunnel. A pair of Elites and a large group of Grunts attack, while a pair of Jackal Snipers fire on you from a distance with their Beam Rifles. At the end of the tunnel, more Grunts and Elites attack, as well as another trio of Jackals. You enter a series of sewage tunnels that open out into a massive courtyard.

As you enter Part Three, a Jackal Sniper is seen trying to snipe the Marines. Assassinate him to easily get a Beam Rifle.

This Town Ain't Big Enough For Both Of Us[]

The Scarab can be seen in the distance, although it leaves quickly. A Gauss Warthog pulls up to you.

• Gunnery Sergeant Stacker: "Could use you on the gun, Chief!"

Sergeant Stacker drives you into another courtyard, where a few Ghosts, a pair of Jackal Snipers, a veteran Elite, and a Wraith tank guard the tunnel at the far end. Another pair of Ghosts enters the fray, and once they're dead, Stacker drives you into a large room with a waterfall, and then out into the streets of New Mombasa.

You come upon a Marine outpost that is under siege by a trio of Wraith tanks and Jackal Snipers, while a fellow group of Marines on a Warthog valiantly defends. A Phantom delivers a pair of Ghosts, but they are neutralized easily by the combined support fire from the two Warthogs.

• Cortana: "There are Marines trapped inside that building, Chief. Concentrate on the Wraiths, they're the biggest threat."

• Cortana: "There is a Marine Command Post in that building. We'll need to help them deal with that Scarab."

A Pelican delivers a squad of Marines.

Another Pelican delivers a Scorpion Tank as you walk into the base. You are greeted by a Marine at the entrance.

• Corporal Perez: "Sir! Corporal Perez, A-Company! CP's this way! The Lieutenant got hit as soon as we dropped in."

• Cortana (COM): "Who's in charge now, Corporal?"

• Corporal Perez: "Uh, Sergeant Banks, ma'am. He's pinned down up top. Come on, I'll show you."

Corporal Perez leads you up the heavily guarded stairs to a balcony overlooking the streets where you fought the Wraith tanks. A huge plasma beam can be seen firing at something in the distance, and the Scarab lumbers into view.

Field Expedient[]

• Sergeant Banks: "When I asked for reinforcements, I didn’t think they’d send a Spartan. We got trouble!"

The Scorpion fires its main cannon twice at the Scarab, to no effect. The Scarab aims its beam and destroys the tank in a single blast, then starts walking toward the base, demolishing the pedestrian walkways in the process.

• Marine 2: "See this look? It's terror!"

• Sergeant Banks: "Marine, did I give you permission to bitch?"

They fire at the Scarab, but it keeps advancing.

• Sergeant Banks: "I don't think it's stopping; get your heads down!"

The Scarab walks right over John's position, knocking over an antenna.

• Sergeant Banks: "That thing is really starting to PISS ME OFF! Marines, time to kill us a Scarab!"

• Corporal Perez (COM): "It's over here, sir!"

John enters a large building in pursuit of the Scarab. You end up on a series of walkways above a large water-filled canal, and the Scarab is walking below you, while Covenant troops fire at you from the deck.

Eventually, the Scarab reaches the end of the canal, and can go no further.

• Cortana: "It can't go any further this way. We have it trapped."

If John doesn't board the Scarab

• Cortana: "Chief, we're going to have to board that Scarab."

If John still doesn't board the Scarab

• Cortana: "We can't do anything to the Scarab from here, we need to get inside it."

Groups of Pelicans fly by in front of the Scarab. Occasionally, one will turn and unleash a barrage of missiles onto the Scarab, doing little damage to its armor.

John enters the Scarab, to find a couple of Ultra Grunts and an Ultra Elite, with two Major Elites piloting the Scarab.

• Cortana: "Careful Chief, that Elite is an Ultra, and those pilots are no pushovers either."

{Cutscene} {Anniversary}

After you clear the hostiles out, the Scarab falls apart and John-117 walks out. Note he holds his primary weapon, even if it's a Magnum acquired from the previous level, unless it's out of ammo.

• Sergeant Johnson (COM): "That's right, you mothers! Run!"

• Commander Keyes: "Not if we can help it, Sergeant."

Cut to bridge of the In Amber Clad.

• Commander Keyes: "Extract the Chief, and return to In Amber Clad."

• Sergeant Johnson (Video COM): "Roger that!"

• Lord Hood (Video COM): "Status?"

• Commander Keyes: "Sir, the Prophet is bugging-out. Request permission to engage!"

• Lord Hood: "Negative, Commander. I'll vector two heavies for starside intercept."

The Assault Carrier begins to accelerate. A purple glow appears in front of the ship.

• NAV Officer: "Ma'am, Slipspace rupture off the target's bow! It's going to jump, inside the city!"

• Commander Keyes: "There's no time, sir!"

• Lord Hood (Video COM): "Green light! Green light to engage!"

Cut to underside of the In Amber Clad. Johnson's Pelican docks via a hatch under the ship.

• Commander Keyes: "Punch it! Get us close!"

Cut back to bridge of In Amber Clad

• NAV Officer: "Ma'am, without a destination solution—"

• Commander Keyes: "We are not losing that ship!"

The Assault Carrier enters Slipspace, pulling In Amber Clad with it. The jump creates a massive electromagnetic pulse that engulfs the whole of New Mombasa.

Fades to white.

Level ends.

Development[]

After the bridge, where you get the Shotgun from a fellow Marine, the tunnel was originally supposed to be flooded. But since the water effects didn't work and they ran out of time, the water was removed.^[1]

Soundtrack[]

Album Cover	Soundtrack	Song Name	Soundtrack Number
	Halo 2: Original Soundtrack	Mombasa Suite	3 (Volume 2)
		MJOLNIR Mix	1 (Volume 1)
		Earth City	17 (Volume 1)
	Halo 2: Anniversary Original Soundtrack	Halo Theme Scorpion Mix	11
		Kilindini Harbour	4

Achievements[]

Icon	Name	Description	Value
	Commuter	Complete Metropolis without entering a vehicle on Heroic or Legendary.	10
	E E E	Watch both signs.	5
	Examiner	Activate Terminal 3 on Metropolis.	5
	GOOOAAAAALLLL!	Shoot the football in the level Metropolis.	10
	King of the Scarab	Find and acquire the Scarab Gun. (H2V only)	20
	Metropolis	Complete Metropolis.	30 (H2V) 10 (TMCC)
	Ripple Fire	Beat the par score on Metropolis.	10
	Scarab Lord	Acquire the Scarab Gun on Metropolis.	20
	Skulltaker Halo 2: Catch	Find and claim the Catch skull on Legendary	5
	Speeding Ticket	Beat the par time on Metropolis.	10

Trivia[]

Glitches[]

• During Field Expedient, if the player walks back into the building, the Scarab will continue firing its main canon, the beam will continue to Sgt. Bank's balcony, killing him and the marine beside him, thus leave a dark mark in the area. This glitch won't happen if the player sees the Scarab, so it is recommended to remain near the shotgun wielder and turret operator. Interestingly, going down to the two marines will prevent the Scorpion from being destroyed, although it will automatically be destroyed when the Scarab is about to climb the building.
• It is possible for the Shotgun wielding female Marine to become permanently invincible. To do this shoot the Warthog with the two Marines in the tunnel with the Scorpion until it flips or is destroyed (before it reaches the partially closed bulkhead with the Jackals). Then block the path toward the next area with the Scorpion without activating the Shotgun Marines’ dialogue. Clear all the covenant in the next area and then come back to the Scorpion. The Marine will board the Scorpion but will not follow you into the next area. Drive over the first and second bulkhead with the Scorpion (this may take a few tries) and stop in front of the tunnels exit. Get off the Scorpion and wait for the Marine to get off, then proceed to push her into the exit, she will eventually make her way towards the surface. If done correctly the female Marine will stay invincible for the rest of the mission. This can be very useful on Legendary.
• Because Metropolis is the second part of a two-part level, your weapons will carry over from Outskirts, unless one of your weapons is a Rocket Launcher. If you finish Outskirts with a Rocket Launcher you will start Metropolis with a Battle Rifle and an SMG.

• It's possible to save the tank that gets destroyed by the Scarab. Instead of going up the stairs on foot, take a Ghost or Warthog and drive off the roof and get the Marine out of the Scorpion Tank and reverse. The driver will have no armor, weapons, and occasionally, no face. This Marine is different every time. If given a chance to sit on the tank's hull will position his hands as though he is holding an weapon though he is not. Also, saving the tank will often cause the scripted dialogue to play out of order.
• The tank can also be saved by firing one rocket at it, which will kill the driver but leave the tank alive. The Scarab's gun will go through the firing animation but nothing will come out of it.
• It is possible to get the tank over the stuck doors in the tunnel (as it is with a Warthog or Ghost). The first is rather easy, the second takes a bit of positioning. However, beyond that, you'll have to continue on foot (otherwise use a Warthog or Ghost, because these will fit into the pipe). You must aim the right treads so they are lined up with the wall, then go partially up the wall and quickly steer left. It should go through the gap. This is very useful for Legendary. It is also found to be easier backing up over the doors.
• If you take the Wraith tank on the bridge, and use the mortar on the Phantom that carries another Wraith, continuously hitting that Phantom with the mortar, it will get "stuck" on the cables holding up the bridge. The Phantom cannot be destroyed, like others in Halo 2, but repeated shots with the mortar will slide it slightly on the cable it gets stuck on.
• When you've performed the Banshee glitch, destroy the three Wraiths that are attacking the pinned down Marines. Then land your Banshee on the top of the building. Jump off the building, progress at the normal procedure and when you see the Scarab firing, get into your Banshee and head for the Scarab, land on it and get inside. You can see that no one is controlling the Scarab. When you wait a little longer, you will see that Elites and Grunts are spawning in the Scarab.
• When the Scarab climbs over you, you can jump double what you jump normally.
• If you get a Warthog on top of the Scarab it will float above the ground. You can use this trick to also put Marines on the Scarab. Before you drive the Warthog onto the Scarab you get the Marines in the turret and passenger seat. Once on the Scarab get them off and they will fight.
• You can use the Zip-Line Glitch in this level by carrying Excalibur from Outskirts to Metropolis, and taking your Marine's Rocket Launcher. The Zip-Line helps, because at the peak of the bridge you can board Banshees much easier with it.
• Sometimes at the end of the level where the Pelicans keep flying by one will hit and stick into a wall behind the Scarab.
• Sometimes a Warthog may never appear in single player.
• In the area where some Marines on Warthogs are fighting Ghosts (when Cortana talks about the Marine Command Post in the building), at the end of the battle there will be a Pelican dropping some Marines on a catwalk; get under the part of the Pelican where the Marines jump off, jump and hold the X button: you will board the Pelican, get a little ride and crash somewhere. The ride is very rough and you eventually will land on either a wide ledge or some sort of solid water surface.
• It is possible to get the Scorpion into the tunnel with all the overturned cars. However, if you clear out the tunnel and leave the tank and keep going until it says loading, the tank and all the Marines riding it will have disappeared if you return to the tunnel.
• If you jump from the Scarab onto the main gun without dropping down, there is a place somewhere where you can jump up and shoot the enemies inside the Scarab through the wall. However, they must be triggered first. To fully utilize this, go onto the Scarab's anti-air turret gun platform, that is, the overhead walkway, as it approaches the first bridge, then go around to the right, go into the Scarab's control room (you just need to go to the end of the ramp to trigger the target Elites) without being seen by the deck guards, and go back onto the walkway from which you can jump to the main gun. It is advised to get on the main gun before the Scarab reaches it's designated resting spot, as when the Scarab's docked, it will open it's main gun and if you try this at that time, you will fall into it and will be unable to get back to its deck.
• In the part where you have to board the Scarab, there is a Rocket Launcher on top of a crate. If you melee the crate off the edge (Sputnik makes it easier, but is by no means necessary), the Rocket Launcher will remain hovering.
• In the same area as mentioned above, there are two crates beside each other with a medic box on the top and rocket ammo on the side. If you have sputnik on, jump on top of the crates, crouch and energy sword the medic box and you will mysteriously die.
• When on the bridge, if you are under the Phantom that drops off the Wraith at the end of the bridge then the Phantom will not drop the Wraith and will fly away with the Wraith still attached to it.
• If you jump aboard the Scarab after the first bridge bit and kill the Elite operators and the Ultra Elite, in the cut scene it will still be docked at the end.
• If you jump on the rear leg of the scarab at the end of the level and walk forward, your legs will detach from your body and end up in the gap between the scarabs body and leg. You can also use this position to look inside the scarab and kill anyone inside but first you must go inside the scarab to make the elites spawn as there is no way off the leg once on it.
• When on the bridge, try this in multiplayer. First lead the troops into the tunnel so that they fight the Covenants, then go back out onto the bridge. Have one player stand on the middle of the bridge; you should then see that there is some sort of hole. You can actually jump through this into the water and die, then respawn. Because all the other soldiers are fighting with the enemy, you will not fail the mission unless both players try this at the same time.
  • Repeat the above trick, but use a vehicle when you're falling down. Depending on the vehicle you drive, the death animation will differ.
• When you are near the end where you have to fight the Scarab, there will be lots of weapons positioned all over the place. There will be a rocket launcher on top of a green box. If you hit the box off, you will see a floating rocket launcher.

Mistakes[]

Easter Eggs[]

References[]

Miscellaneous[]

• If you try to take the Banshee from the bridge into the tunnel, an invisible wall will send you back. If you hijack a Banshee while past the 'wall', you will be shot back a few hundred metres.
• Contrary to popular belief, the Slipspace explosion did not completely eradicate New Mombasa but severely damaged it, as seen in Halo 3: ODST.
• If you take the Warthog instead of the Scorpion, you can drive it to the end of the level.
• The streetlights on the bridge and the toll booths at either end are destructible.
• You can take a Ghost all the way to the top of the passageway where you defeat the Scarab, and you can board with it. However, it slides off the moving sides easily, and you cannot take it inside.
• In the first garden area where you meet Sergeant Stacker with a Gauss Warthog, the part where Jackal Snipers usually appear, unless you go to their sniping spot, a dozen or so will spawn and run to the same spot, so it's recommended to go to the position otherwise more and more will keep showing up.
• After you eliminated the Wraiths and caused the Phantom to flee, a Pelican, equipped with a Scorpion will hover above the Marine building. It is possible to destroy this tank, causing the Scarab not to fire when it rounds the corner.
• If you start the level with the Sputnik Skull and get a Rocket Launcher, you could shoot at the Pelican and move it, mostly with a tank.
• In the Field Expedient chapter, when the Scarab climbs up onto the garden, there is a small metal pillar (called a radio antennae in Halo 3) that can be knocked over by the Scarab and there is a chance that Sergeant Banks and the Marine operating the turret can be killed by it falling on them or sweeping the floor.
• If the Scarab steps directly on top of you as it climbs overhead, it will kill you.
• When you reach the other end of the bridge, with the Wraith and Banshees, you can steal a Banshee with a little luck, but can only drive in through the tunnel, before reaching the small mini-tunnel outside.
• The state of the first Warthog depends on how you are playing. In single player, it will be slightly damaged, with its windshield broken. In co-op, the Warthog will be undamaged.
• It's possible to get the Warthog on the Scarab if you go up the building with it. You can drive on top of the Scarab or stay on the building so Marines inside the vehicle can shoot at it.
• It is possible to save all the Marines in this level until the very end of the mission.
• In the area place on the bridge where you pick up an extra Marine with a Rocket Launcher, instead of picking up one, you'll pick up two if one of your other Marines died. One Marine has a Sniper Rifle and the other has a Rocket Launcher.

• The inside of the Scarab deflects sniper rounds. This can be deadly and may inflict heavy enemy casualties as well as friendly fire if not careful. This is because the inside the Scarab is very smooth and reflective, leading to a great amount of big, lethal ricochets. Or to put it more technically, the material type of the Scarab's inside has reflective properties.
• The Warthog inside the tunnel with the Shotgun wielding Marine is indestructible until all the Marines get out. This can be proved by shooting the Warthog with a tank. However, although it is invincible, its occupants are not.
• This is the first level of Halo 2 and Halo 2: Anniversary where you get to drive a Scorpion.
• When the Scarab comes to the building, the Warthogs, Ghosts and Wraiths have already disappear unless you parked them near the stairs in the building.
• When the Scarab is trapped at the end of the level, if you watch long enough, a Pelican will break off from the direction the Scarab is facing and fire a volley of rockets at it.
• This is the first level in the Halo Trilogy where the Gauss Warthog is ever encountered.
• It is possible, with the Sputnik skull active, to jump from the bridge where you fight the Scarab, to the other side of the river in a Ghost. Get as close to the third vent as possible, then shoot the vent and it will explode damaging your Ghost giving you enough propulsion to reach the other side. You can do this with any vent, but there is a large pit that you fall in if you use the first or second explosive vent jump.
• In the official Halo 2 trailer the Slipspace explosion is more like a human-made explosion with the fire colors of white, mixtures of red, yellow and orange, but in-game it is actually a mixture of blue and purple and waves of white like Covenant plasma.
• If you need help taking down the Scarab, it's possible to simply push the marines off the bridge and on to the Scarab to help you out. But watch where you're pushing the marines, because sometimes they fall into the water. It also helps if you melee and then immediately push, as the melee will boost your push.
• It is possible to save the Scorpion Tank attacked by the Scarab. This is done by boarding a Ghost when you first enter the area. Defeat all enemies, then drive the ghost into the building that the Marines hold. Drive to the corridor with the stairs. Then exit the vehicle, and climb the stairs until the "Loading....Done" screen occurs. Quickly head back to the ghost, and drive, (it is recommended to use the Boost feature once out of the building), up to the where the Scorpion is parked. Press "X" to make the Marine driver leave the vehicle. Then, enter the tank. Note: It does not matter if the tank takes a direct hit from the Scarab, as long as the player is in it, (On Easy and Normal difficulties) for the tank will be moderately to heavily damaged. However, on Heroic and Legendary difficulties, the tank will be destroyed, and the Player will be killed, so it is best to keep pressing back on the movement stick, as soon as you start to enter the vehicle, so you can dodge the main cannon.
• Elements of the level were retold in the short story Palace Hotel in Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe.

Gallery[]

Halo 2[]

Halo 2: Anniversary[]

Videos[]

Sources[]