In Eden, you could shoot the middle cover box on the outside. It would then drop and 2 diagonal walls would come up. Wish I got a xbox files of it. Also those 2 random things on the bottom floor. Shoot them and a taller piece would come out. So you could get to the high catwalk from the bottom floor. I used it quite well a few times.

Yes designers make big maps, but they have to be there because of Sprint. I agree, I played no using sprint and it felt more Halo. I do enjoy the game.

When you hit someone it makes a sound. It's one of the most discussed issues.

You got lucky with spawns then, maybe the people you played didn't know the spawns yet.