Halo: Campaign Evolved marks the 25th anniversary of the legendary franchise, and Microsoft has delivered a much-anticipated remake—its second iteration of the classic game. The first remake, Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, was released in 2011 for the Xbox 360 and later became part of the Master Chief Collection. The latest version, Halo: Campaign Evolved, emerges as a complete remake powered by Unreal Engine 5, although “complete” may be a bit misleading.
This time around, the title focuses solely on the campaign of the shooter classic, with competitive multiplayer absent. This may disappoint many fans who cherish the fast-paced PvP battles that have become synonymous with the Halo series. However, this aspect does not factor into my assessment, as Microsoft and Halo Studios clearly indicated from the beginning that this would be a campaign remake. The real question is: Is spending 60 euros on this polished campaign worth it? The answer is, in fact, complicated.
Release Issues and Patch Expectations
Why haven’t we given a score yet? Unfortunately, during testing the PC version encountered recurring crashes at the start of mission nine, which hindered further gameplay. As a result, we will wait to see if a patch resolves this issue by release, and provide our score afterward.
Halo: Campaign Evolved – What’s New?
The first Halo is far from unplayable today, thanks to the Master Chief Collection. It is available on PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S, and Combat Evolved Anniversary has aged surprisingly well visually due to its art style, which never depended heavily on realism.
While there is certainly room for modernizing gameplay, I admit I have not extensively played the original Halo. My faint memories include trying a PC demo years ago. Notably, the original lacked a sprint function, which this remake introduces. Players can now traverse larger distances with greater speed.
Furthermore, the developers have claimed to have made some tweaks to the levels, but the core experience remains the same as it was in 2001. Over ten missions, players navigate the narrative of how Master Chief, alongside the crew of the Pillar of Autumn, finds himself on the artificial ringworld of Halo, making a grim discovery. The adventure can be experienced solo or in a co-op mode that now accommodates teams of up to four players.
Missed Opportunities in World-Building
The plot is straightforward yet effective, enriched by several twists and beautifully reimagined in this remake. The updated cutscenes particularly shine, along with expertly designed levels that Halo Studios has set in motion. However, one area where Halo 1 falters is its ability to immerse players in its universe.
Though I have limited experience with the series, I am generally aware of Master Chief’s backstory, yet the game barely scratches the surface. The same goes for the conflict between the Covenant and humanity. There was significant potential to elaborate on the lore in this remake, providing insights beyond the well-hidden terminals that unlock background text within the levels.
Conclusion: A Beautiful Yet Flawed Remake
Halo: Campaign Evolved is a visually stunning remake that manages to modernize certain aspects of the gameplay while staying true to the original. However, the absence of competitive multiplayer and a failure to delve deeply into its lore might leave some fans wanting more. Whether the upgrade is worth the asking price remains a question attendees of this franchise must ponder.
