I’ve been a fan of Halo since 2001’s Halo: Combat Evolved, and it’s hard to believe that we’re now 25 years removed from the first entry of this franchise. While the series has had its ups and downs over the years, Halo Studios, formerly known as 343 Industries, has decided to take a crack at that very first game (once again), this time in Unreal Engine 5.
That being said, Halo: Campaign Evolved sticks very closely to its 2001 counterpart, and it’s hard to argue with the results. If you’re a fan or a newcomer, Halo: Campaign Evolved is quite simply the best way to experience the game, thanks to its slick visuals, solid performance and new bonus missions that flesh out both Master Chief and Sergeant Johnson’s escapades before the events of the first game.
As good as this experience is, however, it still relies heavily on your enjoyment of that first game, and the series as a whole. While this remake improves on various pain points and flaws of the original game, its level design and story structure are almost identical.
We’re Back, Chief
It’s always fun to jump back into this franchise, from Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary on the Xbox 360 to the Master Chief Collection on Xbox One. With those upgrades and enhancements in mind, it’s admittedly interesting that Halo Studios decided to tackle Combat Evolved all over again, considering those prior updates were already solid.
While Halo: Campaign Evolved offers new cinematic cutscenes and much nicer visuals, this is without a doubt the same campaign we played in 2001. That really isn’t a bad thing, however, as it’s packed with great writing, memorable sequences and some solid open-ended level design that helps with overall world building.
Humanity is essentially at war with an alien race known as the Covenant, as the game begins with the UNSC ship, the Pillar of Autumn, being ambushed. Master Chief and his new artificial intelligence-based assistant, Cortana, narrowly escape the attack, causing them to land on a nearby ring structure, which is soon discovered to be Halo.
Exploring Halo accidentally unleashes the Flood, a dangerous parasitic lifeform that is set to be unleashed, threatening not only humanity, but all life as we know it. As the stakes rise, Master Chief and Cortana must race against the clock to stop the Flood and hold back the Covenant in the process.
It’s a story that will feel instantly familiar to anyone who has played the original, but the fresh cinematic cutscenes really do make this worth checking out for longtime fans. There’s a level of detail in both the character designs and broader environments that has not been fully realised until now, and it all looks fantastic.
There’s a more organic and relatable tone the story takes as a result, thanks to marines that actually look terrified, or Sergeant Johnson’s smirk that now matches his sarcastic and confident demeanour.
Above it all, Halo: Campaign Evolved is fun and engaging for several reasons. While I think gunplay and general gameplay is as good as ever, and the Legendary mode is the ultimate test, the game is still incredibly challenging. Like the good old days, you can even jump in with a friend via 2-player local cooperative play, and now even with up to four players online.
I remember finishing Halo: Combat Evolved via split-screen cooperative play in a single night, so it’s nice to see that Halo Studios has included it here.
I still have a few gripes with Halo: Campaign Evolved, but it’s hard to determine the cause. For example, you’ll still spend plenty of time in smaller corridors and Covenant ships, most of which can feel a little repetitive after a while. There are some new Brutes to help with enemy variety, but for the most part, you’ll be taking one wave of Grunts throughout. I feel these are ultimately issues caused by remaining faithful to the level design of the original game.
What’s New
It’s not all familiar, though. Halo: Campaign Evolved has added Operation METEORITE, a small, three-mission campaign that focuses on Master Chief and Sergeant Johnson essentially learning more about the Covenant, as they infiltrate one of their ships to steal navigation data.
Set one year before the events of the main campaign, Operation METEORITE plays out like more of a fast-paced action thriller that’s packed with fancy setpieces as opposed to any real character development. It’s over within 2-3 hours, but it’s a ride worth taking.
Heading back to the main campaign, however, does feel slightly fresher, mechanically speaking. For example, you’re now able to sprint by clicking in the left stick, and vehicle controls have been overhauled, in line with more modern driving games and controls. I still feel the Warthog is a little tricky to steer, but it’s a step in the right direction.
There’s also a bunch of new Skulls to find, which add new and exciting gameplay modes. There’s even one which allows you to play the game in third-person, which I feel isn’t talked about enough.
Finally, finding any three Skulls will unlock the Campaign Remix mode, which grants you access to three Skulls automatically when playing: Adaptation, Reload, and Armistice. These will change enemy spawn locations, weapon placements and even the way enemies attack you, all of which generally make the experience a little tougher.
You’ll even be able to activate Nightvision and Spore mods, the former of which gives Master Chief permanent green night vision, while the latter covers the environment in a thick fog. It’s a decent amount of fun that only really exists to add replay value, but I appreciate it nonetheless.
Look the Part
The choice to rebuild Halo: Campaign Evolved in Unreal Engine 5 has ultimately paid off, and I’m a fan of just how good this looks, without ever really losing sight of what made the original so charming. While I would have appreciated some sort of retro filter or mode that allows players to switch back and forth between updated and original visuals, this looks fantastic.
Players can choose between a Quality Mode that delivers higher fidelity and ray tracing, locking the experience at 30 FPS, while the Performance Mode aims for 60 FPS at the cost of visual fidelity.
I review most games on my PS5 Pro, and with the Performance Mode prioritised here, I was pleasantly surprised. Frame rates will drop in more chaotic encounters, but it’s nothing too drastic.
I would also just like to take a second here to point out the game’s soundtrack. I’m sure that fans of the franchise will need no introduction, but I can’t get over how good most of these tracks are today.
When all is said and done, I can’t help but feel this newer version built in Unreal Engine 5 is a test for something bigger in the future.
Final Thoughts
Halo: Campaign Evolved might not redefine or even reinvigorate the franchise, but it’s hard to argue that this isn’t the best way to experience the original game.
Operation METEORITE is also a bunch of fun while it lasts, and the addition of new Skulls and the Campaign Remix mode adds some significant replay value when playing alone or cooperatively with friends.
FOUR STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
Highlights: Same great story and writing; Slick visuals and solid performance; New Skulls and Campaign Remix are great; Operation METEORITE is short, but worth checking out
Lowlights: Won’t win over those who aren’t fond of the original game;
Developer: Halo Studios
Publisher: XBOX Game Studios
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Windows PC
Available: 29th of July
Review conducted on PlayStation 5 Pro with a code provided by the publisher.
Featured header image also provided by the publisher.
