Over my many years, I’ve enjoyed every Halo title. I wouldn’t call myself a superfan, but Halo has always been one of my most beloved game series, which made me especially curious about what Halo: Campaign Evolved would bring to the table. Thankfully, in my eyes it doesn’t disappoint. Halo: Campaign Evolved is everything you’d expect from a modern take on this classic campaign, keeping the qualities that made the original so memorable while giving us the experience with a fresh coat of paint. For longtime fans, and players discovering the series for the first time possibly on a PlayStation 5, it’s shaping up to be a welcome return of one of gaming’s most iconic sci-fi adventures.
Let’s get into what’s actually brand new, the prequel missions. Halo Studios developed three original missions that take place before the events of Halo: Combat Evolved, following Master Chief and Sgt. Johnson as they infiltrate a Covenant vessel in pursuit of a high-profile target. I initially worried these missions would feel like a rehash of Truth and Reconciliation from the original campaign, but thankfully, that’s not the case. While the first mission may share some familiar DNA, the second and third missions take place in completely original environments, making it clear that there was genuine new content that went into expanding the campaign. The missions also introduce a wider selection of weapons, adding some familiar firearms that weren’t available in the original Combat Evolved. Even the Brutes make an appearance, adding another enemy type that wasn’t part of the original campaign. These prequel missions give the player some new variety and are kind of like a bonus cherry on top.
While the first mission may share some familiar DNA, the second and third missions take place in completely original environments, making it clear that there was genuine new content that went into expanding the campaign.
The main campaign is arguably the best work 343, now Halo Studios, has done during its tenure. When Campaign Evolved was first announced, I was skeptical. Who really needed a second remake of a game that still holds up today, especially when the first game had its Anniversary treatment? Halo: Combat Evolved is timeless, and Halo: The Master Chief Collection nearly perfected the game, but then I remembered that it had been 15 years since Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary was released, so perhaps the timing made more sense than I initially thought. Going in, I expected some spruced-up visuals and a handful of modern flourishes, but Campaign Evolved turned out to be much more thoughtful than that. This is a love letter to the classic FPS that started it all on consoles, and that respect for Bungie’s original vision is evident throughout the campaign. The visuals have been significantly enhanced without losing the identity of the original game, while an expanded arsenal and modern gameplay additions help make the experience feel more at home in today’s FPS landscape. Halo Studios even revisited some of the later levels, which many fans consider to be Combat Evolved’s weakest, and added new elements to keep those sections feeling fresh. For example, there’s a new Flood enemy type that wasn’t present in the original, giving even familiar encounters an extra layer of unpredictability. The campaign also incorporates modern mechanics such as sprinting and aiming down sights, while health packs have been removed in favor of health regeneration when you’re out of combat. Even the Overshield and Active Camouflage have been reworked, returning as familiar power-ups that can now be equipped with the press of a button when you need them. Taken together, these changes make Campaign Evolved feel less like a simple remake and more like Halo Studios carefully reexamining what made the original great while bringing it forward for a modern audience.
One of the changes I wasn’t expecting to see was the added variety in the collectible Skulls hidden throughout each level. Campaign Evolved introduces several new Skulls to the mix, along with an entirely new mode that unlocks once you collect any three of them: Halo: Campaign Remix. This mode lets you replay the campaign with a randomized set of Skulls, or you can choose exactly which ones you want to activate. There are three Skulls in particular that are always enabled in this mode. One that allows enemies from across the game to appear in any level, meaning you could find yourself fighting the Flood on the Pillar of Autumn! A skull like this can make familiar missions surprisingly unpredictable. The other two randomize the weapons scattered throughout each level and prevent enemies from fighting among themselves, forcing them to focus entirely on you. Some of the other Skulls offer even more unusual twists, including one that switches the game to a third-person perspective, giving you a glimpse at how Halo might have felt if it had originally been released that way. Of course, plenty of the classic favorites are still here too, including Unlimited Ammo and the ever-popular Grunt Birthday Party, definitely a favorite of mine. The expanded Skull system adds a welcome layer of replayability and gives longtime players plenty of new ways to experience a campaign they probably know by heart.
For those who got their jollies from Halo’s multiplayer, there is one important catch, as the name suggests, Campaign Evolved is focused entirely on the campaign. There is no traditional player-versus-player multiplayer here. Personally, I didn’t find myself missing it, but I know multiplayer is a huge part of Halo’s appeal for a lot of players, so its absence is worth pointing out. Thankfully, co-op is still here, and it’s just as much fun as ever. You can team up with up to three other players and tackle the entire campaign together, having fun Halo moments with friends.
As a Halo fan, I’m genuinely proud of the work Halo Studios has done with Campaign Evolved, and it has me excited to see where the series goes from here. The original campaign was already as fun as ever, and the work put into this remake makes it look and play better without losing what made it special in the first place. The new Remix mode also adds a surprising amount of replayability, whether you’re playing solo or tackling the campaign cooperatively with friends. My biggest complaint is that I simply wanted more of the new prequel missions. After seeing what Halo Studios has accomplished here, I’m excited about the future of the franchise and hopeful that this success could eventually lead to remakes of Halo 2, Halo 3, or even Halo: Reach. Whatever comes next, I’m looking forward to seeing where Halo Studios takes it.
