Halo: Campaign Evolved – my first time playing the remake of cult classic shooter
Halo: Campaign Evolved is a completely new version of the Xbox flagship shooter. After playing through two missions, I’m convinced: Master Chief still has what it takes – even if his age is starting to show.
Twenty-five years ago, Halo made first-person shooters mainstream on consoles. With Halo: Campaign Evolved, the classic game is now back in all its modern glory. Unlike the Master Chief Collection, which was released in 2014, this remake was developed from the ground up. Instead of using its own engine, Microsoft is relying on Unreal Engine 5. The animations, voice acting and soundtrack have also been revamped or re-recorded.
On top of that, there are three brand-new missions that shed light on the backstory of the Halo saga. I haven’t had a chance to try these out yet, but I did get to blast through the classics The Silent Cartographer and Assault on the Control Room.
Source: Halo Studios
Turning old into new
It doesn’t have the same wow factor it used to. This is clear after just a few minutes of playing. Bearing in mind, that behind the modern look lies a game that’s 25 years old. It’s one that’s aged pretty well, but the gameplay won’t blow anyone away these days. But it still puts you in good mood. The first mission begins on a beautiful sandy beach. A shimmering blue streak stretches across the sky on the horizon. I still find the concept of the Ringworld – the halo that gives the book its title – fascinating.
Source: Halo Studios
Since I’m playing alone, two UNSC soldiers are accompanying me. If I wanted to, I could play with three other people online, or with two people locally in split-screen mode. After we’ve taken down the first aliens – the Covenant – we come across a Warthog. Before I set off in the legendary vehicle to hunt down the screeching aliens, I adjust the controls. Bungie got a lot of things right back then, but using the analogue stick to accelerate should be banned. Fortunately, in the remake, I can accelerate and brake using the trigger buttons, just like in modern games.
Let’s go! I race to the next destination that Cortana’s already marked for me. Everything there gets blown to smithereens. My AI companion at the turret is doing its job almost too well, and I’m left with only the stragglers. The opponents don’t pose much of a challenge yet. Later on, however, I find myself wishing I had a mouse and keyboard on several occasions to improve my aim. Since I’m visiting the editorial office in Hamburg at the time of this review, I «only» have the Xbox Series X and a controller with me.
Source: Halo Studios
Great graphics can’t make up for everything
Halo: Campaign Evolved offers a mix of expansive outdoor areas and winding, temple-like indoor levels. While the outdoor areas impress with their expansive views and varied vegetation, the interior looks more monotonous. It’s hard to orientate yourself in the sterile interior and it quickly becomes monotonous. It doesn’t help that the missions in these narrow, linear levels usually just involve running from one terminal to the next.
Source: Halo Studios
On the other hand, the game excels in its lighting, which really shines in the indoor environments. When a massive hunter steps out of the shadows with the sunlight behind him and fires his green plasma weapon, it looks impressive. In general, the colourful effects create a real visual spectacle.
Source: Halo Studios
Quality mode wasn’t recommended to me because it’s not stable enough in the preview build. That’s why I played in performance mode. Even with that, the game looks fantastic. Visually, Halo Studios pulls out all the stops. Since I mainly played the original’s multiplayer mode, I’m missing out on those «aha» moments that long-time Halo fans probably have tons of. Without that nostalgic touch, the remake loses some of its charm. What impresses me most about Halo: Campaign Evolved is where it has always shone: the action.
He’s still got it
The difficulty level increases in the second mission. While it may be enough to just throw grenades haphazardly at first, later battles require more strategy. The combination of open-world level design and a variety of alien types, each with their own attack patterns, makes every encounter unique. Master Chief can now sprint, which further speeds up the pace of the game. If you prefer a more minimalist approach, you can disable this feature using one of the new modifiers – otherwise known as the Skulls. You can also play the game in third-person view.
Source: Halo Studios
Inside, there’s a risk of being flanked; outside, I have to stay agile. I can’t play too aggressively, but I also can’t play too defensively. As soon as vehicles enter the picture, the dynamics change completely. Shooting aliens from the cockpit of a Ghost, hopping behind the wheel yourself, and running over enemies, only to be shoved out of the driver’s seat by an Elite moments later – it’s wicked! And when a Scorpion tank is waiting for me after a tough battle, my grin is wide. That’s the real Halo feeling.
Source: Halo Studios
The soundtrack’s just as important – from the choral singing in the theme song to the countless bangers that get my adrenaline pumping during the missions. Numerous iconic sound effects – such as an enemy shield shattering or your own shield recharging – are also an integral part of the experience. Thanks to the new Skulls, you can also customise the campaign with wacky modifiers like exploding enemies or «the floor is lava». This increases the game’s replay value.
A perfect trip down memory lane or a chance to catch up
Everyone should play Halo at least once – if only to give opponents a good thrashing in intense close-quarters combat. The remake brings this 25-year-old classic up to date. Visually, the Master Chief has never looked better. While the game’s age is evident in terms of gameplay, Halo: Campaign Evolved still packs a serious punch when it comes to its core action elements.
Halo: Campaign Evolved will be released on 28 July for PC, Xbox Series X/S, and PS5. I tested the Xbox version provided to me by Microsoft.
As a child, I wasn't allowed to have any consoles. It was only with the arrival of the family's 486 PC that the magical world of gaming opened up to me. Today, I'm overcompensating accordingly. Only a lack of time and money prevents me from trying out every game there is and decorating my shelf with rare retro consoles.
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