In an era where we see the words “remake” and “remaster” plastered everywhere, it was only a matter of time for one of the most legendary FPS franchises out there to get either of these treatments. Lo and behold, Halo: Campaign Evolved arrived, and it did with the promise of reliving Master Chief’s first adventure with better visuals and improved gameplay, but that old-school feeling that probably opened the door to first-person shooters for many of us. Sadly, Campaign Evolved feels like a dichotomy: it’s neither new nor classic. It somehow manages to feel like a modern generic shooter at times, while diminishing parts that made Combat Evolved so iconic.
Beautiful Package With Lackluster Content
The one thing I’ll instantly praise again is Halo: Campaign Evolved‘s campaign, which shouldn’t be a shock, as it remains mostly unchanged from the one we experienced decades ago. What made this narrative such a highlight in the whole FPS genre was how easy it was to understand and how cohesive it felt, from waking up during a Covenant attack to trying to figure out what the titular Halo was—it was perfect.
In that sense, Campaign Evolved pays respect to it and even adds a few new things that might be a bit polarizing for some, such as brand-new cutscenes and minor changes to some levels. Yet, the broader aspect of the campaign is there.
Still, here comes one of my biggest gripes, which really made me feel as if I was playing a completely distinct game: the voice direction. While I have nothing against the voice actors, I do feel that several lines lack that urgency or seriousness, depending on the situation. Often, Cortana will feel too laid-back, especially during an event where she shouldn’t be, and in others, some deliveries feel as if they’re from a Marvel movie.
It is a shame, really, because despite the simple yet enticing story of the original game, it immersed you in this urgency of exploring a new planet and seeing it all unfold through Master Chief’s visor. But here, many cutscenes made some moments feel out of place and a complete downgrade to what we’ve seen in previous versions of the game. Thankfully, there are only a few instances of that, and the core gameplay of Halo: Campaign Evolved remains as excellent as one would expect.
One big surprise, which I applaud, is how Halo Studios managed to craft a true Halo experience that in some ways rivaled the masterpiece that Bungie created so many years ago. The superb gunplay, the bouncing grenades, and the weight behind each shot; it’s all there. Still, it isn’t perfect, as there are also instances where a few things feel underwhelming.
I’ve never felt so frustrated in my life when it comes to driving a Warthog, and it still baffles me to see just how bad the AI is. It doesn’t matter what stage you play, some enemies will just act strangely, with some not even reaching for cover and others running around like a headless Grunt. Out of all that underwhelming chaos, I appreciate the fact that some levels had different enemy placements with some unexpected surprises here and there.
Furthermore, the bonus missions are yet another addition that feels out of place. Many might be excited about another adventure with Master Chief and Johnson, but some poor writing choices, strange pacing, and a few frustrating sections bring the whole thing down. Add to that some notorious technical hiccups, and I would recommend everyone skip these new missions and focus on the campaign that is actually memorable.
Speaking of memorable, another thing I applaud is the plethora of Skulls to grab. Despite the many issues I have with Halo: Campaign Evolved, I admit the challenge factor is there, and it feels better than in previous iterations. While there are some familiar Skulls, some new ones are a welcome addition, which will have many players grabbing a few buddies for some co-op action with the wildest modifiers out there.
Full of Technical Hurdles
To this day, I can’t grasp just how complicated playing a game has become. In the past, all you had to do was insert a disc and start playing. Now, it’s all about account-linking, patch downloads, online requirements, and so on.
It is puzzling to see just how tedious playing Halo: Campaign Evolved in co-op is, especially in local play. You need to link accounts, have every player with their separate PSN profile, and then jump into the game. These decisions feel like a design regression, where in the past, all you had to do was plug in the other player’s controller to jump into the action. When a game frustrates you at the main menu, you know there’s something wrong with it.
Speaking of which, I still can’t recover from the fact that there isn’t multiplayer in Halo: Campaign Evolved. The one FPS franchise that made multiplayer shooters so famous and established the bases for the genre to the point that many follow the staples of Combat Evolved lacks any form of multiplayer, which is as ironic as it can get. I wish I could say the campaign is enough to carry the title, but it is not, especially when looking at all the technical potholes along the way.
For me, Halo: Combat Evolved remains a gem that has aged surprisingly well. Combat and story aside, it had one remarkable thing: its art direction. And yes, that’s all thanks to how strong Bungie’s art style has been in any of its projects. Say what you want about Marathon, but no other extraction shooter reaches the levels of ghostly beauty with such gorgeous contrasting colors and a landscape that feels like an actual alien planet.
Halo: Campaign Evolved, on the other hand, feels like any other photorealistic Unreal Engine game: generic. Even if I appreciate the high-definition of some weapons, Master Chief’s armors, and textures in some missions, the truth is that it takes away most of what made Combat Evolved so memorable. The gloomy places, the beautiful color palette that gave locations that unique visual touch, and the eerie corridors that felt dangerous as you went from one section of a mission to another don’t hit the same way here. It has gone from jaw-dropping to frame-dropping, too.
Performance is, sadly, another stain on this remake. While some open areas feel great to play, there are some sections full of stutter, especially during the infamous bonus missions—as if we needed another reason to avoid them. If this was a way for Halo Studios to test Unreal Engine for other remakes, it backfired, as it removed the style that made Halo the immersive experience it was and also introduced some frustrating visual issues.
Campaign Devolved
While I enjoyed revisiting some of the levels I played back when I was a kid and had to run to the nearest internet cafe to rent an Xbox for a couple of hours a day, the truth is that Halo: Campaign Evolved doesn’t offer much to those who have played this adventure before in its many iterations we’ve seen. In some ways, it doesn’t even feel like it warrants an immediate purchase, as some other versions of the game that kicked off this franchise play way better.
Still, there are some wins here and there that prevent this remake from sinking. In terms of gameplay, it feels like a proper Halo experience with some welcome quality-of-life additions. Yet, the lack of multiplayer, annoying co-op requirements, lackluster bonus missions, and poor voice direction make Halo: Campaign Evolved feel like one of the weakest ways to experience Master Chief’s first mission.
Review copy provided by the publisher.
Halo: Campaign Evolved (PS5 Reviewed)
Halo: Campaign Evolved might provide a trip down memory lane, but it does so with several technical issues, questionable design choices, poor voice direction, and lackluster bonus missions that don't enhance what already was an unforgettable campaign.
Pros
- The return of Skulls
- A mostly unchanged campaign
- Gunplay is still great
Cons
- Several performance issues
- Frustrating enemy AI
- Underwhelming bonus missions
- No multiplayer
