The enduring appeal of Halo: Combat Evolved, even 25 years after its release, remains potent, as evidenced by its recent remake, Halo: Campaign Evolved. The original's familiar weight of weaponry, atmospheric installations, and iconic sound design continue to resonate, serving as a reminder of its significance to Xbox history. This legacy is particularly relevant as the Halo franchise navigates a period of uncertainty.
Halo Infinite, the series' latest entry, faced considerable challenges during its development. It was tasked with launching a console, concluding a long-standing narrative while simultaneously initiating a new one, and establishing itself as a decade-spanning platform. However, it ultimately fell short of these ambitious goals. Following Infinite's performance, 343 Industries underwent restructuring, shifting from its proprietary Slipspace engine to Unreal Engine 5, and a significant directional change was made with the Master Chief's appearance on PlayStation.
Despite these broader franchise struggles, Halo Infinite succeeded in revitalizing the core gameplay loop that defined the original 2001 title. Halo: Combat Evolved's early sections expertly immersed players in its intergalactic conflict, introducing a compelling setting with expansive areas where enemies would appear from the horizon. This structure, a cycle of reaching a location, surviving enemy waves, and advancing, was a hallmark of the original and is effectively carried forward in Campaign Evolved. Halo Infinite modernized this approach, transforming the gameplay space into a truly open world. Enemies were scattered across diverse landscapes, occupying bases, engaging UNSC soldiers, and patrolling with vehicles ripe for hijacking. This design granted players unprecedented freedom to approach combat scenarios with a creative array of new weapons and tools.
The inclusion of the Grappleshot, Infinite's take on a wrist-mounted grappling hook, was a standout addition. Provided from the outset, it significantly enhanced Master Chief's combat capabilities. The tool allowed for dynamic traversal, enabling players to grapple onto enemies for melee finishers, pull explosives for tactical deployment, and execute surprise attacks. This mechanic refined the franchise's established formula by accentuating its fundamentals rather than introducing disparate hero-like abilities.
However, Halo Infinite was not without its shortcomings. Its opening hours were perceived as drawn-out, delaying the player's entry into the open world. The expanded, explorable environments came at the cost of the varied locales found in earlier titles, lacking the distinctiveness of missions like "The Silent Cartographer." Furthermore, the narrative of Halo Infinite proved difficult to follow for players not immersed in the expanded universe lore following Halo 5, particularly concerning Cortana's fate. The game's narrative complexity and its focus on its evolving platform status inadvertently alienated new players.
These factors likely contributed to Halo Studios' decision to reorient the franchise, aiming to reconnect with its core identity and re-establish its future. While this strategic shift is understandable, it would be a disservice to overlook Halo Infinite's significant contributions to refining the series' original gameplay. Despite its flaws, Infinite stands as the most compelling campaign since the conclusion of the original Master Chief saga under Bungie. For Halo Studios to recapture the franchise's former glory, it must draw valuable lessons from both its recent past and its foundational origins.