Halo: Campaign Evolved has launched for premium edition pre-orders, allowing players to revisit the Master Chief's seminal introduction. For those who have yet to dive in, a full, unedited gameplay video of the opening "Pillar of Autumn" mission is now available.
The mission unfolds aboard the Pillar of Autumn, where Master Chief is awakened from cryosleep during a Covenant invasion. The player assists Captain Keyes and UNSC marines in fighting through enemy ranks before escaping on a departing vessel. The sequence concludes with Master Chief and surviving marines investigating the halo, following Keyes' apparent sacrifice.
According to reviews, Halo: Campaign Evolved is a standout remake, leveraging Unreal Engine 5 for stunning visuals and smooth performance. The game maintains faithfulness to the original while offering a fresh experience. It also includes three new missions set a year prior to the main campaign, featuring Master Chief alongside Sergeant Avery Johnson, and new skulls that enhance replayability. This version is considered the definitive iteration of the first Halo game, and it sets a positive precedent for potential remakes of Halo 2 and 3.