It may feel peculiar, even sacrilegious, to play Halo on a PlayStation console. The iconic sci-fi shooter series is synonymous with Xbox, yet a new remake, dubbed Halo: Campaign Evolved, achieves the seemingly impossible by not only bringing the original Halo: Combat Evolved to Sony's platform but by enhancing it significantly. This remake is a substantial departure from the 2011 Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, offering a more profound transformation of the 2001 classic.
A Familiar Story, Reimagined
Campaign Evolved retells the tale of Master Chief Petty Officer John-117 awakening aboard a besieged starship, tasked with escaping with the AI Cortana to a mysterious ringworld. The Covenant, an alien alliance, seeks this ring for their own inscrutable purposes. While the core narrative remains, the remake introduces three new prequel missions set a year before the original game's events. These missions explore the ongoing galactic war between humanity and the Covenant, showcasing humanity's desperate struggle against a technologically superior foe. They provide valuable context, highlighting the dire state of human forces and setting the stage for the main campaign.
These new chapters delve into the relationship between Master Chief and Sergeant Johnson, offering glimpses into Master Chief's character that were largely absent in the original. Players see his sense of humor and loyalty, and even a certain shyness around unfamiliar marines, providing a more humanizing portrayal of the Spartan super-soldier. The prequel missions also resonate with the tone of Halo: Reach, depicting a galaxy on the brink of extinction.
Beyond the new missions, the main campaign has also been redeveloped. Certain levels feature redesigned layouts and objectives, and new cutscenes enrich character development and foreshadow events from Halo 2. The inclusion of characters like Miranda Keyes, daughter of Captain Keyes, is now woven into the narrative, aligning the first game with the established lore of later entries.
Overhauled Gameplay and Visuals
Developed in Unreal Engine 5, Campaign Evolved boasts a significant visual upgrade over the original. More importantly, gameplay mechanics have been overhauled to align the first Halo with its successors. The addition of features like sprinting and aiming down sights on all weapons fundamentally alters the feel of combat. While mechanics like vehicle hijacking, which debuted in Halo 2, are now present, their impact feels limited by their infrequent appearance.
The larger, more visually striking environments and expanded combat arenas contribute to a more expansive experience. However, the remake maintains the core essence of the original, making the changes noticeable but not a complete departure. It successfully integrates elements from later games, such as the introduction of the Brutes, which clarifies their presence in titles like Halo 2 and Halo: Reach despite not appearing in the original Halo: Combat Evolved.
Campaign Evolved is positioned as the new definitive way to experience the original Halo story, surpassing even the Anniversary edition. The narrative adjustments, particularly the early inclusion of Miranda Keyes and the Brutes, create a more cohesive and coherent overarching story for the Master Chief saga.
Lingering Issues
Despite the significant improvements, Campaign Evolved is not without its flaws. The two new characters introduced in the prequel missions—a Covenant prophet and a human fireteam leader—are underdeveloped, feeling like generic sci-fi archetypes. This is a missed opportunity, especially given the successful character work seen in the Master Chief and Sergeant Johnson dynamic.
Furthermore, the game's checkpoint system can be inconsistent and frustrating. Automatic checkpoints trigger seemingly erratically, sometimes leading to significant setbacks after defeat. This issue is more pronounced in the new prequel missions than in the main campaign, and while not game-breaking, it can detract from the overall experience, particularly on higher difficulties.
A Classic Reborn
These issues notwithstanding, Halo: Campaign Evolved is an exceptional remake. The strength of the original Halo: Combat Evolved, a game lauded for its explosive action, precise aiming, strategic combat, and memorable orchestral score, remains intact. The narrative shift from a straightforward war to a desperate struggle against an overwhelming new threat still holds its tension. Playing this foundational title on a PlayStation console is a novel experience, but the enduring quality of its story and gameplay makes Campaign Evolved a compelling revisit for veterans and an excellent entry point for newcomers. It stands as a testament to the original game's legacy, enhanced for a modern audience.