‘Halo: Campaign Evolved’ review: Tech issues aside, remake still thrills

23 Jul 2026, 08:00 by Dominic Baez · The Seattle Times

Video game review

It’s not a stretch to say that 2001’s “Halo: Combat Evolved” was a game-changer. A launch title for the original Xbox developed by Bellevue-based Bungie and published by Redmond-based Microsoft Game Studios, “Halo” was the reason to get an Xbox. It revolutionized the first-person shooter genre and left an indelible mark on the gaming community for the past quarter-century. So it’s no surprise the game has been rereleased with major upgrades not once but twice, first in 2011 with “Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary” (a remaster) and now with “Halo: Campaign Evolved” (a remake).

Ditching the multiplayer modes entirely and focusing completely on its story campaign (now you see why the name was changed), this new “Halo” once again drops players in a tense, thrilling sci-fi universe full of hostile aliens, otherworldly mysteries, striking locales and one badass supersoldier — and adds a wealth of changes and improvements. In the nearly 10 hours it took to get to the end credits, I was reminded again and again why the first “Halo” earned such raves — even if the remake isn’t as polished as it should be for a $50 game.

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“Halo: Campaign Evolved” once again has players controlling Master Chief, an enhanced soldier, during the 26th century amid a war raging between humanity and an alien alliance known as the Covenant. After suffering a devastating blow on the colony planet Reach, the crew of the starship Pillar of Autumn (which includes Master Chief) attempt to draw Covenant forces away, hoping to prevent them from learning Earth’s location. But home becomes the least of their worries as they discover an enormous ringworld floating in space (and now you know why the game is called “Halo”). The ship crash-lands on the ringworld, and from there it’s up to Master Chief and the artificial intelligence known as Cortana to save survivors, battle the Covenant, contend with the far more dangerous parasitic aliens known as the Flood and save the galaxy from a weapon of unthinkable destructive power. (There’s a lot going on here, admittedly.)

The most notable change in the remake is one already mentioned: no more multiplayer modes, though you can still play the game in co-op — two players for local, four for online. Also, for the first time, you can play on a PlayStation console, the PS5 (the remake offers cross-platform play and cross-progression). But that change is arguably the least important in the remake, which rebuilds the campaign from the ground up: It adds three lengthy new missions, which take place before the events of the main game, and overhauls the visuals, audio, level design, weapons, gameplay mechanics and more. It’s a remake in the truest sense, even if it doesn’t quite reach the levels of Capcom’s phenomenal “Resident Evil” remakes.

Starting with what you’ll notice first: the graphics. “Campaign Evolved,” using Unreal Engine 5, looks fantastic, and that new visual fidelity is the game’s best selling point. From the way blood smears and reflects on the floor to the grotesquely haunting life-forms you battle against, the game looks the best it ever has. Unfortunately, the cutscenes, as beautiful as they are, suffer from random frame-rate issues. The stutters aren’t quite immersion-breaking, but they are distinctly distracting.

Audio, also redone in the remake, has similar problems — cutting out, going static-y — though far less often. And the dialogue at times feels noticeably flat, almost robotic, in delivery. (I couldn’t help but think of calling the bank and listening to the automated options.) The score, though? That remains just as dazzling as ever, with operatic highs and eerie lows.

Combat-wise, “Campaign” gets some modern updates, including being able to sprint (a godsend) and the ability to activate Skulls, additions in later “Halo” games that allow you to modify gameplay (think infinite ammo or confetti shooting out of the enemies when you get a headshot). A few weapons from the sequels also show up, like the powerful Energy Sword and Brute Plasma Rifle (a favorite of mine).

The structure of the missions also got updated, though they aren’t quite as obvious as the visuals. If you’ve played the original, everything will still feel similar, but you may notice new enemies in different areas, slight design alterations and the like. It’s nothing drastic, but it’s fun to spot the differences. (You can also unlock Campaign Remix, which does exactly as it says: remixing completed campaign missions with randomized enemies, weapons, etc.)

I’m not sure anyone was clamoring for a remake of “Halo: Combat Evolved,” especially one that dropped the multiplayer modes. But if you’ve never experienced this iconic game or you’ve been seeking a reason to revisit it — it’s always hilarious to blast Covenant grunts as they scream, “I’ll bite your kneecaps off!” — “Halo: Campaign Evolved” brings enough to the table to be worth it.

‘Halo: Campaign Evolved’
Developed by Halo Studios, published by Xbox Game Studios; available on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5 and PC; rated M for Mature for blood and gore, language and violence; $49.99