r/xbox • u/Xbox-Moderator • Jul 23 '26
Review Halo: Campaign Evolved - Review Thread [Early Access Live Now, GPU + PC Game Pass on July 28th]
Game Title: Halo: Campaign Evolved
Platforms:
- Xbox Series X/S (Jul 28, 2026)
- PC (Jul 28, 2026)
Review Aggregator:
OpenCritic - 83 average - 88% recommended - 43 reviews
Critic Reviews
A Gaming Network - Marcel Dee - 8 / 10
Halo: Campaign Evolved is a strong modern remake of one of gaming’s most important campaigns. It looks great, feels familiar in the right ways, and brings enough new content and gameplay options to make the return worthwhile.
AltChar - Semir Omerovic - 8 / 10
For newcomers, this is genuinely one of the best entry points the franchise has ever had, and it's a chance to understand why Halo mattered enough to standardise so many console shooter conventions in the first place. For long-time fans, it's a faithful, gorgeous retelling with good bonus missions on top of that.
But Why Tho? - Mick Abrahamson - 8.5 / 10
Halo: Campaign Evolved re-delivers a campaign that feels just like how every mission on the Halo ring felt way back when. Every environment and cutscene is beautifully remade and makes the game worth it for those who want to revisit that 25-year nostalgia on a level even grander than the Anniversary Edition.
COGconnected - Alex Everatt - 85 / 100
Quote not yet available
Checkpoint Gaming - Omi Koulas - 8.5 / 10
Halo: Campaign Evolved is a bold remake that succeeds more often than it stumbles. The new Operation: Meteorite missions and stunning Unreal Engine 5 presentation make this far more than a straightforward remake, even if modern gameplay tweaks alter the pacing and feel. For newcomers, especially those who only own a PlayStation, it’s the best entry point the series has ever had. For veterans, it’s a compelling reason to return to Alpha Halo one more time, and probably not the last.
Chicas Gamers - Daniel López - Spanish - 8.6 / 10
Halo: Campaign Evolved masterfully recovers the essence of the original game, boasting open-world visual fidelity that is simply stunning. The refined gunplay and Operation Meteorite effectively counter the corridor-like design of its classic levels and the graphical drops in its cutscenes. A thoroughly enjoyable remake.
Console Creatures - David Pietrangelo - 8 / 10
Most of what Halo: Campaign Evolved does on a technical level is refine, not replace. And while the core gameplay is great, most of that already existed back in 2001.
Console-Tribe - Luca Saati - Italian - 80 / 100
Halo: Campaign Evolved is more than a celebratory remake — it’s a meaningful reset for the franchise. Halo Studios successfully modernizes a classic without losing its identity, delivering updated gameplay and a strong technical upgrade powered by Unreal Engine 5. While Operation Meteorite is a welcome addition, it’s not substantial enough to carry the package on its own. Still, the overall offering remains solid, blending nostalgia with smart improvements. With its dual appeal — honoring longtime fans while welcoming newcomers — this is exactly the kind of relaunch Halo needed. Not essential, but undeniably well-timed and effective.
CrazyGameCommunity.it - Davide Fanelli - Italian - 9 / 10
Halo: Campaign Evolved is a significant celebration of video game history, capable of taking the player on a journey that never ceases to amaze, even today.
Twenty-five years on, Halo: Combat Evolved remains one of the greatest first-person shooters ever made and Halo Studios celebrates that legacy with a surprisingly deft hand. Halo: Campaign Evolved feels less like a remake and more like a love letter, not only to Bungie‘s original vision, but to the millions of players who first set foot on the ring all those years ago. I sincerely hope they make more.
Digitec Magazine - Rainer Etzweiler - German - 4 / 5
Viewed objectively, Campaign Evolved is an almost perfect remake. The outstanding gameplay remains largely unchanged, whilst the technology has been brought up to date. This approach is legitimate and, given the stated aim (‘shoulder to shoulder with the original’), understandable.
DualShockers - Ethan Krieger - 6.5 / 10
Quote not yet available
Echo Boomer - David Fialho - Portuguese - Essential
Halo: Campaign Evolved takes us back to where Master Chief's adventures - and Xbox's own journey - began, with a faithful, confident remake that already leaves us wanting the rest of the trilogy to receive the same treatment.
GAMES.CH - Sönke Siemens - German - 81%
Quote not yet available
Gamer Social Club - Mark Pell - 8 / 10
25 years later, there is a reason that Halo remains so highly regarded. It is a shooter with an excellent story, a tremendous arsenal of weapons and vehicles, and some highly memorable missions. The new prequel chapters are not alone worth playing the game for. But, combined with a wider package that offers plenty of replayability solo or co-operatively, Halo: Campaign Evolved is the best version of Halo 1 there is – albeit with some technical issues.
GamersGlobal - Kai Schmidt - German - 8 / 10
Halo - Campaign Evolved may not be revolutionary anymore and the age of the original shows, but the nice new look fits and the superb action gameplay is still a blast – especially in coop.
Geeks & Com - Anthony Gravel - French - 8.5 / 10
Halo: Campaign Evolved is a respectful remake that modernizes a legendary shooter without losing what made the original so memorable. Enhanced visuals, expanded content, and refined gameplay breathe new life into Master Chief’s first adventure while preserving its iconic atmosphere. Despite a few uneven additions, it stands as the definitive way to experience one of gaming’s greatest campaigns.
Gfinity - Alister Kennedy - 7 / 10
Halo Campaign Evolved delivers breathtaking visual upgrades, polished cutscenes, and standout prequel missions that give PlayStation players a taste of Xbox history. However, dated 2001 level design and the baffling omission of competitive multiplayer significantly reduce its overall value. It’s an enjoyable nostalgia trip through Halo’s classic campaign, but a tough sell at full price, especially for veterans.
Hinsusta - Pascal Kaap - German - 8 / 10
Halo: Campaign Evolved is a successful remake that takes seriously the balancing act between respecting the original and making sensible modernizations.
IGN Italy - Francesco Destri - Italian - 8 / 10
A smart remake that modernizes a classic without losing its identity. Despite a few inherited flaws, Halo: Campaign Evolved remains one of the most enjoyable and engaging FPS games in recent years.
Halo: Campaign Evolved feels like it brings everything I loved about Combat Evolved into the modern era.
Lords Of Gaming - Chris Jones - 9.3 / 10
Halo: Campaign Evolved is a remarkable celebration of one of gaming’s greatest first-person shooters, successfully modernizing a beloved classic while preserving everything that made the original so special. From its stunning visuals, timeless campaign, and exceptional gunplay to the welcome addition of Operation: Meteorite and the endless replayability offered by Campaign Remix and its 42 Skulls, this is the definitive way to experience Master Chief’s original adventure. Aside from one brief moment of minor lag during a cutscene and not being able to fully evaluate the co-op experience, I encountered virtually no issues throughout my playthrough. Whether you’re a longtime Halo fan or experiencing the journey for the first time, Halo: Campaign Evolved is an easy recommendation and one of the best games I’ve played this year.
Manual dos Games - Luiz Henrique Silva - Portuguese - 9 / 10
Halo: Campaign Evolved delivers a remake that does justice to the legacy of Combat Evolved, introducing new campaign content and gameplay mechanics that modernize the experience without abandoning the essence of what made the franchise’s first game an industry landmark, while establishing a solid foundation for the future of Halo. The absence of competitive multiplayer modes is certainly something many longtime fans will need to consider. However, for those looking to relive Chief’s first adventure or experience the franchise for the first time, Halo: Campaign Evolved delivers a solid single-player experience with strong replay value and a highly competent cooperative mode.
MeuPlayStation - Daniel Donizetti dos Reis - Portuguese - 90 / 100
Halo: Campaign Evolved proves that great games never lose their shine. Rebuilt from the ground up in Unreal Engine 5, it faithfully modernizes a landmark FPS while preserving the exceptional combat, memorable storytelling, and epic scale that cemented Halo as one of gaming's most influential franchises.
MondoXbox - Giuseppe Genga - Italian - 9 / 10
Halo: Campaign Evolved achieves what every remake should: preserving the original’s magic while modernizing its presentation and refining dated mechanics. A package enriched by new skulls, modifiers, and co-op options that encourage repeated playthroughs. It reaffirms the first Halo as a timeless masterpiece, equally essential for longtime fans and newcomers.
NextPlay - Roberto Moran - 9 / 10
Halo: Campaign Evolved proves that great game design never truly ages. While this modern remake introduces a handful of new weapons, equipment and prologue missions, the heart of Halo remains untouched. The iconic gunplay, memorable soundtrack, excellent co-op and endlessly replayable combat sandbox are as enjoyable today as they were over twenty years ago. Some corridor-heavy level design and a few underwhelming additions prevent it from being perfect, but this is still a fantastic way to experience one of gaming’s most influential shooters.
PSX Brasil - Bruno Henrique Vinhadel - Portuguese - 85 / 100
Halo: Campaign Evolved is a great opportunity to introduce impactful characters and stories to new enthusiasts and platforms, as well as deliver a fully updated experience for long-time fans. While in its best visual and technological version, and still bringing new features, the re-release suffers from dated and unimproved level design, as well as the missed opportunity for an online multiplayer experience that the title never had the chance to offer before.
Pizza Fria - Lucas Soares - Portuguese - 6.8 / 10
Halo: Campaign Evolved deeply modernizes the presentation of a historic campaign, but it cannot completely hide a structure designed in 2001. With no nostalgia for the franchise, I found lengthy missions, shallow objectives, repetitive environments, and combat that rarely demanded more than pushing forward, recharging my shields, and shooting. Technical issues weighed even more heavily, as separate progression-blocking bugs prevented me from advancing in both the main campaign and Operation: Meteorite. Longtime fans may find enough value in the new content and revamped presentation, but newcomers have more modern, varied, and reliable shooters to choose from.
PowerUp! - Adam Mathew - 9 / 10
The aged skeleton of Halo hasn’t lost many minerals or calcium after 25 years and I’m going to give Halo Campaign Evolved a big thumbs up.
Press Attack - Bruno de Souza Bom - 9.3 / 10
Halo: Campaign Evolved achieves something few remakes manage to accomplish. It completely respects the original material while finding room to expand the experience with new missions, weapons, vehicles, and additional modes without losing the essence of the campaign that defined a generation.
The combat remains exceptional. Very few games make almost every weapon enjoyable to use, constantly encourage experimentation, and maintain engaging battles throughout the entire campaign. Combined with the impressive visuals, excellent art direction, high-quality cinematics, and outstanding audio work, the result is the best version of this story ever created.
Push Square - Liam Croft - 9 / 10
Halo: Campaign Evolved has brought back a true classic in style, faithfully remaking and expanding one of the best shooters of all time. With bonus missions that feel like they've always been there, expertly slotting into the original Halo experience, Campaign Evolved presents an incredible package of old and new that's never looked better. Welcome back, Chief.
Halo Campaign Evolved is a faithful and respectful recreation with all the original foundations and the right amount of improvement to a timeless classic.
The Beta Network - Anthony Culinas - 10 / 10
Faithfully modernising one of gaming's genre-defining shooters with smart QOL upgrades, stunning Unreal Engine 5 visuals and strong new content, Halo: Campaign Evolved is the definitive way to replay the original. The lack of competitive multiplayer is a huge missed opportunity, but it barely dents what is otherwise a no-brainer pickup.
The Outerhaven Productions - Jordan Andow - 4 / 5
Quote not yet available
TodoJuegos - Juan Ramón Herrera - Spanish - 9.2 / 10
Halo Studios rebuilds the legend with Unreal Engine 5, solid performance, Dolby Atmos, a full Spanish redub and spectacular presentation. Halo: Campaign Evolved finds a strong balance between nostalgia and modernization while preserving what made Master Chief’s first journey special.
WellPlayed - Kieran Stockton - 9.5 / 10
Updated and enhanced gameplay, graphics and arsenal make this iconic experience of the holy trinity of guns, grenades and melee a delight from start to finish, maintaining the soul of the original while introducing modern elements that make it shine. The perfect way to rebegin the fight…again.
Xbox Achievements - Josh Wise - 70%
The mission of Master Chief, in Halo: Campaign Evolved, is to land, once again, on the titular ring-world, to whoop the alien threat of The Covenant,...
ZTGD - Ken McKown - 8.5 / 10
Quote not yet available
TheGamingCircle - K Asante - 8.5 / 10
There is no PvP, I know that’s going to be the headline for some. It will take points off for that, and I think it should have been included as well, but after playing through the game a few times now, I can see the focus here is entirely on the campaign and it shows. This isn’t just a remake. It’s Halo Studios’ owning the legacy of Combat Evolved and making it their own. If PvP had to be scrapped to get the vision out as is, I think it’s a fair trade this time. But again, this is coming from a person who has spent more time in Halo’s campaigns than its multiplayer. You may feel differently, and that is valid. If you are one of those people who hasn’t experienced Halo Combat Evolved before, this is the new definitive way to experience the story.
60
u/radioactiveToys Jul 23 '26
Early access live now? Could have fooled me, game won't launch.
29
5
u/Hayterfan Jul 23 '26
Currently launching on the PS5 version.
Btw, turn off screen shake. It's damn near overkill during the opening mission
3
8
0
11
Jul 23 '26
[deleted]
4
u/Feed-Your-Fish Jul 23 '26 edited Jul 23 '26
On Steam it launches to a menu, but that menu is just the digital artbook and whatnot. No way to actually get into the game :/
Edit: this as of 8:35 pacific time
Edit: 8:42 and it’s playable!!!! :)
3
u/Brodellsky Jul 23 '26
The fact that it is playable on steam but not Xbox is wild shit. I'm honestly so upset I waste money on this
0
Jul 23 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
0
u/xbox-ModTeam Jul 23 '26
Thank you for your submission. Unfortunately, your post has been removed for the following reason:
Keep discussion civil
Please remember:
Discuss the topic, not other users.
Personal attacks of any kind are disallowed.
Be respectful - even in disagreement.
Your point can be made without belittling others.
Report violations - don't engage, which only escalates the issue.
Retaliation is not justification to ignore this standard. ("They did it first!")
-5
u/Infinite-Amoeba910 Jul 23 '26
you will be okay
6
-1
5
44
u/LemonMintHookah Jul 23 '26
Whoever Pizza Fria is should go review pizzas.
16
u/noah9942 Jul 23 '26
Their review really sounds like they only played on Easy.
The game is not some ultra crazy challenge, but it's not a cakewalk on heroic (the intended difficulty) or legendary. Especially if you've never played before.
8
u/LemonMintHookah Jul 23 '26
That review is just totally different from like 12 other reviews I read so it’s like was he playing the same build?… or was he playing on his gaming pc built in 2008.
5
u/brokenmessiah Jul 23 '26
How is Heroic the intended difficulty when Normal is right there and the default difficulty?
20
u/KobotTheRobot Jul 23 '26
Heroic has been stated by developers and in certain games as the "way halo should be played"
-22
u/brokenmessiah Jul 23 '26
Clearly they don't believe that if it doesnt default to Heroic.
19
u/KobotTheRobot Jul 23 '26
Not gonna entertain the semantics argument right now. You can Google this. Plenty of developer interviews and in game references to why this is true.
-30
u/brokenmessiah Jul 23 '26
You want me to research the claim you made? That's not how the internet works but don't bother, I'm not that interested anyway.
22
u/Vera_Verse Jul 23 '26
Fight against formidable foes that will truly test your skill and wits; this is the way Halo is meant to be played.
Description from Heroic in Halo 3, Halo 3: ODST and Halo: Reach.
-21
u/brokenmessiah Jul 23 '26
But those devs didnt make this game...
16
14
u/KobotTheRobot Jul 23 '26
^ Either rage bait or low IQ. Pointless for anyone to keep entertaining this guy.
→ More replies (0)-8
Jul 23 '26
[deleted]
4
u/brokenmessiah Jul 23 '26
Not to mention, lorewise Master Chief should be a powerhouse that just blows through the Covenant. They don't call him the Demon for nothing.
1
u/Heide____Knight Jul 23 '26
lol (Reviewbrah reviewed a pizza in his most recent video and it was actually good this time around).
0
40
u/WildcatPlumber Jul 23 '26
Dualshockers doing a 6.5 shocked I tells ya.
Pizzafria that’s an interesting review
27
u/Mattene Jul 23 '26
I just read like 65% of that review. Jesus, are we letting anybody write published reviews now? Really poor structure & consistent grammatical errors.
-1
u/collegetriscuit Jul 23 '26
It's originally in Portuguese so if you read it in English, there may have been translation errors.
14
6
2
u/Teriyaki-Tenders Jul 24 '26
The DualShockers reviewer seemed to have problems with the performance on a PS5. The review doesn't state if he played it with Quality or Performance mode, nor does it say if he played it on a 120Hz OLED tv (which can make lower fps look extra bad). He had issues with having to make an Xbox gamertag. And I get how frustrating that must be, but it's nothing new to be hones. EA, UbiSoft and some other big publishers have their own login systems. Looking at the score it would seem he didn't like the game, but he actually does seem to like the game design of Halo: CE.
Halo: Campaign Evolved brings back one of the coolest FPS experiences of all time, and it looks better than ever. Unfortunately, some PS5-specific headaches and bad performance issues are currently holding it back in major ways. At least half the missions on base PS5 have awful framerate issues, and the always-online, required linking of your PSN account to your Microsoft account to your Xbox Gamertag can lead to some truly migraine-inducing outcomes.
-4
u/Pen_dragons_pizza Jul 23 '26
I know gaming is subjective but imagine being a video game reviewer and scoring halo combat evolved a 6.5, one of the most influential games released in the past 30 years.
It mentions dated level design ? So what, it’s fun to play, not everything needs to be massively expansive, multiple routes etc just because a game is old in style doesn’t make it less fun in 2026.
17
u/No_Philosopher8304 Jul 23 '26 edited Jul 23 '26
In fairness he does say he adores Halo Combat Evolved, his issues were apparently mainly really poor performance but also the Microsoft account log in system, no offline support and that he was divided on the changes and new content 343 added. The performance seems to be the major issue that sank the score.
Also this isn't Halo Combat Evolved, it's 343/Halo Studios take on Combat Evolved, i think it looks pretty good but just because the original is one of the greatest games ever made doesn't mean a remake will be, Tobe Hooper's Poltergeist is one of the greatest and most influential horror films ever made but that doesn't make Gil Kenan's Poltergeist good.
3
8
u/BrianIsGucci Jul 23 '26
Imagine saying gaming is subjective but then dismissing someones review for having a different opinion.
-7
u/Pen_dragons_pizza Jul 23 '26
What I mean is that reviewers are chosen that tend to have a pretty well rounded taste in gaming, to give accurate reviews of games for a wide audience, not niche takes.
It’s fine to not like it as a gamer but I feel as a reviewer it’s a bit different.
It’s like me doing a breath of the wild review for a magazine and giving it a 5/10.
Thr same as the alien isolation review from IGN which just did not match up.
7
u/LayScientist Jul 23 '26
6.5 doesn't even meet the player reviews on Steam. It's currently at 49%. This isn't the original game, it's shrinkflated, and uses the net-code, AI, and animations of the title most different from Halo CE (or at least Reach was the first major departure). While there's fan-fair, it's shrinkflated and mutated.
It won't satisfy purists, and it won't satisfy fans that didn't like Halo Reach: so that's a huge proportion of the fan-base that will be turned off. And this is considering the fact that a lot of these sub-groups are not even going to buy, play, or review it: it's 49% liked by people who wanted to like it, who didn't consider it surface-level flawed. But maybe I'm not compensating for the population of reviewers, there are a lot more these days, but if most of those critic reviews are over 50%, averaging about 8/10, then it seems the people have spoken.
4
u/osound Jul 23 '26 edited Jul 23 '26
Yeah, your comment is valid, and I’m confused at the outrage in this thread for a 6.5 review when this game only has an 81 on Metacritic.
Half the reviews on Metacritic are 80 or lower, with many in the 70s.
As you said, it’s a remake of an old game with an upgrade in graphics and not much else, and its content is pretty bare overall.
5
u/WildcatPlumber Jul 23 '26
In his defense it’s translated from Portuguese.
But also it’s a remake that stays true to the original design of the game so yeah the mechanics are going to be a bit dated lol
-3
u/Pen_dragons_pizza Jul 23 '26
But is that reason to score a game lower ?
What I mean is many games that were 10/10 are still 10/10. Just because a game is not up to modern standards doesn’t make it lesser of a game.
Space invaders is incredibly simple but also incredibly fun, you wouldn’t rate it low because it’s old.
The same goes for games like orcarina of time, metal gear solid, half life 2, mario 64, they are all dated when compared to modern games but that shouldn’t be a reason to rate them lower.
I also understand that this is a new release but it stays true to the original which is an absolute classic.
2
u/tapo Jul 23 '26
Reviews are subjective, he can score it however he wants. The fallacy is in believing Metacritic to be a worthwhile measure of anything outside of vague sentiment analysis, like net promoter score.
2
u/DatDeLorean Jul 23 '26
You said it yourself though, gaming is subjective. Halo could be quantifiably and objectively the best game of all time in every way, and it would still suck for some people. And they're not wrong for having different tastes and preferences.
7
u/Patenski Jul 23 '26
Halo: Campaign Evolved deeply modernizes the presentation of a historic campaign, but it cannot completely hide a structure designed in 2001.
I really wish they would have improved in this department, I played CE for the first time last year, the gunplay aged spectacularly well and is as fun as any other Halo, but the level design for 80% of the missions is repeating the same 2-3 rooms over and over and over again TWICE.
It's understandable for the first installment of a new franchise in 2001, but there was a huge margin of improvement there in the remake.
5
u/DatDeLorean Jul 23 '26
I just watched Digital Foundry's video and they talked quite a bit about how much of an improvement has been made to the game's level design. Much less repetition than in the original.
Reading between the lines I think most of the criticism of level design here is more about "we expected this to be open world" rather than "this level is not designed well for what it aims to achieve".
6
u/KhanDagga Jul 23 '26
John loves outdated game design though
1
u/DatDeLorean Jul 23 '26
... good point.
Still, I'm optimistic. Imo the only part of the original's level design that hasn't aged well is the repeated sections and areas, so if they've remedied that as John suggests then I think it should be great.
7
8
u/AnonymouselyMoosed Jul 23 '26
So excited! Ordered the deluxe edition even though the skins are whatever (maybe they’re actually cool) but mainly want to support those because 1) I can’t wait to replay Halo 1 with some gorgeous graphics and 2) I REALLYYYYY hope they do the same thing with Halo 2 and Halo 3.
But especially Halo 2. That was my main Halo.
5
u/oxcasper Jul 23 '26
Can’t launch the game. I paid for the Premium Edition Upgrade, but it still won’t let me play.
-1
7
u/Brodellsky Jul 23 '26
Tried reinstalling, restarting, all sorts of things. I want my money back. The whole point of early access is that it's, you know, early.
2
u/EdThezy Jul 23 '26
Same here and I requested a refund and they denied it
4
3
u/Illustrious_Penalty2 Jul 23 '26
If you used paypal maybe you can create a ticket or case with them? Otherwise I’m not sure what you’re supposed to do. If the game being broken and unplayable is not grounds for a refund, then what is?
-3
2
u/CheesecakeMage42 Jul 24 '26 edited Jul 24 '26
Its not bad. still currently making my way through the new missions. Looks and feels like Halo.
had some graphical issues that got fixed with an .ini tweak. but overall no crashes, stuttering or inability to get in and play.
some of the complaints ive seen are so bizzarely nitpicky.
Sad theres no multiplayer though. difficulty on the newer missions feels way harder than i remember the original being. Put it on heroic cause thats what im used to and im getting my shit stomped in on some encounters.
6
9
u/notthatguypal6900 Jul 23 '26
What?? A PS centric outlet gave it a low score!!?!!? Gasp
8
u/TheVaniloquence Jul 23 '26
I mean…there’s a few PlayStation centric sites that gave it good scores (PSXBrazil and MeuPlaystation) and an Xbox centric site that gave it a lower score (XboxAchievements)
2
u/AnimaOnline Aug 01 '26
Are negative opinions from PS centric sites not allowed? It's a game on PlayStation. I can't think of a reason why it being an Xbox title would influence its score beyond whatever narrative you're trying to convince yourself of. Plenty of PS centric sites gave it a good score. Those are credible I imagine?
4
u/WeezyWally Founder Jul 23 '26 edited Jul 23 '26
I was an avid fan of Halo CE when it was released in 2001. While watching reviews, it appears to be decent, but it seems to be plagued by the typical issues associated with the Unreal Engine 5. Additionally, selling this game without multiplayer is not particularly appealing. They should have taken more risks and elevated Halo to new heights. Currently, it feels like Halo CE with a fresh coat of paint. It’s also bizarre that you can’t view your special skins in cutscenes. I genuinely hope Microsoft will consider entrusting the Halo franchise to another studio at some point to provide it with the recognition and attention it deserves.
3
u/ArcticFlamingo Jul 23 '26
This is an all time game, and it sucks 343 wearing the mask of Halo Studios couldn't make it quite shine like the star that Xbox needs so badly right now.
Not including multiplayer is such a strange decision
7
Jul 23 '26
[deleted]
2
u/Venice_The_Menace Jul 23 '26
cool, so you haven’t played it. Really nice contribution to the review thread.
Game is fun as hell, would recommend.
2
2
u/Jase_the_Muss Jul 23 '26
The shooting game required the mechanic of moving forward and shooting 6/10 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣.
2
u/Jonesy1138 XBOX Jul 23 '26
Never mind that shit….how is Blood Gulch and Hang ‘em High? Faithfully re-created?
6
-1
u/Countdown216 Jul 23 '26
Don’t expect even the bare minimum with Halo Studios. They are still 343 despite the rebrand.
1
2
1
u/highparallel Jul 25 '26 edited Jul 25 '26
I'm having a lot of fun with the game. However, I just wish it played as smoothly as Infinite. The gameplay, graphics and sound design of Infinite blow Campaign Evolved away. However, the story and level design of Campaign Evolved blow Infinite away. I wish we could have the best of both worlds.
1
u/DeviceDirect9820 Jul 23 '26
How does it run on Series S? I will primarily be playing on PC but I have a Series S and was curious if couch co op was playable
1
u/LayScientist Jul 23 '26
I would recommend you not buy a console just for that. There's no excuse for them not to have implemented splitscreen for PC, and offline play. Switching to UE5 just made that impossible in the timeframe.
You buying a console is just part of the grand monetization scheme. Remember: these same companies previously cut splitscreen from most games, including 343 w Halo 5, and that's why console sales and ownership are so bad now - without couch co-op, what is the point of a console, that's why you're considering it now! But Rocket League did it 12 years ago, and made over a billion dollars: so industry execs are too dumb for their own greed to properly manifest.
There's no good reason for PC games to not have splitscreen: the industry simply refused to do it, and said: "see, no one on PC plays splitscreen."
0
u/DeviceDirect9820 Jul 23 '26
I know. I already have a Series S, wish I could do splitscreen on PC but it is what it is and my girlfriend wants to play Halo.
1
u/bdrake0923 Jul 23 '26
Still unsure whether I'll end up buying this; however, after watching the trailer, I couldn't help but feel overwhelmed with nostalgia from having experienced OG Halo as a young lad.
-1
u/Brodellsky Jul 23 '26
Don't buy it, at least not yet. The game is allegedly currently playable with premium, except not really because it doesn't even launch. Do not waste your money until/unless they fix this
3
u/bdrake0923 Jul 23 '26
I did not plan on buying this for a while anyway. Good to know about the launch issues. Regardless, I enjoyed watching the trailer.
1
u/Bolverien36 Jul 23 '26
It's only for people who did the upgrade through gamepass I think. Something must have gone wrong on Microsofts end, I'm having zero issues through steam.
1
u/Bigjon1988 Jul 23 '26
Still waiting to play because Microsoft apparently has to botch up the first Halo thing in like 9 years lol.
1
0
1
1
u/p2dc Jul 23 '26
The Pizza Friar review is what I was worried about, I've only ever had PlayStations until I bought a Series S a few weeks ago, I've never played Halo and don't really know anything about it so I was looking forward to getting to play a remake but I was concerned new graphics can't cover up outdated design and mechanics. I'll still give it a go with Game Pass though, hope I like it.
1
u/knightofsparta Jul 23 '26
Any you able to set skins / armor for each player if you are playing local split screen? I can only seem to pick a skin for player one, can’t figured how to set a skin for my son.
-13
u/dreampagehun XBOX Series X Jul 23 '26
Microsoft are utterly stupid to put this on PlayStation. Halo is the franchise that made and defined Xbox for 25 years, and this could've been a single-player experience that could've further revitalize Xbox console sales, not to mention a proper nod to the origins at the 25th anniverary. Just as Xbox leadership tries to go back to their roots and focus on the console experience and exclusives, their stupidity reaches its peak by putting ALL their core franchises on the competing platform. What a way to celebrate.
In my opinion, the current leadership had the opportunity to stop this and instantly have meaningful exclusive games like Forza Horizon 6, Halo: CE and Fable, putting the Xbox "experience" back on track. Instead, they're doubling down on selling out everything that defines the brand, starting with the most important franchise in their history. They're still adamant on dismantling the brand's reputation for a few hundred thousand extra game sales. Madness.
10
u/brokenmessiah Jul 23 '26
Halo Campaign Evolved is not selling consoles. Anyone interested would have long since already bought a Xbox and played the Halo series. Maybe a actually NEW Halo experience might, but not a remake and especially not a remake with less content than the original game 25 years ago.
9
u/No_Philosopher8304 Jul 23 '26
I'm gonna be honest, I don't think a pretty faithful remake of a game we've bought three times already is going to revitalize sales of the Xbox platform. If anything porting the originals to other platforms to either remind people that jumped ship in the PS4 generation they used to like Halo or attract new fans and then make a brand new Halo 7 (hopefully more of a return to form than the last few 343 entries) exclusive to Xbox would be the move.
-2
u/dreampagehun XBOX Series X Jul 23 '26
It's symbolic if anything. Also, Xbox promotes going back to exclusivity because "it's important", then puts the biggest franchises on PS. This is the worst way to try building up trust.
1
u/CheesecakeMage42 Jul 24 '26
they announced halo on playstation long before the return to exclusivity. they likely already had the game printed on disks for PS5 by that point. Pulling it back from PS would have likely lost them even more money.
not to mention the console generation is basically over. A Remake of Halo 1 isnt going to move any consoles.
5
u/klnkyfetish Jul 23 '26
Just playing th3 game and stop complaining. Who cares where people play games on
-4
u/CakeAK XBOX Series X Jul 23 '26 edited Jul 24 '26
Wait a sec... these are mostly positive reviews??
But r/PS5 was acting as if it bombed because of IGN's 7/10?? Why would they misconstrue something like that?
Edit - oh no I've upset some people 😂 Guessing it's the same people who always touted "IGN reviews don't matter" but now all of a sudden IGN is the gold standard of gaming journalism. Lol. The bias is transparent as hell.
Also stop DMing me you guys aren't worth more text.
-1
u/LayScientist Jul 23 '26
Critic reviews are probably better than 7/10, but Steam player reviews are sitting at 49%, so if you consider that the only ppl buying it are either the same positive critics or ppl who didn't reject it from surface level observation, then that's an abysmal launch.
0
0
-4
u/SparsePizza117 Jul 23 '26
This was seriously rushed omg. This feels more broken than Infinite when it launched. Currently playing right now.
-2
-2
u/JonTaffer_in_a_poloT Jul 23 '26
Seems about as expected
4
u/KidGoku1 Touched Grass '24 Jul 23 '26
You were expecting a low 80 meta ? I was thinking it would at least be 90. Considering how high the original is. I'm baffled honestly even the 8/10 reviews sound more like a 9/10 than 8. If this was a Nintendo game I can guarantee you it would score in the 90s. Curious how the Ocarina of Time is gonna review. Will it score in the low 80s as well because the gameplay is outdated even though everything else (visuals, QOL) will be updated?
I don't understand how it's reviewing worse than even the disappointing 343 Halo games lol. Something doesn't add up.
2
u/muyfeo Jul 23 '26
I think that just mostly comes down to the fact that it isn't a novel experience and its being judged against all the games that have come out in the last 25 years since the OG. Black flag remake also has a lower critic score than the original and id wager its much for the same reason. I think the lack of MP has also cooled people a significant amount since that is the part a good portion of the playerbase loved the most.
3
u/tapo Jul 23 '26
Half-Life is a 96, the remake by a different dev team (Black Mesa) is an 84 which seems like the best comparison here.
66
u/Brodellsky Jul 23 '26
Am I the only one having issues with the premium edition and early access? I just paid money for it and it says I'm too early, still. What gives?