Microsoft has launched early access for Halo: Campaign Evolved on PC, Xbox Series, and PS5. At the same time, the review embargo has lifted, giving critics the opportunity to share their first impressions of the remake.
Developed by Halo Studios, the reimagined version of Halo: Combat Evolved runs on Unreal Engine 5, features significantly upgraded visuals, introduces three brand-new story missions, and expands cooperative play to support up to four players. However, the game does not include a multiplayer mode.
Early reviews have been largely favorable. Halo: Campaign Evolved currently holds an OpenCritic average of 83/100, while its Metacritic score stands at 81/100.
Reviewers praise the remake as an excellent entry point for newcomers to the Halo franchise and highlight its modern visual presentation along with its faithful recreation of the original experience. On the downside, critics point to several controversial gameplay adjustments, outdated design elements inherited from the 2001 release, and a number of technical issues.
Halo: Campaign Evolved is scheduled for its full launch on July 28.
Halo: Campaign Evolved review scores:
Game Informer (85/100):
«Unlike the previous attempt to revive this iconic game, Halo: Campaign Evolved is a faithful reimagining that fully understands what made Bungie's ambitious sci-fi art direction so memorable. Despite a few shortcomings, Master Chief's first adventure has never looked or felt better. Hopefully, this marks the beginning of a new era for the franchise, where ambitious storytelling and gameplay innovation once again take center stage. Longtime fans will find this remake more than worth the wait, while newcomers may fall in love with it just as I once did».
TheGamer (80/100):
«Halo: Campaign Evolved is a faithful remake of the 2001 classic that clearly demonstrates why the original Halo remains compelling even 25 years later. Its fast-paced gunplay is still immensely satisfying thanks to its elegant simplicity, while a handful of modern improvements make the overall experience smoother. At the same time, the relatively minor changes and unnecessary bonus missions raise the question of whether this remake offers enough value for anyone beyond PS5 players».
GamesRadar+ (70/100):
«The core game undeniably shows its age in several noticeable ways, but the magic that made its formula so successful is still very much intact».
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