Halo: Campaign Evolved Is Changing a Big Part of the Original, And I Can’t Wait

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I want to be upfront about how deeply Halo has impacted my life. It was one of the first mature games I ever played, and I have incredibly fond memories of playing the Halo 2 campaign with my older cousin – it really brought us closer. I’m such a big fan that I even have a Halo tattoo, and my wife loved the series so much she mentioned it in her wedding vows!

I’m a big fan of Halo. Even when I have issues with the game’s mechanics, the plot, or how characters are written, I still really enjoy it – flaws and all.

It’s been a tough few years for fans of Halo, and we’ve learned not to get our hopes up too high with new announcements, even when things seem promising. However, I’m already completely hooked by the new Halo: Campaign Evolved, and it’s all thanks to a single, exciting change.

I Didn’t Want a Halo Remake, But Now You Have My Attention

Even after almost 25 years, I still believe Halo: Combat Evolved is a fantastic game. It’s easy to pick up and enjoy, even for new players. While the graphics aren’t as modern as today’s games, the controls are still smooth, the shooting feels great, and the story remains a compelling science fiction adventure.

A few months ago, if someone had asked me if we needed a remake of Halo: Combat Evolved – especially just the single-player campaign – I would have said absolutely not. However, now that Halo: Combat Evolved has been announced for a remake, I’m actually really excited about it.

Here’s a quick look at the changes and additions in the updated version of Halo: Combat Evolved.

  • The entire campaign is being remade from the ground-up in Unreal Engine 5
  • 4K visuals
  • Remastered soundtrack
  • Re-recorded voice lines
  • Three all-new prequel missions featuring the Master Chief and Sgt. Johnson
  • Nine weapons from future Halo entries that weren’t available in the original
  • Can now hijack vehicles
  • Can now pilot the Wraith
  • 4-player online co-op with crossplay and cross-progression
  • Ability to sprint
  • Ability to aim down sights

As a huge Halo fan, I was totally surprised to hear that Halo: Combat Evolved is actually coming to PlayStation 5! It’s a pretty big change, since Halo has always been an Xbox thing, but I’m honestly excited to see more people get to experience this classic game.

The biggest appeal of the updated Halo: Campaign Evolved is definitely its new look thanks to Unreal Engine 5, and the added prequel missions sound really interesting. However, what’s most exciting to me is how the developers are tackling the parts of the original 2001 game that even longtime fans admit weren’t great. Specifically, a statement from Halo Studios about the ‘The Library’ mission has me hopeful about this remake, though I’m still cautiously optimistic.

I Love How Halo: Campaign Evolved Is Changing The Original

The Library Is Getting Some Changes, And I Couldn’t Be Happier

When Xbox announced the remake of Halo: Combat Evolved at the Halo World Championship, Danielle Partis from Xbox Wire published an article detailing the changes. The article included insights from the game’s developers, and one comment from Creative Director Max Szlagor really stood out:

We revisited the pacing and storytelling in the Library level, which has multiple Flood encounters. We added new lines for Guilty Spark to better guide players, and included new dialogue to deepen their understanding of the story as it unfolds.

The Library is a famously frustrating level in the original Halo: Combat Evolved. Players follow the AI 343 Guilty Spark through a confusing maze of metal hallways while constantly battling waves of the Flood. It’s notorious for being overly long and difficult, especially on higher difficulty settings due to the Flood’s aggressive use of rockets. This lengthy mission slows down the game’s momentum at a point where it should be building towards a thrilling conclusion.

Szlagor’s comment seemed minor at first – just mentioning the team was adding new dialogue for Guilty Spark in a particularly debated mission. However, that single comment has actually made me rethink how necessary a Halo remake really is.

The Library level isn’t bad at its core – it’s actually quite tense and the Flood enemies are enjoyable to fight. The biggest problem is that it drags on for too long. This is mainly because Guilty Spark often wanders off, leaving even experienced players confused about where to go next. A simple fix, like adding more voice guidance, could really improve the level and make it much more enjoyable.

Halo Studios Seems To Be Walking a Very Thin Line Well

It would have been simple to completely overhaul a controversial mission like The Library, updating it with modern features. However, doing so often risks losing what made the original mission special in the first place.

Halo Studios isn’t altering The Library’s structure or the enemies you’ll encounter. Instead, they’re adding new dialogue to better guide both new and experienced players. According to Szlagor in an interview with Partis on Xbox Wire, the goal is to “refine and add context” to the level, helping players understand what’s happening. This subtle change is a great example of how they’re updating Halo’s campaign while preserving its original feel.

This is just one of the ten missions in Halo: Combat Evolved, but if this small change is any indication of how Halo Studios is handling the whole campaign, I’m feeling very hopeful about the finished game. And one last comment from an Xbox Wire interview really confirms that feeling. Damon Conn, Executive Producer on Halo: Combat Evolved, said, “We’re not trying to change what Halo is known for – we want to make you feel more connected to it than ever before… This Halo is for everyone.”

As a huge Halo fan, I know it’s incredibly tough to please everyone with the new games. They have to satisfy us long-time players while also appealing to people who are just discovering the series and expect modern shooter gameplay. But honestly, everything I’m hearing from the studio makes me feel like they’re finally heading in the right direction, which is really encouraging!

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2025-10-25 02:35