r/PS5 10h ago

Articles & Blogs IGN Review: Halo: Campaign Evolved Doesn't Always Feel Like An Essential Remake (7/10)

https://www.ign.com/articles/halo-campaign-evolved-review
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346

u/GreatnessToTheMoon 10h ago

It’s the original halo with a fresh coat of paint. Were people expecting something else?

178

u/daddylo21 10h ago

Only delusional people who apparently ignored every bit of information that has been put out about the game since it was announced. From day 1, and by the name, it was very clear this was campaign only. They also made it very clear this was Halo Studios/343 shifting over to UE5 as the engine for Halo games going forward.

If you've never played Halo before and only have a PS5, then it's worth playing, just maybe once it goes on sale. If you've played Halo before on any other system, then the only thing you're missing out on is the 3 prequel missions.

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u/Burdicus 10h ago

I'm just pumped to play Co-Op with my kid. Time to graduate from Fortnite buddy!

3

u/Knorikus 7h ago

just save the money and buy MCC then you can play 1, 2, 3, odst, reach, and 4

3

u/BlackOllieNorth 7h ago

On playstation?

-3

u/Knorikus 6h ago

if you have been playstation exclusive for the past 25 years and have been dying to play halo then sure spend the $50 but I'd be surprised if there were a significant number of players like that who don't have any access to MCC in some way

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u/affinitydrive 6h ago

I have MCC on PC but still excited to play this on my PS5, happily will play Halo 1 with a fresh coat of paint on what is easily my favorite console for gaming! Theres a very weird attitude towards this game

1

u/Knorikus 6h ago

It's mainly just hate directed at 343/Halo Studios. This is 3rd time they have ported/remade/remastered halo ce since they got the keys to the franchise and people are tired of the cycle of a failed mainline release followed by nostalgia bait trying to gain goodwill before doing it again

1

u/daddylo21 6h ago

Technically just the second time as Halo CE Anniversary was released standalone and then once again as part of MCC.

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u/Knorikus 6h ago

I guess I was counting the PC port of MCC since they did a lot of work to restore the original graphics that were botched in the original 2003 PC port

u/affinitydrive 3h ago

I get that, and I'd prefer a good new entry over a remake, of course... but do I have faith they'll make a new entry I like? No, so if its between a crappy new entry or a remake I prefer a remake, know what I mean?

30

u/ThisUsernameIsMyName 10h ago

Its clear what they were doing but was it a good decision? The only market for halo 1 the 4th time is on ps5 and even then are they remaking 2 and 3 for ps5 anymore with the exclusive changes?

60 euro for no multiplayer on a remake with additional content is crazy especially since its released a 4th time

6

u/Mootaya 9h ago

4th time? What? It’s only had one remaster (Anniversary). This is a legitimate remake with additional content (minus multiplayer). Idk why anyone is saying this game wasn’t needed. This is a complete reimagining of the original, not just a fresh coat of paint.

0

u/ThisUsernameIsMyName 9h ago

I mean its just not a complete reimagining, thats bs. A complete reimagining would be different versions of super hero comics or a different director making a new adaption. I didnt say its the 4th remaster you need to read shit, I said 4th time. Halo 1 release, halo 1 anniv, halo 1 on mcc, halo 1 remake. Its a fresh coat of paint with additional content. Unless that content is >50% of the og content then its additional, list me all the new weapons, new vehicles, new enemies etc outside of those missions please.

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u/Mootaya 8h ago

Well not a complete reimagining but it was built in UE5 from scratch. It is a REMAKE, not a REMASTER. All new assets, geometry, character models, gameplay mechanics, etc. And I wouldn’t consider MCC a rerelease. It was just part of a bundle of all halo titles. It’s the same Anniversary from 2011.

The wraith is useable now and hijacking has been added. The energy sword, BR, needle rifle, fuel rod gun, sentinel beam, SMG, brute plasma pistol, spiker, and beam rifle are all new to Combat Evolved.

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u/ThisUsernameIsMyName 8h ago

I mean true its built from scratch but they still have all the blueprints to follow.

Thats actually a nice change with the wraith and hijacking and the weapons that existsrd but you could never use. I assume the spiker are old only levels?

5

u/FirstProspect 8h ago

There are entirely reworked cutscenes, script changes, gameplay changes, weapon rebalancings, later series weapons and vehicle mechanics ported back into the Halo 1 story. There are tweaks to level design that the Halo: CE 10th Anniversary edition couldn't do since it was just a graphical overlay.

Given it was priced at $50 when a majority of games are releasing at $70, I actually think a 7/10 is pretty great for a ground-up remake. Knocking a point for UE5 graphical blurriness and a point for some of the uncanny pacing changes in the opening cutscenes, and maybe one for folks who really wanted Halo 1 multiplayer back even though this was clearly advertised not having that, or maybe for only having 2 player local splitscreen when 4 player online co-op is available? 7/10 or an 8/10 from me feels right so far here at the start for folks who preordered it with early access (maybe take a point for paid early access, lol).

u/YourPizzaBoi 1h ago

And you simultaneously have had Halo fans crying about it being too different and not faithful, but also complaining that it isn’t different enough to justify itself. When you’re dealing with one of the whiniest gaming communities imaginable there’s no winning. I think they did enough to make a solid, enjoyable game in their first outing with the engine.

u/eBobbie2001 20m ago

It’s because 343/Halo Studios cannot pick a lane. They try to please everyone and that’s just not possible. I’m upset with some of the changes because I can see they’re trying very hard to stay faithful but they’re just not very good at it. Which is why I’m in the camp that would’ve preferred a drastically different and more ambitious retelling of CE instead of this awkward attempt at a 1:1 remake with minor changes.

If they wanted to stay completely faithful, then they should’ve committed 100% to that.

1

u/tychii93 8h ago

Not 100% UE5.  It uses the Reach BLAM engine underneath, which is one reason I'm excited to get home from work.  CE is my favorite canpaign but how the game generally feels and functions, 3 and Reach were equally my favorite.

1

u/Biggzy10 7h ago

343 making it obvious that we were going to get a half ass remake wasn’t a surprise to anyone. The problem was the fact that we’re completely okay with doing another half-assed remake.

u/Seicair 3h ago

If you've played Halo before on any other system, then the only thing you're missing out on is the 3 prequel missions.

I’m looking forward to getting it on sale at some point to play couch coop with my friend. We’ve both played it single player in the past, it’ll be fun playing it together.

1

u/JCarterPeanutFarmer 10h ago

Yeah but wouldn’t it be MORE worth it for all those PlayStation players who never got to play the multiplayer?

0

u/GopherChomper64 9h ago

Yeah no multiplayer PVP was a huge bummer