OpenCritic: 84 Critic Average – 88% Recommend

Metacritic: 81 / 100

Some Reviews (updating):

Loot Level Chill – Mick Fraser – 100 / 100

Halo: Campaign Evolved feels like it brings everything I loved about Combat Evolved into the modern era.

VGC – Andy Robinson – 5 / 5

Halo Studios’ Unreal Engine 5-powered upgrade of the original Halo campaign elevates the original with sublime visuals, smart tweaks, and broad respect for the gameplay feel, design, and aesthetic that makes this game so beloved.

WellPlayed – Kieran Stockton – 9.5 / 10.0

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.

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.

Checkpoint Gaming – Omi Koulas – 8.5 / 10.0

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.

PSX Brasil – Bruno Henrique Vinhadel – 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.

Stevivor – Jay Ball – 8 / 10.0

Halo Campaign Evolved is a faithful and respectful recreation with all the original foundations and the right amount of improvement to a timeless classic.

Digitec Magazine – Rainer Etzweiler – 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.

GamesRadar – Will Sawyer – 7 / 10

Halo: Campaign Evolved is a faithful remake of the 2001 classic that highlights exactly why the original Halo holds up so well 25 years later. Bullet-spewing combat feels satisfyingly simple, while a handful of modernizations keep action slick. But, largely insignificant changes and superfluous bonus missions make me wonder why anyone other than PS5 players should care.

Xbox Achievements – Josh Wise – 70%

It’s nice to be reassured, after the rampancy of Halo’s five and six, that these games can still get back on course – even if that course was laid out decades ago. If Operation Meteorite is a test case, the problem for Halo Studios is that there aren’t any more stories to tell. And yet, when Bungie diverted from its core trilogy, it dug up riches. Think of ODST, with its underpowered troops, its downbeat plot, and its noirish, jazz-numbed mood. Or of Reach, the prequel, armoured in irony, that told of an entire planet’s downfall. There is a strong argument that Halo ought to have ended there. But any series with action as layered and exquisite as this is doomed to go on fighting. Whether Halo Studios is up to the task remains to be seen. Until it can summon a tale worth telling or, on a deeper level, until it can hit the stride of artistic urgency that Bungie had, the Chief and his friends will continue to flounder – in search of something vital, beyond reach.

TheSixthAxis – Jim Hargreaves – 7 / 10

Nostalgia is the name of the game here, and Halo: Campaign Evolved toes a fine line between preserving a beloved classic and updating it. Whether it’s the floaty feeling of driving a Warthog or hearing that familiar buzz when Master Chief’s shields recharge, Campaign Evolved captures that feeling of playing the original Halo brilliantly, as if reliving a memory from childhood. For those who never experienced Halo on the original Xbox or its other remakes and remasters, it likely won’t have that same magic appeal, especially if you’re comparing this doled up relic to more elaborate, modern first person shooters.

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.

Dualshockers – Ethan Krieger – 6.5 / 10

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. I'm desperately hoping this is all ironed out ASAP, because this game will be a blast someday once it's all squared away. Until then, PS5 owners should be cautious.

‘Halo: Campaign Evolved’ – Review Thread

OpenCritic: 84 Critic Average – 88% Recommend

Metacritic: 81 / 100