Halo 1 Remake Lets You Play In Third-Person, And It Looks Great
Halo: Campaign Evolved, a fully rebuilt remake of 2001’s Halo: Combat Evolved, is launching July 28 as the franchise’s PlayStation 5 debut. The game features 42 unlockable “Skulls” — collectible items that function as gameplay modifiers, enabling players to fundamentally customize their experience.
A notable Skull called “Perspective” allows third-person gameplay, a significant shift for what has traditionally been a first-person shooter franchise. Other Skulls provide diverse effects, from practical adjustments like removing the HUD or increasing enemy health to chaotic enhancements such as doubling explosion sizes, reducing object mass, granting unlimited grenades, and adding confetti on headshots.
The scale of customization is substantial: according to Halo Studios, the 42 Skulls can be combined to create over 4 trillion different gameplay combinations. With three Skulls hidden throughout each mission, discovering and experimenting with different modifier combinations represents a core gameplay loop. The game also introduces a new “Campaign Remix mode” designed to sustain long-term engagement beyond the initial playthrough.
While the remake features a completely rebuilt campaign, Halo Studios has confirmed the game will not include competitive multiplayer. Skulls have been part of the Halo franchise since Halo 2, but Campaign Evolved positions them as a central feature enabling players to “play Halo your way.”