Halo: Campaign Evolved Lands on PS5, Wins Early Stellar Review Scores
A newly released PS5 shooter has landed for players with Premium Edition access, and early reviews are already piling up. Halo: Campaign Evolved, a remake of the original Halo campaign, is now available on PlayStation 5 as the franchise expands into a new platform context for the year.
PS5 Premium release and review scores
Halo: Campaign Evolved is officially out now on PS5 for Premium Edition owners. A full public release is scheduled a few days later, with critics beginning to publish verdicts ahead of that broader launch.
- Overall review score: 83
- Critics recommending the game: 89%
What reviewers are praising
Reviewers largely focus on how the remake refreshes the original experience rather than simply copying it. Praise includes both the campaign’s reimagining and the feeling of revisiting a classic.
- One recurring theme is that the game succeeds more as a reinvention than a straight reproduction of an FPS classic.
- Critics also call out nostalgia value, describing the remake as an enjoyable trip back to the original.
Specific critic reactions
- Dom Peppiatt (Eurogamer) said it is “more successful at being a reinvention of an FPS classic than it is a reproduction,” adding that this approach “needn’t be a bad thing.”
- Michael Higham (IGN) highlighted that the game “speaks to the series’ timelessness” and includes “a decent set of new missions,” while also describing it as “a mostly…lean retread” that functions as a “test run” for the title’s future in Unreal Engine.
- Jordan Ramée (GameSpot) called the game “awesome.”
- Philip Watson (CGMagazine) said it’s “the best way to play the first Halo entry,” describing it as a must-play for both returning fans and newcomers put off by aging visuals.
Remake features: upgraded campaign, modern gameplay, and new missions
Halo: Campaign Evolved remakes the original 2001 campaign using Unreal Engine 5. The update includes improvements to visuals and gameplay feel, along with both returning and added content.
- Campaign presentation: story playthrough with upgraded visuals and refined controls
- Local co-op: two-player split-screen (console only)
- Online play: up to four friends online
The remake also adds modern quality-of-life and content updates:
- Sprint capability
- Nine additional weapons, including the Energy Sword, Battle Rifle, Needler, and more
- Additional “skulls” that introduce further challenges
The biggest headline addition is brand-new single-player story content:
- Three prequel missions set before the events of the original game
- These missions include new environments, characters, and enemies
