12 Essential Tips for Diving into Halo: Campaign Evolved

The Master Chief and Cortana are back in action, ready to take on Covenant aliens and Flood parasites on a massive space ring that could spell doom for humanity if it falls into the wrong hands. This time, they’re revisiting their original adventure from 2001’s Halo: Combat Evolved, now reimagined in Unreal Engine with a host of stunning visual upgrades. While I have mixed feelings about some of the graphical tweaks in Halo: Campaign Evolved, which is currently available through early access, I believe the remake captures the essence of the classic FPS quite well.

If you’re diving into Halo for the first time or returning after a long break—considering the original game is celebrating its 25th anniversary—you might need a little guidance to step back into the Chief’s iconic armor. No worries, I’ve got some handy tips and tricks to get you battle-ready in no time.

Just like the original, this remake isn’t a walk in the park. Enemies pack a punch, and groups can quickly deplete your shields, with some foes capable of taking out the Master Chief in a single hit. If you’re new to Halo or haven’t played in ages, I suggest starting on Normal difficulty instead of Heroic or Legendary. You can always ramp up the challenge on subsequent playthroughs, perhaps with friends or using skulls, but steer clear of Easy mode—it’s far too simple and can make the experience feel lackluster.

As the Master Chief, it’s tempting to overlook Covenant weaponry since you have access to powerful rifles and that iconic magnum. However, alien weapons like the plasma rifle are excellent for breaking shields and can be lifesavers when you’re low on ammo. The plasma pistol is particularly effective against vehicles, allowing you to stun them with a charged shot.

Halo: Campaign Evolved introduces some d-pad shortcuts as you play; for example, pressing up activates the flashlight. However, there’s a handy trick from Halo Infinite that isn’t mentioned: holding down on the d-pad lets you drop your current weapon for a teammate to pick up during co-op.

The Master Chief is not only strong and lethal but also quick. In this remake, you can even sprint. Sometimes, especially on higher difficulties, the best strategy is to evade rather than eliminate every enemy. This is especially true in levels like The Library.

The remake also includes new weapons from later Halo titles, such as the SMG and a usable sword. You can pick up Sentinel laser cannons from fallen flying robots to incinerate Flood enemies. Keep an eye out for the Needler Rifle, which appears later in the campaign; it’s incredibly powerful and worth grabbing.

The ability to board and commandeer vehicles, first introduced in Halo 2, is also present in this remake. It can be a bit tricky to pull off, so use a charged shot from a plasma pistol to EMP a vehicle, making it easier to hop on.

This feature is also available in Campaign Evolved. Just hold A on Xbox or X on PlayStation while inside a Warthog to quickly switch seats.

If you find yourself running low on rockets or sniper ammo, don’t just swap your weapon for something else. Instead, look for a soldier NPC (if you have any with you) and trade weapons. Soldiers in Halo have infinite ammo, so equipping them with powerful guns can create a formidable fire team. Load them up in a tank, and you’ll be decimating aliens and Flood alike on the ring.

After a challenging battle, don’t rush to the next encounter. Take a moment to step back, stand still, and breathe. This can trigger a checkpoint autosave, which is crucial on harder difficulties, as managing checkpoints can be key to overcoming tough sections.

While the bonus missions are set before the events of Halo: Campaign Evolved, they differ significantly from the main game, featuring new weapons and enemies that may not be as engaging. Treat these extra levels as a post-game bonus.

Once you complete the main campaign, there’s a post-credits scene that I won’t spoil. It’s brief and will resonate more with those familiar with other games in the series.

You’ll need to locate at least three hidden skulls throughout the levels. Here’s an easy one: in the very first room of the first level, jump onto the barrels in the back to reach the catwalk on your left, where you’ll find a skull. Find two more, and you’ll unlock the ability to replay levels in remix mode, altering enemy and weapon spawns. It’s a fun feature, but I recommend waiting until after your first full playthrough to explore it.