Former Halo: Combat Evolved Developer Says Halo: Campaign Evolved “Feels Genuine” and is “Gorgeous”

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Despite some concerns raised by one of the original level designers regarding the gameplay shown for the upcoming remake, Halo: Combat Evolved, another key member of the initial development team has shared positive feedback. Marcus Lehto posted on social media that the remake “feels genuine” and features “gorgeous” new graphics.

Marcus Lehto is a long-time game developer who helped create the first Halo game and design its main character, Master Chief. He recently shared on social media that he hopes the original Halo: Combat Evolved could have been made more like the new Halo: Campaign Evolved.

Lehto shared their enthusiastic reaction to the updated Halo: Combat Evolved campaign on X (formerly Twitter), saying, “I absolutely love the direction this is taking.” They described the game as feeling authentic and visually stunning, adding, “It’s gorgeous, and honestly, it’s how I wish we could have built it back in 2001. It’s heartwarming to see Halo like this.”

Although Lehto expressed enthusiasm for Halo: Combat Evolved, level designer Jaime Griesemer shared criticism online regarding alterations made to the game. In a social media post, Griesemer pointed out that a scene in the new remake’s gameplay – where players drive a Warthog over Hunters – wasn’t part of the original design.

According to one developer, players weren’t meant to use the Warthog vehicle to simply run over the Hunters. He explained that rocks were deliberately placed as obstacles to force players into a foot battle. Allowing players to easily destroy these obstacles ruins the intended challenge. The developer also noted the removal of a popular jump spot – known as the ‘WooHoo Jump’ – from the landing area in Halo: Combat Evolved, which was replaced with trees.

Man, I still remember when Halo: Combat Evolved first came out in 2001! It was a launch title for the original Xbox, and it totally blew me away. Later on, they brought it to PC too, which was awesome. It wasn’t just a great game, though – it really put Halo on the map and proved to everyone that Xbox was a serious contender against Sony and Nintendo. It helped build the whole franchise, honestly.

Over the weekend, the highly anticipated remake of Halo: Combat Evolved was officially announced. It’s scheduled for release on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S in 2026, and will be the first Halo game ever available on PlayStation. While this new version won’t include the competitive multiplayer mode from the original, it will feature the beloved co-op gameplay experience.

Halo Studios is reimagining Halo: Combat Evolved with Halo: Campaign Evolved, aiming for a remake that stays true to the original while updating it for modern audiences. The game will also feature three brand-new missions that take place before the story of the first Halo, starring Master Chief and Sgt. Johnson. According to Matt Booty, president of Xbox game content and studios, Xbox’s main competition isn’t other gaming consoles.

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2025-10-27 18:11