Halo: Combat Evolved Remake Has Gamers Concerned Over One Big Change

With rumours of a Halo: Combat Evolved remake picking up steam, some gamers are concerned over one big gameplay change that may or may not be implemented.

When it comes to important franchises in the first-person shooter genre, the Halo series, originally developed by Bungie (now handled by Halo Studios, formerly 343 Industries), sits firmly alongside the likes of DOOM, Wolfenstein and Half-Life, to name a few.

Simply put, when Halo: Combat Evolved released as an original Xbox launch title in November 2001, it changed the way FPS games were played on console.

Sure, it was never as smooth as the keyboard and mouse on PC, but when it comes to using a console controller, the adventures of Master Chief were slicker than any other for its time.

Granted, the Halo series has lost its way somewhat over the years, especially after Bungie left to work on Destiny, but the fanbase is still there, and we’d love nothing more than the iconic Xbox franchise to reclaim its former glory.

Fans will hope that the reclaiming will begin with the rumoured remake of Halo: Combat Evolved, which may be revealed at the Halo World Championships later this month on 24 October.

I know Halo Infinite isn't the best game in the series, but if powered by its Slipspace engine, especially when it comes to visuals and gameplay improvements, the Halo: Combat Evolved remake could be an absolute treat.

However, if that remake does come to fruition, there is one change in particular that some fans hope will not be implemented.

“I’m gonna keep it a buck fifty,” tweeted kelskiYT. “If at any point during that Halo: Combat Evolved remake trailer the weapon lowers into a sprint animation, it’s over.”

“As a new Halo player, I would like to know why Halo fans are so against sprinting. I’m not saying I am for or against it. Genuinely curious,” asked JonesE_yt.

“Puts your gun down, changes the ‘gun always up’ element of Halo, similar to Counter Strike,” explained Solgob, in response. “Also, the map design has to consider sprinting and climbing.”

“The data we have is that the first three Halos are beloved and were super popular. Then they added sprint and other armour abilities in Halo: Reach and Halo 4, and the franchise took a nosedive,” they continued.

“Sprint isn’t the full picture of Halo’s decline, but it IS worth talking about and isn’t a non-factor like some people think it is.”

I absolutely understand what Solgob is saying. As much as it would feel like a natural evolution to have a sprint button in the Halo: Combat Evolved remake, it does have an impact on the ‘shoot-in-the-moment’ action, rather than being akin to the likes of Call of Duty, for example, with its sprinting and scoping.

“Reach was peak Halo, and I’m tired of pretending otherwise. The Forge Community and what they’d create in Halo: Reach was some of the most fun I’ve had gaming in my entire life,” replied matpolloy, leaping to the defence of the fantastic 2010 game.

“If it weren’t a Halo FPS, the sprint wouldn’t matter. No one cares that Spartans can sprint in Halo Wars 2, because it doesn’t impact the gameplay,” exclaimed JourdenReid. “Halo FPS is a very specific genre of shooter. It has to play like one, which means no sprint.”

Whether the rumoured Halo: Combat Evolved remake does or doesn't have a sprint function remains to be seen. If it does, hopefully the developers at Halo Studios can implement some sort of compromise.