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Steam Deck, Halo Campaign Evolved Playtest: The Truth Behind the 'Verified' Badge?We'll dive deep into the Steam Deck performance of the newly released 'Halo Campaign Evolved'. We'll cover unstable frame rates and graphical downgrades even on the lowest settings, and re-examine the meaning of the Steam Deck 'Verified' badge.
1. 🎮 Halo Campaign Evolved: The Arrival of a New Remake
· 'Halo Campaign Evolved' is a complete remake of the original Halo Combat Evolved, rebuilt from the ground up in Unreal Engine 5.
· Unlike the simple graphical improvements in the Master Chief Collection, this is an entirely new build.
· It includes the original 10 missions, plus 3 new bonus missions covering the period before the main story, featuring Master Chief and Sergeant Johnson.
· While it doesn't support multiplayer, it offers up to 4-player online or 2-player local split-screen co-op.
· Unlike the simple graphical improvements in the Master Chief Collection, this is an entirely new build.
· It includes the original 10 missions, plus 3 new bonus missions covering the period before the main story, featuring Master Chief and Sergeant Johnson.
· While it doesn't support multiplayer, it offers up to 4-player online or 2-player local split-screen co-op.
00:00 - 00:47
1. 🎮 Halo Campaign Evolved: The Arrival of a New Remake
· 'Halo Campaign Evolved' is a complete remake of the original Halo Combat Evolved, rebuilt from the ground up in Unreal Engine 5.
· Unlike the simple graphical improvements in the Master Chief Collection, this is an entirely new build.
· It includes the original 10 missions, plus 3 new bonus missions covering the period before the main story, featuring Master Chief and Sergeant Johnson.
· While it doesn't support multiplayer, it offers up to 4-player online or 2-player local split-screen co-op.
· Unlike the simple graphical improvements in the Master Chief Collection, this is an entirely new build.
· It includes the original 10 missions, plus 3 new bonus missions covering the period before the main story, featuring Master Chief and Sergeant Johnson.
· While it doesn't support multiplayer, it offers up to 4-player online or 2-player local split-screen co-op.
00:48 - 01:37
2. 💻 Offline Play and Initial Boot Requirements
· After the initial login on Steam Deck, you can play completely offline. Early concerns about needing a constant online connection are unfounded.
· The Standard Edition costs $49.99, the Premium Edition is $69.99, and the installation size is 75GB.
· A Microsoft account and online connection are required for the first launch.
· The Standard Edition costs $49.99, the Premium Edition is $69.99, and the installation size is 75GB.
· A Microsoft account and online connection are required for the first launch.
01:38 - 03:57
3. 📉 Steam Deck Performance Test: Unstable Frames and Graphical Compromises
· The base performance on Steam Deck hovers around 30 FPS, frequently dropping below 30 FPS even in typical scenarios.
· Three upscaler options are available: TSR, XeSS, and FSR. TSR offers the best visual quality but results in the biggest performance hit.
· Even with the lowest settings (TSR Low, resolution scale 60-70%, other graphics settings very low), maintaining a stable 30 FPS is a struggle.
· Some scenes might reach 40 FPS, but overall, the graphical quality is significantly reduced, potentially looking worse than the original.
· Frame Generation is not recommended for FPS games due to input lag.
· Three upscaler options are available: TSR, XeSS, and FSR. TSR offers the best visual quality but results in the biggest performance hit.
· Even with the lowest settings (TSR Low, resolution scale 60-70%, other graphics settings very low), maintaining a stable 30 FPS is a struggle.
· Some scenes might reach 40 FPS, but overall, the graphical quality is significantly reduced, potentially looking worse than the original.
· Frame Generation is not recommended for FPS games due to input lag.
03:58 - 04:50
4. 🤔 Optimized Settings and Overall Experience
· It's disappointing that even the lowest settings struggle to maintain a stable 30 FPS.
· While the game boasts excellent graphics on high-end PCs, performance limitations on the Steam Deck necessitate compromises.
· The game's story remains the same as the original.
· While the game boasts excellent graphics on high-end PCs, performance limitations on the Steam Deck necessitate compromises.
· The game's story remains the same as the original.
04:51 - 05:57
5. 🎮 Gameplay Changes: Modernized Controls and New Systems
· A sprint function has been added, which can be disabled if you prefer the original pacing.
· Aim Down Sights (ADS) is now available for weapons that previously only supported hip-fire, changing the feel of combat.
· A 'Pickup Ability' system has been introduced, allowing you to use abilities like cloaking or extra shields alongside grenades.
· The 'Campaign Remix' system randomly changes enemy and weapon placements, along with activated skulls, after collecting skulls, enhancing replayability. This is considered the most significant addition.
· Aim Down Sights (ADS) is now available for weapons that previously only supported hip-fire, changing the feel of combat.
· A 'Pickup Ability' system has been introduced, allowing you to use abilities like cloaking or extra shields alongside grenades.
· The 'Campaign Remix' system randomly changes enemy and weapon placements, along with activated skulls, after collecting skulls, enhancing replayability. This is considered the most significant addition.
05:58 - 06:45
6. 👍 Excellent Control Settings and Accessibility Features
· All controls can be remapped, which is very useful for Steam Deck users.
· Detailed accessibility options are provided, including customizable subtitle colors, adjustable background color and opacity, font thickness, letter spacing, and line spacing.
· Options to adjust HUD banner and notification timing, and disable flashing effects and menu background animations are also included.
· Detailed accessibility options are provided, including customizable subtitle colors, adjustable background color and opacity, font thickness, letter spacing, and line spacing.
· Options to adjust HUD banner and notification timing, and disable flashing effects and menu background animations are also included.
06:46 - 07:44
7. ❓ Controversy Over the 'Verified' Badge
· It's hard to accept that despite the Steam Deck 'Verified' badge, maintaining 30 FPS is difficult even on the lowest settings.
· 'Verified' should imply it works well out-of-the-box, but this game doesn't live up to that.
· It's questionable whether it meets Valve's criteria (maintaining 30 FPS at 800p resolution). Without upscaling and resolution scaling adjustments, it can't truly be considered an 800p experience.
· 'Verified' should imply it works well out-of-the-box, but this game doesn't live up to that.
· It's questionable whether it meets Valve's criteria (maintaining 30 FPS at 800p resolution). Without upscaling and resolution scaling adjustments, it can't truly be considered an 800p experience.
07:45 - 08:28
8. 💰 Final Verdict: Not Recommended on Steam Deck
· At its current state, 'Halo Campaign Evolved' is difficult to recommend on Steam Deck.
· Offering a compromised experience even on the lowest settings for $49.99 is poor value for money.
· If you want to experience the same campaign with remastered graphics, purchasing 'Halo: The Master Chief Collection' is a much more sensible choice, offering more content at a significantly lower price.
· Offering a compromised experience even on the lowest settings for $49.99 is poor value for money.
· If you want to experience the same campaign with remastered graphics, purchasing 'Halo: The Master Chief Collection' is a much more sensible choice, offering more content at a significantly lower price.