Xbox’s 2001 flagship exclusive Halo: Combat Evolved has jumped onto a Nintendo handheld for the first time. Via a new decompilation project, the brilliant industry-changing FPS game is now available on Nintendo 3DS.
Based on a decompilation of the original Xbox version of the Original Xbox version game, Halo: Combat Evolved on Nintendo 3DS is a phenomenal early port. The decompilation has resulted in a full browser version of the game, ports to Android phones, and even an in-development version of the game for Nintendo Wii.
Using the decompilation project, Halo influencer and modder GeneralKidd unveiled a version of the iconic shooter for Nintendo 3DS. Still in an unfinished state, the game is currently playable on the New Nintendo 3DS with a framerate of 20-30fps depending on load.
Just like you’d expect from a 3DS version of the game, Combat Evolved’s in-development handheld port makes full use of the second screen with motion tracker, ammo, and health UI elements. This means that the top screen can be fully HUDless, further immersing you into Bungie’s sci-fi world.
At the time of writing, the port can load the entirety of the game’s campaign, and also has support for local multiplayer matches. Additionally, the game can make use of full 3D support on the New Nintendo 3DS, and has full sound support. Unfortunately, for now, online multiplayer is non-functional, and there are a lot of bugs the creator wishes to stamp out.
In a discussion on the Halo CE Decomp discord channel, GeneralKidd explained that they “certainly plan on getting this to be available for all 3DS systems”. While the port is currently only really playable on the more powerful version of the handheld, there’s hope that it will run on all models of the Nintendo system.
Similarly to the Wii, the port is coming up against hardware limits. The original Xbox version of the game has intense shaders and other graphical effects, and is very CPU intensive. After all, the game did not hit a very stable 30fps on the OG Xbox which was the most powerful machine of its generation.
While GeneralKidd does want to try and bring the game to PS2, GameCube, Dreamcast, and even the Nintendo 64, they explain that the handheld might be the most faithful version they can make. “Realistically, the base 3DS might be the floor for what’s possible without doing a straight-up demake that’s not really the original game anymore,” they said.
The modder explained that “the GameCube might have a shot, but the PS2 will struggle, more than the 3DS”. The Sony PSP is also seemingly out of the question due to its tiny pitiful RAM and slow CPU. While many wrote the Nintendo 3DS off as a handheld powerhouse, the machine is essentially a portable GameCube in terms of power, although it can support more modern rendering features in comparison to the cute cubic console.
I think everyone of a certain generation grew up with the fabled Halo DS port haunting our dreams. While it seems that a full port of Halo: Combat Evolved to Nintendo DS is very unlikely, a port to Nintendo 3DS is very welcome, indeed.
Honestly, it’s a golden age for ports to Nintendo 3DS right now with full ports of games such as Stardew Valley now running on the handheld. While there are concerns about some of these titles due to the use of vibe-coding, fans are still chomping at the bit to play more games on the now-defunct Nintendo handheld. Halo: Combat Evolved comes to Nintendo 3DS and is more faithful than the Xbox One port
