Although Halo Campaign Evolved is primarily a first-person shooter, you can play the campaign in third-person by unlocking and activating the Perspective Skull. This is a great way to admire Master Chief’s armor, use cosmetic skins, or simply experience the campaign from a different viewpoint.

Here’s where to find the Perspective Skull and how to enable third-person mode.

How to Unlock Third-Person Mode

Third-person mode is tied to the Perspective Skull, which can be found during the game’s first campaign mission, The Pillar of Autumn.

Once you’ve collected the Skull, you’ll be able to activate it before starting a campaign or loading a checkpoint.

Perspective Skull Location

The Perspective Skull is located in The Pillar of Autumn.

Follow these steps to find it:

  1. Progress through the mission until you reach Rally Point Bravo.
  2. Watch the cutscene with Captain Keyes aboard the Autumn.
  3. Leave the bridge and continue until you’re able to equip the Magnum.
  4. Return to the bridge where Captain Keyes remains.
  5. Find the ladder beside the two pilots.
  6. Climb down the ladder.
  7. The Perspective Skull is on the floor immediately to the left after you reach the bottom.

Collect the Skull to permanently unlock it for future use.

How to Enable Third-Person Mode

After obtaining the Perspective Skull:

  1. Start a new Campaign or load a fresh checkpoint.
  2. Enable the Perspective Skull before beginning the mission.

With the Skull active, gameplay is presented from a third-person perspective.

Can You Switch Between First- and Third-Person?

No. The Perspective Skull determines the camera mode when the mission begins.

If you want to return to the default first-person view, you’ll need to disable the Perspective Skull and restart the campaign or reload a checkpoint.

Does Aiming Stay in Third-Person?

No. Even with the Perspective Skull enabled, aiming still switches to first-person. This preserves the game’s standard shooting mechanics while allowing general movement and exploration to remain in third-person.

If you want to see Master Chief’s armor throughout your playthrough, the Perspective Skull is one of the earliest collectibles you can obtain. Since it’s hidden in the very first mission, you can unlock third-person mode almost immediately and enjoy the rest of the campaign from a new perspective.