The campaign is a retrospective: Dr. Loomis narrating the events of that night, location by location, beginning October 30, 1978 at Smith's Grove Sanitarium — where Michael had been in his care for fifteen years — and the escape during a storm. You play the whole thing as Michael. It runs under two hours, is replayable at higher difficulties, and introduces his powers and controls one at a time.

It is also the game's only tutorial — and it's Michael's tutorial only. There is no civilian campaign, which is exactly why the civilian side feels so opaque to new players. Start here before multiplayer; then read the civilian controls guide to catch the other half up.