Genre: Action RPG
Modes: Single-Player
Developer: Guerrilla Games and Nixxes Software
Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment, PlayStation Studios and PlayStation Publishing LLC
Release Date: October 31st 2024
Platforms: PS5 and PC
Reviewed On: PS5
Since its release in 2017, Horizon Zero Dawn has become one of Sony’s best modern gaming efforts. Aloy’s story was a critical and commercial success, spawning an equally praised sequel for the PS5 in 2022. Zero Dawn became one of the PS4’s best-selling games. Guerrilla Games and Nixxes Software have now brought us Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered, a next-gen remaster of the beloved game. The remaster is available to owners of the PS4 release for $15, as it was for The Last of Us Part II and Uncharted 4 remasters. If you have never played Zero Dawn before, this is the definitive edition, but if you have already played the game, is there enough here to warrant paying the remaster fee? In my opinion, there absolutely is.
AS A REMASTER
It would be unfair to review this game as it stands. Horizon Zero Dawn has been on gamer’s shelves for over seven years, and people who have played the game will already know where they stand on it. This article will be a much shorter review analysing the quality of life improvements this remaster gives to the game. These changes may only be small and may not warrant a replay for many gamers. However, speaking as someone who has only played Zero Dawn once (during its initial release), this remaster made me fall in love with the game all over again.
The most obvious change is the game’s updated visuals. Zero Dawn was already beautiful on the PS4. Guerrilla Games beautifully crafted varied ecosystems and included minute details to give the players an extra layer of immersion. Tall grass would sway when Aloy would hide within them before pouncing on an enemy, and the blue lights on Watchers and Sawtooths would create a cinematic lens flare on the screen. These details made Zero Dawn’s open world one of the best from the previous console generation.
For the PS5, Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered is now one of the most graphically impressive games I have ever seen. Not only do environments look more realistic than before, but the character models are some of the best I have ever seen. The detailing is intricate and fleshed out on every character, not just the main cast. Aloy’s hair flows elegantly with the wind and her body’s movements. Erend’s shaved mohawk allows you to see each hair follicle on his head, and the machines you encounter have tiny particles of rust on them.
While the character models were hugely impressive, there were moments when the character’s mouth movements either did not match the spoken dialogue or behaved strangely. Most incorrect mouth movements occurred during the game’s opening hours and improved as the game continued. However, moments when characters spoke with their teeth clenched or mouths wide open were disorientating. Like the mismatched character behaviour, I encountered two minor but hilarious glitches. The first was when I overrode a Strider and was riding it to a quest. When I got to the location, I dismounted, and the Strider began to shake erratically. The second was when I was in Meridian around halfway through the game. I started to cross a bridge to talk to Avad, and the lighting on the bridge began to flicker. The bridge would shift from dark to bright within milliseconds of each other. These glitches did not affect my enjoyment of the game, but they were entertaining.
One unnecessary feature added to the remaster is the added dialogue interactions. During the announcement of this remaster Sony confirmed that developers would add ten additional hours of dialogue interactions and motion-capture data to the game. Developers cut this content from the original game. I understand why adding this content is a good idea; players discover more of the game’s lore and learn more about NPCs. However, the added data is a gimmick because the different dialogue options do not interfere with the narrative’s trajectory. It does not add anything worthwhile to the game itself and does not alter the story to a considerable degree. I understand it’s inclusion, but I am not a fan.
Hands down, the best part of Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered is the ability to play the game at flawless 60fps. If there has been any notable positive from the current console generation, almost every first-party console exclusive performs at a consistent 60fps without a single drop in frames. Zero Dawn is no exception, and the frame rate did not falter once during my 23-hour playthrough. While I am not a frame rate snob and was perfectly happy with the PS4 game running at 30fps, returning to the original edition is not easy once you see the same game performing at a better pace.
VERDICT
Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered is a game that many people thought was unnecessary, myself included. However, having played through the remaster, it is the only way for new and returning fans to experience it. The $15 fee (if you already own the game) is a small price for a game that Guerrilla Games and Nixxes Software have lovingly updated. Some of the inclusions are less memorable than others, but they pale in comparison when you consider the sheer amount of content this game has to offer. You will not regret revisiting the game that started Aloy’s odyssey.
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