In 2017, developer Guerilla Games took a huge swing after their work on the Killzone series and to craft an open-world RPG, with the release of Horizon Zero Dawn. The game was a huge success spawning a sequel, an upcoming LEGO spin-off, a VR game, an upcoming third instalment and finally, a spin-off TV series in the works. The first game in the series was a huge success in simply introducing the world to Aloy and the future that has reverted to primal living complete with robot dinosaurs and a fantastic mystery.
A lot was discussed about Nixxes’s remaster and whether it was necessary. However, the $15 upgrade fee and ability to import PS4 save files have made this a worthy upgrade, as opposed to the recent Until Dawn remake, which charged gamers full price.
This version ultimately brings the game up to spec in 2024 to suit the PS5 and even the PS5 Pro, fitting in line with the quality and standards of its sequel, Horizon Forbidden West.
Re-built From the Ground Up
It’s important to note if you have played the game on PS4 multiple times, there is no new content on offer here. As per our original review, much of it feels the same; it has just been given a massive graphical facelift. Over 10 hours of cut scenes did have their original mocap performances redone and taken from a slightly different perspective. This was handled directly by both Guerilla Games and Nixxes, who have also updated the cinematic lighting to match the Nubis cloud system in Horizon Forbidden West and its DLC, Burning Shores.
The character models themselves have had major upgrades. Aloy in particular has fantastic hair effects, as her red locks allow light to filter through and flicker in the wind. NPC characters have also been rebuilt from the ground up with improved detail. Character animations also react to cold and warm weather changes, which helps this world feel like a living and breathing place.
Alongside the characters, general environments have been given a decent glow-up. Water effects in particular here look as beautiful as they do in Forbidden West, if not better. As Aloy walks through the water, the ripple effects as she moves through have been greatly improved upon since the original game, which was noticeably neglected. Particles also fly through the air and interact with the character’s hair and clothes, with leaves and snow being the most noticeable in both the cut scenes and regular gameplay.
The Best Way to Play
Running at 60fps on the PS5 console is surprisingly a brand-new way to play this game. It will no doubt be surpassed with the impending release of the PS5 Pro console, which we’ll touch on at a later date. You can also choose a fidelity mode that drops the experience to 30FPS with added detail in mind. My preferred way of playing is the balanced mode, which allows me to play at 40FPS. Keep in mind, that you will need a 120HZ display for this latter option to work.
The audio has also received a makeover with the biggest addition being the support of 3D audio enhancing the gameplay significantly. It did sound phenomenal through my surround system, but throwing on a PlayStation-branded set of headphones that support 3D audio is the ultimate way to experience this game. The low bass as dinosaurs are stomping off in the background sounds like they are actually behind your ear, off in the distance.
In one particular scene at the start of the game when Aloy is walking through the village for the first time, there is a group of drummers banging out a tune. The headphones were shaking with the deep bangs and the sounds of the villagers chanting over the top.
The DualSense controller has also been adapted to benefit and add to general gameplay, vibrating and reacting to environmental sounds. The adaptive triggers do feel good in your hands when using Aloy’s bow and arrow, truly immersing you into this world.
Final Thoughts
Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered stands the test of time as one of PlayStation and Guerilla Games’ biggest success stories. Its truly imaginative world and compelling mystery fuel your gameplay, and this remaster from Nixxes only enhances every single part of it.
Even if you have played the original game multiple times on the PlayStation 4, enough time has passed to dive back into the world of Nora and re-discover this classic title that has never looked at or played so well.
FIVE STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
Highlights: Gorgeous visuals; 3D audio is incredibly detailed; All DLC included
Lowlights: Unable to import trophies from PS4 save
Developer: Guerilla Games, Nixxes
Publisher: Playstation
Platforms: PlayStation 5
Available: Now
Review conducted on PlayStation 5 with a pre-release code provided by the publisher.
All screenshots have been captured directly from gameplay.
