PLATFORM: PS5 | RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW
At the time of its original release in 2017, Horizon Zero Dawn earned pretty much unanimous praise for its story, setting, visuals, sound and gameplay. Its sequel, 2022’s Forbidden West, was even more well-received thanks to the inclusion of many PS5-exclusive enhancements and features that simply hadn’t been possible on the PS4. Now, in an attempt to bring the original up to the same standards as its successor, Zero Dawn has been remastered for the PS5, along with its previously-released expansion, The Frozen Wilds.
This remaster focuses pretty much entirely on visuals, leaving the gameplay largely untouched (which isn’t an issue in the slightest as, despite being seven years old at this point, Zero Dawn‘s gameplay is still some of the most refined and satisfying you’re likely to find). Entire areas of the game have been rebuilt to make them look much more realistic than before, and many animations have been completely reworked using newly-recorded dialogue and motion capture footage to make the world feel more alive. Lighting has been improved – by hand, rather than just adding in some additional tech wizardry – to drastically enhance the atmosphere, and details have been increased on enemy machines so you can pick off their weak points much more easily. Elsewhere, there are a few quality of life improvements (such as being able to get straight into the game after a loading screen without having to press a button – it might not sound like much, but helps to makes things feel a lot more fluid), new accessibility options, and faster loading times.
Owners of the PS4 version of the game can upgrade to the PS5 remaster for £10, and PS4 save files can be transferred to the PS5 with very little fuss. If you’re in the mood to revisit Aloy’s introductory adventure, the remaster is certainly worth the price of admission, and easily the best way for newcomers to experience Horizon‘s world for the first time.
