In 2017, Guerrilla Games and PlayStation introduced the world to Horizon Zero Dawn, an open world action-adventure game set on a post-apocalyptic Earth populated by dangerous dinosaur-like machines. Horizon Zero Dawn was a huge commercial success and spawned a brand-new franchise for PlayStation. Since then, fans have been treated to Horizon Forbidden West and Horizon Call of the Mountain, with protagonist Aloy popping up as a guest character in various other games. Now Horizon fans have the chance to return to where it all started with Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered. Releasing seven years after the original game hit store shelves, Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered brings a number of notable improvements with it.
Whereas the original Horizon Zero Dawn was a PS4 exclusive, Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered is releasing on both PC and PlayStation 5. As a native PS5 release, Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered boasts improved visuals over its predecessor, with graphics that are closer to the PS5 version of Forbidden West. However, Horizon Zero Dawn was already drop-dead gorgeous, and so the improved visuals may not exactly be a selling point for fans that have already played their fair share of the original game.
To be blunt, Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered doesn't really try to make the case that fans should double-dip. Instead, it polishes the original and serves as a fantastic point of entry for those that have yet to try the Horizon series. This way, curious newcomers can play a superior version of Horizon Zero Dawn, one with graphics that take great advantage of the PS5 hardware. Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered makes an already fantastic-looking game shine that much brighter, with improved textures and lighting across the board. The game successfully leverages the PS5's power to look better than ever with a world that feels more alive.
There are times when, comparing Horizon Zero Dawn's graphics to Remastered's in side-by-side photos, one may be hard-pressed to find much difference. In motion, though, Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered consistently looks better than the original. It's an incredible-looking game, and one that can stand tall among most other PlayStation 5 titles. I did notice occasional clipping issues and there are some weird animations here and there, like Aloy's hair whipping back-and-forth in an unnatural way when aiming with the bow. But otherwise, Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered looks nothing short of amazing.
Another piece of Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered's graphical overhaul can be found in the conversations between characters. Aloy is able to chat with various characters during her adventure, though the facial animations for these conversations were criticized in the original release. Motion capture improvements make these Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered conversations look much better and less robotic. Personally, I was never bothered so much by the wooden animation, but more so by the lack of interesting things for the characters to say. I have always found the secondary dialogue in the Horizon games to be lacking, and that's not addressed in the upgrade.
Is Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered Worth Paying $10 to Upgrade?
Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered succeeds in delivering a better-looking version of the 2017 game, but it doesn't seem to really shake up the gameplay or address any of the other criticisms that have been voiced about the game in the years since its release. It is a remaster, not a remake, and so that's to be expected, but then the question remains whether it's worth the price of admission. Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered costs $9.99 for anyone that wants to upgrade from the PS4 version (total newcomers will have to pay $49.99), and while that is not a significant amount of money, some may still be on the fence.
Someone that has already played through Horizon Zero Dawn thoroughly doesn't need to buy the upgrade. Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered features better graphics and stuff like DualSense's haptic feedback certainly enhance the experience, but it's not such a significant leap forward that it becomes a must-buy for everyone. Now, someone that's part-way through their playthrough of Horizon Zero Dawn or hasn't played the game at all should feel confident in paying for the upgrade. Players can transfer their save data to the new game, so they can easily pick up where they left off, but in a world that looks much better than what they experienced on PS4.
Not only is Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered the best way to play Horizon Zero Dawn, but it also offers players the full experience. Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered includes The Frozen Wilds expansion, a worthwhile DLC that expands on the franchise's lore and gameplay features. The Frozen Wilds adds another 10-15 hours of gameplay for those that want to see absolutely everything it has to offer, making an already meaty open world experience even bigger. Of course, The Frozen Wilds content also benefits from the significant upgrades applied to the base game.
An Unfortunate Price Increase
The main disappointment when it comes to Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered is the fact that it has caused a significant price increase for the PS4 version of the original game. Now anyone wanting Horizon Zero Dawn on PS4 has to pay $39.99, up from the $19.99 it cost previously. Not only that, but Horizon Zero Dawn was pulled from PlayStation Plus Extra earlier this year. This may put off some fans, as may the fact that no one was really asking for a remaster of Horizon Zero Dawn to begin with.
Horizon Zero Dawn was already playable on PS5 through backward compatibility and already looked great. It's understandable that some PlayStation fans are frustrated about the choice to remaster the game instead of focusing on titles that have been in higher demand by the community. Even so, that doesn't mean Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered is a bad product. In fact, it's far from it. Assessed in a vacuum, Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered is an undeniable improvement over the original game with better graphics and it makes great use of the PS5's unique features. It doesn't do enough new for those that have already played through Horizon Zero Dawn to make a return trip, but it's the perfect jumping on point for newcomers and is a worthwhile upgrade for those that have yet to finish their playthroughs.
Reviewed on PlayStation 5
Experience the critically acclaimed Horizon Zero Dawn™ with stunning new visuals and upgraded features. In a far future where colossal machines roam the Earth, pockets of humanity survive in unique tribes among the lush, overgrown ruins of our long-lost civilization.
- Franchise
- Horizon
- Released
- October 31, 2024
- Developer(s)
- Guerrilla Games, Nixxes
- Publisher(s)
- Sony Interactive Entertainment
- Amazing graphics that bring Zero Dawn in-line with Forbidden West
- Takes advantage of unique PS5 features like haptic feedback and adaptive triggers
- Improved character animations make conversations less robotic
- A ton of content between the base game and baked-in Frozen Wilds expansion
- Easy to transfer PS4 save file to PS5
- Occasional clipping and other visual oddities
- Doesn't do enough to justify the upgrade for those that have already played through the original game
Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered launches for PC and PS5 on October 31. Game Rant was provided with a PS5 code for this review.
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