Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered brings back the popular action role-playing game originally released on PS4 in 2017. Developed by Guerrilla Games and Nixxes Software and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment, this open-world adventure follows Aloy, a skilled hunter in a world filled with robotic creatures. The original game quickly built a loyal fan base, known for its beautiful landscapes and compelling story.
In this remastered version, you get to experience Horizon Zero Dawn in a whole new way. This remaster includes better graphics, improved character interactions, and features that make the world feel even more real. Join me as we rediscover the beauty and adventure of Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered and look at what makes this remaster the definitive way to play Aloy’s first adventure.
Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered details
Platform(s): PS5 and PC
Developer(s): Guerrilla Games, Nixxes Software
Publisher(s): Sony Interactive Entertainment
Genre: Action role-playing
Modes: Single-player
ESRB Rating: T (Teen)
Aloy’s quest for truth remains unchanged
If you’re unfamiliar with Horizon Zero Dawn’s story, let me fill you in. The game is set in a post-apocalyptic world taken over by nature. You play as Aloy, a talented hunter and outcast. She is on a quest to discover the secrets of her past and the origins of the robotic creatures that roam the land. While the story remains the same as the original, the improved visuals in this remaster make Aloy’s story more immersive. Every scene feels more alive and detailed, adding depth to Aloy’s adventure.
Although the plot doesn’t change, the better world-building makes Aloy’s journey feel more important. The updated visuals create a stronger atmosphere during key moments in the story. For example, the environments respond more to the weather and lighting. This gives each area its own character and makes exploring Aloy’s world more interesting. Whether you’re playing Aloy’s story for the first time or revisiting it, Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered offers a strong story wrapped in updated visuals that bring new life to familiar scenes.
Stealth, action and strategy with a modern twist
Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered’s combat and exploration stay true to the original, with a well-designed balance between stealth, action, and strategic planning. Aloy’s combat versatility allows you to take different approaches to each encounter, whether sneaking through tall grass to avoid detection or using traps and ranged weapons to disable your enemies from a distance. Planning plays a big role; you must study your enemies’ behaviours, find weak points, and adapt your plan of attack for each fight.
The PS5’s DualSense controller integration enhances gameplay by providing haptic feedback and adaptive trigger responses. For example, when Aloy draws her bow, the triggers create resistance, simulating tension, which makes the action feel more immersive. Haptic feedback also brings subtle vibrations based on terrain, adding to the exploration experience. These additions help deepen the sense of immersion without altering the core gameplay mechanics, keeping the game’s original feel with a modern twist.
However, some helpful features from Horizon Forbidden West, like improved inventory and item storage are missing. This makes things like inventory management feel a bit dated in comparison. This would have made Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered’s gameplay experience even better. Nevertheless, this remaster offers an enjoyable and well-rounded experience. It near perfectly balances classic gameplay with technical improvements, making it worthwhile for both series newcomers and long-time fans. This blend of familiar mechanics and updated feedback provides a rewarding revisit to Aloy’s world.
Balancing performance and beauty
Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered offers multiple performance options to match various play styles. You can choose between Resolution, Performance and Balanced modes. The Resolution mode gives you beautiful, highly detailed 4K graphics at 30fps. Performance mode prioritizes smoothness with 60fps stability. Finally, Balanced mode which is an in between of Resolution and Performance mode.
Having tried all 3 modes out myself, on a standard PS5, my personal preference is Performance mode. While not as sharp as Resolution mode it gives you the smoothness of 60fps. Honestly, regardless of which mode you choose to play, the game looks absolutely amazing! Visually, Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered stands out with its updated textures, improved lighting, and denser foliage, creating a more immersive world. Each landscape—be it desert, forest, or mountainside—has increased detail, making the environments feel more realistic. Plants sway in the wind, clouds gather before storms, and lighting changes create dynamic shadows, adding to the atmosphere of Aloy’s world.
The non-playable characters (NPCs) also benefit from improvements. They have more natural animations and re-recorded dialogue, making conversations flow better. Characters in settlements like Meridian feel more alive as they go about their routines and interact with each other. Background activities make these areas feel busy and populated, making the world feel more alive. However, some aspects still feel outdated, like the occasional stiffness in NPC expressions. While many improvements have been made, certain scenes are a reminder that this is a remaster, not a complete remake.
Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered is better than the original in every way
With Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered, Guerrilla Games and Nixxes Software have brought back a modern classic and made it even better. They respect the original while making careful updates that improve the overall experience. Although some features from Horizon Forbidden West are missing that I would have liked to have seen, this remaster gives you more than enough reasons to jump back in. If you haven’t played the original on PS4, Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered offers offers a polished way to enter the Horizon series, preparing you for an even better experience before jumping into the sequel.
From the story, to gameplay, to visuals Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered is better than the original in every way. The improvements make the world feel more alive and detailed. NPCs move and interact in ways that make the settlements feel busy and full of life. The updated graphics also make every area look more appealing, drawing you into Aloy’s journey.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Stunning updated graphics that enhance the visual experience. | Certain NPC expressions can still feel stiff and outdated. |
| The DualSense controller integration adds a new level of immersion to combat and exploration. | Some features from Horizon Forbidden West, like improved inventory management, are missing. |
| The core gameplay remains engaging, balancing stealth, action, and strategy effectively. | |
| Improved character animations and dialogue make interactions feel more natural. |
Overall assessment of Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered
Gameplay: 4.5/5
Graphics: 4.5/5
Sound: 4.5/5
Lasting appeal/Replayability: 4.5/5
Overall rating: 4.5/5 (90%)
Overall, Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered shows what is possible in a remaster when a lot of love and care is put in it. It reinforces the Horizon Zero Dawn’s place among the best in the open-world genre. Whether you are revisiting Aloy’s adventure or experiencing it for the first time, Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered offers the definitive experience.
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Table of Contents
- Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered details
- Aloy’s quest for truth remains unchanged
- Stealth, action and strategy with a modern twist
- Balancing performance and beauty
- Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered is better than the original in every way
- Overall assessment of Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered
- Overall rating: 4.5/5 (90%)
