Even before it was officially announced, the potential arrival of a Horizon Zero Dawn remaster was causing controversy among gamers. Does a title that is still graphically striking and released no later than March 2017 on PS4 already deserve a new version on PS5 and PC?
The question arises with each announcement of a remaster of a fairly recent game like The Last of Us Part II or Until Dawn. Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered is no exception, but it is still worth getting your hands on it to see if the proposition is worth (re)paying for. One thing is for sure, this is not the laziest remaster in recent years.
Characters more beautiful than ever in Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered
It only takes a few seconds to realize that Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered looks its best on PS5. Guerilla integrates in this version the character model of Aloy designed for Horizon Forbidden West. The difference is noticeable both in terms of the details of the heroine's face and the rendering of her long hair. This version of Aloy also appears more in relief compared to the rest of the environment, enhancing her even more. It's a bit reminiscent of Lara Croft's evolution between Tomb Raider 2013 released on PS3 and Tomb Raider: The Definitive Edition released less than a year later on PS4.
Not enough to radically transform the experience, of course, but it makes Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered the best way to discover the adventure and its charismatic protagonist for the first time. Especially when you add that to the other evolutions.
Characters like Rost or Érend benefit from an updated model, although the difference is a little less obvious on them. On the other hand, don't expect quality facial animations: they are still almost non-existent.This was one of the biggest flaws of Horizon Zero Dawn and it still is. A remake would have changed the situation, but not a remaster. The rendering of the lighting, however, evolves for the better. The lighting effects seem more realistic and the contrast better managed.
Note that the sets, like the wooden structures present in abundance in the world of Horizon Zero Dawn, also seem more polished. On the other hand, the vegetation is a bit of a stain when you come back from Horizon Forbidden West. Same thing for the rendering of the water. Suffering from comparison with a more recent episode is also the risk that Sony, Guerilla and Nixxes Software are taking with this remaster.
The two companies also guaranteed more than 10 hours of dialogue and motion capture re-recorded especially for Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered. They didn't lie. The staging gains slightly in dynamism with less "shot-reverse shot" which has become a standard in AAA with a strong narrative dimension. The camera sometimes lands a little further from the action during dialogues. Some animations also become more natural during certain sequences.
A DualSense well used on PS5
On PS5, Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered includes three graphics modes. The Balanced mode in high resolution at 40 fps delivers on all its promises and combines quality and performance. It even makes the Quality mode in native 4K and 30 fps a bit obsolete, unless you really pay attention to detail. The Performance mode in 1800p at 60 fps is also an excellent choice and does not disappoint at all, even in terms of image quality.
In addition, Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered makes very good use of the haptic feedback of the PS5 DualSense. Drawing the bow transmits some tremors to the back of the controller and these are subtly reduced when you aim while concentrating. Too bad there is no real resistance on the R2 trigger to provide even more sensations.
When Aloy crosses the tall grass, small tingling sensations are also felt. Sliding also transmits the sensation of being in contact with the roughness of the ground. Of course, the impact of the spear attacks does not leave the DualSense, or your hands, unmoved. Games that use the PS5 controller are unfortunately rare, so we appreciate the work done by Guerilla.
Is the price of Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered excessive?
It is impossible not to correlate the improvements made by the Dutch studio with the price of this Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered. Is it really worth €49.99? Given that this is only the price that must be paid by players who do not own older editions, we would be rather tempted to say yes. On the other hand, if you already know the adventure, this remaster is not worth more than the €10 to pay for the update from the classic version of Horizon Zero Dawn or the Complete Edition.
Obviously, the story remains exactly the same as it was back then. Aloy, a young Nora raised on the fringes of her tribe by Rost, must try to understand why dangerous machines dominate a devastated United States, while seeking to discover the truth about her origins.
Players who are not familiar with Aloy's first epic must absolutely discover it for its many twists and turns and its particularly rich lore. Then, all you have to do is go through its DLC The Frozen Wilds, included at no extra cost in this remaster, to end up moving on to Horizon Forbidden West and its Burning Shores expansion. There's plenty to do while waiting for Horizon 3.
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