Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered Review: Stunning Visuals and Enhanced Accessibility, But Was It Really Necessary?
Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered Review: Sony’s latest release, Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered, developed by Nixxes Software, showcases impressive graphical enhancements, yet raises questions about the necessity of re-releasing a visually outstanding game. Launched on October 31, 2024, for PC and PS5, this remaster promises a fresh visual experience for Horizon Zero Dawn fans, but does it truly bring enough to the table? Here’s a closer look at what players can expect.
Enhanced Graphics: A Visual Overhaul Worth Admiring
The remaster of Horizon Zero Dawn pushes the boundaries of visual fidelity, elevating the game’s lush landscapes and character designs to a near Horizon Forbidden West level. With enhanced lighting, richer textures, and fuller foliage, the game’s natural environments feel more immersive than ever. The upgrade shines particularly in the game’s diverse biomes—forests, deserts, and mountains have all been meticulously revamped, making each exploration feel more vibrant.
Water bodies, which appeared flat in the original, now have refined reflections and ripples, matching the sequel’s quality. Smaller environmental details also bring a sense of realism, like snow and mud accumulating on characters’ clothing, adding a layer of depth to Aloy’s post-apocalyptic journey.
Improved Character Models and Animation
In Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered, the main character, Aloy, benefits from enhanced facial expressions and new motion capture data, providing richer, more expressive interactions during cutscenes and dialogues. Character models across the board look more lifelike, which significantly improves storytelling and immersion. Aloy’s updated look mirrors her appearance in Forbidden West, creating consistency between the two titles and giving returning players a fresh experience with a familiar character.
Expanded Accessibility Features and Game Modes
One of the remaster’s strongest aspects is its attention to accessibility. Borrowing accessibility options from Forbidden West, Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered allows players to fine-tune settings for a customized gaming experience. These options open the game to a broader audience and let players control the gameplay in ways that best suit their preferences.
The game also introduces three graphics modes on the PS5:
- Resolution Mode: 30fps with high fidelity for maximum detail
- Performance Mode: 60fps for smoother gameplay by lowering resolution
- Balanced Mode: 40fps for a middle-ground experience on compatible displays
The Performance Mode offers a consistently smooth experience, which many players will appreciate on the PS5.
$10 Upgrade Path for Returning Players
For those who already own Horizon Zero Dawn on PS4 or PC, Sony provides a $10 (or Rs. 500 in India) upgrade path to access the remastered version. This option is a fair offer considering the extensive graphical and accessibility improvements, especially for players looking to revisit the game with upgraded visuals and features. However, it’s worth noting that Sony removed the original version from PC storefronts and increased its price on the PlayStation Store, leading to criticism from fans who felt the practice unfairly pressured them into the remaster.
Game Performance and Robustness on PS5
The technical execution of Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered is close to flawless. The game performs smoothly, especially in Performance Mode, while still delivering jaw-dropping visual quality. Enhanced lighting brings out the vibrant colors of nature, and character animations look more lifelike than ever. Outposts and settlements feel more populated and engaging, with an increased number of NPCs and improved texture details in buildings.
Is It Worth It?
The stunning visual upgrade of Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered and the added accessibility options create an undeniably polished version of an already beloved title. While some may find it unnecessary given the strong visual quality of the original, for new players and dedicated fans alike, it presents the definitive way to experience Horizon Zero Dawn.
Pros:
- Incredible graphical improvements
- Enhanced character animations and model details
- Expanded accessibility settings
- Flawless performance on PS5
- Affordable $10 upgrade for existing players
Cons:
- Arguably an unnecessary re-release
- Minimal gameplay changes
Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered is available for Rs. 2,999 on the PlayStation Store, Steam, and the Epic Games Store.
