Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered Review

Many would argue why Horizon Zero Dawn needed a remaster when it was just released in 2017. The base game looks good enough to stand up to certain current-gen titles, and after releasing a complete edition in 2020 for PC, a remaster doesn’t seem like a compelling sales pitch. However, like The Last of Us Part I and Part II Remastered before it, imagining Zero Dawn with a visual quality similar to Forbidden West is downright tempting.

That’s exactly what Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered is, basically bringing the original up to spec with its sequel, giving players the definitive way to experience the first game in the series. Did we need a remaster? Arguable, especially since it already received a 60fps patch, but seeing the improvement firsthand is staggering, making us want to experience the world of Aloy once again.

And with a way for owners of the original game to upgrade it for only $10, what’s not to like?

On the Horizon

Set in a post-apocalyptic United States, Horizon Zero Dawn tells the story of Aloy, an outcast of the Nora Tribe who turns out to be an important figure in the history and future of their people. In between Aloy’s journey of personal discovery is a splinter faction called the Eclipse, machines going haywire due to a rogue signal called HADES, and a story that’s larger than anyone in their world could have ever imagined.

The premise of Horizon Zero Dawn is interesting, to say the least, where the past and future merge, and advanced technology is utilized by the tribes scattered in the world. The storyline is quite good and original, and as with other first installments in a series, it is best figured out by playing the game as you piece together the pieces of the mystery. No spoilers here, of course, but the most we’ll tell you is that it is one-half of what makes Horizon Zero Dawn a memorable title.

The other half is its combat, which can simply be described as a mix of elements that resemble Monster Hunter and other similar third-person action RPG titles. This is where the title shines due to its mix of tactical and fast-paced gameplay. Aloy is equipped to the brim with a nice range of weapons, like slings, bows, and tripwires, to take down these machines, ranging from small grass-grazing deer to alligators and even something that looks like what many would call a Theropod dinosaur. I don’t know exactly what a Theropod is, but it is huge and menacing and may (or may not) kick your ass.

I say Monster Hunter, in a sense, because these machines have several parts to them, each giving out rare materials depending on whether you obliterate them or take them down the “proper” way without damaging the part. One machine will have a valuable resource placed on its back, and to gather it, you’ll have to either chip it off or kill the machine through other means. It’s an interesting system that requires players to be tactical at times because these rare items will be key to crafting more powerful weapons or ammo types.

The combat system in Horizon Zero Dawn lends itself to many creative ways of taking down monsters, and they’re fun to execute and admire when done properly. The open world where these monsters are located is vast and lush, filled with a variety of biomes that all look amazing and alive. Stunning vistas abound, and the detail in the surrounding areas is breathtaking.

Graphically, Horizon Zero Dawn looked amazing then, and this remastered version just elevates that by such a significant factor. The leap in visual quality here is more reminiscent of The Last of Us Part I as opposed to The Last of Us Part II Remastered, which says a lot about how much work was put into this remaster. In terms of visual quality, a good comparison would be that of Horizon Forbidden West, which looks absolutely stunning.

Sharp as an Arrow

There’s a big chance that you’ve played some form of the Horizon series in the past, and in case you have started or finished Horizon Zero Dawn before, you’ll be glad to know that importing your PS4 save data is possible, carrying all of your progress over to pick up right where you left off.

Sadly, those expecting their PS5 trophies to automatically pop won’t get an easy Platinum, because while the trophies are the same as the original title, you’ll have to play through the game again to achieve that shiny Platinum.

Just like Forbidden West, Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered has three graphics modes on offer: Resolution targeting 4K 30fps, Performance targeting 60fps, and Balanced targeting 40fps with a higher resolution. I personally favor performance modes 9 times out of 10, and while it still rings true in this remaster, the 40fps mode isn’t so bad if you want slightly better image quality. That said, if you’re like me who can’t really distinguish the finer graphical details, performance mode would be the way to go for those intense combat sequences.

The meat and bones of Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered lie in its visual upgrade, and as mentioned earlier, the upgrade is significant. Placed side by side, the difference is immediately noticeable, and you’ll see the vast improvement in texture details, lighting, the amount of foliage in the surrounding area, particle and weather effects, and more. Character models are spruced up with better animations and expressions, and this is simply the best version of the game to play.

Towns, like Meridian, for example, have more NPCs walking around and appearing more lived in, thanks to the more capable hardware. We can also see little things like snow deformation in certain parts of the world. While most may see these as “little” things, they do add up in the end to make Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered a more immersive product overall.

Given that this is another exemplary port from Nixxes, players can expect the full suite of settings and quality-of-life improvements, from general items down to accessibility. There’s a lot to choose from here, and the game is not only graphically in line with Forbidden West, but also from a technical standpoint as well.

Because the game is now on the PS5, players can expect DualSense support, haptic feedback, and even 3D audio, bringing all the bells and whistles from the improved hardware. Given that Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered can be had for a measly $10 upgrade for owners of the original game, this is immense value here even if you consider this as a PS4 game.

Verdict: Buy it!

Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered is definitively the best version of the game to play. Another stellar effort from Nixxes, the improvements made to the game are significant, bringing it in line with Horizon Forbidden West, including all the bells and whistles that the latest hardware provides.

Even better is the fact that if you are one of the millions of owners of the original game, even the one given away from PS Plus, you can simply cough up $10 to get this upgrade and explore Aloy’s world once again. If not, $49.99 is still a great value for one of the best games in the PS4 library.

*Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered was reviewed on a PS5 with a review code provided by the publisher.