Until Dawn Remake Review

Until Dawn Remake is a current-generation remake of the 2015 classic, which has established its own sub-genre within modern horror gaming, inspiring titles like The Dark Pictures Anthology and The Quarry. Even a decade after its release, Until Dawn remains the gold standard in this genre, releasing to generally favorable reviews.

Developed by Ballistic Moon, the remake revisits the chilling events on Blackwood Mountain. A year after the tragic loss of their friends due to a harsh betrayal, a group of teenagers reunites, only to face a series of terrifying, mysterious events as they struggle to survive the night.

Are you ready to revisit the classic Until Dawn Remake and attempt to survive the night once more? Let’s dive in!

It’s All About Survival

One thing is certain about the Until Dawn Remake: Ballistic Moon has done an excellent job preserving the essence of the original Supermassive title. The adage “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” holds true, as completing a full playthrough on the PlayStation 5 felt just as memorable and enjoyable as the original.

While my memory might not be the best gauge for judging the remake, the same feelings of suspense and excitement remain. I can confidently say that this is the same Until Dawn I have always held in high regard, often comparing it to follow-ups like The Dark Pictures Anthology and The Quarry. Despite the loss of surprise and novelty over the years, the game’s core elements have been perfectly preserved.

A notable improvement in the Until Dawn Remake is the enhancement of quicktime events. The original game was often criticized for its punishing inputs, which led to many avoidable character deaths. This aspect has been significantly improved, making the gameplay more forgiving.

Another element worth mentioning is the “don’t move” mechanic, where players must keep their controller still until danger passes. This mini-game has been revised in subsequent titles like The Dark Pictures Anthology, but experiencing it in its original form in the remake brings back nostalgic memories. The inputs are now less punishing, maintaining tension without being overly harsh.

The content remains largely unchanged, with familiar set pieces, character behaviors, collectibles, and the Butterfly Effect intact. Revisiting these concepts and witnessing the twists unfold again is a delightful experience.

The cast’s performances are commendable, with Hayden Panettiere, Peter Stormare, and Rami Malek delivering compelling portrayals that make you care about the characters. Their performances add an extra layer of stakes, making it all the more impactful when characters meet their demise.

Navigating In The Darkness

While it’s commendable that the core elements of Until Dawn Remake remain unchanged, this strength also highlights its biggest drawback: the price. When Until Dawn was first released in 2015, it retailed for around $40 and later became a PSN Essential title. In contrast, Until Dawn Remake is priced at $60, and despite improved controls, the changes feel like they don’t merit a full-priced release.

By the time we played Until Dawn Remake on our PS5, the latest patch indeed fixed prevalent performance issues. However, some significant problems persist, the most notable is the rigid and awkward character animations, which break immersion.

Another issue is the overall darkness of the visuals. While ambient lighting contributes to the eerie atmosphere, it also makes navigation difficult. This becomes an accessibility concern, and although brightness can be adjusted in the settings, the default is quite dark, or at least darker than we are usually accustomed to.

Like its counterparts in The Dark Pictures Anthology, Until Dawn Remake can be completed in 6-8 hours, extending to 12 hours if you replay to collect extras. However, the bonus content is identical to the original Until Dawn, including behind-the-scenes footage we’ve already seen.

It’s challenging to justify the full price for a game that essentially mirrors its 2015 release. While it retains all the elements that made it great, new players might find value in the experience. However, returning players like myself feel penalized for repurchasing a title we’ve already completed, with few new additions to make the revisit worthwhile.

Verdict: Wait For It…

Until Dawn Remake retains the elements that made the original a must-play narrative horror experience. However, justifying its full price is challenging when it closely mirrors the 2015 release. Despite some subtle improvements, such as enhanced control inputs, there are few new additions.

Compounding this issue are the numerous performance problems and poor lighting, which detract from the immersion enjoyed in the original. While future patches may address these issues, the current state of the game does not warrant its steep price. It feels like we need to wait a bit longer to experience the game fully.

This doesn’t mean Until Dawn Remake is a bad game. It remains the groundbreaking title it always was. As we await more iterations of The Dark Pictures Anthology to capture that same magic, we can only hope for a direct sequel to Until Dawn from Ballistic Moon and PlayStation Studios in the future.

*Until Dawn Remake was reviewed on a PS5 with a review code provided by the publisher.