Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered Review and Evaluation
In 2017, Sony released Horizon Zero Dawn , which became one of the main titles for the PlayStation 4 , and caused a huge stir at the time. When this game was released, it was exclusively for PlayStation devices, but it quickly established itself among the distinctive games, thanks to its innovative gameplay and stunning graphics that amazed both critics and players.
The game was distinguished by its unique story and fun gameplay mechanics that captured everyone's attention, paving the way for the creation of the series. After the success of the first version, Sony decided to expand the scope of the game by launching it on personal computers, which increased its fan base and attracted new players who did not own PlayStation devices.
With this huge success, Sony decided to release the sequel, Horizon Forbidden West , which was released a few years after the release of the first game, to provide an exciting experience and new events that follow the story of the heroine Aloy on her journey to the unknown West. This version was well received by players and critics alike, and quickly became one of the best games in its category; and as it did with the first part, Sony later released the second part on the PC platform, which contributed to the continued success of the series on a wider scale.
In a new move, Sony recently launched an enhanced version of the original game titled Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered for only $10 to upgrade, as the enhanced version came with noticeable improvements to take advantage of the capabilities of PlayStation 5 devices and modern computers; However, is the version limited to graphics only or are there other attractive additions that are enough to make players come back to it again?
Story without spoilers
The story of the game takes place in a distant future, where human civilization collapsed hundreds of years ago, and the Earth is now dominated by wild nature and giant robotic animals. These human survivors have returned to live in primitive tribal societies, using ancient lifestyles and technologies from past eras, while carefully avoiding modern technology left behind by their “ancestors.”
The main character of the game is an orphan girl named Aloy, who was raised under the guardianship of Rost, a member of the Nora tribe who became like a father to her. Since her birth, Aloy has been the subject of questions in her tribe; she was born in mysterious ways, with no one knowing how this happened, causing the tribe to consider her an oddity and largely ostracize her. Aloy grows up with a deep desire to understand her identity and origins, driven by the mystery surrounding her birth.
Later in her journey, Aloy finds an ancient device known as the Focus , an advanced device left over from a previous civilization that gives her extraordinary abilities, allowing her to read hidden information and analyze her surroundings, as well as detect the weaknesses of the robotic creatures that roam this world. This device helps Aloy gain new skills, enabling her to adapt to the harsh conditions and multiple dangers she faces. During her adventure, Aloy begins to try to uncover the reasons behind the collapse of human civilization, and to find out the real reason behind the existence of these massive machines that control the world.
About the gameplay
- As for the gameplay, it hasn't changed much in the enhanced version of Horizon Zero Dawn; it remains based on a mix of action and adventure in an open world, where the player controls Aloy as she wanders through a world full of challenges and dangerous mechanical creatures. The game offers many activities that the player can do, with a variety of weapons and tools that help Aloy in different battles.
- Aloy has a variety of weapons that suit different strategies and playstyles, including the War Bow, a versatile weapon that can be used to shoot regular arrows or fire arrows that cause small explosions. She also has the Sniper Bow, a slow-firing but powerful bow that allows Aloy to hit specific parts of machinery with great accuracy.
- Aloy also wields the Ropecaster, which is used to tether and stabilize machines to the ground, giving her the ability to temporarily control them during battles. This weapon allows Aloy to have more control in dangerous situations, especially when facing large machines, adding a strategic dimension to battles.
- Thanks to Aloy's variety of weapons, players can take different tactical approaches to confronting the machines, whether it's through direct confrontation or sneaking around to set traps.
- Gathering resources from the natural environment and defeated machines is an essential part of the game, helping to craft ammunition and improve weapons.
- The game's crafting system is deep and adds a layer of challenge, requiring players to carefully select and use the resources they need to enhance Aloy's abilities.
- Another key element of the gameplay is stealth and concealment, where the player can avoid direct confrontations with machines and use ambush and trap strategies. This allows Aloy to move more freely and control the course of battles better, giving players a wide range of options in dealing with enemies.
- An interesting aspect of the game is the interaction with the side characters and the tasks they assign Aloy. The game offers multiple dialogues with the characters, allowing players to choose responses that reflect their personality or intentions, which deepens the storytelling experience.
- The game includes many side quests that reveal additional information about the world's characters, and help Aloy discover more of her true self. These quests are not just additional activities, but add to the details of the main story and expand the horizon of the world in which the game takes place, giving players a complete experience full of challenges and discoveries.
Graphics improvements in the enhanced version
The enhanced version of the game focused on greatly improving the graphics, taking advantage of the powerful capabilities of the PS5 hardware, to provide a visual experience closer to the level of the second part of the series. Fine details were added to each part of the environment, with huge updates to the lighting system, making the scenes appear brighter and more vibrant, which increases the realism of the game.
One of the areas that the remaster focused on was character expressions; facial and body expressions became more vivid and interactive, making the characters look more realistic. Not only Aloy, but all the secondary characters now express their emotions more accurately through facial and body movements, which deepens the player's experience and makes it more connected to the characters.
With these improvements, the game world is more engaging and enticing to explore. From stunning sunsets, to snow that crunches beneath Aloy’s feet, to water that appears more vivid in its reflections, the world has become more realistic. Dense vegetation now reacts to Aloy’s movement, adding a touch of life to the open world, and providing players with a deeper sense of being in a rich and interactive world.
Game positives
- The remastered version features amazing graphical updates that take advantage of the PS5's capabilities to get closer to the graphical level of Horizon Forbidden West.These improvements include rich details in the natural environment, in addition to amazing lighting updates that make the gameplay experience more immersive and realistic, as the open worlds appear full of life and visual details that captivate the player. In addition, the models of characters and mechanical objects have been meticulously redesigned, reflecting the developers’ ingenuity and extreme attention to detail, from the texture of fabrics on clothing to the lighting reflections on the metal bodies of machines.
- The enhanced version also takes advantage of the capabilities of the DualSense controller on PS5., enhancing players’ interaction with the combat environment. Thanks to haptic feedback and adaptive triggers, players can feel more realistic while using different weapons, as the unit provides tactile stimuli that react to the type of weapon used, such as drawing a bow or firing a war bow. In addition, adaptive triggers provide an immersive feeling when interacting with explorable objects in the environment, deepening players’ experience and making them live the adventure with all their senses.
- The game's open world has a stunning natural aesthetic, especially with the graphical improvements in the enhanced version.From towering snow-capped mountains to vast deserts and dense forests, every corner of this amazing world offers a rich and exciting exploration experience. Every element in the environment contributes to a mesmerizing and detailed scene, making it incredibly fun to explore.
- In terms of story, the game offers an exciting and deep narrative. Which keeps players in a constant state of anticipation and motivates them to discover more. Secondary characters add multiple layers to the story events, which enhances the depth and narrative value of the world, and gives players a strong motivation to continue and discover all aspects of the game.
- The combat system in the game is one of the most exciting and unique systems.Players can take advantage of a variety of weapons, each with their own characteristics and tactics. Battles against giant machines are engaging experiences that require the player to study the weaknesses of each machine, and use appropriate weapons and traps to take advantage of the surrounding environment. These features make battles require thought and strategy, as players can choose to attack directly or rely on stealth and cunning to defeat enemies.
Negatives of the experience
I did not encounter any negatives that could be mentioned or that significantly affected my enjoyable experience in the game.
Is the game worth upgrading?
Yes, of course .
If you’re a fan of action-adventure games with deep stories, Horizon Zero Dawn is worth your while, especially since the upgrade price is only $10. The remastered version brings the game world to life with stunning visuals, taking advantage of the PS5’s capabilities to enhance every detail of the environment and characters like never before. Experiencing the game with the DualSense controller adds a new layer of interactivity, enhancing your sense of immersion in combat and exploration. Whether you’re a fan of the original game or new to this world, Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered promises an immersive and exciting experience that’s not to be missed.
Story - 10
Visual Experience - 10
World and Design Environments - 10
Gameplay - 10
Value for money - 10
10
Perfect
Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered delivers an enhanced experience that brings Aloy’s adventure to life in a stunning, richly detailed fantasy world, with enhanced graphics and exceptional gameplay. Don’t miss out on this enhanced version with a $10 upgrade to enjoy one of the best adventure games of its generation!