Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered Tech Review: Yes, the upgrades are worthwhile

How much is the Horizon Zero Dawn remaster actually an improvement over the original game?
Digital Foundry presents the definitive verdict.

[Jin_Sakai]

Comparison shots. Big difference.

https://www.neogaf.com/thre...

[RaidenBlack]

Of course, there'd be difference ... any game retouched properly even after just 2 years will look significantly improved ... but the question is ... was it necessary?
Could've used the same Nixxes resources for an older remaster? Like the Killzones?
The only viable reason I can find is that Nixxes may be looking to get involved in more remasters in future and this was their steppingstone? A modern game being updated to the sequel's engine standards. An even older game getting same treatment will require more experience, which likely what Nixxes devs are currently gathering.

[VenomUK]

I watched the Digital Foundry vid, John Linneman draws attention to the significant upgrades in image - and this is just with the standard PS5 version, it will be enhanced further on PS5 Pro.

[outsider1624]

It may or may not be. Necessary. But for 10$ hell yeah ill take it.
Again...Killzone franchise made only 7.5million but horizon alone made 24million. Hence they skipped it. Im saying this as a killzone fan anyway.
And as far as i know this is like a practice for new devs..

[darthv72]

It only costs $10 to pre-order the upgrade...

why the hell not?

[Tacoboto]

$10 didn't convince me to upgrade TLOU Part 2, one of my top GOAT. Maybe some day but it's hard as heck convincing myself to replay a game 25-30+ hours long.

That goes double for HZD, I think I put in about 50 hours into that and about 100 in HFW. Not only is it quite long already but it's got an even better and longer sequel.

It does look very great and Nixxes/Guerilla should be proud of their skill in Decima. But this existing as a premium upgrade, eh I can't get behind that when I already bought and played it once

[VenomUK]

@Tacoboto Your reasons for not getting the upgrade are valid, you’ve played and completed the original. A graphics improvement is not a big enough of a draw to replay and spend hours in an open world game.

Who this remaster will appeal to is people who didn’t get around to playing the original or people new to PS5 who will now be able to play a beautiful, new for them, open world game.

[Cacabunga]

Still I won’t call this a remake.. Sony using resources at the wrong place

[outsider1624]

Its a remaster..who said it was a remake. Its written in the title as well. Horizon zero dawn Remastered.

[I_am_Batman]

@outsider1624: These terms don't mean anything anymore. Technically it's a remake. When remasters became a thing during the PS3 generation, they were just ports with higher resolution and a higher frame cap. The integrity of the original game remained intact for the most part. Those ports were much closer to the analogy of a remaster in music production where the term originated from. Replacing things like water rendering, overhauling the lighting system and most importantly remaking assets is remake territory in my book.

Frankly these projects are the biggest waste of time and resources that currently exists in the gaming industry in my opinion. I'm looking at the comparison and half the time I prefer how the original looks. Obviously the water rendering and lighting changes are often for the better, but most of the time I prefer the foliage and color tone of the original. Subjectively this is a mixed bag for me and I just replayed the original and thought it looked perfectly fine.

[Knushwood Butt]

@ Batman

So for LoU you'd choose to play the PS3 version?

[I_am_Batman]

@Knushwood Butt: No I wouldn't. The PS3 version's runs at an unstable 30fps. The PS4 remaster already fixed that and made the game much more enjoyable as a result, which is why I don't see the need for the PS5 remake.

When the consoles weren't backwards compatible, remasters made sense to keep the classics accessible on modern hardware, but remaking PS4 games on PS5 is an entirely different situation. These games already run natively on PS5 and many of them even have received patches to make use of some of the additional processing power of the PS5.

[Knushwood Butt]

Fair enough.
Each to their own but I've played all three versions and I'll take the PS5 version any day (just wish it would stop crashing on me).

[TheNamelessOne]

Yet we're still waiting for a Bloodborne remake/remaster lol

[jwillj2k4]

Brainwashed Into wanting a Remake/remaster Over a part two. Sonys got you boys in shambles… you hate to see it.

[TheNamelessOne]

The funny thing is there's some on here who feel the need to call me a "Sony hater" because I don't lick their boots at every opportunity.

That doesn't change the fact that Bloodborne is a reflex heavy game locked at 30fps (on console), and is aliased to all hell and really deserves a proper re-release.

[Sciurus_vulgaris]

I always felt that due to how Bloodborne ended, a sequel from a narrative standpoint isn’t necessary. However, the performance of Bloodborne, and the general dated look of FromSoft’s engine are why I think it should be remastered or remade. The game is also almost 10 years old.

[jambola]

When did he say he wanted it over a part 2?
can you not read or are you intentionally making things up?

[jwillj2k4]

@jambola

By asking for a remake/remaster lol... Use common sense.

[Valkyrye]

Incredible

[ZeekQuattro]

I'll stick with the PS4 version. Looks and plays fine on my PS5.

[CrimsonWing69]

I’ll just wait for the inevitable PS6 Remaster Remaster

[hard joe]

i prefer light fast HZD to heavy slow HFW

[Demetrius]

Horizon is still one my most favorite franchises, so unique and has charm. Luckily it gets attention because don't acts like days gone, infamous, killzone, resistance, little big planet never existed smh

[victorMaje]

It’s weird but there are places I prefer the look of the original, namely:
4:54
9:38
12:23
15:08

I think I liked the old unrealistic lighting…

[Lionsguard]

I played it on PS4 and was already blown away with the visual fidelity. I spent hours just taking loads of screenshots. I can't fathom it getting any better.

[jznrpg]

I’ll replay it sometime for 10$ but probably won’t get to it until next year. If there a physical copy maybe I will wait until it’s cheap

[DivineHand125]

The upgrades seem more substantial than the last of us, part 2. I want to give them the support and bombard their Twitter for Bloodborne, but idk if I will actually play the game again.

[Knushwood Butt]

Improved audio plus full Dualsense compatibility get a big thumbs up from me,
I sold my original physical copy but might buy another and get the upgrade.