PlayStation 5 Critic Reviews

It’s a remake that knows what we want and gives it to us, instead of instituting needless changes. What changes there are are often subtle, or add to the game instead of detracting from it. This isn’t a remake to play if you want something drastically different, but if you want a more interactive approach to movie night, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better (or season-appropriate) option.

Everyone has been up in arms as of late over Sony’s reliance on remasters and remakes, and I get it. Such projects should never outweigh or replace originality and innovation. That being said, Until Dawn is one such IP that I’m glad hasn’t been left to, like poor Hannah and Beth, wither away. Ballistic Moon has rid the game of its outdated tendencies, creating something that is far more grounded, detailed, and immersive. Perhaps a remake wasn’t ‘necessary’ but is any game ‘necessary’? The prevalence of Until Dawn’s wendigo spirit on the mountain, including Josh’s potential post-credits transformation, always left me thinking that the game, as a franchise, had more mileage in its tank. If Ballistic Moon’s remake has got more people on board with that thought process then I can only be wholly grateful that it exists.

The remastered Until Dawn for PS5 retains its original charm while enhancing accessibility and visuals, although some fans may miss the original's blue filter. While it doesn't introduce significant new content or a performance boost, it offers a polished experience worth exploring, especially for newcomers.

The first difficult decision players must make is whether or not to purchase Until Dawn Remaster. I'd argue that those that never experienced the original should certainly pick up this game. This is a remaster that successfully breathes new life into the 2015 original. Apart from some shaky frames, Until Dawn Remaster excels in just about everything it set out to do, and I believe justifies its existence. I'd also argue that those that have already experienced this adventure will be able to find new enjoyment here, albeit at a lower price point.

Until Dawn is one of my favourite games of all time and thankfully Ballistic Moon have managed to craft a remake that keeps everything I love so dearly about the original. Great story additions add to an already brilliant horror tale, whilst small but impactful gameplay additions help keep the game fresh. Stunning visuals and voice work remain, along with strong sound design and score. It’s just a shame framerate issues take away from overall presentation and a truly baffling decision by Sony to price this game as a full price AAA game will stop old and new players from enjoying this seminal tale. But for me, this remains the king of narrative horror. See you at dawn!

The remake of Until Dawn stays true to the essence of the original while delivering a much-needed modernization for today’s gaming standards. The stunning graphical overhaul significantly heightens the realism, making the story more immersive and the horror more palpable. Enhanced camera angles refine the gameplay, adding a smoother experience during key moments. While returning players might find the updates limited in terms of new content, those who are discovering this horror classic for the first time are in for an unforgettable experience.

Even though nearly a decade has passed since Until Dawn first spooked and tore its way onto PlayStation consoles, its keenly judged take on the teen slasher trope together with convincing voice actor performances and non-linear narrative still remain appealing - and arguably sit at the apex of anything developer Supermassive Games has created. Of course, if you were indifferent to Until Dawn when it originally released, this shiny new 2024 edition will do precious little to change your mind. For everyone else however, Until Dawn's PS5 outing represents the definitive version of one of the most effective horror titles released in the last console generation.

Until Dawn remains a remarkable work, just like the original, but this new version should have been a gift to all owners of the game that Supermassive Games released in 2015. A reduced price for the PC version and an upgrade for PS5 would have made more sense than the €70 outlay that it requires to simply look better.

Until Dawn returns taking advantage of all the muscle of PS5 and current PCs. A horror game that we fell in love with in 2015 and now, almost 10 years later, still works just as well. Eight playable characters, many mysteries to discover and a story that branches according to our decisions are still the basis of a proposal that exploits the theory of chaos and the butterfly effect to the fullest. Some old mistakes come back with all the goodies and many improvements to create the best version of the game that we can play today.

Though it's hard not to see the validity of criticisms over its pricing and and questions over whether it even needed to be made, the Until Dawn remake is ultimately a solid and enhanced new version of a modern horror classic.