You may have noticed a well-known horror game by Supermassive Games among the new releases on the PlayStation Store. Not only that, it has also made its way to the PC. However, this isn’t a re-release or a port but a full-on remake of Unreal Engine 5 for Until Dawn. Ballistic Moon, a studio consisting of former Supermassive Games staff, handled the project. Before launching the new version of the game, I decided to revisit the original, sharing my thoughts here.
With the release of the Until Dawn remake, I decided to explore what the game has to offer. However, for those who are interested, the video below provides a more detailed comparison of the two games. For me, comparing the games side by side helps show the changes and the scope of these changes.
How The Until Dawn Remake Holds Up
We captured all the footage for this article natively on a PlayStation 5. As yet, we don’t know how this game will take advantage of the upcoming PlayStation 5 Pro. The store listing clearly shows this.
The game operates smoothly, providing an enhanced gameplay experience. To complement that, we have a new over-the-shoulder camera angle, which makes the game a more immersive experience. The primary changes showcase enhanced visuals, encompassing everything from buildings and trees to character models. Additionally, new assets have been added to certain areas that were not possible in the original release. Not only that, but we’ve also updated the character models. With the power of Unreal Engine 5 at play, we have more realistic lighting at work.
Walking in the snow allows us to see a more accurate recreation of previous locations or to trace our own route. It doesn’t alter the experience, but for me, at least it adds to the immersion the game is trying to offer. Looking back at the blog post, they claimed to have “completely redesigned the game to leverage Unreal Engine 5’s rendering features, such as raytracing and enhanced materials, emphasizing a more atmospheric and “modern horror” experience.” With what I have experienced so far, this is very much the case. The prologue’s claim becomes evident as you play the game.
Although we have committed to keeping the original narrative intact, we felt the Prologue would benefit from some adjustments to its narrative pacing. We’ve given the Washingtons extra screen time to explore their close family bond and get to know them a little better. We have also reframed some of the original scenes and developed the context around the infamous prank. We hope this enhances its emotional impact.
To Summarize
The remake so far is taking what was already a fantastic game and pushing the quality to the next level. There was no upgrade path available, requiring you to purchase the game for £59.99/$59.99. The amount of work, love, and care is evident; it is up to you to decide if it is worth the purchase. Similar to all Supermassive games, this one offers multiple endings. We have also heard reports suggesting that a new game ending could potentially lead to a sequel. However, if you are relatively new to the game, it may be prudent to avoid spoilers. Overall, the effort to bring this project to life has impressed me so far.
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