Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered review: A beautifully polished diamond

Horizon Zero Dawn was already, in my opinion, a masterpiece - and yet, Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered is a stellar improvement that firmly cements this modern classic as an all-time great. While many called into question the need for such a remaster, playing through this latest iteration of the game will swiftly put any such debate to rest. Nixxes has worked in partnership with Guerrilla Games with a deft sensitivity to bring Horizon Zero Dawn up to par with its brilliant successor Horizon Forbidden West - and it’s a treat to experience.

You shouldn’t go into Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered expecting to find additional content. That’s not what this project is about, but I should hope that goes without saying. This particular remaster is far more concerned with enhancing the immersion, fidelity, and quality of the world in which Aloy inhabits. I’m firmly of the belief that Horizon Forbidden West boasts one of the most breathtaking open worlds of all-time - and now Guerrilla’s original game features many of the qualities of its successor.

You see, in Forbidden West, every minute detail was so wonderfully considered. The idea of having a weather cycle isn’t new, but Guerrilla took that idea a step further, asking the question of how varying weather systems might affect plant life or characters. You may not be yearning to see Aloy, or Varl and Erend, dripping with sweat, per se, or suffering from frostbite, but I’ve always appreciated Guerrilla for going the extra mile. A subtlety like this alone is, well, subtle but when this level of detail is implemented across a game, you end up with something truly special, and Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered is easily now a game that fits into that category.

Take a look at Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered in action below.

While the world that you’ll venture through here feels wholly familiar, it’s had a total overhaul. Textures have been replaced, the density of the foliage has been improved, and lighting has been reworked. It’s odd because in my mind, the game has always looked this way but after jumping between Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered and the original release, it’s clear to see the immense breadth of Nixxes’ ambition. Despite the size of Horizon Zero Dawn’s world, no stone has been left unturned in this remaster. You could stop in any given location, pull up the original iteration for comparison and I think you’d be hard pressed not to come away from the experiment feeling impressed, and I’m only really scraping the surface of the improvements myself.

That’s because I’m yet to mention NPCs, an aspect which I’d consider to be my main gripe with the original release. As I said, I truly believe that Guerrilla Games excels in creating worlds with immense believability, but that was let down in 2017's Horizon Zero Dawn by those ‘dead behind the eyes' NPCs. While Guerrilla has always taken great care to provide NPCs with unique aesthetics and characteristics, the animations were pretty wooden that first time around. That crease had well and truly been ironed out by the time Horizon Forbidden West launched. In fact, I’d argue that Forbidden West’s NPCs are some of the best-realised examples that you’ll find in the industry, and I’m thrilled to see that Horizon Zero Dawn’s have now been brought up to par.

That lifeloss look is long gone, with Nixxes having reworked over 10 hours of motion capture footage and dialogue recording to breathe new life into these old characters. There’s also a noticeably much greater density of NPCs, something which is clear to see in areas like Meridian. It was always one of the game’s most bustling locations but you’ll find that’s even moreso the case now. Areas that previously felt a tad empty or as if developers had run out of time or resources now feel infused with new life, with plenty of new NPCs going about their day.

Sony Interactive Entertainment

As I said, the story and gameplay remain the same, but these subtle changes to the game’s world manage to revitalise both of those aforementioned aspects. That’s because Nixxes has provided the opportunity to experience this excellent tale with a fresh perspective. I found myself to be far more engrossed in conversations with NPCs this time around, deepening my appreciation of the world’s quieter storytelling moments, whereas that lifelessness may have previously made me more likely to skip optional conversations. And, of course, simply by boosting the immersion and depth of Aloy’s world, I naturally felt more invested in her plight.

If there’s just one thing I was hoping to find which I didn’t, it was the implementation of Horizon Forbidden West’s inventory system. In Guerrilla’s 2022 sequel, if Aloy exceeds her carry allowance, excess items you scavenge are sent to inventory chests across the map - typically located at both major settlements and smaller encampments, allowing you to easily stock up. It was a small quality-of-life improvement that had a much-welcomed impact, and I did wonder whether perhaps we might see it surface in this remaster. Sadly, that’s not the case so players will have to, as with the original release, stay organised.

Sony Interactive Entertainment

Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered offers a reminder of why this franchise is here to stay, as if we needed one. Guerrilla Games’ storytelling and world building is industry leading, and with the help of Nixxes, Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered imbues itself with the lessons learnt from the development of the original game’s successor, Forbidden West. You may not have thought it possible, but this version of Aloy’s world is even more beautiful, with Nixxes’ subtle attention to detail resulting in a space that feels even more immersive and brimming with life. When you can upgrade for just £10, there’s really no reason why you shouldn’t.

Pros: Improved NPC animations, enhanced textures, added haptic feedback, affordable price

Cons: No changes to inventory management

For fans of: Horizon Forbidden West, Assassin’s Creed, God of War

9/10: Exceptional

Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered is out on 31 October on PlayStation 5 (version tested) and PC. A review code was provided by the publisher. Read a guide to our review scores here.