When Days Gone launched all the best way again in 2019, it didn’t precisely obtain the vital reception that Sony’s first celebration video games normally do. Maybe probably the most divisive video games in PlayStation’s current historical past, Days Gone critiques have been combined, declaring technical hiccups, pacing points, and an open world that borrowed an excessive amount of from its contemporaries. But, there was a sure allure to it which resulted right into a ton of gamers loving what it needed to supply. Shockingly, by February 2022, Days Gone had offered over 7.32 million models, arguably greater than a few of Sony’s extra outstanding first celebration exclusives. It quietly turned a cult basic, pushed by its glorious world environment, a considerably likeable protagonist, and a surprisingly participating story that concluded right into a thoughts bending however largely unresolved plot.
However regardless of the magnificent gross sales and participant love, Sony’s remedy of the IP has been puzzling. Except for a strong PC port launch in 2021 and now this PS5 remaster, there’s been radio silence from the Japanese tech big on a possible sequel. It’s as if Sony doesn’t fairly know what to do with this franchise, though followers clearly need Deacon to return and shut the story.
So, with the sport getting a contemporary coat of paint on Sony’s current-gen consoles, the PS5 and PS5 Professional, the query stands, how good is Days Gone Remastered? Does it handle to succeed in its full potential in any case these years? Let’s discover out.
“Until you’ve been residing below a rock, the story of Days Gone is just about an open secret by now.”
Until you’ve been residing below a rock, the story of Days Gone is just about an open secret by now. However if you’re unaware, let me offer you a brief recap. You step into the sneakers of Deacon, a drifter and biker who’s survived the Freaker outbreak however alongside the best way, misplaced contact together with his spouse, Sarah. The 2 have been separated throughout the early days of the outbreak, and Deacon, being the gritty character he’s, refuses to imagine she’s useless. His journey to search out her leads him throughout huge challenges, harmful environments, and crossing paths with a forged of characters starting from fascinating to downright boring.
One factor that rapidly stands out is Deacon’s behavior of speaking to himself. Typically it really works, including a way of depth to the creepy world as you drive in your bike, different instances it turns into borderline annoying once they overstay their welcome. Nonetheless, the true downside isn’t Deacon’s monologues, it’s its narrative’s uneven pacing. The primary half of the story strikes at a particularly gradual tempo, taking its candy time to put down the fundamentals, and it’s solely across the midway mark that the plot lastly shifts into most gear, delivering the impactful moments and main story beats that all of us got here for.
Sadly, Days Gone Remastered doesn’t handle these pacing points and the skeleton of the unique story stays intact. Nonetheless, when you’re keen to stay by the primary half, the payoff is totally value it. Nonetheless, by the point you attain the ending, the sport will go away you with extra questions than solutions, hinting at untapped potential that also longs for a sequel.
Identical to the unique recreation, the freaker hordes stay the spotlight of Days Gone Remastered. With a number of huge hordes to deal with, every encounter calls for cautious preparation, focus, stocking up on one of the best weapons, crafting explosives, and neatly inserting traps and mines. Even six years later, battling these loopy massive swarms feels simply as thrilling and by no means will get outdated in 2025. Whereas wildlife and human enemies add some selection and problem to the proceedings, their AI nonetheless leaves one thing to be desired, making the freaker hordes simply the star of the present.
“The world design stays one of many recreation’s strongest options, due to its scary forests, dilapidated homes, and deserted factories.”
Fight in Days Gone Remastered holds up surprisingly effectively. As you might be most likely conscious by now, it’s a system that’s largely impressed by The Final of Us, so it’s certain to carry up effectively years later. A lot of the weapons really feel punchy, with suggestions that makes every enemy encounter satisfying. Nonetheless, the melee fight, whereas purposeful, lacks that satisfying crunch. Don’t get me mistaken, it will get the job achieved however doesn’t ship a lot in the best way of weight. Nonetheless, the third-person fight general is strong, and the big variety of weapons makes experimenting enjoyable. So, whether or not you’re gunning down the horde from a distance utilizing an assault rifle or stepping into up shut and loud with a hand gun, there’s sufficient right here to maintain fight enjoyable all through the sport’s run time
The world design stays one of many recreation’s strongest options, due to its scary forests, dilapidated homes, and deserted factories. The various landscapes are fantastically realized and assist promote the creepy environment of a post-apocalyptic world. Deacon’s bike is central to this world, it’s your largest weapon, and fortunately, there’s a variety of customization choices to make it a beast. Managing gas ranges, upgrading its a number of components, and protecting it tip high all ties seamlessly to the sport’s glorious survival loop.
Deacon himself additionally progresses by varied talent timber, unlocking essential upgrades that make an actual distinction, particularly when dealing with the bigger hordes later within the recreation.
“On high of higher body charges and backbone, the PS5 model additionally enhances the unique’s visuals in refined however significant methods.”
Now that we now have the fundamentals out of the best way, what in regards to the remastered model itself? The remastered model of Days Gone brings a number of noticeable enhancements within the tech and graphics departments. We performed the sport on the bottom PS5, and it affords two graphical modes: Efficiency which targets a decision of 1440p at 60 frames per second and High quality which runs the sport at native 4K decision at 30 frames per second. Each modes carry out effectively, however I most popular the Efficiency Mode attributable to its steady 60FPS, which made every little thing from exploring the sport’s open world to preventing hordes really feel a lot smoother. For context, the PS4 Professional used checkerboarded 4K at 30FPS, whereas the bottom PS4 ran at native 1080p and 30FPS, so, having a a lot cleaner, visually wealthy expertise on PS5 is a significant win in my guide.
On high of higher body charges and backbone, the PS5 model additionally enhances the unique’s visuals in refined however significant methods. There’s a brand new atmospheric and sky simulation that makes daylight and skies look extra pure, higher lighting and shadow high quality, improved ambient occlusion, and elevated foliage draw distance. Whereas none of those adjustments are groundbreaking on their very own, collectively they make the sport’s graphics really feel extra alive.
Load instances are shorter when in comparison with the unique, however they aren’t fully eradicated like a number of the trendy video games from current years. The sport additionally takes benefit of the PS5’s DualSense controller, with haptic suggestions and adaptive triggers largely noticeable when utilizing totally different weapons. The implementation is first rate, various from weapon to weapon, but it surely’s a pleasant to have function that provides to the general expertise.
“The Horde Assault mode is definitely among the best new options on this remaster that really elevates the Days Gone expertise.”
Days Gone Remastered on PS5 introduces three new modes: Speedrun, Permadeath, and Horde Assault. Speedrun mode is precisely what it appears like, full the story as quick as doable, with the in-game timer pausing throughout cutscenes to maintain it honest. Permadeath, then again, raises the problem even larger: when you die as soon as, it’s over. Given how difficult Days Gone can get, particularly within the late recreation with greater hordes and tougher encounter, each modes are good for gamers on the lookout for an actual check of endurance and persistence.
Nonetheless, one of the best new addition is unquestionably Horde Assault. This mode is all about what made Days Gone particular: the huge freaker hordes, and dials it up even additional with even greater ones. You unlock totally different maps the place more and more bigger hordes come at you in waves. As you wrestle to outlive longer, you achieve XP that unlocks particular “Injectors” that may both assist or hinder you. Some injectors make freakers explode once they die, providing you with an edge however also can damage you if you’re close to them, whereas others, like beginning at most enemy aggression, make proceedings even harder. As you progress, you’ll additionally unlock cosmetics and much more injectors to customise your expertise. It’s an intense mode the place you’re continuously on the run, by no means having the time to relaxation as you mow down dozens of freakers. It’s simply among the best new options on this remaster that really elevates the Days Gone expertise.
Challenges from the unique recreation additionally make a return, inserting gamers in particular eventualities like stealth ambushes, timed bike runs, or taking down set numbers of human enemies, principally particular person eventualities from the story mode. These challenges are a enjoyable expertise that work completely when you’re on the lookout for motion packed missions after ending the story.
“In its present state, it has now firmly established itself as among the best titles in PlayStation’s library.”
There’s little question that Days Gone has some points that even a remaster can’t repair. The uneven storytelling, some boring NPCs and inconsistent AI are nonetheless current, however there’s additionally a lot to like in regards to the recreation in 2025. The improved visuals, and the unbelievable new modes like Speedrun, Permadeath, and Horde Assault, are extraordinarily participating for anybody who loves an actual problem. Whether or not this remaster was really needed, or whether or not Sony may have merely up to date the PS4 and PC variations with new content material, is a subject for one more day, however one can not deny that the general package deal with the remaster is just very good.
Days Gone Remastered represents the maturity of a recreation that when had a shaky launch, then with time received higher with publish launch patches and updates, improved additional with an important PC port, and now shines even brighter on the PS5. In its present state, it has now firmly established itself as among the best titles in PlayStation’s library. It’s a disgrace that Sony doesn’t appear concerned about doing a lot with the IP going ahead. Will that change sometime with a Days Gone 2? Solely time will inform.
This recreation was reviewed on the PlayStation 5.
