When Days Gone launched all the best way again in 2019, it didn’t precisely obtain the important reception that Sony’s first get together video games often do. Maybe some of the divisive video games in PlayStation’s current historical past, Days Gone opinions have been blended, declaring technical hiccups, pacing points, and an open world that borrowed an excessive amount of from its contemporaries. But, there was a sure appeal to it which resulted right into a ton of gamers loving what it needed to provide. Shockingly, by February 2022, Days Gone had bought over 7.32 million items, arguably greater than a few of Sony’s extra outstanding first get together exclusives. It quietly grew to become a cult traditional, pushed by its glorious world ambiance, a considerably likeable protagonist, and a surprisingly partaking story that concluded right into a thoughts bending however largely unresolved plot.
However regardless of the magnificent gross sales and participant love, Sony’s therapy of the IP has been puzzling. Other than a stable 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, despite the fact that followers clearly need Deacon to return and shut the story.
So, with the sport getting a recent 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 achieve its full potential in spite of everything these years? Let’s discover out.
“Except you’ve been dwelling below a rock, the story of Days Gone is just about an open secret by now.”
Except you’ve been dwelling below a rock, the story of Days Gone is just about an open secret by now. However in case you are unaware, let me provide you with a brief recap. You step into the footwear of Deacon, a drifter and biker who’s survived the Freaker outbreak however alongside the best way, misplaced contact along 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 lifeless. His journey to seek out her leads him throughout huge challenges, harmful environments, and crossing paths with a solid 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 after they overstay their welcome. Nonetheless, the true drawback isn’t Deacon’s monologues, it’s its narrative’s uneven pacing. The primary half of the story strikes at an especially 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 deal with these pacing points and the skeleton of the unique story stays intact. Nonetheless, should you’re prepared to stay by means of 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 sport, the freaker hordes stay the spotlight of Days Gone Remastered. With a number of huge hordes to sort out, 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 large 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 sport’s strongest options, because of its scary forests, dilapidated homes, and deserted factories.”
Fight in Days Gone Remastered holds up surprisingly properly. As you might be in all probability conscious by now, it’s a system that’s largely impressed by The Final of Us, so it’s sure to carry up properly 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 fallacious, it will get the job completed however doesn’t ship a lot in the best way of weight. Nonetheless, the third-person fight general is stable, 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 sport’s strongest options, because of its scary forests, dilapidated homes, and deserted factories. The numerous landscapes are superbly realized and assist promote the creepy ambiance of a post-apocalyptic world. Deacon’s bike is central to this world, it’s your greatest weapon, and fortunately, there’s a variety of customization choices to make it a beast. Managing gasoline 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 means of varied talent bushes, unlocking essential upgrades that make an actual distinction, particularly when going through the bigger hordes later within the sport.
“On high of higher body charges and determination, the PS5 model additionally enhances the unique’s visuals in delicate however significant methods.”
Now that we’ve got the fundamentals out of the best way, what concerning 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 provides 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 properly, however I most well-liked the Efficiency Mode as a consequence of its secure 60FPS, which made the whole lot from exploring the sport’s open world to combating 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 serious win in my guide.
On high of higher body charges and determination, the PS5 model additionally enhances the unique’s visuals in delicate 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 modifications 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 don’t seem to be utterly eradicated like among the fashionable 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 completely different weapons. The implementation is respectable, various from weapon to weapon, however it’s a pleasant to have characteristic that provides to the general expertise.
“The Horde Assault mode is well probably the greatest new options on this remaster that actually 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 feels like, full the story as quick as doable, with the in-game timer pausing throughout cutscenes to maintain it truthful. Permadeath, alternatively, raises the problem even greater: should you die as soon as, it’s over. Given how difficult Days Gone can get, particularly within the late sport with greater hordes and more durable encounter, each modes are good for gamers in search of an actual take a look at of endurance and endurance.
Nonetheless, one of the best new addition is indisputably Horde Assault. This mode is all about what made Days Gone particular: the large freaker hordes, and dials it up even additional with even greater ones. You unlock completely different maps the place more and more bigger hordes come at you in waves. As you battle to outlive longer, you acquire XP that unlocks particular “Injectors” that may both assist or hinder you. Some injectors make freakers explode after they die, providing you with an edge however may also damage you in case you are 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 consistently on the run, by no means having the time to relaxation as you mow down dozens of freakers. It’s simply probably the greatest new options on this remaster that actually elevates the Days Gone expertise.
Challenges from the unique sport 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 should you’re in search of motion packed missions after ending the story.
“In its present state, it has now firmly established itself as probably the greatest titles in PlayStation’s library.”
There’s little doubt 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 concerning the sport in 2025. The improved visuals, and the incredible new modes like Speedrun, Permadeath, and Horde Assault, are extraordinarily partaking for anybody who loves an actual problem. Whether or not this remaster was actually mandatory, or whether or not Sony may have merely up to date the PS4 and PC variations with new content material, is a subject for an additional day, however one can not deny that the general bundle with the remaster is just excellent.
Days Gone Remastered represents the maturity of a sport 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 probably the greatest titles in PlayStation’s library. It’s a disgrace that Sony doesn’t appear taken with doing a lot with the IP going ahead. Will that change sometime with a Days Gone 2? Solely time will inform.
This sport was reviewed on the PlayStation 5.
