I felt like Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered didn't need to exist – but its $10 price tag is incredible value for an upgrade that's far more than a fresh coat of paint

GamesRPGHorizonHorizon: Zero DawnI felt like Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered didn’t need to exist – but its $10 price tag is incredible value for an upgrade that’s far more than a fresh coat of paintWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works. GamesRPGHorizonHorizon: Zero DawnI felt like Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered didn’t need to exist – but its $10 price tag is incredible value for an upgrade that’s far more than a fresh coat of paintWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works. (Image credit: Guerilla) I was not sold on the idea of Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered. The original remains one of the best PS4 games, but withSony’s PS5 strategy focused more on upgrades than new games, I was extremely cynical about yet another single-generation remaster. Having looked a little closer now, however, I’m a little more faithful. Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered is a peculiar sell, but if you’re looking at that $10 upgrade fee and wondering if it’s worth it, you may be pleasantly surprised. I’m not going to try and convince you to buy Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered if you’ve never touched the series before. If primitive tribes hunting post-apocalyptic robot dinosaurs weren’t enough to convince you in 2017, they won’t be enough in 2024, even with the shiny coat of pain that comes from the remaster. Elsewhere, Sony’s pricing shenanigans – raising the cost of the base version after announcing the upgrade pathway – are hardly an incentive either.I was quick to show my skepticism about whether Aloy really needed a remaster, and I still don’t think this is the best way in for new players. But if you’re a proud owner of the original, the upgrade fee feels like a decent investment, especially if you’re still yet to go beyond Horizon Zero Dawn’s base game. The remaster contains (and borrows technology from) the excellent Frozen Wilds expansion, while bringing the original game in-line with the visuals ofHorizon Forbidden West. I’m actually yet to check out the sequel for myself, but this is such a good PS5 upgrade of the original that it had me reflexively reaching for the glider that I know Aloy unlocks in her second outing - Zero Dawn Remastered feels so much like a current-gen game that it had me inventing current-gen features for this last-gen release. Over the Horizon (Image credit: Guerilla) Here’s what we said in 2017(Image credit: Sony)Horizon Zero Dawn review: “A world that begs you to explore every corner” Here’s what we said in 2017 (Image credit: Sony)Horizon Zero Dawn review: “A world that begs you to explore every corner” (Image credit: Sony) Horizon Zero Dawn review: “A world that begs you to explore every corner” Thankfully, I knew going in that my brain was wrong. I knew that remaster studio Nixxes had done hours of new mocap and enhanced the lighting to make cutscenes more vibrant and lifelike. I knew it picked over the parts of the worldthat even Guerilla had run out of time to get toto ensure that every inch of it was up to scratch. I saw the way snow and sand now deformed under Aloy’s feet, how the denser plant life reacts to her touch, how the streams and rivers that criss-cross her world are clearer than before, reflecting their world far better than in the original game. (Image credit: Guerilla) Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more CATEGORIESPS5PC GamingPlatformsPlayStation CATEGORIES More about horizonThe Horizon curse is far from over as PlayStation’s Zero Dawn multiplayer spin-off might bump into Elden Ring once again in 2025Horizon Zero Dawn remaster continues the series' curse as Dragon Age and Monster Hunter Wilds' beta soak up all the chatterLatestI didn’t know how badly I wanted to grill and gobble up monsters until this upcoming survival roguelike made it look so tastySee more latest► More about horizonThe Horizon curse is far from over as PlayStation’s Zero Dawn multiplayer spin-off might bump into Elden Ring once again in 2025Horizon Zero Dawn remaster continues the series' curse as Dragon Age and Monster Hunter Wilds' beta soak up all the chatterLatestI didn’t know how badly I wanted to grill and gobble up monsters until this upcoming survival roguelike made it look so tastySee 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proves that the DCU is in good hands"5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place” GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension"2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package"3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure"4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years"5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths"1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show"2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie"3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action"4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An 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package” 2 Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package” 3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure” 3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure” 3 Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure” 4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years” 4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years” 4 Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years” 5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths” 5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths” 5 Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths” 1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show” 1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show” 1 Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show” 2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie” 2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie” 2 Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie” 3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action” 3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action” 3 Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action” 4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien” 4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien” 4 The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien” 5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite” 5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite” 5 Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite” 1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat” 1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat” 1 Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat” 2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses” 2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses” 2 Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses” 3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist” 3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist” 3 Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist” 4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” 4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” 4 Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” 5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place” 5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place” 5 Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”