Days Gone Remastered Technical Analysis – How Big of An Upgrade Is It?

by

As a dedicated gamer, I’ve found myself deeply divided on Sony Bend’s masterpiece, Days Gone. On one hand, I can see why some gamers consider it among the finest zombie games of recent times, with its immersive open-world setting and gripping narrative. However, there are others who argue that it fell short due to technical issues like bugs and a questionable pace that prevented it from reaching the peak of its potential.

Following its debut, “Days Gone” has amassed a significant fan base, but it appears that a follow-up isn’t imminent at the moment. However, we do have “Days Gone: Remastered”. Designed for both PS5 and PC, “Days Gone: Remastered” aims to deliver an enhanced version of the original game, taking full advantage of current-generation hardware capabilities and significantly enhancing the gaming experience.

Days Gone Vs Days Gone Remastered – What’s New?

In essence, the game’s enhancements are largely similar to those seen in the PC version of Days Gone, with some minor adjustments. We will delve deeper into these improvements, however, it appears that not leveraging Unreal Engine 5 and its visual capabilities for this game could have been a significant missed opportunity. The remaster’s primary focus seems to be on introducing new gaming modes, such as the Speedrun mode, along with features like DualSense haptic support and improved audio.

Character Models

In the initial release of “Days Gone”, an exceptional character modeling system was utilized, offering a high degree of realism. The polygon count was on par with many games from the same era, showcasing intricate skin mesh structures, lifelike physically based material renderings, and detailed hair designs for characters.

In terms of the remaster’s character model construction, there aren’t significant changes noticeable during gameplay. While under the hood polycounts might have slightly risen, it’s hard to discern any difference in action. The hair physics remain similar to earlier versions, which can seem a bit outdated when compared to those used in contemporary current-gen games.

Just like other aspects, physically-based materials have undergone minor yet unobtrusive improvements. The clothing on these characters, such as leather jackets or denims, is intricately designed with details including stitching, prints, and a variety of materials to create realism. It looks great, particularly in cinematics, but it’s important to mention that there hasn’t been any significant character model update.

Environment


Switching gears over to the environment, Days Gone mostly employed traditional rendering techniques and world streaming measures that was once again comparable to most games of the time. The post-apocalyptic world of the game looked great and didn’t really have many flaws as per se, but nothing really stood out in terms of how it was constructed or achieved, except the outstanding number of enemies in a Freaker horde.

As I dive into Days Gone Remastered, it’s like stepping back into a familiar world, but with some sweet under-the-hood enhancements. The visual quality has been beefed up noticeably, and textures that were a bit blurry in the original PS4 version now pop with clarity. From the lush foliage to the intricate details on stones, everything seems more complex and vibrant this time around, making the world feel even more immersive.

Bend Studio has improved the way skies appear in the remastered version by using spectral light simulation to create more authentic sky colors. This enhancement is evident when comparing it with the original version. Similarly, enhanced processing power allows for a more seamless world streaming system, resulting in a consistent visual style across the game world. Pop-in issues are barely noticeable, and the transition between levels of detail occurs smoothly without any glitches.

Lighting, Shadows And Post Processing

In terms of lighting, the initial release of Days Gone utilized a screen space global illumination system, which functioned effectively for its time, but appears somewhat outdated when compared to contemporary standards. The PC version introduced software-based ray tracing global illumination, and the Remastered edition is expanding upon this feature. In the remastered version, global illumination exhibits significant improvement over the original, with reflections and light casting being far more precise and authentic than previously.

The enhanced Global Illumination (GI) system also improves the effectiveness of indirect lighting, and reflections off surfaces are more accurately simulated compared to the initial version. Take a look at how the shadows and lighting appear more authentic than before in a direct comparison between the original and Remastered editions. To be clear, these improvements might seem minor given that we’ve already experienced them with the recent PC launch – but they’re still noteworthy nonetheless.

This updated lighting setup offers enhanced shadow details that extend over greater distances compared to previous versions. Additionally, there’s a post-processing phase that incorporates elements like motion blur, depth-of-field, and volumetric effects. These aspects have all undergone refinements in this new version, with noticeable improvements in the smoke rendering, especially when exploring or battling Freakers within forested areas.

Essentially, these updates are more like refinements rather than significant transformations, and they don’t dramatically alter the game’s overall visual look. Given that Days Gone isn’t an ancient release, it still holds up well visually compared to current standards, so these minor enhancements aren’t too shabby when considering the bigger picture.

Resolution

In the PlayStation 4 version of Days Gone, the resolution adjusted dynamically, much like many games from that generation. The standard console could run the game at 1080p, while the Pro model offered 4K resolution. It also employed temporal anti-aliasing to soften and minimize jagged edges.

In the Remastered version, Bend Studio has boosted the resolution to a native 4K, which, along with enhanced visuals, offers a noticeably sharper and improved appearance compared to the original release. This enhancement is particularly noticeable on the PS5, but if you’re using a PC with suitable specifications, you could potentially achieve an even higher resolution.

Frame Rate And Load Times

On the PS5, Bend Studio can take the game to new heights due to its enhanced power. Unlike the original version that ran at 30fps with a resolution of 1080p on the base console, the Remastered edition offers two options: upscaled 4K at 30fps or 1440p at 60fps depending on your chosen mode. This time around, internal rendering resolution is significantly improved, and the upscaling technique used, PSSR, minimizes artifacts for a cleaner, sharper image.

This version of the game generally maintained its desired frame rate, suggesting that it runs smoothly most of the time without many stability concerns. Similarly, loading times have significantly improved in this release. Now, getting into the game and fast-traveling are much smoother, taking only a few seconds compared to the lengthy load times experienced in the initial version.

Other Minor Upgrades

The remastered version of Days Gone takes advantage of several PS5 enhancements, maximizing the console’s capabilities. It includes compatibility with the DualSense controller’s advanced haptic feedback, which enhances the interactive elements during gameplay. Furthermore, it offers 3D Audio support for a more immersive experience, particularly for players using compatible headsets.

Conclusion

In summary, while there have been some minor enhancements across all aspects of Days Gone Remastered, these updates don’t fundamentally alter the overall gaming experience. The improvements, as we previously mentioned, are not groundbreaking and do not significantly impact the game in a comprehensive manner.

In addition to fresh content and enhancements that boost its value, Days Gone Remastered offers an appealing reason for purchase. If you’ve played Days Gone previously, it might not be necessary for you, but if you’re new to the game, Days Gone Remastered could serve as a fantastic introduction to this experience.

Read More

2025-04-29 20:13