As a seasoned gamer with over two decades under my belt and countless hours spent traversing through various digital landscapes, I can confidently say that Until Dawn stands out as one of the most memorable experiences in my gaming journey. This remake, while not a drastic departure from its predecessor, has managed to elevate the original in ways that only a modern-day technological leap can achieve.
Despite encountering numerous setbacks and receiving minimal promotion from Sony, it’s astonishing how well Until Dawn turned out when it was released in 2015 for the PS4. The narrative drew inspiration from classic slasher movies, centering around eight friends who journeyed to Blackwood Mountain for a retreat. The cinematic style of the game was complemented by high-quality production values and impressive acting, with the fixed camera angles adding an extra layer of authenticity, reminiscent of older survival horror games.
1) This game struck a chord with its audience due to its compelling narrative and multiple paths, pushing the boundaries of adventure games and venturing into interactive storytelling. Its innovative format left an impact on Supermassive Games’ future projects, such as “The Dark Pictures Anthology,” “The Quarry,” and “The Casting of Frank Stone.” Additionally, despite being limited by the hardware, “Until Dawn” made optimal use of it to produce high-quality facial expressions, lighting, shadows, and realistic settings.
A Ground-up Remake
Instead of polishing existing PlayStation games like “Horizon Zero Dawn” and “The Last of Us” with remastered versions, Sony chose to completely overhaul “Until Dawn” by entrusting it to Ballistic Moon, a team that includes ex-members from Supermassive. Rather than enhancing the game’s graphics or optimizing it for the PS5, they essentially started from scratch on this console (and PC). They also made several modifications, such as redesigning the Prologue to offer more background information about the game’s events and setting the stage for the rest of the story. New areas have been added, offering fresh interactions, a third-person camera in certain instances, new Totems to gather, among other changes. However, it remains to be seen how all these updates stack up against the original version.
The foundation for this remake is laid by Unreal Engine 5, where nearly every aspect including models, settings, animations, and visual effects undergoes enhancement. The upgraded materials, particularly clothing, along with advanced rendering, textures for characters and environments, and a greater level of detail, breathe astonishing realism into the world. Additionally, it offers an overhaul to the damage system on characters, creating more authentic-looking injuries such as cuts and bruises that make certain deaths appear more unsettling than before, despite less graphic violence. Furthermore, ray tracing is utilized for shadows, ambient occlusion, and reflections with impressive results.
Lighting and Shadow Improvements
One of the standout differences between the old and new lighting is evident during the Prologue following Beth’s departure from the cabin. In the original game, the remaining characters were arguing outside under the influence of interior lighting. However, in the remake, the illumination is more authentic and warm, leading to softer shadows and a range of color tones. This improved lighting also highlights additional background characters, such as Emily and Jessica, who were previously obscured by deeper shadows in the original version.
In the Prologue, as we accompany Hannah in her search for Beth, the contrast between light and shadow becomes even more noticeable. The original’s lighting and shadows are sharper and more defined, while the remake presents softer, more natural-feeling rays and shadows, creating a distinctly different mood that leans towards a foreboding, gothic atmosphere.
When Beth turns on her phone’s flashlight, there’s a striking difference between its intense beam and the soft moonlight around it. This scene lasts longer than usual, creating a shift in tempo with added jump scares and unexpected moments, before continuing with the same intense chase sequence and quick-response scenarios as the original.
Tone Shift and Model Improvements
In the first chapter, which takes place a year after Sam’s arrival at Blackwood Mountain, is where some more debatable stylistic decisions appear. The initial Until Dawn game chose to set the ambiance during the night, with the moon serving as the primary source of light once more. Even the title of the chapter, “Memento Mori,” is displayed along with the text, “10 hours until dawn,” suggesting that it occurs in the evening or early night.
Instead of keeping the original text, the new version goes for a moodier lighting scheme with varied color hues. Critics are divided on this change and its effect on the overall ambiance – some find it unremarkable, while others passionately dislike it. Maybe the intention is to emphasize the enhanced realism, such as the greater detail in the surroundings, including intricate tree branches and foliage. The Blackwood Pines sign, too, appears more worn and detailed with textures that suggest age compared to the original’s fresh-looking board, which seems newly carved.
Despite the criticism that may arise from certain adjustments in timing, lighting, and camera angles, there’s no disputing the stunning realism of the character models. Detailed skin textures reveal pores, while eyes seem more vibrant. The alterations in Sam’s attire, such as the cap with intricately rendered fur strands or the scarf with more distinct frayed edges, are equally captivating. Even snowflakes on fabric stand out, enhancing the overall attention to detail. Moreover, facial animations have seen a significant improvement without veering into excessive exaggeration.
Overhauled Cinematography
One intriguing difference between the two adaptations lies in how Ballistic Moon reimagined a significant portion of the cinematography. This transformation is quite noticeable – for instance, the Prologue scene where Beth exits the cabin exhibits more outdoor scenes of the characters compared to the initial version, a rather understated alteration. On the other hand, in Chapter 1 during the scene where Sam confronts Josh about the lack of hot water inside the cabin, Ballistic Moon introduces a completely different camera angle that offers a broader view of the surroundings and lighting, yet maintains the perspective of observing the action from behind Chris and Ashley. The handheld camera effect during the sequence where a masked figure pursues Josh and Sam appears more authentic, blending seamlessly with the subsequent cuts to the figure stumbling.
In essence, the updated version of “Until Dawn” offers a substantial enhancement in visual aspects. Compared to the initial game, it delivers more chilling settings and a deeper exploration of its characters. The revamped cinematography is sharp yet remains faithful to the original concept, while the lighting and shadows are exceptionally well-executed. Ignoring the mood set by the first chapter, it effectively recreates the eerie and tense atmosphere of the original, often intensifying it further. If you haven’t played the original game, the remake is definitely worth considering; however, you might want to wait for patches to fix some reported bugs.
Surprisingly well-preserved is how one might describe Until Dawn in today’s gaming landscape. Although I appreciate the improved lighting effects and shadow softening, as well as the more detailed character models that now seem so expressive, there’s a unique, foreboding atmosphere to the original that remains captivating. Maybe it’s the cooler color palette and harsher lighting that intensify the drama, or simply the overall presentation. Whatever the reason, PS5 gamers might find it worth exploring, even without a specific upgrade, due to its lower cost but more importantly to experience Supermassive’s original vision directly.
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2024-10-08 19:11