In 1998, Gus Van Sant remade the classic horror film Psycho almost shot-for-shot, resulting in a solid film that didn’t receive a great reception due to lack of innovation. Critics on Rotten Tomatoes noted that Van Sant’s remake did not enhance Hitchcock’s original in any significant way.
Similarly, my sentiment towards Ballistic Moon’s Until Dawn remake for PlayStation 5 and PC echoes this feeling of redundancy.
The original Until Dawn released on PS4 in 2015 and remains a standout narrative adventure game with meaningful choices and stellar performances. While the remake retains these core elements, changes in cinematography, color grading, soundtrack, and gameplay make it feel different without necessarily improving upon the original.
Feeling of Changes
Until Dawn follows a group of friends facing terror in a remote cabin, making choices that impact their survival. While not a groundbreaking horror narrative, it serves as an interactive movie experience with choices that matter. Despite the genre’s evolution since its original release, Until Dawn remains worth experiencing for newcomers.
The remake features enhanced accessibility options and a gore toggle, offering minor improvements. However, changes in lighting, color grading, and soundtrack fail to enhance the game itself.
The alterations made by Ballistic Moon in the PS5 remake of Until Dawn stray from the original’s atmospheric style, missing the mark artistically. By neglecting the original stylistic choices, the remake falls short of capturing the essence that made the original game special.
Questionable Choices
Noteworthy changes in gameplay, particularly the transition to an over-the-shoulder third-person camera, diminish the game’s tension by reducing the fear factor. This departure from the fixed camera setup of the original sacrifices the game’s unique identity for a more generic, modern presentation.
While the remake of Until Dawn may appeal to newcomers, players familiar with the original’s gameplay and atmosphere may find the changes disappointing. The decision to alter the camera perspective seems unnecessary and detracts from the game’s distinctive charm.
Ultimately, Ballistic Moon’s Until Dawn fails to improve upon the foundation laid by Supermassive Games nearly a decade ago. The remake, priced at $60, may not justify the cost for fans of the original. As with Van Sant’s Psycho remake, not all rebuilds lead to enhancements.
The remake of Until Dawn is available on PS5 and PC, while the original remains accessible on PS4 through PS Plus Extra game catalog and playable on PS5.
