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It’s been six years since Days Gone released on Playstation 4 and now it’s back with a remastered version for the PlayStation 5. Is this post apocalyptic zombie adventure worth revisiting or discovering? Or should it have been left on the open road for the horde to devour?
The Forgotten Classic
Upon its initial release back in 2019, Days Gone received a mixed critical reception but managed to garner an audience who loved and appreciated the game for what it was. I sit firmly in that category, and still do to this day with the release of the remastered version. To me, Days Gone is a wonderful intimate tale of a man searching for answers and attempting to connect his past and his way of life within a post apocalyptic world. Set in Oregon, you play as Deacon St. John, a member of a motorcycle club named the Mongrels. A virus has ravaged the world, leaving large chunks of the population, known as Freakers, deformed and disfigured. Zombie games are as popular as ever but I have always felt this game manages to achieve something unique and different.
Days Gone delicately balances the apocalypse with a heartfelt tale. After witnessing the apparent demise of his wife, Deacon has never given up hope that somehow she survived and by the start of the game he is given signs that this could be a reality. Too often, open world games attempt to make things too grandiose in scale but what I have always loved about Days Gone is the true emphasis on the characters and how people would do anything to help the ones they love. It’s a fantastic story of clinging onto love and what Deacon would do for just a chance of hope. In many ways he fits and belongs in this world being a biker and the choice to create that backstory is inspired as you drive along the vast areas of Oregon.
If you haven’t played Days Gone before, the story packs tons of emotional weight, twists and turns and plenty of action and horror. But time after time, I am drawn to this game because of Deacon and how wonderfully complex he is as a character. As the game is billed as a remaster, the story has remained untouched and the narrative is a superb tale of companionship, love and the power of hope, all intertwined in a zombie apocalypse. Like the original, the story isn’t without its flaws however, as it mainly bogs you down with repetitive missions which take away from the main narrative. Overall though, this is a tale well worth exploring.
The Open Road Has A Lot To Offer
When a game bills itself as a remaster, it’s important for returning players to understand what new additions are on offer to entice them to return. Thankfully, developers Sony Bend have added some truly wonderful modes and options. The game was supported on release in 2019 with free DLC and all of this content returns in the remastered version, such as the challenge mode and the survival mode. These remain great options for players to experience something different from the story but it’s the new additions that really caught my eye. The main new addition is the horde assault mode. Essentially acting as a roguelite experience within the game, the goal is to simply survive as long as you can, while a massive horde is chasing your every move. Scavenging items to repair your motorcycle, completing missions to earn points and using your arsenal of weapons to mow down the horde are just some of the tasks you can take on, all while running for your life. It’s a heart pumping mode that certainly isn’t for new players; the difficulty spike is not for the faint hearted but it’s such a unique and innovative mode, that it’s well worth checking out.
Along with horde assault, Days Gone Remastered introduces multiple modes that can satisfy your zombie itch. Permadeath mode allows you to play the story with a single life which really adds tension and makes the game incredibly exhilarating. The Speedrun mode adds the opposite of Permadeath,making you blast your way through the story as quickly as possible which will satisfy a section of players who long for challenges like these. These modes add depth and replayability to an already hefty package of content and Sony Bend should be commended for not lazily porting the game over with no new content.
In terms of gameplay and accessibility, the additions are downright brilliant. The original version of this third person open world shooter was already a tight and strong gameplay experience but this version takes it to a new level. New options include the ability to auto complete quick time events, (QTE) menu narration and game speed settings. These settings allow the player to cater their journey to how they see fit. Along with the accessibility options, there are some superb updates to the dual sense controller options in Days Gone. The addition of making use of the adaptive triggers and haptic feedback make driving Deacon’s bike an absolute joy. It really feels like you’re on the road yourself with how the controller feels when driving. The haptic feedback is also evident during specific weather events and in combat, really making you feel every shot and swing Deacon takes. A superb effort by Sony Bend to make Days Gone a game where players can truly shape their experience.
Ostentatious Oregon
Graphically speaking, the 2019 version of Days Gone still looks wonderful six years later and in my opinion, the remaster has taken the right option in aiming to refine and polish these visuals. There are two graphics modes added in this addition: performance and quality modes. Personally, I tend to favour the performance modes in games due to the higher framerate and this game is no different. Days Gone looks absolutely breath-taking in 60fps watching the massive freaker hordes chasing after you. It’s a modern technical marvel to see the sheer amount of enemies on screen running at such a smooth frame rate. Similarly, the quality mode allows the world of Days Gone to shine. Oregon looked gorgeous six years ago and this mode only adds to its beauty. Whether it’s the lush forests, the creepy cultist camps or dilapidated buildings, this game looks jaw dropping. It’s also important to mention that the facial animations and character design remain high class, with Deacon especially looking vastly detailed and realistic. Along with the modes, there is a breadth of accessibility features such as high contrast mode and the ability to alter the FOV, which are welcome additions to an already polished package.
Along with beautiful visuals, Days Gone Remastered sports superb audio updates. The stellar voice acting from a cast led by Sam Witwer remains intact, allowing each character to feel fleshed out and complex, thus making every interaction memorable. The developers have said that this remaster sports a fully revised and improved audio mix and this is evident in accessibility, which clearly has been at the forefront of this remaster. New features include, as previously mentioned, menu narration, which is wonderful for gamers who need that added help. The feature that I fell in love with is the collectible audio cues. This small feature allows players to locate collectibles more efficiently as when you near a collectible, a distinct audio ping will sound, helping you to find your treasure. With over 240 collectibles to obtain, this is a wonderful feature that more games need to use. Finally, the hauntingly beautiful and poignant soundtrack remains as impactful as ever. I could drive on the open road with this soundtrack all day long.
Verdict
In the era of debate of what is a remaster and what is a remake, Days Gone Remastered does exactly what the title says. New modes such as the horde assault add variety and difficulty and the great accessibility additions contribute to an already strong package. The visuals and audio were already brilliant but the improvements to these departments help solidify their greatness. The story remains exactly as before, warts and all and still is divisive to this day, but to me, it’s a great adventure that tries to tell an intimate story in a vast and daunting world. Hopefully one day, Sony will greenlight a sequel, but for now and to me, this remains Sony’s most underrated game. See you on the open road!
