Back to Blackwood Mountain using Unreal Engine 5
By Paul Hunter
Remember when Until Dawn dropped back in 2015? It was a total game-changer: a scary, choice-based adventure that felt like a classic slasher flick where you control the outcome. Now, the folks at Ballistic Moon have given Until Dawn a major facelift. With Unreal Engine 5 powering the visuals, this remake is a sight to behold. Plus, they’ve added new gameplay improvements, new collectibles, an expanded prologue and new endings to discover, giving it even more depth.
The basic plot is still the same: a group of friends head up to a spooky cabin in the woods for a weekend getaway. But as you'd expect, the night takes a terrifying turn. Every choice you make matters, big or small. One wrong move, and everything could go downhill. It’s like a choose-your-own-adventure, but with way higher stakes. Let's venture back to Blackwood Mountain to see all that this remake has to offer!
The story of Until Dawn remains as gripping as ever. It's a chilling blend of supernatural scares and psychological twists that will keep you guessing. Each character faces their own personal demons, and the butterfly effect system means no two playthroughs are the same. How the system works is simple: actions you take, whether big or small, can have reprocussions later in the story—including helping characters survive or leading to their untimely death. There are multiple endings, including two new ones, giving this title tons of replay value.
The game is a masterclass in tension. From sudden scares to mind-bending horror, it'll have you on the edge of your seat. And the constant threat of losing a character due to a wrong decision will have you biting your nails. Even little actions like choosing to help or ignore a hungry animal can come back to influence the story later on, a stark reminder of how even the smallest decisions can have huge consequences. It's a testament to the game's strong writing and design.
With its branching paths, hidden collectibles, and character-driven stories, Until Dawn is a game you'll want to play again and again. New dialogue options and Hunger totems add even more depth, making each playthrough feel fresh and exciting.
The gameplay of the Until Dawn remake remains largely unchanged, but it's received some welcome tweaks. The infamous quick-time events are still there, but there are accessibility options to make them more forgiving this time around, including auto-completing every QTE. You can also increase the visibility of the prompts or extend the time you get to react, making the game much more accessible for those new to the genre.
For longtime fans, the remake offers plenty of new reasons to return. The hidden collectibles are in remixed locations, there's expanded backstory lore with new Hunger Totems to find, and a revamped prologue adds depth to the world of Until Dawn. These extras make each playthrough feel like an even more complete adventure.
While the remake offers a smoother and more polished experience, some of the original's minor flaws remain. The pacing can still feel slow at times, especially during exploration, and the fixed camera angles, though iconic, can sometimes feel awkward. But these are minor quibbles in an otherwise fantastic update.
The real star of the Until Dawn remake is its stunning new visuals. While the original PS4 version was already impressive, this remake takes things to a whole new level. Thanks to Unreal Engine 5, the game now boasts ray tracing, dynamic lighting, and weather effects. These elements create a truly immersive and atmospheric experience on Blackwood Mountain.
The character models also have received significant improvements. Facial animations are smoother, and the characters' expressions are more lifelike than ever before. The fact that their injuries evolve over time, with snow clinging to their clothes and blood drying into wounds, adds to the overall realism and immersion.
One of my favorite moments was a tense chase sequence through a mine. The way the light refracted off the rocky walls made it difficult to see, and the howling wendigo added to the disorientation. It felt like the mine itself was closing in, making my choices even more stressful. These visual enhancements demonstrate the care and attention that went into modernizing the game while preserving the heart of the original experience.
Final Score: 8/10 - Great
Developer: Ballistic Moon
Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Genre: Interactive Drama
Modes: Single-player
ESRB Rating: M (Mature)
A key was provided by the publisher.
By Paul Hunter
Remember when Until Dawn dropped back in 2015? It was a total game-changer: a scary, choice-based adventure that felt like a classic slasher flick where you control the outcome. Now, the folks at Ballistic Moon have given Until Dawn a major facelift. With Unreal Engine 5 powering the visuals, this remake is a sight to behold. Plus, they’ve added new gameplay improvements, new collectibles, an expanded prologue and new endings to discover, giving it even more depth.
The basic plot is still the same: a group of friends head up to a spooky cabin in the woods for a weekend getaway. But as you'd expect, the night takes a terrifying turn. Every choice you make matters, big or small. One wrong move, and everything could go downhill. It’s like a choose-your-own-adventure, but with way higher stakes. Let's venture back to Blackwood Mountain to see all that this remake has to offer!
The story of Until Dawn remains as gripping as ever. It's a chilling blend of supernatural scares and psychological twists that will keep you guessing. Each character faces their own personal demons, and the butterfly effect system means no two playthroughs are the same. How the system works is simple: actions you take, whether big or small, can have reprocussions later in the story—including helping characters survive or leading to their untimely death. There are multiple endings, including two new ones, giving this title tons of replay value.
The game is a masterclass in tension. From sudden scares to mind-bending horror, it'll have you on the edge of your seat. And the constant threat of losing a character due to a wrong decision will have you biting your nails. Even little actions like choosing to help or ignore a hungry animal can come back to influence the story later on, a stark reminder of how even the smallest decisions can have huge consequences. It's a testament to the game's strong writing and design.
With its branching paths, hidden collectibles, and character-driven stories, Until Dawn is a game you'll want to play again and again. New dialogue options and Hunger totems add even more depth, making each playthrough feel fresh and exciting.
The gameplay of the Until Dawn remake remains largely unchanged, but it's received some welcome tweaks. The infamous quick-time events are still there, but there are accessibility options to make them more forgiving this time around, including auto-completing every QTE. You can also increase the visibility of the prompts or extend the time you get to react, making the game much more accessible for those new to the genre.
For longtime fans, the remake offers plenty of new reasons to return. The hidden collectibles are in remixed locations, there's expanded backstory lore with new Hunger Totems to find, and a revamped prologue adds depth to the world of Until Dawn. These extras make each playthrough feel like an even more complete adventure.
While the remake offers a smoother and more polished experience, some of the original's minor flaws remain. The pacing can still feel slow at times, especially during exploration, and the fixed camera angles, though iconic, can sometimes feel awkward. But these are minor quibbles in an otherwise fantastic update.
The real star of the Until Dawn remake is its stunning new visuals. While the original PS4 version was already impressive, this remake takes things to a whole new level. Thanks to Unreal Engine 5, the game now boasts ray tracing, dynamic lighting, and weather effects. These elements create a truly immersive and atmospheric experience on Blackwood Mountain.
The character models also have received significant improvements. Facial animations are smoother, and the characters' expressions are more lifelike than ever before. The fact that their injuries evolve over time, with snow clinging to their clothes and blood drying into wounds, adds to the overall realism and immersion.
One of my favorite moments was a tense chase sequence through a mine. The way the light refracted off the rocky walls made it difficult to see, and the howling wendigo added to the disorientation. It felt like the mine itself was closing in, making my choices even more stressful. These visual enhancements demonstrate the care and attention that went into modernizing the game while preserving the heart of the original experience.
The Verdict
The Until Dawn remake stays true to the original while offering a fresh, modern experience. The visual improvements are jaw-dropping, and the subtle gameplay tweaks make it more accessible without losing the original's charm. Whether you're a returning fan or playing for the first time, this remake delivers a haunting, thrilling adventure that's well worth your time.Final Score: 8/10 - Great
Until Dawn (2024) details
Platform: PS5, PCDeveloper: Ballistic Moon
Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Genre: Interactive Drama
Modes: Single-player
ESRB Rating: M (Mature)
A key was provided by the publisher.