Horizon Zero Dawn’s Remastered version feels like a new game altogether. Unlike improving mere visual qualities, the developers included more than 10 hours of re-recorded dialogue, created expansion content, and made major improvements in various aspects to provide an enhanced PS5 and PC gameplay experience.
This article outlines the major differences between the original version and the remastered version and examines whether the new version is worth buying or not. Without further delay, let’s get started.
What is Horizon Zero Dawn?
| Developer | Guerrilla Games |
| Publisher | Sony Interactive Entertainment |
| Director | Mathijs de Jonge |
| Producer | Lambert Wolterbeek Muller |
| Programmer | Michiel van der Leeuw |
| Series | Horizon |
| Mode | Single-player |
Horizon Zero Dawn is an action role-playing game in which the players act as Aloy, a hunter who survives in a post-apocalyptic world filled with machines. With various weapons, Aloy fights the deadlier machines and other enemies to save humanity from the threat of machines.
The game was first released on PlayStation 4 on 28th February 2017. The Windows version was released on 7th August 2020. The remastered PlayStation 5 and Windows versions were released on 31st October 2024.
Key Differences Between Horizon Zero Dawn & the Remastered Version
Major improvements are in visual graphics, audio, character animation, and the load time. While there is no change in the storyline and side quests, some areas have been expanded. Let’s take a closer look.
Graphic Improvements
While Horizon Dawn was a technical marvel at the time of its release, it had an orange tint in all the frames, primarily to hide various other visual issues. The ground texture was flat and lacked detailing. There were no non-player characters (NPCs) in the background, and the shadows and highlights felt like they were painted, making the game less realistic.
The remastered version made a significant leap from this situation by adding more details and vibrance. The shadows, the environments, the buildings, the clothing, and the weapons have transformed, making interactions between the players and the situation more realistic and immersive. Players can choose between 30fps, 40fps, and 60fps.
Audio Improvements
With PlayStation 5’s 3D Tempest audio technology, the game provides a more spatially aware sound environment that increases the suspension of disbelief in the players. More than ten hours of re-recorded voices and new sound effects have been included to enrich the story.
Players can now identify enemies and wildlife with mere sound alone, helping them to track and tame easily. The 3D mix enhances the overall audio experience, and we can see the hard work of the audio department in the whole game.
Improvements in Character Animations
The protagonist Aloy’s appearance has been upgraded. The improvements in facial expressions and body language, especially at the key story moments, increase the emotional connection to the character. Beyond Aloy, all the other characters express similar improvements, including the NPCs.
Faster Load Times
Compared to the original, the game has significantly reduced the load times, including the first time booting. Also, the Settings have additional options to skip the pickup animations and allow players to continue to the next level faster without pressing a button.
The load time is consistent in the PlayStation 5 version; however, it may vary on PC depending on the specs, such as HDD, SSD, and RAM. But it is much better than the original version’s loading time.
Save Data & Import
Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered exclusively provides a way for the existing players to import their save data from the original version, allowing a smooth transition to the remastered version. Available on both PS5 and PC, this feature helps players continue their progress from exactly where they left off in the remastered game.
The Frozen Wilds Expansion
After completing specific missions, the players can enjoy the expanded version of Frozen Wild’s Aloy access Cut, a new region at the border of Banuk territory that can be reached via a mountain pass just north of the Grave-Hoard.
Horizon Zero Dawn System Requirements for Windows
The Windows system requirements for Horizon Zero Dawn are given below.
| Category | Minimum Requirement | Recommended Requirement |
| CPU | Intel Core [email protected] or AMD FX [email protected] | Intel Core [email protected] or Ryzen 5 [email protected] |
| RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB |
| VIDEO CARD | Nvidia GeForce GTX 780 (3 GB) or AMD Radeon R9 290 (4GB) | Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 (6 GB) or AMD Radeon RX 580 (8GB) |
| DEDICATED VIDEO RAM | 3 GB | 6 GB |
| OS | Windows 10 64-bit | Windows 10 64-bit |
| FREE DISK SPACE | 100 GB | 100 GB |
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Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered System Requirements
The Windows system requirements for Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered Edition are given below.
| Category | Minimum Requirement | Recommended Requirement |
| CPU | Intel Core i3-8100 or AMD Ryzen 3 1300X | Intel Core i5-8600 or AMD Ryzen 5 3600 |
| RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB |
| VIDEO CARD | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 6GB or AMD Radeon RX 5500 XT 4GB | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 or AMD Radeon RX 5700 |
| DEDICATED VIDEO RAM | 6 GB (AMD 4GB) | 8192 MB |
| OS | Windows 10 64-bit (version 1909 or higher) | Windows 10 64-bit (version 1909 or higher) |
| FREE DISK SPACE | 135 GB | 135 GB |
Conclusion: Is the Remastered Version Worth Buying?
Overall, the remastered version of Horizon Zero Dawn is worth buying, especially for the above-mentioned improvements and the low cost. The $9.99 price tag is reasonable even for existing users who want to experience the game from a new angle. They can start from where they left off. To know more about the remastered version, please visit the official website’s documentation.