Analysis of Until Dawn for PS5 and PC. Why fix what wasn’t broken?

Almost 10 years have passed since Until Dawn dazzled on PS4, not only for being the magnificent first project of Supermassive Gamesbut because the exclusive of Sony masterfully reclaimed the slasher genre. The commitment to diversified narrative, a setting worthy of the most absolute terror and a graphic section to match turned the nightmare of a group of friends into a classic.

In the same vein of revisiting its past, Sony has decided that Ballistic Moon He had to resurrect the project by offering, not only a facelift, but a polishing in those aspects in which the original languished. I have walked through the snow again, amazed by the brutal deaths of the protagonists and I have verified if the version that has already landed on PS5 and PC really surpasses its predecessor.

Why do you play?

Ignoring any aspect related to the plot, which has remained practically intact, it is time to address what changes have been introduced in Until Dawn from Ballistic Moon. The study has used the graphics engine Unreal Engine 5 to modify the graphical features of a video game that, although it looked great in 2015, the truth is that it was not free from certain sins of the time.

Regarding this section, there is no room for complaint and it is all praise. Much more detail has been incorporated into the scene, the modeling has been revised, there is a greater visual load on the screen and FPS have been stabilized so that they do not move below 30. It is true that they have fallen below that figure in two absolutely specific situations, but they are very temporary moments. The original suffered crashes quite frequently and in 2024 it doesn’t happen, although I did experience a crash during my game.

In any case, you must keep in mind that if you are going to work on the original material it is to polish it or add nuances that elevate it further and I am clear that this has been the intention when reviewing Until Dawn for PS5 and PC. However, in that desire for improvement they have slipped seriously since Ballistic Moon.

The crux of the matter lies in the artistic section and is that the developer has decided change, especially, everything related to lighting. The most notable example is that the group’s arrival at the mountain occurs at dusk, when in the original it was already night. It does not have to be considered a negative modification, unless this lighting system is applied to the night itself without taking into account key moments.

Let me explain: the lighting of Until Dawn for PS5 it is “realistic”, in such a way that we see the settings, characters and other elements with light sources that are more credible for the real world. However, the PS4 game wasn’t looking for that kind of contrast. If you remember, it was a title with a kind of bluish filter and a more illuminating light was forced, pardon the redundancy, than what we would actually see on a mountain without any type of light source, beyond the moon, flashlights or candles.

In this version, we opt for a “realistic” approach, so there are many completely dark areas of the stage that are barely visible. In the same way, visual richness is lost to contemplate the settings or the expressions of the characters in many situations. At the same time, there has not been a concern when it comes to respecting the role of the decisions in this regard by Supermassive in 2015.

To understand what I mean, just remember a scene in which Emily turns on the light on her cell phone and as soon as she does, the light reveals that she is in front of some skulls. The lighting of the original was darkened in that situation on purpose to shock the player. However, on PS5, “realistic” lighting has been shoehorned into all sections without regard to whether it respects the original vision. This way, before you swipe on the phone screen, you can already see the skulls in the background because there is enough light to reveal them.

This issue is a constant throughout the entire PS5 version, but there are more “improvements” to comment on. The issue of cameras is another major mistake, since it seems clear that Ballistic Moon has wanted to approach the path of being much more immersive, but forgetting along the way that Until Dawn is not immersive, but cinematic. The 2015 original continually used fixed shots or a very subtle third person in specific sections.

In 2024, there has been a commitment, except for specific moments, to make a very strong bet towards the third person. But it’s not even a point of view similar to what happens in Uncharted, but rather a third person a la Gears of War. The camera treatment is that of a shooter, over the shoulder, as if the character we control were going to shoot. It is too close and covers a certain field of vision and, furthermore, The motif of some of the fixed shots has not been respected ancient.

For example, there is a hand on top of a moving machine that Mike finds in the asylum. In 2015, the game takes a close-up of the hand to draw attention to it, but in 2024 that shot does not exist because it is played in third person and it would not fit the situation to force a fixed shot. On the other hand, the possibility of walking quickly has been eliminated. It’s not like you were Flash in the Until Dawn original, but you could speed up the pace, and in 2024 it is impossible to do it at will, regardless of whether the video game allows it due to narrative necessity. Somewhat frustrating you are back after 9 years.

The reasons to return

In terms of expanding the story, the additions are promising. Ballistic Moon has in many places fit new routes to follow; very small in most cases, but inviting you to explore more and surprising veterans. In these new points you can find notes, articles or objects that expand the argument related to what has happened in the Washington mountains.

However, the best possible addition is a much longer introductory scene to better expose the origin of the joke to Hannah. It is carried out with a song with lyrics that fit well, although not so much on the second and last time this happens. In the snowball fight that Jess and Mike have, which serves as a tutorial to learn that there are times when it is better to do nothing, another theme is added that doesn’t stick too much. That sequence wasn’t thought up with a song in mind nine years ago, and just because it’s in the background doesn’t necessarily mean it’s going to work.

Another issue to take into account is that of totems. Its forms are different, as well as the method of revealing its information, and its location has also changed. In fact, this has been the perfect excuse to create secondary roads which now has Until Dawn in 2024. Additionally, one more line of demonized hunger totems has been added, whose perspective is that of Hannah. More than an improvement, it is an excuse for those who have already played to explore all the corners we pass through even more.

Finally there is the post-credits sequence, UCM style. It opens the door to a sequel that, although it was not necessary, it cannot be denied that it leaves us wanting more and I hope it happens.

iGamesNews’s opinion

There’s no way I can go back Until Dawn It’s not a guilty pleasure, because anyone would classify us as crazy for enjoying the gore that Supermassive Games exhibited in 2015. If you are a newcomer to the barbarism suffered by a group of friends in a cabin in the middle of the forest, you are going to enjoy it. It’s really delicious and you’ll want to discover what other jobs the developer has under her belt.

Until Dawn is not a game old or outdated enough to need a reviewbut the quality of a graphic section that was already good for the time has been increased. The frame rate is brutally stable, the level of detail is much higher than in the past, and extra pills have been added for veterans. There are new hiding places, more clues and totems to discover, just as their location is not exactly the same as on PS4.

In short, if you have never played Until Dawnyou won’t find anything strange about it and you will enjoy it as the great slasher that it is. However, when it comes to looking back and comparing it to 2015, it loses out by not respecting the original vision. I repeat, I do not doubt Ballistic Moon’s commitment to reverence and honor a standard bearer of the horror genre, but it is clear that mistakes have been made.

I’m talking about design decisions that didn’t have to be made without understanding the consequences. It seems that the changes in the technical section with the Unreal Engine 5 would not be enough to justify the return of the work, which is why some modifications give the impression of being arbitrary. Until Dawn was a cinematic gamewith direct respect for cinema, and placing the camera on your shoulder because big franchises direct their projects that way does not translate into a benefit.

The lighting is directly a mistake, anticipating impacts on the player or turning off the scene so much that the scenarios cannot be clearly appreciated. The realism that has been pursued has suited the modeling of Emily, Matt, Sam and company, as well as the fluids, wounds and other details in the characters, but it has weighed down the whole.

Until Dawn Price

You can get Until Dawn for PS5 in physical format for 59.90 dollars and digitally in the PlayStation Store for 69,99 dollars. It is also possible to get the video game for PC for 69,99 dollars.

Until Dawn duration

Despite the additions that may have been made, the duration of Until Dawn It is practically the same. A normal game takes time to complete about 7-8 hoursalthough it must be taken into account that replayability greatly increases the time invested to see 100% of the plot. If that is your case, it should take you around 20 hours.

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