REVIEW: ‘Days Gone Remastered’ Is Still Divisive But With A Solid Upgrade

Days Gone Remastered has a lot to prove coming out of the gate. PlayStation is generally known for an excellent first-party lineup, with Days Gone being a bit of a black sheep in the stable. When it was announced a few months ago, much of the public response bubbled down to a straightforward question: why?

Initially released in 2019, the game, developed by Bend Studio and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment, proved divisive. It drew many comparisons to PlayStation’s series, The Last of Us, with gameplay and story that failed to connect with many. It did still have its ardent defenders and fans, but few were clamoring for a remaster. So why bring it back? Can a remaster give it a new opportunity to connect? The graphical updates and new content will be enough to pull some people in, but at its core, it’s still the same game it was when it first launched.

With Days Gone Remastered, I opted to go in with an open mind. I was one of the detractors, but maybe it was time and place. Perhaps something would connect now that didn’t then. If it were enough for me, perhaps it’d be enough for others.

The realistic truth? Days Gone Remastered, for better or worse, is still Days Gone…but time has been kinder to it. It’s not as significant a graphical overhaul as Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered. The added content isn’t as good as The Last of Us Part Two‘s No Return roguelike mode. Despite that, the new updates do make Days Gone Remastered a more fun overall package than it was in 2019.

The narrative in Days Gone Remastered is still lackluster.

Days Gone Remastered follows the combat-booted Deacon St. John a few years after a zombie outbreak, striving to survive. He lost his wife in the outbreak, still carrying a great deal of guilt and trauma. Then, he discovers clues that may point to her survival. Setting out to find her, Deacon starts to unravel the great mystery at the heart of it all.

Deacon is a protagonist who isn’t particularly likable. He’s constantly brooding and is written about as subtly as a refrigerator falling down stairs. Days Gone Remastered takes itself very seriously, even with massive biker dudes on screen trying desperately to make you feel something.

Although reframing the game and looking at it more like an overly dramatic CW show, for better or worse, made it a more fun ride. While the game wants you to take it seriously, treating it lightly makes it more enjoyable. It still isn’t anything worthwhile, but if you can turn off your mind and go for the ride, it has some fun moments along the way.

Gameplay is a more solid overall package, though it largely depends on how much enjoyment you get from riding the motorcycle. The opening hours are slow and frustrating, but things improve as you unlock better parts and upgrade the ride. It takes a lot of maintenance, from gas for travel to dealing with weather conditions. Some players will find the overall dependence on the bike frustrating, but if you can move past it, you do end up building a relationship with the bike that makes the loop satisfying.

Controller enhancements help the gameplay in Days Gone By Remastered.

The DualSense does bring that relationship closer than ever before in Days Gone Remastered. The controller enhancements are significant, making the riding experience more tactile. Riding on the road feels different from off-roading, with weather conditions only amplifying the difference. Just like Astro Bot, you can feel the rain dripping on the controller. The DualSense rumbles with a specificity the DualShock never could, bringing the player closer to the action in a meaningful way.

This extends to the combat as well, with guns feeling different to use thanks to the adaptive triggers. A shotgun feels heavier to use than a pistol, and the thumps of melee weapons rattle the triggers with each impact. The DualSense, for some, will be enough of an improvement to warrant the jump to the remaster, as it genuinely elevates the experience.

Graphically, Days Gone Remastered does look good. The lighting and visual improvements do make the game look better than it did in 2019, even though the character models don’t match the environment as well. They’re still stiff and don’t look as high-quality as the spaces they exist in. It can look pretty beautiful, especially when you’re riding through a forest, sunbeams peeking through the trees in slower moments of peace between the panic.

The frame rates are also solid. Performance runs at a stable 60fps at 1440p, with quality set to 4 K at 30fps. PS5 Pro players have an additional boost, running at 60fps at 1584p and upscaled to 4 K using PSSR, PlayStation’s version of AI-driven upscaling. Running away from massive Hordes has never looked or felt better.

The new content in Days Gone Remastered is also solid, adding a Permadeath mode, a Speedrun mode, with the Horde Assault mode being the big add. Players can pick their favorite character and hop into a survival arcade mode, focused on staying alive through waves and hordes of Freakers. There are four maps to choose from, as you load in and scavenge for resources, weapons, and strive for new high scores.

Days Gone Remastered is a more accessible version of the game.

Horde Assault is pretty fun overall, with the chase for the new high score being a blast. It nails the “one more round” feeling that’s essential for this type of mode, even if the rewards are just okay. You can unlock new skins and cosmetics to use, with injectors being the only fundamental gameplay-modifying aspect.

Applying an injector before a level can modify the challenge, being either a negative or a positive boon. Negative effects, like making health packs less effective, add a higher bonus to your score. Positive effects, such as not having a health kit consumed upon use, can make a run easier, but they can also result in a penalty to the final score. It creates a fun balance and can make the rounds feel different.

Days Gone Remastered also includes a range of new accessibility settings, making the game more accessible. From changing the game speed to make it slower for better readability and reduced time sensitivity, to heavily customizable visual settings, the added options are a welcome addition.

Audio settings are also available, including a handy collectible audio cue that pings when something is nearby. PlayStation’s first-party studios have really done the work to make their games as accessible as possible, and it’s nice to see Days Gone Remastered joining those ranks.

Overall, Days Gone Remastered is a solid upgrade for the game. The core game remains divisive, but with the right mindset, it can make the ride more enjoyable. The PS5 enhancements, including graphics, are solid, with the DualSense improvements being the most significant. The added content is also enjoyable, and while it may not keep you engaged for long, it’s a good addition to the overall package. Days Gone Remastered is the game’s second chance at life, and while it still isn’t for everyone, it is the best way to play for those looking to explore post-apocalyptic Oregon.