Summary
WhenDays Gonereleased for the PlayStation 4 back in 2019, it didn’t take long for people to fall in love with the open-world zombie game, and after only a few years, it’s receiving a pretty significant remaster. Players will be able to dive into Deacon’s epic journey across zombie-infested Oregon once again, this time, with a few new features and additions that will make the experience even more enjoyable the second time around.
From brand-new modes to core system changes, developer Bend Studio has clearly gone above and beyond to make this reimagining of the beloved zombie open-world title the best that it can be.Days GoneRemasteredis a major shakeup, but out of all the changes, some aremore exciting because of how much they change the already incredible core gameplay.
8Collectible Audio Cues
Being Able To Find Collectibles More Easily Ensures The Gameplay Never Slows Down
Getting the Platinum Trophy forDays Gonehas always been brutally difficult, not only because of the swarms of zombies, but primarily due to the collectibles. With over 200 small items scattered across the map, sniffing out these small trinkets isn’t always easy. Thankfully, it’s a lot more straightforward in the Remaster thanks to a new audio cue.
This is a very welcome quality-of-life feature that makes embarking on a100% playthroughfar more enjoyable. There’s even the option to adjust the rumble on the PS5 controller when a collectible is nearby. While this is a small new feature, it will definitely come in handy when exploring the vast open world that the game has to offer.
7Haptic Feedback
Players Can Feel Even More Immersed With Brand New Trigger Effects
The Haptic Feedback featurehas proven to be one of the best parts of the DualSense controller. Its purpose is to create an immersive experience by making players feel as if they’re really squeezing the trigger of a gun, or, in the case ofDays Gone, feeling the roar of Deacon’s trusty bike while cruising across the wide open roads of Oregon.
Of course, there will also be an option to disable the trigger effects for those who would rather do without the rumbling, but they’re definitely advised to keep them on, as they add a lot to the realism of the experience, especially when paired with the enhanced audio design.
6Speedrunner Mode
The New Speedrun Mode Encourages Mastery Of The Game’s Mechanics
Speedrunning has become extremely popular over the last decade or so, with pretty much every game having at least a small community of players who are focused on completing the main campaign in the fastest time possible. When Spreedrunner Mode is activated inDays Gone Remastered, a timer will keep track of how much time is being spent on each section, and it’ll even pause when a cinematic starts playing to ensure no seconds are being wasted.
It’s a neat new mode that will makespeedruning the game much easier. Players won’t need to set up a stream and sort out a speed-running tool to start up a run; simply tick the box for this mode in the main menu, and the game will do the rest.
5Auto-Complete QTE
Quick-Time Events Are No Longer An Annoying Gameplay Distraction
In the original game, the auto-QTE option was only available on the Easy difficulty. Over the years,Quick-Time Events (QTEs)have become a less frequent trend in games, so it makes sense that Bend Studio would expand this option to all difficulties. Needless to say, it makes for a much smoother experience, and it’s nice to see some attention given to the quality-of-life features of the Remaster.
Sony’s first-party games, while excellent, often receive a lot of flak for the abundance of quick-time events, which very much feel like a relic of gaming’s past. As a result, it’ll be nice to go throughDays Gone Remasteredon a challenging difficulty, without these brief sections getting in the way too often.
4Performance Mode
Enjoy A Smooth And Stable 60FPS Or A 4K Visual Mode
WhileDays Gonehas always been a real looker of a game from a visual standpoint, it initially came at the cost of being locked at 30 FPS on not only the PS4, but also the PS4 Pro. Bend Studio is giving players the option to either bump their framerate up to a solid 60, making the animations and general pace of the game much smoother, or to stick with 30, providing a4K visual experienceto immerse players into the world.
These modes have become a staple among remakes and remasters, but considering the massive scale ofDays Gone’sworld, some questioned whether this could really be achieved. The good news is,Days Gone Remasteredfeels like a brand-new and modernized game thanks to this new Performance Mode feature.
3Permadeath Mode
There’s No Second Chances
As if escaping the mindless zombie hordes wasn’t already terrifying enough, now players can jump into a new playthrough with Permadeath turned on. As the name implies, this means that if Deacon is taken down, the game will restart from the very beginning, making the core gameplay far more intense, especially when trying to take out a Horde at one of the camps.
Permadeathwas also added to the remaster ofThe Last of Us Part 2, but inDays Gone Remastered,players can now switch it on for a true open-world survival horror game experience, amplifying the immersion tenfold. Simply put, a single mistake can prove fatal when playing in Permadeath Mode. It’s well worth trying out, especially for those players who feel like they’ve mastered the game and are looking for the ultimate challenge.
2Game Speed
Players Can Set Their Own Pace For A Much More Personal Experience
Anyone who has played the originalDays Gonewill know how insanely chaotic things can get once a Horde of zombies starts grouping together during an ambush. This made the game extremely challenging, and while some enjoyed the exhilarating pace of the gameplay loop, those who felt a little overwhelmed will now be able to decrease the game speed to either 75%, 50%, or 25%, depending on how forgiving they want the gameplay to be.
This is a very unique feature that makes the game a lot more accessible. While it’s good for newcomers, adjusting the game’s speed can also be a huge benefit when running a second playthrough. Exploring the world without being hunted down every few minutes by a group of flesh-hungry freakers is a great addition for more casual gameplay.
1Horde Assault Mode
Try To Survive A Relentless Horde Of Freakers With Barely Any Resources
By far the biggest new addition to the Remaster is theHorde Assault mode, which drops players into unique missions where they complete objectives and acquire weapons, all while being hounded by hordes that are far bigger than those seen in the base game. When players spawn, they’ll have nothing but a handgun to protect themselves, although there are plenty of powerful weapons that can be unlocked as they explore. which will help fend off the endless hordes of freaks.
According to the developers, the Hordes in this mode can feature up to 800 zombies at a time. For reference, the biggest swarm in the main story only reached 500, which gives an idea of just how frantic and chaotic this new game mode really is. With a plethora of unlockables up for grabs, there’s no doubt that Horde Assault provides countless extra hours of content to enjoy.
