In 1998, Gus Van Sant attempted to recreate Alfred Hitchcock’s iconic horror film Psycho, shot-for-shot. While it was competently made, critics largely dismissed it, deeming it a pointless exercise that failed to offer any new insights or improvements. Sadly, Ballistic Moon’s Until Dawn remake for PlayStation 5 and PC shares a similar fate.
The original Until Dawn, released in 2015 for PS4, remains one of the best narrative adventure games ever made. Its branching choices feel impactful, immersing players in a thrilling teen slasher narrative. The stellar performances from the cast further elevate the experience. While the remake maintains these core elements, its alterations to cinematography, color grading, soundtrack, and gameplay result in a change that feels different but not necessarily better.
Until Dawn follows a group of friends who find themselves tormented by a masked killer and grotesque creatures while trapped in a remote cabin, one year after the disappearance of two friends during a prank gone wrong. Although not the most original horror premise, it serves as an engaging backdrop for a choose-your-own-adventure movie experience.
The original Until Dawn emerged during a golden age for narrative adventure games, alongside titles like Telltale’s offerings and Life is Strange. While the genre’s popularity has waned in recent years, Until Dawn remains a compelling experience. Its unique blend of horror and interactive storytelling, combined with memorable performances from actors like Hayden Panettiere, Rami Malek, and Brett Dalton, still holds up remarkably well even nine years later. The remake also introduces accessibility options, allowing players to adjust the amount of gore displayed.
However, beyond these minor enhancements, the changes implemented in the remake feel more like unnecessary deviations from the original’s strengths. From the opening prologue, a distinct feeling of dissonance becomes apparent. The remake subtly alters several events compared to the PS4 version, but these changes are not as radical as, say, Final Fantasy VII Remake, nor are they as faithful as the Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster. Ballistic Moon has introduced new shots and remixed the original soundtrack, but these alterations fail to improve the game’s overall experience.
The lighting and color grading changes are particularly jarring. The original Until Dawn embraced intense shadows and a pervasive blue hue, creating a chilling atmosphere that enhanced its tension. The remake opts for a more realistic aesthetic, sacrificing the original’s unique stylistic choices for blander lighting and a less immersive visual experience. This change, while perhaps intended to appear more modern, feels like a step backwards. It’s akin to Van Sant’s decision to shoot Psycho in color rather than black and white, which ultimately diminished the film’s impact.
The remake also tinkers with the gameplay mechanics. While the original utilized fixed camera angles for most of its scenes, the remake introduces an over-the-shoulder third-person camera in numerous segments. This change unfortunately diminishes the tension and suspense. The fixed camera in the original effectively created a sense of dread, making players feel like the monsters were always lurking just out of sight. The new camera perspective, however, makes these segments feel generic, similar to any other third-person game. This shift, seemingly inspired by horror remakes like Resident Evil 2 and Silent Hill 2, feels misplaced in Until Dawn, which is fundamentally a narrative-driven experience.
The developers seem to recognize the shortcomings of this change, as the remake occasionally reverts to the fixed camera perspective when it would be more effective. This only reinforces the fact that the shift to a third-person camera was unnecessary in the first place.
If you haven’t experienced Until Dawn before, this remake might be an enjoyable introduction. However, if you’ve played the original, you might find yourself questioning the purpose of the remake. Acquiring a PS4 copy and playing it on your PS5 is a more cost-effective option, allowing you to enjoy the original’s strengths while catching up on the new post-credit scenes on YouTube.
Ultimately, Ballistic Moon’s Until Dawn remake falls short of its predecessor. Like Van Sant’s misguided attempt to reimagine Psycho, the remake demonstrates a lack of understanding of what made the original so special. Rebuilding doesn’t always mean improving. This remake proves that a simple, faithful re-creation often trumps unnecessary stylistic changes.
