As soon as Until Dawn launched in 2015, it made waves in the horror gaming world.
It wasn't the scariest game ever made, nor did it have the most complex gameplay. However, its cinematic approach, engaging choice-based storytelling, and tense atmosphere made it a cult classic.
Considering how popular and relevant it was, a remake felt unnecessary from the start. But the updated visuals and the promise of fresh content gave hope that the beloved title could be revitalized. Instead, the remake took away much of what made Until Dawn unforgettable.
Resident Evil 2 and Dead Space demonstrate how successful horror remakes can be when done well. Even though Until Dawn was a decade old, it had aged surprisingly well.
The fixed camera views, the haunting sound design, and the movie-like pacing made the game feel like a playable horror movie. The changes to these elements in the remake made it feel like a different game and not a better one.
It's clear that the remake is technically superior and is a visual feast. With the Unreal Engine 5 upgrade, we got higher-res textures, improved character models, and better lighting. However, in chasing realism, the remake lost the original's distinct visual identity.
The original had a colder, more stylized color palette that reinforced the game's isolated, snowy setting. The remake brought in warmer tones that, though more "realistic," ended up dulling the game's overall mood. Until Dawn's remake traded its signature style for more conventional visual fidelity.
The character models were also a hit or miss. Although they were technically better, changes in lighting and animation made them feel off. Certain emotional moments didn't land as effectively because the facial expressions felt stiffer or were lost in overly darkened environments. In some cases, less really does make more sense.
Horror thrives on sound just as much as it does on visuals. Until Dawn's atmosphere owes much to Jason Graves' original score. The iconic "O Death" opening sequence perfectly set the tone for the game's eerie, doom-laden feel. However, the remake chose to replace the entire soundtrack with a new, far less impactful score.
The tension-building music that made the final lodge sequence so heart-pounding was reduced to near silence. It wasn't just the soundtrack that took a hit, but the overall sound design did as well. The once-dreaded screeches of the Wendigos were toned down. Even small touches, like the disturbing breathing from the masked psycho, were cut out.
For a remake, Until Dawn didn't do much to justify its existence. If a game is going to be remade, it should feel like an improvement or at least an expansion of the original. Instead of diving into the story or building character connections, it just threw in some shallow changes. The 'Hunger Totems' seemed like a last-minute idea. The only real narrative addition of value was allowing Josh to survive, but even that felt like too little.
However, aside from this, the remake didn't do much to address the game's biggest narrative weaknesses. Though Matt and Jessica had little screen time to begin with, they weren't given much more development.
For newcomers who have never experienced Until Dawn before, the remake might still be a solid introduction. The choice-based mechanics are as immersive as ever, and PC players finally get to play a game that was once exclusive to PlayStation.
But fans of the original will likely find the remake a downgrade in nearly every aspect that made the original great.