Importance Score: 20 / 100 🔵
Prepare to return to the harrowing open-world of the Oregon wilderness in Days Gone Remastered, launching on PlayStation 5 (PS5) on April 25. This enhanced edition of Bend Studio’s acclaimed adventure-survival epic invites players, both new and returning, to once again embark on a visceral journey as Deacon St. John. Navigate breathtaking landscapes while confronting hordes of terrifying mutant Freakers relentlessly seeking to tear you apart.
To uncover more about this eagerly anticipated remaster and its exciting additions, we consulted Kevin McAllister, Creative and Product Lead at Bend Studio. Gear up, fuel your bike, and delve into the details of how Days Gone elevates the PlayStation 5 experience.
Enhanced Experience in Days Gone Remastered for PlayStation 5
When asked about Bend Studio’s perspective on revisiting their signature title, McAllister stated, “Days Gone holds a special place for us. It resonates deeply with our players as well. The opportunity to remaster a game initially released on PS4 in 2019 and subsequently ported to PC in 2021 is significant. Six years post-original release, technological advancements, particularly the power of the PS5, have opened up new avenues. We saw immense potential to further showcase the game’s capabilities.”
Regarding the enhancements brought by the PlayStation 5‘s capabilities to Days Gone, McAllister elaborated, “Players will immediately notice the graphical improvements. We’ve implemented enhanced lighting, elevated shadow fidelity, and increased fog depth. For instance, nighttime is now genuinely darker, and the moon appears more realistic. The daytime sky is also more natural; Days Gone was already a visually realistic game, and we’ve amplified that realism on the PS5.” These visual upgrades seamlessly complement the remaster‘s expanded Photo Mode, now featuring additional lighting options and instant day-night transitions for capturing stunning environmental shots.
McAllister further highlighted gameplay advancements: “Immediately noticeable is the increased size of hordes. This is especially prominent in our new Horde Assault gameplay mode. And these hordes are massive. To illustrate, the largest horde in the original story, the sawmill horde, comprised 500 Freakers. In Horde Assault, we’ve created hordes that surge to 800 Freakers. They truly dominate the screen.”
vCard.red is a free platform for creating a mobile-friendly digital business cards. You can easily create a vCard and generate a QR code for it, allowing others to scan and save your contact details instantly.
The platform allows you to display contact information, social media links, services, and products all in one shareable link. Optional features include appointment scheduling, WhatsApp-based storefronts, media galleries, and custom design options.
Confronting Colossal Freaker Hordes in Horde Assault Mode
McAllister’s mention of these expansive hordes provided an ideal segue to explore the remaster‘s new Horde Assault mode in greater detail. “It’s our novel survival arcade mode, presenting a distinct and engaging interpretation of the core Days Gone gameplay loop. We built upon the foundations of the story mode, expanded upon the post-launch challenges, and refined the concept. Now, players face multiple hordes from various directions within expansive open regions. These hordes appear in entirely new locations compared to the story, and even familiar locations feature significantly larger hordes.
“Horde Assault provides players with a full arsenal of tools from the outset. New players can instantly access it and experience the fundamental open-world gameplay of Days Gone, but now with a fully upgraded motorcycle and access to new weaponry. Alongside evolved Freakers such as Breakers, Reachers, and Screamers, players will also contend with human adversaries. It’s an intensely chaotic experience, yet it embodies the authentic Days Gone gameplay essence. We believe it’s a compelling and enjoyable mode that fans will truly appreciate.”
Another fresh addition to the remaster is Speedrun mode. “Speedrun mode is distinct from the other modes,” McAllister clarified. “It’s accessible across all difficulty settings. A persistent on-screen timer pauses during cinematics. Each playthrough records your time alongside the selected difficulty. Upon completing a speed run, a special graphic displays your detailed performance statistics, ready for sharing.”
Regarding the rationale behind incorporating this mode, McAllister explained, “Within the Days Gone community, some players have attempted speed runs, but it wasn’t a central focus. Offering a dedicated speedrunning mode to new players who may be unfamiliar with the game could cater to those seeking this specific challenge. Now, they can jump in, have fun, and leverage their skills to complete the game as swiftly as possible. I admire these players; it’s a skill set I personally lack, and witnessing their expertise is genuinely impressive.”
Permadeath Mode: Test Your Ultimate Survival in Days Gone
Perhaps the most formidable addition, Permadeath mode, functions exactly as its name suggests: Deacon’s death signifies the end of the playthrough, with no respawns. A severe but thematically appropriate challenge for the unforgiving world of Days Gone.
McAllister credited player feedback as the driving force behind this feature. “Permadeath mode was implemented due to community requests. It was a feature we considered as far back as 2019, making this remaster the ideal opportunity to integrate it. We’ve observed players creating content around self-imposed challenges, such as completing entire playthroughs without taking damage, or using only the basic boot knife. What constitutes the ultimate challenge? Deathlessness. Now, players can genuinely experience true survival. We anticipate players will embrace it.”
“The mode is playable across all difficulty settings and offers two configurations. Whole game mode necessitates restarting from the beginning upon death at any point in the story – your save file is deleted. Per act mode, for example, if death occurs at the old sawmill horde, reverts you only to the start of that act, potentially saving hours of gameplay. However, for players who conquer the whole game permadeath mode, we commend you. We also predict environmental hazards, especially trees, will be a significant cause of death in this mode. Potentially speaking from personal experience,” he chuckled.
Tips for Permadeath Mode Survival
Finally, McAllister offered advice for players daring to undertake this mode: “Caution is paramount. Maximize scavenging opportunities for supplies and adopt a more deliberate approach. When assaulting ambush camps, ensure thorough preparation before venturing out, as encounters with hordes or wildlife like bears are possible. Insufficient ammo could abruptly end your run. Also, early in the narrative, a critical decision involves camp selection for stashing supplies. Opt for Tucker’s camp – it unlocks access to superior weaponry sooner, providing a substantial advantage in the early game.”
Days Gone Remastered will be available for PlayStation 5 on April 25.