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Until Dawn - Review Thread

zakislam

Member
IGN - 7.5 - http://uk.ign.com/articles/2015/08/24/until-dawn-review?:+ign/articles+(IGN+All+Articles) (video review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=deOvcnm-CB8
GameSpot - 8 - http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/until-dawn-review/1900-6416221/
Polygon - 6.5 - http://www.polygon.com/2015/8/24/91...w-ps4-playstation-4-supermassive-games-horror
Jim Sterling - 9.5 - http://www.thejimquisition.com/2015/08/until-dawn-review/
Digitalspy - 2/5 - http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/gaming/...ture-is-its-own-self-inflicted-nightmare.html
Game Informer - 9 - http://www.gameinformer.com/games/u...-dawn-review-game-informer-playstation-4.aspx
Kotaku - YES - http://kotaku.com/until-dawn-the-kotaku-review-1726108417
Thesixthaxis - 8 - http://www.thesixthaxis.com/2015/08/24/until-dawn-review/
Engadget - no score - http://www.engadget.com/2015/08/24/until-dawn-sony-playstation-4-review/ "The real horror of 'Until Dawn' is that Sony sent it to die
Destructoid - 7 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9qK_MwmdKQ
GameRant - 4/5 - http://gamerant.com/until-dawn-reviews-800/
VideoGamer - 8 - http://www.videogamer.com/reviews/until_dawn_review.html
VG247 - no score - http://www.vg247.com/2015/08/24/until-dawn-is-telltale-with-unlimited-time-funds-and-jump-scares/
Onlysp - 9.2 - http://www.onlysp.com/dawn-review-ed/
Press Start - 8 - http://press-start.com.au/2015/08/25/review-until-dawn/
Gamecloud - 9 - http://gamecloud.net.au/review/until-dawn
Cybershack - 4/5 - http://www.cybershack.com.au/review/australian-review-until-dawn-a-night-to-remember-250815-1
PlayStation LifeStyle - 7.5 - http://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2015/08/24/dawn-review-dead-butterflies-ps4
Gamereactor - 8 - http://www.gamereactor.eu/reviews/337113/Until+Dawn/
Gamesradar - 3.5/5 - http://www.gamesradar.com/until-dawn-review/
Metro - 6 - http://metro.co.uk/2015/08/24/until-dawn-review-interactive-cabin-in-the-woods-5358108/
Push Square - 8 - http://www.pushsquare.com/reviews/ps4/until_dawn
USGamer - 3.5/5 - http://www.usgamer.net/articles/until-dawn-ps4-review-choose-your-own-horror-movie

Metacritic - http://www.metacritic.com/game/playstation-4/until-dawn/critic-reviews
 

kubus

Member
MetaCritic

The Verge
Until Dawn is one of those experiences that will have people debating what qualifies a game as a game. There isn’t really a challenge, and when you make a mistake it doesn’t impede your progress, it simply changes the story. But whatever you want to call it, it’s worthy horror; it takes the best of both film and games and combines them into a terrifying, heart-wrenching experience.

VideoGamer - No score
After 30 minutes I expected Until Dawn to be a silly horror game that was mostly terrible but got pulled through thanks to the sheer idiocy of everything going on. That isn't really the game it turned out to be, with what's on offer being a lot better than I gave the developers credit for. In terms of gameplay mechanics it's incredibly simple, but that works in the its favour, leaving you to become fully engrossed in the thrilling and malleable storyline. If you fancy a gory treat that hits plenty of high notes, Until Dawn is highly recommended.

Engadget - No score
Until Dawn is an incredibly strong exclusive, and given its history of delays, pushing the release date a few more months wouldn't have hurt; the game is perfect for Halloween frights. That Until Dawn isn't getting any corporate love is almost as scary as the game itself.

SlasherJPC (Video) - No score

CNET - No score
If you're after a 10-or-so-hour game that can occasionally bring the fear, offer some mystery and look great while doing it, Until Dawn is definitely worth a look. But if you're looking for the next generation in iterative gameplay then Until Dawn remains a glorious experiment that deserves strong praise, even though it falls just a little short.

VG247 - No score
It’s sort of only after the game ends that you can look back and see what your choices have wrought and the full scope of plot becomes apparent. There is so much room for variation that it’s possible to miss entire segments of the game, usually by killing someone off.
[...]
A second playthrough, at this time of year? You betcha. Says a lot, I think.

Kotaku - YES
Until Dawn is weird. It’s got problems—the pacing is way better in the first half, you spend too much time looking for collectibles, the story isn’t actually worth a damn in the end—but it’s so earnest. This game was made by horror fans for horror fans, and that passion is obvious. Culty, schlocky games are exceptionally rare, but Until Dawn fits that description perfectly. It’s a big, dumb, super-fun choose-your-own-adventure game with some terrific scares. It shouldn’t exist...but it does, and I’m excited to play it again. Maybe when I do, I’ll manage to get a couple more of these dopes to the end alive.

Metro - 6/10
One of the more successful interactive movies of recent years, but that’s really not saying much given the lack of gameplay and horror thrills.

Polygon - 6.5/10
Until Dawn exists within a strange duality. It's a game that's generic while being unlike anything else I've ever played. It's bad in some very evident ways, and yet I want everyone I know to try it. It's not a great game, probably not even a good one, but it does things I want every narrative-based game going forward to learn from. I'm still fascinated by it, still planning more playthroughs for myself, still wanting to recommend it to friends. Until Dawn's greatest mystery may be how it manages to remain compelling in spite of such huge flaws.

US Gamer - 3.5/5
Until Dawn is a horror movie where you control the plot. Think of it like a Telltale adventure with a much better presentation. If you're looking for a deeper, more interactive title, this isn't it, but it does its best to make your choices feel meaningful. And once you've played Until Dawn, comparing your story with your friends' is pretty satisfying.

GamesRadar - 3.5/5
As cheesy horror goes, you've never had it this pretty or entertaining but when it comes to a one off experience, Until Dawn is expensive interactive terror.

Rocket Chainsaw - 3.5/5
Until Dawn may be in the same camp as other Sony exclusives like Heavy Rain and Beyond, as while it appears to offer a much broader spectrum of interactivity, it ultimately comes down to a linear storyline and quick two-choice decisions. However, the way in which it tells this storyline makes it really enjoyable to sit down and play through in a few nights as the graphics, performances, comfortable clichés and the illusion of choice work together to make a pretty great horror experience.

Eurogamer.it (Italian) - 7/10

Destructoid - 7/10
Until Dawn knows exactly what it is, and it doesn't pretend to be anything more. In that process it allows for some predictable plotlines, hammy acting, and lack of meaningful choices, but I'm glad that it exists, and every horror fan owes it to themselves to play it at some point -- especially at a price cut.

LazyGamer - 7.5/10
Until Dawn gave me plenty of scary experiences for a good couple of hours. However, it simply couldn't maintain that fear factor for the full game and the replay elements aren't as compelling as I'd hoped they would be. If you are keen for a heart-pounding horror game, you could do far worse than Until Dawn, even if it doesn't fulfill its true potential.
PlayStation Lifestyle - 7.5/10
Instead of yelling at the screen that they made a stupid choice, you get to beat yourself up for what you did to get them killed. When the sun rises and the final survivors are tallied up, you’ll realize Until Dawn isn’t perfect, but no matter which choices you make, it’s one hell of a ride.

IGN - 7.5/10 (Video Review)
Until Dawn is a flawed, but fun experience. Though an unfocused story means it falls short of greatness, it’s an otherwise entertaining homage to the curious traditions of horror movies which pays off your in-game decisions with occasionally shocking consequences.

GameRevolution - 4/5
I think anyone looking for a solid horror game are going to be pleasantly surprised by Until Dawn. I actually found it even more enjoyable playing with an audience, especially one that’s more scared of horror games than me. Until Dawn delivers on multiple fronts and it's a welcome addition to any PS4 owner’s library.

GameRant - 4/5
Make no mistake, this is more of an interactive movie than a “game,” but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth experiencing. If the concept sounds appealing, then give Until Dawn a try. It may surprise you.

HardcoreGamer - 4/5
It’s scary — although sometimes cheaply so — and does a great job illustrating the butterfly effect. What Supermassive has accomplished so early in their tenure is impressive and something all horror fans should experience.

Cybershack - 4/5
I really enjoyed Until Dawn, but I think it’s the kind of game where you either love it or hate it. For me, it’s a contender for my "best of 2015 list", mostly thanks to the compelling story and unnerving atmosphere. Having almost completed Until Dawn twice, I could see myself coming back for a third serve - mostly to see if I can pull off a run where everyone dies.

PlayStation Universe - 8/10
Equal parts teen slasher, action adventure, and psychological horror, Until Dawn throws a lot at the board and nails only some of it. But its biggest win is choice--permanent, unpredictable, and meaningful.

GameReactor EU - 8/10
Misfire? We say no. It'll only not be enjoyed by any who have sworn off QTEs or Heavy Rain-like titles as non-games unworthy of their time. Yes, Until Dawn feels like an interactive movie or horror series, but it's a very enjoyable watch - and play - while it lasts.

EGM Now - 8/10
Until Dawn doesn’t always live up to the potential Supermassive Games envisioned for its ambitious PS4 project, but the game succeeds in enough ways to make it a fascinating and engrossing twist on the horror genre.

The Sixth Axis - 8/10
With its immersive world, branching narrative, and lifelike character work, Until Dawn will have players on the edge of their seats while pounding them with jump scares and a bone-chilling soundtrack. Having previously worked on ports and smaller titles for Sony, Supermassive Games have shown that they can play with the big boys and we can’t wait to see what they come up with next.

PushSquare - 8/10
Until Dawn is a pleasant surprise, and something that fans of interactive stories will really appreciate. As a schlocky horror it's a success, but its fiction actually goes beyond simple slasher – even if it remains intentionally silly throughout. The sometimes sloppy controls will irritate, while the performance capture could have been better, but neither of these issues are nightmarish enough to pull you out of the popcorn flick plot, which is buoyed by the impressive, if not gigantically impactful, butterfly effect. A ridiculous romp is what was promised, then, and this one will keep occupied all night long.

GameSpot - 8/10
I didn't expect to have so much fun with Until Dawn, and the depth with which my choices mattered and affected the final outcome encouraged repeat playthroughs. The visuals can be wonky at times, but in the end Until Dawn succeeds in being a thoughtful use of familiar mechanics, a great achievement in player-driven narrative, and a horror game you shouldn't miss.

Stevivor - 8/10
Until Dawn is a hugely enjoyable piece of entertainment. I’m hesitant to call it a game, because while it clearly is one it straddles other forms of entertainment simultaneously. Its claims of a massively branching and divergent narrative are hugely overstated, but while playing, the potential for such is palpable. It’s a decent and sometimes very clever horror story with enough self-awareness to avoid the pitfalls of the genre.

Press Start - 8/10
Until Dawn is a thrilling experience. For horror fans, this will be one of the best horror experiences that gaming has seen in years. It’s a perfect balance of story telling and gameplay and doesn’t drag on at all. I constantly found myself wanting to go back to find out what happened next which is rare in gaming narrative. Those looking for constant action may be disappointed, but I’d advise anybody who wants a unique and new experience to give it a go.

Power Pyx - 8/10
Until Dawn's story isn't particularly long. Unskippable Cutscenes and characters walking very slowly make it feel dragged out in subsequent playthroughs and a lot of things will repeat themselves. All in all, it was a good experience for me though and I enjoyed it. Great actors, great writing, great graphics, great sound, great setting and a spooky atmopshere. I recommend this game, but it might be better to rent than to buy due to the relatively short story length. If you are a trophy hunter you will be happy with this short and easy platinum trophy.

Gamer.nl (Dutch) - 8/10

Vandal.net (Spanish) - 8.2/10

Dualshockers - 8.5/10
While there are flaws here and there, Until Dawn is a very well put together experience, mixing great graphics and complex storytelling in a super-tight package. If you fit its very specific target, meaning that you enjoy the specific kind of horror it reproduces, and you don’t mind old-style adventure-like gameplay and quicktime events galore, you’ll find it a really exceptional and fairly unique game, that will scare the hell out of you in all the right ways.

God is a Geek - 8.5/10
If you like Quantic Dream's games and think the idea of that style mixed with an "I Know What You Did Last Summer" or "Scary Movie" style narrative would be good, you're probably going to really dig it.

GameTrailers (Video) - 8.5/10

InsideGamer (Dutch) - 8.5/10

We Got This Covered - 4.5/5
In the end, Until Dawn succeeds because it’s incredibly smart, well-made and believable horror fiction, despite some moments of absurdity. It’s not dumb, nor is it forgettable, and its top notch, incredibly lifelike presentation doesn’t hurt, either. Don’t skip on this one unless you absolutely cannot handle scary movies, because we’re talking about a game that has catapulted itself into Game of the Year contention.

GameInformer - 9/10
The beginning of Until Dawn boasts that the decisions you make during the game will craft a unique and personal story. By the time the credits rolled, I was a believer. Sure, every player follows the same narrative skeleton, and a few of the more "expendable" characters aren't instrumental to the ending (I'd also kill for a way to fast-forward scenes on subsequent playthroughs). However, the script kept me entertained and feeling like my decisions mattered throughout my 10-hour playthrough.

NZ Gamer - 9/10
"Horror, and actual consequences makes for an enthralling game let down only by the slow beginning. "

ZTGD - 9/10 (Video review)
Until Dawn is quite possibly one of my favorite entries in the cinematic story telling genre, if not my favorite. It hits on all the right notes, has interesting variation outcomes from the butterfly effects, it looks great, and it’s the closest we’ve come to being in a horror flick. They aimed to go for an interactive horror movie experience and they absolutely nailed it.

PS Nation - 9/10
What’s really important is how it works as a whole and it’s here that Until Dawn exceeds expectations. It feels like a bit of a throwback in terms of story, but the fact that you can make choices that play against the character archetypes makes for a much more compelling game.

Game Cloud - 9/10
I’m going to say it outright, Until Dawn is the best horror adventure since Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem. With Until Dawn, Supermassive has laid the foundation for how it can be done while producing an enjoyable and highly polished horror experience. It’s an adventure game brought to life by a compelling cast of characters and a narrative that expertly plays with genre tropes to upturn expectations. It’s certainly not original in all its ideas, but it does deliver one of the most meaningful choice systems to date.

Respawn Ninja - 9/10
Supermassive Games’ Until Dawn is quite simply one of the best horror games I’ve played. It’s a uniquely terrifying adventure in what is one of the most cliched sub-genres around. The choice and consequence system crafts an experience that begs to be replayed and the writing is engaging and rather impressive. Horror fans will certainly find many things to love about Until Dawn, and it’s very possible that others will too. While we’ll most likely never really know what the game was and what it was like on PlayStation 3, I’m incredibly thankful for what we have now.

Canadian Online Gamers - 91/100
While Until Dawn lacks complex gameplay, it counters with compelling characters, astounding visuals, and a thought provoking storyline. A masterful fusion of art forms, Until Dawn is a refreshingly self-aware experience that no thriller fan should pass up.

Only SP - 9.2/10
Until Dawn is the next step forward in the genre of cinematic choice based storytelling.

The Jimquisition - 9.5/10
Until Dawn is everything that Quantic Dream games have tried to be – unsuccessfully – for the past decade. It emulates horror movies while demonstrating a clear understanding of what makes those movies work, its focus on consequence is nervewracking and intricate, and its story is silly but strongly delivered. It’s the best David Cage game not made by David Cage, and it’s the best interactive horror flick you’ll play.

XGN (Dutch) - 9.8/10
 
premature?

reviews don't go up till 10:00amCST, 11:00amEST, 8:00amPST, 45 minutes or so.

IGN, that is also the IGN UK score.
 

Loudninja

Member
IGN 7.5
Some decisions I made in Until Dawn had minor consequences, some left me genuinely shocked, and all felt satisfyingly connected to an action I had made. I played through twice to mess around with its systems, and was delighted to find new storylines and information I’d missed the first time around by choosing different options.
Until Dawn is a flawed, but fun experience. Though an unfocused story means it falls short of greatness, it’s an otherwise entertaining homage to the curious traditions of horror movies which pays off your in-game decisions with occasionally shocking consequences.
http://www.ign.com/articles/2015/08/24/until-dawn-review
 

Dahaka

Member
I didn't watch a lot except a bit of the official E3 footage and while I wanted this game to do very good (and still do) I kept my expectations very low and though it might land a 6 in average. So far it's kicking into the better direction.
 

Xater

Member
If you told me a year ago that this would end up reviewing better than The Order, I'd have laughed in your face. Welp.

People that played The Order before it was out would have laughed in your face.

Not that many reviews of bigger sites yet. Expecting some more 7s
 

Boke1879

Member
Better than what I expected. Won't be buying this yet as MGSV is going to take all of my time BUT I'll pick this up around Black Friday. Can't wait to watch people play this game.

I wonder if the bigger sites alongside IGN will give it a score in the 7 range as well.
 

Loudninja

Member
Respawn Ninja 9/10
Supermassive Games’ Until Dawn is quite simply one of the best horror games I’ve played. It’s a uniquely terrifying adventure in what is one of the most cliched sub-genres around. The choice and consequence system crafts an experience that begs to be replayed and the writing is engaging and rather impressive. Horror fans will certainly find many things to love about Until Dawn, and it’s very possible that others will too. While we’ll most likely never really know what the game was and what it was like on PlayStation 3, I’m incredibly thankful for what we have now.
http://respawn.ninja/2015/08/until-dawn-review/
 
no shipment yet from Gamefly. Losing hope.

Damn.

Oh well. Got 7 days till MGS5 and then another 7 for Tearaway. Going to be a good next couple of weeks. CAN'T WAIT FOR TEARAWAY.

Me and my wife were going to sit down over my next days off and play this though with the kid away spending the night with grandparents. Were going to kick this up on maximum volume on the surround and have fun
 

BeeDog

Member
Will wait for some of the bigger outlets' reviews, too many no-name sites thus far. Bodes somewhat well though!
 

MisterR

Member
Nice. Good solid reviews so far. Not that I'm that worried about reviews. It's always looked like a game I'd greatly enjoy.
 

kubus

Member
Oh, lol. I was busy updating the OP and only now noticed my thread was merged into someone else's thread.

Not sure if I should keep going now.
 
Wow, much higher than I expected given how poorly the order reviewed

I feel like the reviewers went into it with different expectations. People wanted the order to be a Victorian GoW. Everyone knew what this was from the start and accepted it for what it was
 

psychotron

Member
Wow, much higher than I expected given how poorly the order reviewed

The comparison confuses me. The Order was shown to be an action game with story elements. It ended up being a story game with some action elements. Until Dawn has always been marketed as a story driven horror game.
 

DKHF

Member
premature?

reviews don't go up till 10:00amCST, 11:00amEST, 8:00amPST, 45 minutes or so.

IGN, that is also the IGN UK score.

IGN doesn't do UK/AU scores anymore, just one review for every game now so that is IGN US' score too (and the reviewer is part of IGN Australia).
 

HockeyDud

Neo Member
Will wait for some of the bigger outlets' reviews, too many no-name sites thus far. Bodes somewhat well though!

So because someone's site is a a "no-name" that makes the review obsolete? Lol, the Gamespot review for Gears of War: UE was laughable. Score was lowered because the only way to progress in the game is to shoot the bad guys.
 

Bishop89

Member
Solid reviews, can't wait to pick this up. it releases tomorrow? Can't remember.

My girlfriend is going to LOVE this
 
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