The DreadOut Remastered Collection brings together the cult-favorite DreadOut and its standalone follow-up, Keepers of the Dark, offering a fresh coat of polish for modern consoles. Published by Soft Source, this collection reintroduces Linda’s supernatural journey to a new audience, blending traditional survival horror elements with a distinctly Indonesian cultural flavor. But while the improvements in presentation are welcome, some aspects of the gameplay and design show their age. Time for a look at the PS5 version.
The narrative in DreadOut unfolds as a group of high school students stumbles upon a cursed, forgotten town during an ill-fated field trip. At the heart of the story is Linda, an unlikely protagonist who discovers she has latent supernatural abilities that might save her and her friends. Keepers of the Dark expands on this with its Mirror Realm concept, challenging players to navigate interconnected haunted zones filled with deadly spirits. The narratives in both titles are atmospheric and intriguing, steeped in folklore that feels refreshingly different from the more common Western horror tropes. However, the storytelling can sometimes feel fragmented, leaving players to piece together the lore with the sense that they’re not getting sufficient context.
The gameplay is where the DreadOut Remastered Collection is both engaging and frustrating. Players use Linda’s smartphone and SLR camera as their primary tools for combat and investigation, an inventive mechanic that works well in many encounters. Taking pictures of spirits to weaken them adds tension, especially when combined with the eerie environments and the darkness you face in between pictures. However, the pacing can be uneven, with some puzzles feeling unintuitive and certain ghost battles becoming repetitive over time.
Visually, the remastered edition benefits from updated textures and lighting, which enhance the creepy atmosphere of the abandoned town and haunted domains. The environments, while not expansive, are rich in detail and evoke a genuine sense of dread. Character models, however, can appear stiff and outdated, which slightly detracts from the immersion and shows the age of the original. The audio design fares better, with haunting sound effects and an unsettling soundtrack that heighten the tension, even if some voice acting performances lack polish.
One area where the remaster doesn’t fully capitalize on modern hardware is the controls. While the PlayStation 5 version benefits from smoother performance, the movement and camera controls remain clunky at times, particularly during frantic ghost encounters. This can make navigating tight spaces or reacting quickly to threats more frustrating than it needs to be. That said, quality-of-life improvements, such as better save points, make the experience less punishing compared to the original releases.
Despite its flaws, the DreadOut Remastered Collection succeeds in preserving the cult classic charm of the originals while introducing subtle enhancements. It’s a unique entry in the horror genre, offering a mix of traditional scares and cultural authenticity that sets it apart. However, the collection’s appeal may be limited to fans of the original games and those with a tolerance for its dated mechanics and uneven pacing. For newcomers, it’s an intriguing but imperfect introduction to Linda’s haunting adventures.
Score: 6.8/10
Press Play Media 