- Total Score - 8.1/108.1/10
Summary
Whether you dabbled in Days Gone previously and want to give it a second chance, or diving into the world for the first time. The PC port of Days Gone is a solid experience.
Developer – Bend Studios
Publisher – Playstation Mobile
Platforms – PC
Days Gone was originally released in 2019 on the PS4, and at that time it was not the certified blockbuster most PlayStation exclusives usually are. It had a mixed reception, but over the last couple years, and a few major patches later, Days Gone has become a bit of a cult hit.
Days Gone tells the story of a biker, named Deacon St. John looking for his wife and surviving in a post-apocalyptic Oregon. He has one good friend still around, and together they operate as bounty hunters for various camps and outposts strewn about the county.
What follows is pretty standard open world fluff and filler. Landmarks, outposts to clear out, and NERO checkpoints. The NERO checkpoints are the most interesting, as NERO, which stands for National Emergency Restoration Organization, left behind several refugee camps which hold not just valuable loot, but a lot of the games backstory and lore are discovered there.
Even the story is pretty straightforward and formulaic, with very little surprises during it’s 30 hour run time. The two key factors that keep Days Gone from seeming like a typical, standard, open world action game are the method of transport, and the heavy stealth approach.
Deacon is a biker, so naturally a sweet, custom set of wheels is his to use as he sees fit. With a variety of upgrades, and the nature of a motorcycle vs any kind of car, it makes getting around the world much more engaging.
Bend Studio wisely didn’t go for total realism, and the feel of the bike as you ride across dirt,pavements hills and valleys is extremely satisfying. The agile nature of the bike also lends itself well to exciting chases and getaways that just wouldn’t be possible with a typical car or truck.
The bike also lends itself to the style of gameplay you must engage in to do anything other than die in this world, and that’s a heavy focus on stealth. Days Gone moves at a pace that separates it from other games in the genre, and I wouldn’t call it slow.
Measured, is the word I’d use to best describe the feel of the moment to moment gameplay. Days Gone is never a moment about high speed, over the top action and leaving the battle with a shiny piece of loot to use on the next outpost you take over. The world is hostile, and even engaging in an open fight with a group of “freakers” a.k.a zombies, will almost always end in failure.
That’s where the fun in Days Gone, and honestly it’s a refreshing pace. It’s not meant for most, and with how rapid fire games are lately it’s a tonal shift from the rest of the genre, but that’s what makes it unique. Driving to an outpost, parking the bike. Throwing a bottle to cause a distraction and stealing a tiny bit of ammo while avoiding a horde just feels good to do. The measured pace, stealth and the real vulnerability create an atmosphere that separates Days Gone from the pack.
Bend Studios also did a fantastic job with the PC port. Unlike Horizon: Zero Dawn, Days Gone ran and performed fantastic on a variety of machines right out of the gate, and is absolutely the definitive version of the game.
Whether you dabbled in Days Gone previously and want to give it a second chance, or diving into the world for the first time. The PC port of Days Gone is a solid experience that rewards patience.