Until Dawn review round up - play a horror movie

The cinematic horror game Until Dawn has launched on PS4 and as release date arrives we're taking a look at the critic reviews

Until Dawn is out - which was never a foregone conclusion. It's been in the works for at least three years and was originally developed as a PS3 title to use those really awkward PS Move motion controls. Thankfully that's all gone away and the move to the new gen seems to have helped Supermassive Games churn out some of the best graphics around.

Graphics are one of the main touchstones mentioned in all the reviews of the game so far, with Until Dawn currently scoring 79 on Metacritic. And for a game in that specific adventure/cinematic niche that's a pretty decent score. Positives include the treatment of horror in a way that's both scary and campy - which is great mix for the genre and some decent vocal and mocap performances.

Some have criticised the weak story and several have said that they wouldn't be so interested in playing through it again - something which is a bit of a problem for a full priced game which lasts less than 10 hours. There are callouts to other titles like Heavy Rain and Beyond: Two Souls, so if you liked those games you'll know what you getting yourself in for.

Here are a sample of reviews:

XGN

"Until Dawn is a damn near perfect game, which just breathes horror on every level. The game puts you in control of a group of teens and terrifies you while doing so. This is a must have if you own a PlayStation 4."

The Escapist

"Until Dawn struggles with clunky video game elements and rough pacing, but mitigates it with B-movie slasher mainstays and a willingness to embrace player failure."

Gamespot

"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."

Polygon

"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."

IGN

"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."

Until Dawn is out exclusively on PS4 from the 25th of August 2015.