The Talos Principle Reawakened isnβt just a remasterβitβs a refined, philosophical experience rebuilt for a new generation of gamers. When the original first released, it captivated players with mind-bending puzzles and thought-provoking storytelling. Now, powered by Unreal Engine 5 and boosted with new features, the game feels more relevant and resonant than ever.
Iβve spent hours wandering its atmospheric ruins, solving intricate puzzles, and pondering humanityβs place in the universeβand I can confidently say this is the definitive version of a modern classic.
A Stunning World, Fully Reborn
The first thing that hit me was how utterly breathtaking the game looks. While the original had its charm, The Talos Principle Reawakened is visually leagues ahead. Running on Unreal Engine 5, the environments look hyper-real, drenched in dynamic lighting, detailed textures, and atmospheric effects. Deserts shimmer under heat haze, ruined temples glow under golden light, and fog drifts lazily through forested paths. Ray tracing adds subtle reflections and depth, elevating the immersion without feeling overdone.
On PS5, the world feels aliveβlike a memory of something once real but now just out of reach. This isnβt just upscaling old assets; itβs a full-on reconstruction that respects the original while fully embracing next-gen technology.
Puzzle Design That Still Reigns Supreme
At its core, The Talos Principle Reawakened is about elegant, logic-driven puzzles. The gameplay remains faithful to the original: using jammers, boxes, fans, and light beams to solve increasingly complex scenarios. But new quality-of-life features, especially the rewind option, make experimentation less punishing. No more restarting puzzles because of a single misplaced objectβyou just rewind and adjust.
Controls are smoother, and thanks to PS5βs adaptive triggers, thereβs subtle resistance and tactile feedback when interacting with puzzle components. Itβs a small touch but adds a surprising amount of immersion.
The difficulty curve is wonderfully paced. Early puzzles ease you in with simple logic and tools, but later stages demand true creative thinking. New puzzle variations keep things fresh, even for returning players, though they donβt push the formula in a radically new direction.
Expanded Story, Richer Lore
One of the most unique aspects of The Talos Principle has always been its philosophical weight. Youβre not just solving puzzlesβyouβre exploring what it means to be human. The gameβs AI-centric narrative, framed by conversations with a god-like entity called Elohim and thought-provoking texts on old computer terminals, dives into consciousness, ethics, and free will.
The Talos Principle Reawakened enhances this even further with the addition of a new prequel chapter titled In the Beginning. This chapter deepens the gameβs lore and fleshes out Elohimβs motives and worldview. Terminal interactions also now include additional responses, allowing for more nuanced debates.
If you enjoy games that make you think deeplyβabout society, identity, and technologyβthis remaster adds even more layers to an already compelling story.
PS5 Enhancements: Small Changes, Big Impact
Performance on PS5 is near-perfect. The game runs at a smooth 60 FPS in dynamic 4K, with zero stutters or crashes throughout my playthrough. Load times are almost nonexistent, which makes retrying puzzles or exploring new zones feel seamless.
The DualSense controller is put to good use:
- Haptic feedback adds realism to actions like gate mechanisms and object manipulation.
- Adaptive triggers give satisfying resistance when engaging with tools or terminals.
- These arenβt game-changing features, but they make the experience feel more immersiveβlike the world is subtly responding to your presence.
Minor Drawbacks
As much as I loved this remaster, there are a few areas where it falls short:
- The Β£34.99/$40 price point might be a tough sell for those whoβve played the original extensively.
- The new puzzles, while solid, donβt drastically shake up the mechanics.
- Camera angles occasionally struggle in tighter puzzle environments, especially when trying to get a perfect line of sight.
None of these are deal-breakers, but they slightly dampen what is otherwise a near-perfect remaster.
Final Verdict: Reawakened, Refined, Remarkable
The Talos Principle Reawakened isnβt just a nostalgia tripβitβs a powerful reimagining of one of gamingβs most cerebral experiences. With gorgeous next-gen visuals, smart quality-of-life additions, and expanded narrative content, this remaster respects its roots while speaking to a modern audience.
If youβve never played it before, now is the perfect time to dive into its world of logic and philosophy. And if youβre a returning fan? Thereβs enough here to warrant a second journeyβeven if the mechanics feel familiar.
This is a puzzle game that respects your intelligence, stimulates your curiosity, and leaves you pondering long after the credits roll.
The Talos Principle Reawakened Trailer
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The code was provided by the distributor.
I reviewed it, and then it was edited by my partner.
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