Returnal (PS5)
PS5 Features
Fast loading
Jump through portals between worlds with the PS5 system’s ultra-high speed SSD. Get back into the action with near-instant load speeds.
Adaptive triggers
Switch instinctively between firing modes by using a single adaptive trigger – go straight from aiming down sights to your gun’s alternative fire.
Haptic feedback
Sense in-game actions big and small – while exploring fragments of Selene’s memories, or when firing visceral alien weapons.
Tempest 3D Audio
Hear the action from every direction in 3D Audio on compatible headphones – bullets flying past you, enemies circling overhead, or unseen foes.
| Dimensions: | 17 x 1.2 x 12 cm; 80 Grams |
| Model: | 9814696 |
Returnal is much like it’s Souls cousins with no adjustable difficulty level. The controls on the ps5 are pretty good and so is the performance. The game itself is interesting and mysterious but even for a seasoned gamer like myself, I find extremely hard and dissatisfying. There’s not enough reward and the story itself is delivered in short hints that you may never find the whole story if you suck at the game. It’s a shame, I’ve put it down after 20 or so hours and so has my husband.
Superb game, not easy as it’s a rogue game (no save points). But get halfway through and it has a save point there, you can also pause it (only once per play mind) but this game is pure fun and so addictive, yoy will die lot but come back for more and more, so slick, superb visuals and sound, excellent haptic feedback too, my game of the year so far, brilliant!
Not much of a gamer myself but really enjoy watching others play. Got this for my younger brother and he loved it. The game is unique, as you’d know if you’re about to buy it.
Bought initially for my partner. He’s meant to be an avid gamer but he wimped out until I started playing it with him (1 player but I do most of the level and he dips in at the end to take care of the boss fights, although that is no small thing)! I was intrigued by Returnal’s strangeness and I am now hooked.
This is a tough and unforgiving but continuously rewarding game and if you’re a fan of creative, thought provoking, philosophic sci-fi or fantasy or surrealist narratives- try this game.
Returnal is a fast paced sci-fi third person ‘roguelike’ shooter.
What does this term mean?
Essentially, when you die, you lose all your weapons and power ups, and restart from the very beginning.
NOTE: there are exceptions (some upgrades are permanent, and defeating the boss after ‘level 3’, provides you with a new restart point).
This sounds intimidating, however the game’s story is interwoven into this. You are supposed to die repeatedly, and use those lessons to overcome the obstacles. If you persevere to learn the ropes, you’ll be able to blast through with minimal fuss.
Now that is explained, how is the game?
Gameplay – Returnal is obscenely addictive. It’s one of those “just one more run” games, where I found it difficult to put the controller down. You spend most of your time shooting and dodging attacks from vicious alien enemies in ‘bullet hell’ environments. The shooting is extremely satisfying.
World – The game’s world is procedurally generated, meaning no run will ever look the same as the majority of areas you explore are completely random. This allows for more fun and less predictability.
Story – Beyond the premise of being stuck in a time loop on an alien planet, Returnal has a vague storyline open to interpretation. There is a heavy use of metaphors and nothing is explicitly explained. There are gameplay sections where the pace slows down to deliver story beats.
Haptics – This game has the BEST use of the PS5 controller to date. You feel every single rumble and shake, it works fantastically.
Loading – There are no load screens, the PS5 takes care of this.
If you enjoy a challenge and can accept death as a learning experience, you should definitely pick this up.
If you love a souls-like game for challenge, and are also fond of high pace bullet hell action, then this is your cup of tea.
Visuals and technical design is truly next-gen with a very Alien/Promotheus esque 80’s dark Sci-fi vibe to it. But perhaps the most impressive technical feature is the best use of Raytraced audio yet, making it possible to pin point enemies with eyes closed based on 3D sound.
The game is hard, but with souls games now appealing to millions with the launch of elden ring, I feel like this game would also be fun for all those people too. Although be warned, this is absolutely several times harder compared to elden ring, and actually probably harder than any souls games.
Hated this game to the point of wishing I hadn’t bought it. Would have 1-starred it. I am a dad player, age 36 – I used to game as a teenager, I enjoy gaming now but can’t devote days at a time and have to stop to look after kids etc. Frequently spend a month away from the console.
The inability to save was a joke before, making the game impossible to make meaningful progress in for players like me.
That has all changed with v2. The suspend cycle feature is a life saver. I can stop and come back! Also by using the cloud save upload / download trick I am managing to actually get somewhere with the game and really enjoying it. I’m not sure I’ll complete it (it’s still hard!) but I feel I’ll get my money’s worth.
In summary – the game was too difficult for average gamer dads without a save feature. Now it is fantastic and within reach of the average gamer dad. Still difficult as hell, but doable and enjoyable.
Great gameplay, story that comes to make more sense and quizzical at same time more times it’s played. Bought on sale(only time I’ve seen it on sale) and it’s back to full price even as a launch title should say enough about the quality of i
I am a 50 year old gamer and this is one of the best games I have played, looks great is super tough, but worth getting a PS5 for.
So far it is the best looking game on the PS5. The environment and all the effects and sounds they created are matching the story and it’s all very immersive. Since it’s a PS exclusive the gameplay is loaded with these micro effects on the controller, which are also great.
I would say it’s a game for people who very often do gaming, as some features of the game can be frustrating and difficult for casual gamers who only play a few hours a week. You cannot choose between difficulties, which I didn’t like at first, because I like to play all my games on hardest difficulty and I just fought that the game will not be challenging enough for me, but fortunately it was. At the same time, it may be too challenging for people who like to play a game only for it’s story.
I strongly recommend it for gamers, who will not get frustrated by dying a couple of times in-game and losing all your hard-earned items, just to have to fight all over and over again to get them back. After all that’s what this game is all about.
Challenging but very rewarding game. Makes amazing use of the improved graphics; never have to wait for anything to load, incredibly immersive. Definitely best played with a good setup; play with good speakers and 4K screen etc. as it is a great gaming experience. 100% recommend – best game I have played !
This game is unbelievable; it’s looks gorgeous, plays like a dream and rewards players for actually learning how to play the game rather than allowing them to play and easier setting or constantly save their progress.
For those worried about the difficulty level, yes it’s hard, but you learn the movements of the enemies and the attack patterns and it becomes more about outwitting your enemies with sensible approaches rather than just running in all guns blazing.
Would highly recommend this game.
Returnal has been a joy to play. It’s rogue-like gameplay style is difficult to enjoy at times to begin with, but each and everytime you return, you adapt, learn and compensate for what has come before and what is to come. The environments are incredibly well designed and look amazing. The creatures that inhabit the planet of Atropos are both dangerous and beautiful to behold. Weapon design is inventive and very clever. Explore the world at your peril, but with the knowledge that you will find many wonderful things along the way on your journey to the story’s end. This one absolutely has replay value, and who knows a few speed runs along the way.
Yes it’s difficult, but now with the recently upgraded option to suspend play (out with boss /combat gameplay) makes this less frustrating and a little easie
Returnal is easily my favourite next-gen game yet. It has fantastic mechanics, an intruiging narrative, a superb sci-fi atmosphere with a haunting soundtrack and it makes excellent use of next-gen features like the DualSense, 3D audio and the fast SSD. It’s a challenging game for sure, but never unfair. It’s an absolute joy to play and if you even remotely like sci-fi and fast-paced action games that offer a good challenge, it should be a no-brainer.
Absolutely love this game. Hard to begin with but soon got the hang of it. One of the best and most addictive games I’ve played in a long time.
Good but challenging game. It’s feels and plays like a next gen game should, rewarding and addictive.
This game had me excited, frustrated, happy and angry. I wouldn’t be a huge gamer, normally stick with the ff series or smash. I decided to pick this up when I got the Ps5, and wow I was blown away. My first time playing a rougelike game, don’t remember I walked around with a gun in a game. I died, died again and again. I would be 2 or 3 hours in to a run for it all to start again. Finally broke the cycle. Amazing game, brilliant graphics and gameplay.
This is the best new game of the current generation in my opinion. The gameplay is unbelievably tight, it’s challenging and rewarding, has a great sense of progression, and hours go by in minutes when you’re in to it. Also it runs smooth as an eel and is pure eye candy. Housemarque took everything great in their 2d games and amplified it for the 3rd dimension.
Returnal is hard. It’s as simple as that. However the game will get easier the more you play it. It may not seem that way at first but it really will. Initially after crashing on the planet of Atropos you have nothing. No gun, no abilities to speak of except for a dash, jump and unlimited sprint. The first cycle is a tutorial, allowing you to become accustomed with the games very slick and responsive 3rd person shooting. You will find a few items to scan, your side arm and some easy to kill enemies. That is until it pulls a Dark Souls on you and drops you into a battle that’s probably going to result in your first death.
Death will take you back to your ship and strip you of anything you had found up until that moment, with a few exceptions. This time you will have your side arm and if you found any ether along the way (a currency that stays with you each cycle) you will still retain that as well. Which is important because it’s useful for a lot of things. You will also notice that the layout of the level will be different. It’s random every time so you never know what you are going to get on your next cycle.
Out in the world you will find malignant items. These items can be picked up but doing so has a chance to cause your suit to malfunction. You can risk a malfunction and pick up/open the item or chest or you can spend ether to cleanse the item which will allow you to collect said item with no negative effects. Malfunctions can be annoying such as fall damage to downright evil in the case of damage whenever you pick up an item. So knowing when to take a risk and when to use ether is essential to progressing in the game. It is worth noting that all malfunctions can be repaired without ether. This usually requires you performing a specific task, like killing a set number of enemies or collecting a certain amount of obolites (the main currency in the game).
Ether is also needed for something else as well. At the start of the game just outside your ship there is an alien device that you can deposit ether into. This device will unlock a new type of item when used. That item will then be placed into the RNG pool of the game for future runs. So saving up ether and using it there is well worth it.
I think choice is a defining concept in Returnal. You can make very good choices which will set you up for a chance at the boss or very bad choices which will result in a painful and usually frustrating return to your ship! This is one of the reasons I love the game, the sense that you truly are in charge of your destiny. The controls and gameplay are so responsive that blaming them for a death is not gonna cut it. The game plays brilliantly.
However when you do die, it really feels like you have wasted your time. Sometimes a lot of it. To be successful you have to explore and that takes time. You may spend an hour and a half or two hours squeezing every last health item/weapon/ether out of a level only to get spanked by the boss. So the lack of save points can seem overly punishing. Unfair even. Having said that, the game is actually quite short. I completed a full cycle last night from start to finish in about four and a half hours. Granted I didn’t kill all the bosses except for the 3rd biome boss and the last (you don’t have to kill the bosses again once you have done them. With the exception of the two mentioned). So how would a game that can be completed in such a short time benefit from save points? Once you know what you are doing with the game you can easily become overpowered. You can put the PS5 into rest mode if you need a break. I have heard stories of console updates causing the game to reset your progress so keep that in mind if you use the feature. Also, after completing Biome 3 any future death will put you at the start of Biome 4 instead of 1. So there is a hard coded save point already built into the game.
There are two weapons in the game that can basically win you a run once you have them. The Rotgland Lobber (Fires acid blobs) and the Electropylon gun (Fires pylons that are tethered together with red lightening and can interlink creating webs) . The latter is hands down the most powerful gun in the game. Both weapons can do damage over time which means hit and run play works brilliantly with them. If you find either of these on a run grab them and don’t swap them unless you get a better version. The other weapons in the game are great. Some are a mixed bag but all the other weapons require you to aim at and track your targets. The two I mentioned above are essentially fire and forget. A lot to be said for that when you’re trying to avoid areas covered with enemy projectiles!
As for the gameplay, it’s fantastic. I’ve never played a 3rd person shooter as responsive as this. Somehow the developers have combined an old school style shooter with elements of Metroid and added the Rogue Like features to it (essentially the permadeath). I’ve not mentioned them yet but there are suit upgrades you will find along the way that you will keep forever. One of which is a grapple hook that will allow you to reach places you previously couldn’t. Much like with Metroid, backtracking once you have these upgrades will net you loot that will make your life easier. It also adds to replayability because if you die after getting one of these upgrades, playing through an area again will present you with opportunities you didn’t have on your last cycle.
There’s just so much to this game that I could go on and on. Parasites with positive and negative effects, artifacts that grant you permanent (for your current cycle) passive buffs, single use items that can give you shields, AOE attacks or health leeching abilities. All of these things and more revolve around the core concept of choice. You have the tools to succeed but how/when you use them will be the deciding factor to your success.
I love this game so much. I’ve not mentioned the graphics, mostly 60fps framerate, crazy particles or amazing 3d audio (get a 3d audio headset if you don’t have one. It’s a game changer with this game!) Mainly because those things are the icing on the cake. It’s the gameplay and mechanics that are most important here because they are either going to make or break your experience with the game. I didn’t pay full price for this. I waited because I wasn’t sure I’d enjoy it. To be fair initially I really struggled. I died so many times and thought I was getting nowhere. Eventually though the game clicked. When it does and you realise the wealth of options available to you I honestly think you will enjoy this as much as I have.
I really hope this has been of some use to you. I want people to love this as much as I do. It’s a proper game, one where you have to improve your skills and knowledge of the mechanics to proceed. There’s no cookie cutter open world map here which is present in so many modern games these days. This is a game taken out of the late 80’s early 90’s and polished up to a gleam for modern hardware.
Give it a try, don’t be put off by the difficulty because as with anything worthwhile you will get better. You will learn which choices are the best ones to make and you will end up playing the whole game from start to finish without a single death! (I promise you, you really will!)
Good luck out there, I hope you make the right choice and take the plunge into the depths of Returnal. There’s nothing else quite like it and I stand by my 5 stars, while understanding those that gave it 1.
Brilliant game bought out of curiosity. Proves that rogue-likes aren’t reserved for the indies.
Make sure you have a couple of hours free for a full run though.
Bought this at release and hated it, too difficult and stressful. Few months later with more patience I tried again and wow, one of the best games I’ve ever played. Difficult but so satisfying
In short, great graphics, audio, presentation and polish. This game is truly a classic.
However, the difficulty is super high and the lack of a game save makes tooling up before progressing nigh on impossible if you don’t have the time for long gaming sessions.
In short, great graphics, audio, presentation and polish. This game is truly a classic.
However, the difficulty is super high and the lack of a game save makes tooling up before progressing nigh on impossible if you don’t have the time for long gaming sessions.
There are lots of reviews and YT vids stating that it’s hard and once you die it’s back to the start and YES in a way that’s true, but all reviewers seem to look over all the progress that you make on each run that does carry over.
Ether collected.
Progress on weapons.
Unlocked upgrades (you unlock more each time you play).
More knowledge of how each enemy reacts, fires and the movement.
Alot of the frustration comes from only think about getting to the boss and beating it. The journey to the boss and what you can learn to make the next run faster and easier is far more important. If you find yourself stuck then just try doing a few runs without aiming for the boss try doing a collection run Either etc… a boss room run (Yellow door), upgrading you weapons abilities run or a no heal run all of these things will help you towards beating the level and the game. Yes you will die alot but by focusing on the journey side of the game you’ll make each death worth something and the game a little easier each run that you do!
Good luck!
So, it’s tricky, sure, yes. But it DOES get easier and it will ‘click’ and is SO rewarding. It’s been compared to ‘souls’ games – but I did not get on with the ‘souls’ games at all – this is better IMHO if you prefer shooter titles but are itching to understand why ‘souls’ game players ‘seem to enjoy the pain’ so much. It’s absolutely total worth sticking with it and you will get it. Very dark and adult story beats also with neatly done progression system.
Towards the end if anything it gets a little too easy as the weapons become AMAZING. The biggest downside is that now other games feel quite flat in comparison.
Every death brings a new playthrough with new rewards. It never gets old, super addictive ‘just one more room’.
I can see how some people won’t like it though, with no save games, it’s hard core gaming at its best.
Amazing game. Difficult that’s for sure and can be frustrating at the beginning.. takes time to get used to. Definitely not for everyone. Personally loved the game!
The game has such a great & mysterious atmosphere behind it when you go between each of the six biomes and the gameplay itself is very responsive yet satisfying, especially when utilising the DualSense to it’s potential. This is by far the best use of the PS5 controller I have seen so far, from the clever use of the adaptive triggers to the haptic feedback received when shooting down enemies.
The graphics itself are fantastic and I had an almost complete perfect run from start to finish with this game running at a smooth 60fps. so was a joy to pick up and play. The load times are very fast (literally a few seconds max between each biome) and the audio? This is without a doubt the secret weapon of the game as the use of 3D audio in this game is amazing. Seriously, the sound designers did an amazing job with the audio & soundtrack for this game.
As for the story itself, I don’t want to post any spoilers, but my advice is if you begin this game and find the first hour or two impossibly difficult… persist and keep trying, you will get the hang of the controls eventually and as you progress, you unlock more pieces of Selene’s story which I must admit, went deeper than I expected. The story at first is confusing admittedly, but as you progress through the game, it all begins to add up to a conclusion which really makes you think what has just happened. It’s definitely worth getting to the end I say.
All in all, Returnal is without doubt a very challenging and difficult game, but if you can persist and explore the depths of what this experience can offer, this is without doubt one of the best gaming experiences you can find today on the market. Highly recommended!
Fantastic game….Had to give up but the reason was not the difficulty as I would have persisted but the Motion Sickness effect on me.
Could only play for an hour and even then I felt dizzy and extremely sick,
I can only put it down to the extreme motion controls and fluid movement.
Game 10/10 and real shame I can’t play it.
At the beginning I didn’t know what exactly is rogue-like genre. Honestly, the game is amazing, difficult – it’ll be a challenge for casual gamers, and the story, gameplay, sound and the haptic feedback are all great. I hope the studio will release more AAA games. They are a good addition to the Sony family. Well done to Housemarque! 5 stars – as it’s a great game.
What a fantastic game. I found the first biome really hard and it took me 15 hours to finally beat it. It’s like Father Gascoigne in Bloodborne, once you get past it you’re up and running. It’s still a challenge throughout but always do-able. My tips are map dash to R1 to make dodging easier, and play with a headset as sound direction and cues are really important. The controls are super-tight, the atmosphere great and the story engaging. It rivals Demon’s Souls Remake for best game on PS5.
definitely worth every penny.Dont bother listening people saying its too hard.With time you will get used to it.Amazing game!
The graphics are amazing game play I very good nice all round
Anyways, this game has cost me 50p per hour.
The controller interaction, the absolutely stunning 60fps smooth buttery action, the incredible 3d audio sound, the absolutely stunning story (which really is stunning) makes this game incredible.
It is a rogue like which means death has you starting again, however it isn’t doom and gloom. The environment is procedurally generated so you can die to the boss, but be back there within 15 minutes at times.
I game on easy or normal, so this was a challenge in some respects, but I could see myself improving. It challenged how I play games and this game gave me one thing no other game has. And that was an appreciation for it. This game pushes you to improve yourself, and each time you come across the 5 bosses and beat them, the satisfaction is more than any game I’ve ever come across. This is due to you feeling like you earnt it.
There are countless posts on social media about people struggling, and then it is followed by the elation and excitement when they’ve beat a boss.
It has biomes. They have bosses which when you defeat, advance you on to the next biome. Once you clear a biome, and move onto the next, if you die you are back to biome 1, but you have shortcuts to get back to where you were. Literally minutes if that.
I cannot recommend this game enough.
Honestly. It’s superb.
Hard , very hard you will want to Chuck your controller at the wall
Only flaw of the game is the lack of a proper save system, you have to put the console in sleep mode to pause and resume another time.
Great looking game, really hard as you can be a couple of hours into it and die then you have to start all over again. I have died 200 times now and still haven’t reached the third boss. So if you ain’t got the patients not recommend for you, but if you can stay with it worth a go. Loading times take seconds and take note there is no save points so if you take the disc out half way through the game you will have to start again.
Brilliant game. Gameplay, graphics and 3D sound deliver on the new console. The loading is insane as well. This isn’t an easy game but it feels great to have completed it unlike other games where it feels hollow because it’s too easy. The story line is a bit out there but the game play is so fun it’s easy to overlook.
I can understand why people may dislike this game but I however love it. If you have enough time to invest I can guarantee you will fall in love.
It’s one of those games you can’t drop in and out of you have to literally plan a few hours out in order to have a good go at it. But my god, if you do go for it it’s unbelievable.
The monster design is amazing, the controller feedback is so satisfying and the replay ability is irresistible. I hope they make more games like this, it’s so fun, so beautiful and always a treat to play.
Give me a returnal 2 please
I’ve given 5 stars for the overall quality of this game, only thing is you’ve got to put the time into this thing unless you’re naturally good at challenging games , if you want a fun and easy experience then avoid it, if you are Hungry for a stressful but rewarding experience then get it .
Great game will I ever complete before I get bored!!
Resogun is my favourite game ever, having played hundreds of games in my life. So I was excited for this.
The game is incredible. Graphics, performance, gameplay, sound. But what really makes it the best game on ps5 and one of the best Games ever is the fact that when you for the environments and enemy locations all change so each play is always new and exciting.
A lot of people complain about difficulty but that’s the reason to play games, the challenge. Imagine if you had to play sudoku on easiest if you were a master, it wouldn’t be fun s the same applies here.
The only reason I don’t give this a 5 star is because no game should cost over 50 pounds.
A different spin on a game, very enjoyable and very testing
Whilst not a game for everyone, Returnal has certainly taken me by surprise this year and quickly became my sleeper hit for the PS5 since its release last year.
Graphically it is exceptional, with the planet of Atropos looking equal parts haunting, beautiful and – at times – terrifying. The character and enemy models are lovely to look at, the enemy fire becoming a hypnotic maze of colours I often found myself mesmerised by as Selene jumps and shoots through the various randomised rooms.
Audio is top notch and really comes to life when utilising the 3D quantity if using headphones. Weapons have a good variety of satisfying crunches, enhanced by actually feeling some of the weight through the haptic controls of the Dualsense. Speaking of controls, it is very smooth and you’ll be hard pressed to find times when you can honestly blame the game itself for that last death.
It is hard, but not because the difficulty is simply to steep a curve. The roguelike nature – of which this is my first experience in the genre – gives the game a constantly fresh feel as death quickly leads to the game reloading, giving you little time to get too annoyed that you’re “back at the start” (you sort of are, but don’t let the idea of semi-permadeath put you off). I love the Souls series, but they are a much harder in my view. Returnal knows when to challenge you, it gives you incentive to explore but will sometimes punish you for taking a chance exploring that last optional side room (damn you lockdown rooms!) which just reminds you that the odds are whatever run you are on is going to end at some point so keep pushing forwards. It never quite got to the point of frustration and the unique nature of dying in the game was refreshing for a long time gamer like myself, albeit one who is knew to roguelike.
The story is something I’m very reluctant to get into. Whatever you think you know about the games plot, you probably don’t. The story plays out slowly, but it pulls you deeper into the world of Atropos and the audio logs are performed with some sincetetity by Serena’s voice actress that you really feel you are stuck in this alien hell with her.
The price point of 70 is debatable. Are games worth that much from a production stand point? Probably not. In terms of quality I was pleasantly surprised. The game was a stop gap before Resident Evil VIII, but until last night I found I was spending all my free time exploring the wonders of Atropos.
It’s fast paced, it’s tough at times but nowhere near the level of difficulty some people seem to be suggesting – at least not for this admittedly average ability gamer! In my 42 hours on the game (26 for the main two acts) I found I was captivated.
If you are looking for a quality PlayStation exclusive with a fresh experience waiting for you, gives Housemarque’s new game a chance. You’ll be returning for more and more.
Only played 4 hours so far but those 4 hours have beem amazing. Hard and mysterious, great gameplay and managed to beat the first boss fight. I died in the second area so back to the ship for the next run! Makes great use of the dualsense controller and the audio is great. Really creates an atmosphere
Brilliant Roguelite type game where you only have 1 life to get as far as you can. Every time you die you start at the beginning again. But this is part of the genre, what good would Groundhog Day have been if Bill Murray hadn’t acquired knowledge and experience through his multiple attempts to live through a single day and come out the other side??
Every death sees you potentially opening up more of the story. Whilst searching the 6 different biomes help you upgrade guns and find items that can help on future runs, as well as discovering the reasons why the planet keeps containing you in this endless cycle.
The atmosphere relies heavily on H R Giger, and the awesome synthy soundtrack makes this a sci fi fans dream. the 5 bosses on offer are all sublime and the fights are always gripping affairs. Again, if you prepare in the right ways then the bosses can be pretty easy to defeat.
I would say that only having 6 biomes to explore means that pretty quickly you can beat the game without too much fuss (the more you play the better your weapons become), so after many adventures through the 6 biomes, my weapons are pretty strong and I obliterate most enemies…
There are 3 acts to the story arc, but they all use the same 6 biomes, and although the maps are always procedurally generated, I still feel that the game should have been a lot longer and harder to keep people playing for longer (I bought it in release and finished up the game a few days ago. For 70 I want a game I can keep playing and coming back to.
I would have like to have seen a larger progression system that wasn’t only just for weapons.
The fact is the more you play the better your weapons/items become so eventually the challenge disappears and your not left with much to do.
However the Great atmosphere, fantastic gunplay & smooth controls make this the best PS5 game I have played so far, I am just hoping that Housemarque release more content for it.
Anyone complaining about the difficulty/lack of save feature really just doesn’t get it. Keep playing and get good at the game. One of my favourite games for some time
Imagine an old school scrolling shooter , the type you’d get on the C64, Amiga etc. The kind of game where there were no saves, only powerups to find throughout the game. If you lost all your lives you had to start again from scratch. Then transfer it into a 3D world. That is the type of game we have here. If fact, although you only have “1 life” there are multiple ways to stop death and continue at the same point in the game (I won’t spoil the mechanics). Additionally some items can be carried over across games, so in some ways this is much easier than the old school shooters.
I’m having a great time playing it, and can’t wait to get to the end.
A word of warning – the bosses become easier depending on the loadouts you attempt them with. After failing multiple times with the first boss, I attempted him with a different weapon and large health pack and a life restoring item. This time I defeated him with ease. Don’t be disheartened. Still, whilst hard this game is nowhere near as hard as the lieks of Demon’s souls.
Absolutely breathtaking game. It is difficult but more practice and Patience you become better at it. Very addictive and hard to put down.
Returnal is a roguelike, meaning that when you die you return to the start of the game and lose all of the weapons, items and currency you were carrying. You can make some progress – when you beat a boss once you are able to avoid having to fight them on subsequent runs. Although very difficult the game does hold you hand to some extent by creating some shortcuts, allowing you to bypass certain areas that you have passed through before.
The gameplay is very satisfying. It is reminiscent of Dark Souls in that you will come across enemies or bosses and think “how the hell am I ever going to beat that thing” but once you learn their patterns and abilities you are able to defeat them. Enemies you thought were difficult at the start become toys you play with in later runs to harvest currency.
Whilst gameplay is satisfying I would say that overall it is pretty story-lite. The trailer feature a lot of story content but in the game this is limited to very infrequent cut scenes, rare visits to a house and audiologs. If in-depth story is what you’re after don’t expect it here.
Of all the games I’ve played on PS5 so far this is the one that takes advantage of the hardware the most. Lightning quick reload times, stunning haptic feedback and inventive use of the adaptive triggers (half press to aim; full press to use alt fire), amazing 3D audio (you really can pinpoint where enemies are through audio alone) and gorgeous visuals with great particle effects.
This is probably the first ever AAA roguelike – usually they are made by small indie studios and appreciated by many but hated by some. Returnal is no different – I can imagine a lot of people picking this up as there isn’t a lot out there to play on the PS5 and wondering what they have gotten themselves into.
There is also one major inconvenience in the game which apparently is going to be remedied but hasn’t been as of yet – you cannot save. This means that you can’t pause mid run, other than putting the console in Rest Mode. There’s no need for this as other games in the genre manage it but Housemarque have said that they plan to add a save state eventually.
Overall I would say that Returnal is a game well worth playing but only for a small part of the market. If you have played and enjoyed games like Hades, Dead Cells or The Binding of Isaac, you know what you are letting yourself in for and you’ll probably have a good time.
If, like most of us, you don’t have a lot of time on your hands, Returnal can be deeply frustrating and requires a hell of a lot of patience to appreciate.
Best game of the year for me without a doubt! Fast and reliable next day delivery quick and easy unlike the Game.
This game is a real game not like the garbage that xbox is dishing out.
I have never played a rogue like and was hesitant, but I was rewarded with this unique experience.
Yes, that’s right, Game of the Year and we’re only in May. That’s how good this PS5 exclusive is. A must-buy and simply one of the best audio visual video game experiences on the market. It may be difficult for some, but don’t let that stop you trying this enjoyable roguelike.
Easily one of the best games on PS5. Looks and sounds amazing, and it’s extremely satisfying to play. If you have a PS5, you must get this game.
Never heard of this game until after release. Bought it and WOW. It is the best game I have played so far. Similar to Demon Souls in the way that if you die, you start quite far back, mostly the beginning, but you get to keep a few things you’ve picked up along the way, so each time you restart you are stronger than before. It is also different every time. So it’s not boring. You also only need to kill a boss once, so if I die at boss 3, I start from the beginning but can get back there fairly quickly. It’s also worth noting that once you reach a certain point in the game you don’t return to the beginning when you die. I have never played a game like it, it’s unique and brilliant. Graphics are amazing, sound effects and music brilliant. The game is well refined, no glitches so far for me.
Don’t worry, once you get used to dying you’ll love it. It’s part of the game so don’t feel like you’ve failed.
The only down side is you cannot save the game. So if you’ve been playing a few hours and decide to play another game, it’ll start you from the beginning of the game next time you load in even if you didn’t die. This is where the game loses a star. Hopefully this will be fixed in a future update.
Fantastic game. It is a cross between ALIEN, DARK SOULS, and the Tom Cruise/Emily Blunt movie EDGE OF TOMORROW.
If you enjoy a challenge and are a fan of Soulsborne or Roguelikes in general, this might be for you. If you are more of a casual gamer and are not used to difficult games where difficulty settings are not available, you may have to give this one a miss.
Not to say that the graphics or sound are lagging behind, far from it. Returnal is fast, fluid and the neon colours of many, many special effects on screen really pop in HDR especially when played on an OLED TV. The sound design is equally outstanding with moody, atmospheric music & sounds that heighten the fast paced, Alien/ Prometheus esk setting.
At it’s core this game is a true ‘gamer’s’ game and brings about a sensation that I’ve not felt from a game in a very long time which is a great thing. You won’t be bored here. The shooting mechanics & bullet-hell gameplay is excellent and the Super Metriod style exploration and power ups make the game feel pleasently gamey like no other triple A game has. The game is more creepy than I expected as it pulls off the physiological horror elements very well too. The Dualsense controls, haptic feedback and controller sounds are by far the best implemented so far in a game this gen and go a long way to heighten the experience. Especially the adaptive triggers. Very impressive stuff and combined with 60fps it really is a treat to control. Is it worth 70?
I will say that I certainly wasn’t happy to learn that Sony’s first party games this gen will cost 70 at launch. So much so that I vowed to wait for price drops as this is too much to ask for a game in my opinion. However. My girlfriend picked this up for a birthday present for me and I’m now left rethinking my decision moving forward.. I’ve sunk 35hrs in so far and they’ve flown by! I have so much more left to do and can’t see me putting this down for a good while. I’ve still not quite finished the story but I’ve made it to biome (level, area) 5 out of 6 so far and can see me replaying over and over to get better equipment & weapons and taking on some daily challenges once I’m good enough. If this is the quality of an experience we get for 70 this gen I’m surprisingly happy about it. Go out and buy this game! You won’t regretal it!
Easily the best game to come out this year so far. The production values, from the art to the gameplay to the narrative are absolutely sublime. Yes, it’s difficult, but that’s the whole point.
As Selene, your trapped exploring an ever changing planet where even death isn’t an escape. You’ll like get frustrated, just as Selene herself gets frustrated. But when you finally break through and ‘git gud’ as it were, you’ll feel incredible.
If you’re lucky enough to own a PS5 and are up for a challenge, you owe it to yourself to play Returnal.
Although I knew it was a rogue-like and I am very content to die a lot, the length of the ‘runs’ through the game mean you have to invest a lot of time to progress to the next biome – seems to me to be a couple of hours as you need to grind the first biome and then progress to the one you are trying to beat as a minimum. For me this really limits the opportunity to play as it’s quite a while to invest in an average day around other commitments, and you can’t walk away confidently as the only way to ‘pause’ for a length of time is to rest the console. This is not a great solution from my perspective as it’s not foolproof, and it’s a bit stressful thinking you may loose your hour and half of grinding (again!). Also, although procedural generated nature of the game means sometimes you just don’t get what you want/need to have a good run. I have never found it’s prevented me progressing, but it doesn’t seem totally balanced.
I would say approach with caution and know what you are getting into. If it’s your sort of thing it will be your Game of the Year, if it’s not you will probably hate it!
Steep learning curve (watch some beginner YouTube videos to explain the systems) that the game dosnt clearly explain.
No save point between runs which can be frustrating.
One of the best looking, sounding, feeling games I’ve ever played. If you can play with headphones then do it. Great use of 3D audio. The controller feels amazing, triggers and rumble are only possible on playstation5.
The specs and features:
* Dynamic 4K *1
* 60 fps *2
* DualSense Haptics & Trigger support *3
* 3D audio
*1. Resolution:
*TLDR: Game looks good, but presents some visual noise and grain; not as sharp/clean as a true 4K title.
*Explained: 1080p is the native resolution of the game, which is then uses temporal upsampling to get a 1440p resolution, and then checkerboard rendering is implemented to get it to 2160×3840 (4K).
*2. 60 fps target:
*TLDR: Returnal maintains a mostly solid 60 fps (a LOT of gamers won’t even notice drops).
*Explained: Returnal maintains 60 fps most if the time, with occasional drops to the mid-50s during especially hectic scenes, especially with a ton of Housemarque’s signiture particle effects.
*3. DualSense Haptics & Trigger support
*TLDR: weapons offer different feedback and features through the adaptive triggers, and the haptic feedback adds immersion by letting you ‘feel’ the environment and encounters.
*Explained: individual weapon firing modes are activated though adaptive trigger presses (i.e. half press and full press offer distinct weapon modes, etc), and the haptic motors in the DualSense offer feedback from everything from the pitter-patter of rainfall around your character, pulsing and thudding as you fire your weaponry, to the full-force rumbling, smashing and shaking sensations during intense combat.
There is no save feature. make sure you have the time set aside if you get this game. Fantastic game it is though. Extremely challenging.
Very atmospheric and mysterious game. Very challenging gameplay and also very punishing. You die – start over. Can get frustrating sometimes but keeps me wanting to go back and continue the journey.
So far the best realease on ps5.
Came in good condition, no damages.
Tips your die ALOT ,pick a weapon you like and only use that one weapon.
Amazing game ,smoke me a kipper il be back for Xmas
Tough, and you will die a lot. However, when the odds are in your favour and a run goes great, it’s a real buzz.
It’s my GOtY! It’s the most fun I’ve had in a game in a long time and you will struggle to put it down when you get into it. Amazing visuals super smooth gameplay and art style that just keeps you coming back for more because it’s got amazing replayability and so many hidden things to explore to give you even more of the story. This game has gotten rave reviews from a lot of people playing it so it’s not just my opinion.
Amazing visuals
60fps
Instant loading
Amazing fast gameplay
It’s a rogue like game so make sure you know this before going in.
But honestly it’s game of the year so far and a true next gen experience.
The game is addicting and getting a perfect build and run is a thrill.
It offers at least 55 hours of solid gameplay at least!
A must own title
Check YouTube etc for reviews everyone loves it too
I would like to say this game is fun if it wasn’t for the absolute rage it sometimes puts me in but it’s such a fantastic feeling when you overcome such a challenge……!! 9.5/10 for me point 5 because it’s evil, this game was designd by devil…. lol!!
The graphics are amazing, the sounds are unbelievable.
The haptic feedback on ps5 controllers is insane,
Definitely a game I would recommend to anyone
You are in the middle of the action as you struggle to survive crash-landing on an alien planet, but you also have a mind-blowing mystery to solve, so you better keep your wits about you.
EDIT: The reviews have released to overwhelming acclaim, so I can say more but I’ll still do my best to stay spoiler-free. This is a game that uses all of the PS5’s unique technology from 3D audio, the only truly next generation contoller, and the fastest SSD in gaming history, throwing you back into the action whenever you die. And the bosses WILL kill you a lot, as this is a major part of the game’s unique design. I find the gameplay loop amazing, and the search for useful resources is essential because the planet keeps changing and you need to adapt to progress. This is not a mindless shooter. It is not a tech demo of what can be achieved in the future. The next Generation gaming experience is here.
Returnal will keep you coming back to your PlayStation 5 for more, but beware, because there are malignant forces out to stop you.