Returnal | Review Thread

[Ghost]

 

Metacritic - 86

OpenCritic - 86

 

Playstation Lifestyle - 10/10

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Returnal is an essential PS5 title, now and throughout the console’s life. Housemarque took the rogue-like bullet-hell formula and applied it to a AAA experience in a way that creates something exceptionally unique yet wholly familiar. Returnal is an engaging experience in narrative, gameplay, and player discovery, consistently surprising on every level. Utilizing the PS5 technology in a way that most other developers are barely tapping into, Returnal feels like one of the first truly next-gen experiences, letting Housemarque set the stage for the new console. And like Housemarque games before it, it’s the kind of game that will withstand the test of time, begging for additional cycles well into the future.

 

NME - 10/10

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Pros

- Incredible 3D Audio and DualSense implementation turn PS5 ‘gimmicks’ into genuine game changers

- Visually stunning

- Some of the most satisfying combat we’ve ever experienced

- A rich and intriguing world keeps you coming back for more, even after hours of punishment

Cons

- Lack of persistent upgrades can be extremely annoying

- Certain sections can be scream-inducingly frustrating

- I can’t stop playing it

 

PlaystationTrophies.org - 91%

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Even once the credits roll, after 20-25 hours, there’s plenty more to discover on the hostile world of Atropos. More mysteries, more secrets, more weapons, more data logs - and I was more than ready to jump straight back in. Developer Housemarque has achieved a seemingly impossible task, balancing fast-paced action with a slow-burn story and an incredible atmosphere, and done so with a flourish, at that. Returnal is an utterly essential addition to the PlayStation 5 library; a game that will creep and crawl and whisper its way into your brain, staying with you long after you’ve put down the controller, dragging you back for more, again, and again, and again.

 

GameSpot - 9/10

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Returnal is constantly unsettling and consistently challenging. Its mysterious story and demanding action feel intense, urgent, and fresh. The fast-moving combat manages to appear incredibly daunting, bordering on overwhelming, without ever actually becoming insurmountable. Every moment is a rush, either because you just barely evaded a giant purple laser or because you have no idea why there's an Apollo-era astronaut following your every move. Do you need to be a little brave to play Returnal? Yeah. Do you need to be glutton for punishment? It helps. They say that anything worth doing should scare you at least a little bit. I'm not sure if that's always true, but Returnal makes a strong case.

 

Video Review:

Spoiler

 

 

WccfTech - 9.3/10

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Save for an ending that crashes nearly as hard as Helios' entry onto Atropos, Returnal checks all of the marks for what a best-in-class roguelike should aim for: a gameplay loop that rewards the player for innovation and mastery, loot that can synergize to create some unstoppable character builds, and most importantly, weapons that simply feel right in the player's hands. Without a doubt, Returnal is one of the finest PlayStation 5 exclusives available in 2021 and those that are eager for the next great challenge can find plenty to look forward to with Selene's first steps onto the alien planet again and again.

 

GameInformer - 9.5/10

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Returnal is a relentless nightmare that’s a dream to play. The journey is full of horror and terrible discoveries, but also unbridled curiosity and wonder. If you have the taste for it, this is an adventure that begs to be experienced.

 

Video Review:
 

Spoiler

 

 

 

Push Square - 9/10

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Housemarque has delivered the PS5 promise with Returnal. All the console's bells and whistles enhance the experience, making this a real showpiece for the hardware. But more than that, the game is a force to be reckoned with; the breathless combat, super slick gameplay, and the subtle but unsettling story combine for an experience of surprising scale. Rogue-lite aspects mean it won't gel with everyone, but for those looking for a challenging, addictive arcade shooter, this comes highly recommended.

 

Metro - 9/10

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What we would say though is that Returnal is by far the most fun we’ve had with a video game all year. Despite being a new IP it doesn’t always feel entirely original, given how liberally it borrows ideas from other games, but even when Lady Luck abandoned us we were always quick to get back up and try again. The action is perfectly crafted but the way it interfaces with the exploration and story aspects is just as impressive, as it creates an endlessly entertaining experience that we’d be playing again and again even if there was no time loop. 

 

IGN - 8/10

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Its roguelike runs are too long and it needs a way to save in the middle of them, but Returnal's third-person shooter action, clever story, and atmosphere are excellent.

 

Video Review:

Spoiler

 

 

GamesRadar - 8/10

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Returnal can be messy, tough, and perhaps a little too uncompromising for a $70 game. And yet, despite the moments of pad-clenching exasperation, it remains a moreish experience even after you’ve plummeted its depths.

 

TheGamer - 7/10

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At its core, Returnal is one of the most satisfying third-person shooters I’ve played - it’s Hades via Vanquish. It forces you to meet it at its tempo and doesn’t relent. It makes Doom Eternal seem like Baby’s First Shooter. It’s gorgeous, frenetic, and endlessly replayable. I just wish success wasn’t so tied to luck, which only exacerbates any frustrations you have when repeatedly trekking through areas you’ve already beaten. Even after the credits rolled, I felt satisfied, but that satisfaction was also mixed with relief - the ordeal was finally over and the chiropractor's elbow has been removed from the small of my back.

 

VentureBeat - 6/10

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Jeff Grubb -
"like beating your head against a fun wall"

 

LapTopMag - 6/10

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Due to a lack of content and an underwhelming rogue-like foundation that makes each run feel identical, Returnal lacks replayability. You can commit to more runs, but you'll be fighting the same bosses, exploring the same environments, and battling the same enemies. Returnal offers few surprises after the player comes to the end of its short campaign.

However, it makes up for this with exciting combat and tight movement. You'll need to dodge, fire and strike at an exhilarating pace while exploring immersive environments on a hostile alien planet. And with a compelling narrative that is sure to ignite debates for months after launch, Returnal is still worth playing — but wait for it to go on sale.

 

EuroGamer - Recommended

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Returnal gets halfway to doing it. It is full of real, bona fide video game magic, but with each death it becomes less special, more mundane, and this is why it feels so difficult to pick up the controller again, why Returnal feels like it doesn't want to be played. But the magic it does have is transcendent. And so I do still want to play it - whether Returnal likes it or not.

 

Easy Allies Review:

Spoiler

 

 

SkillUp Review: I strongly recommend

Spoiler

 

 

Edited April 29, 2021 by Ghost

[Conor]

Housemarque couldn't make a bad game if they tried, it would seem. Really looking forward to this weekend, my copy shipped from GameStop and should arrive tomorrow

[Jake-TheGreat97]

$70 Still seems too steep for me. I'll just wait for a price drop.

[pavelbagirov]

1 hour ago, Stan Lee said:

Housemarque couldn't make a bad game if they tried, it would seem. Really looking forward to this weekend, my copy shipped from GameStop and should arrive tomorrow

I know absolutely nothing about the game but judging by the trophies alone I have concluded that not only is the game super, super, super easy but it is also really bad and I wouldn't play it unless the developers pay me to / your words before about this game:)

[StrickenBiged]

Hmmm. Maybe I am focussing too much on the negatives, but I've enjoyed 3 reviews from reviewers I generally agree with and I'm leaning towards waiting for a bit of a price drop before taking a punt on this one. The RNG sounds like it could do with some tuning - spending an hour+ on a run with there being a risk that you might come away from that with zero meta-progress sounds like it would seriously bum me out. 

[Valkirye22]

6 minutes ago, pavelbagirov said:

I know absolutely nothing about the game but judging by the trophies alone I have concluded that not only is the game super, super, super easy but it is also really bad and I wouldn't play it unless the developers pay me to / your words before about this game:)

 

I can't even wrap my head around how profoundly stupid this statement is.

 

If you're not sold on the idea of trailers and curated gameplay snippets and 'gaming site reviews'  (which is fair) wait for a review/youtuber you trust, or just basic gameplay from a 1000 view youtube video.

 

And I seriously doubt it's anywhere near "super, super easy" as alien destroyer or chickens on the road which you've platinumed

[sepheroithisgod]

If it wasn't $70, I would have tried it, just doesn't seem worth it for a Rogue-like game.

[SadisticSymphony]

19 minutes ago, sepheroithisgod said:

If it wasn't $70, I would have tried it, just doesn't seem worth it for a Rogue-like game.

 

Yeah, as much as I love Housemarque, I too am waiting for a sale

[psycho_clank314]

I have been looking forward to this game, glad it is getting great reviews. I recently got into roguelikes thanks to Risk of Rain 2 and Enter the Gungeon so this has me pumped. No problem supporting the $70 price point for a first party game by a great dev. Go ahead, get angry at me for that, but I have always bought games at launch if they interest me for full price. 

[Dreakon13]

This one is more of a "I don't have anything else I'm terribly interested in at the moment, so what the hell" preorder... rogue-like's typically aren't my thing, so I'm hoping the narrative is stronger than the norm for that genre.  Otherwise a gorgeous third person shooter with bullet hell elements sounds oddly up my alley.

 

EDIT: Looks like it'll probably be a 8-9/10 exclusive for Playstation, a step above the Days Gone's, a step below the God of Wars/Spider-Man's/TLOU's.

Edited April 29, 2021 by Dreakon13

[Conor]

1 hour ago, Valkirye22 said:

 

I can't even wrap my head around how profoundly stupid this statement is.

 

If you're not sold on the idea of trailers and curated gameplay snippets and 'gaming site reviews'  (which is fair) wait for a review/youtuber you trust, or just basic gameplay from a 1000 view youtube video.

 

And I seriously doubt it's anywhere near "super, super easy" as alien destroyer or chickens on the road which you've platinumed

 

I made this statement originally in sarcasm over on the trophy thoughts thread

[yellowwindow7]

1 hour ago, sepheroithisgod said:

If it wasn't $70, I would have tried it, just doesn't seem worth it for a Rogue-like game.

 

wait for a sale and you won't regret it, and don't listen to these people who claim that you should buy it at full price to support the devs, full price or getting it on sales still mean your money will go to the devs regardless.

[Cleggworth]

2 hours ago, StrickenBiged said:

spending an hour+ on a run with there being a risk that you might come away from that with zero meta-progress sounds like it would seriously bum me out. 

 

This is me, it sounds and looks spectacular but I don't have as much time to play these days and little to no progress in a game is just a killer for me 

[yowzagabowza]

Not into rogues at all, Sundered is as close as I've come to one, but I love Housemarque. The gameplay seems great, but no progress if a long ass run goes bad? That's the exact problem I have with rogues. 

 

I'm nowhere nearer to owning a PS5 than I was at launch so it's kind of a non issue. I also won't be buying a single game for $70 so I'll be waiting a while for a sale either way.

[BlitzkriegHottie]

3 hours ago, Valkirye22 said:

 

I can't even wrap my head around how profoundly stupid this statement is.

 

If you're not sold on the idea of trailers and curated gameplay snippets and 'gaming site reviews'  (which is fair) wait for a review/youtuber you trust, or just basic gameplay from a 1000 view youtube video.

 

And I seriously doubt it's anywhere near "super, super easy" as alien destroyer or chickens on the road which you've platinumed

He's baiting. That's bait. 

Like... the baitest bait to ever bait. 

 

Can't tell if you actually fell for it or if you just decided to farm some points. 

[Helyx]

Picking this up Day-1.

 

...by "Day-1", I mean the first day it's free for PS+.

[BrandedBerserk]

Another stellar exclusive for Playstation which isn't suprising. Hopefully this sells well and puts housemarque up there so that they can work on more bigger projects. 

Edited April 29, 2021 by BrandedBerserk