Fast and furious action, a mesmerizing barrage of bullets in all shapes and sizes, and breathtaking particle effects have always defined Housemarque games. Returnal not only embraces these signature elements but also emerges as their most ambitious endeavor to date. This PS5-exclusive third-person shooter offers an unparalleled sense of exploration and discovery, boasting an atmospheric quality akin to Dead Space or Metroid Prime. Its intense shootouts remain engaging and gratifying throughout the multiple playthroughs required to conquer its roguelike campaign and unearth the hidden mysteries that lie beyond the final credits. While a full run may demand a substantial time commitment, the rewards it yields make it a journey well worth undertaking.
Returnal unravels the gripping tale of Selene Vassos, who crash-lands on the enigmatic alien planet known as Atropos. As she emerges from the wreckage and embarks on a quest to trace the source of a cryptic signal, the narrative takes a swift and bewildering turn into the realms of the bizarre and the time-twisted. This intriguing plot not only serves to establish the roguelike foundation, emphasizing repeated runs through familiar environments, but it also cleverly functions as a storytelling device. Selene stumbles upon logs left by her prior incarnations, gradually unveiling the core mysteries that underpin Returnal's enigma. Housemarque takes it a step further by introducing surreal and spine-tingling first-person segments reminiscent of PT, where Selene delves into her memories and confronts her own nightmares.
It transforms Selene into a captivating protagonist, navigating this peculiar yet ever-evolving narrative alongside players. The depth of the story far surpasses what one would typically anticipate from a roguelike. Housemarque deserves commendation for ingeniously integrating a compelling narrative into a genre not traditionally known for storytelling. While it may not achieve the same level of elegance as Hades, with its dynamic character interactions and evolving dialogues based on your successes, failures, and overall progression, Returnal's narrative effort remains commendable.
Selene emerges as a compelling protagonist, navigating the peculiar and ever-evolving scenario alongside us. While the narrative focus may come as a surprise, given Housemarque's previous games, the precise and responsive gunplay is undeniably in line with their brand.
Returnal effectively translates the bullet-hell aesthetics seen in titles like Resogun, Nex Machina, and Super Stardust HD into the realm of third-person shooters, resulting in a spectacular gameplay experience. It incorporates all the signature elements: a directional dash offering brief invulnerability, foes firing barrages of bullets slow enough for you to evade, others unleashing a relentless wall of projectiles requiring nimble dodging, those deploying locked-on laser beams when under attack, and the formidable adversaries that combine these traits. Returnal boasts an impressive variety of enemies, and even when reusing the same character models in different settings, their distinct behaviors always present fresh challenges.
Understanding these behaviors is crucial in Returnal, as the game strongly emphasizes the importance of avoiding damage. An adrenaline meter accumulates with each kill, offering up to five stacking buffs, but they vanish with a single hit. Furthermore, picking up health items when your health is already at its maximum increases your overall health capacity. While Returnal presents a formidable challenge, it generously rewards skillful play and prudent decision-making, delivering a highly satisfying experience
Returnal generously rewards skillful play and intelligent decision-making. However, these significant risk-reward choices are often far from straightforward. Numerous chests and health pickups are 'malignant,' potentially burdening you with debuffs that can only be lifted by meeting specific conditions, like defeating a certain number of enemies. Additionally, there are parasites that provide both a beneficial effect and a drawback, which can only be removed using a rare consumable or by encountering an equally scarce parasite-removal device
At times, the risk pays off handsomely; for instance, opening a malignant chest might yield a powerful weapon two levels higher than my current one, allowing me to effortlessly clear the next few rooms of a level. However, more often than not, it doesn't pan out, and I'm left with a feeble consumable and an additional two seconds of cooldown on my dash. Facing the downside of a risk-versus-reward choice can be punishing, yet it's also what imparts a unique and exhilarating quality to each run in Returnal. Adapting and thriving in less-than-ideal circumstances is a hallmark of the roguelike genre, and this is an area where Returnal truly excels.
This improvisational combat style, characterized by a constant shift in weapons and on-the-fly strategy adjustments based on encountered upgrades, as well as the decision of when to spend or conserve currency, is pivotal in ensuring every run feels like a fresh and novel experience.
The roguelike structure thrives due to the fascinating diversity among its 10 weapons. While some adhere to typical shooter archetypes, several others exhibit remarkable inventiveness. For example, one firearm never requires reloading but can only be fired after a round rebounds into the gun, while another weapon fires pylons into the ground, unleashing torrents of red lightning between them. It's a showcase of ingenious design.
Each weapon presents numerous possibilities, infusing every one of my playthroughs with a unique essence. What truly amplifies this diversity is that each of the 10 weapons can spawn with one of nine gun-specific traits, capable of significantly altering their utility. For instance, a shotgun might inherit a 'slugshot' trait, rendering it highly accurate and formidable at long distances, or it might possess a trait that releases corrosive clouds for damage over time. Similarly, a carbine could feature a chaingun-like trait, accelerating its firing rate when the trigger is held down, or it may opt for slower but high-impact high-caliber rounds. Even the humble pistol can transform into a burst-fire weapon or unleash a barrage of homing missiles after each shot. With a myriad of potential combinations for each weapon, every playthrough takes on a distinctive character.
Returnal's enduring progression mechanic hinges on the presence of these traits within the weapons you discover at the start, which, in turn, must be unlocked through a requisite number of kills with that specific weapon. Once you've achieved this feat once, any subsequent discovery of a weapon bearing that trait automatically grants it (and upgrades, once unlocked). This introduces yet another layer to the risk-versus-reward dynamic: at times, you must weigh the decision to retain a weapon with valuable traits currently aiding your situation or trade it for a new weapon harboring a promising yet unactivated trait. In the grand scheme, such sacrifices can undoubtedly prove worthwhile.
Exploration Fatigue
Controller Chaos