![]() Selene begins every cycle with her standard-issue handgun. Do you risk a malfunction that, for example, causes suit damage for the possibility of obtaining a higher-level gun? If you’re lucky, you’ll walk away with powerful weapons and buffs. Certain treasure chests could possibly damage your suit with temporary malfunctions. Blue doors may hold better weapons or necessary life upgrades, but they could also house uber-powerful foes that can end you in seconds. When facing enemies, you decide whether to prolong the battle by attacking from afar or getting up close to quickly end things. You must balance risk and reward while playing Returnal. Seeing unexplored areas on the map encourages you to venture forth into the unknown, even if it leads to a swift demise. The map’s 2D presentation displays main pathways (marked as green doors) and side rooms (mark as blue doors), along with question marks denoting treasure chests and consumables-it's Metroid to the bone. These areas often lead to rare artifacts or act as shortcuts to later levels (after you’ve unlocked them). For example, maps contain areas you can’t access without specific suit upgrades. You’ll also find a healthy dose of Metroidvania-style gameplay sprinkled throughout Returnal. Combat scenarios are every bit as intense as any shoot 'em up, requiring quick reflexes and complete concentration. To survive encounters with the deadly alien fauna, you must run, jump, and dash across the environment, while laying down your own fire. Selene can avoid most projectiles by dashing through them, though there’s a minor cooldown period between dashes. Enemies assail you with a volley of energy spheres straight out of shooters, such as DoDonPachi Resurrection or Ikaruga. After all, Returnal is from the same developer that brought us Resogun and Super Stardust HD. It should come as no surprise that Returnal contains classic “bullet hell” shmup gameplay. These mechanics are as roguelike as you can get, but Returnal also has elements that distinguish it from its genre peers. This is not only a roguelike staple, it’s reminiscent of classic NES-era games.Įvery life cycle tasks you with exploring an altered landscape, with rearranged environments, enemies, and item locations. ![]() Aside from those, you’ll always start over from scratch whenever you die. Some suit upgrades persist, particularly those gained from defeated bosses. However, the instant you die, you’re sent back to your crashed spaceship stripped of all acquired items. You’ll explore Atropos, acquire numerous upgrades for your space suit, and find an assortment of alien weapons-all of which make you increasingly more powerful. The game’s narrative explains the roguelike genre’s signature gameplay mechanics. Stuck in a Star Trek-esque time loop, Selene must find the mysterious signal’s source and somehow break her endless life/death cycle. After an alien monster kills her, Selene finds herself back on the ship. Listening to the deceased’s audio logs, she hears her own voice saying things she had never recorded. Selene crash lands, and soon discovers the body of another female astronaut. She voyages to the planet Atropos to discover the source of a mysterious alien signal transmitting from the world. In Returnal, you play as an astronaut named Selene. That said, the average person may balk at the Returnal's brutal difficulty, especially when the game costs a hefty $69.99. There’s an audience for the genre, and Returnal appeals to that fanbase with its life-death cycles and satisfying gunplay. Returnal is an uber-challenging roguelike in the vein of The Binding of Isaac, Dead Cells, or Hades God of War, Ghost of Tsushima, or Marvel's Spider-Man, it is not. Although the game certainly looks like a big-budget extravaganza, the underlying gameplay is decidedly indie. Sony markets Housemarque’s Returnal as the next must-own, AAA, PlayStation 5 exclusive. Best Hosted Endpoint Protection and Security Software.
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