Reliving agony

Returnal is a very interesting game. It combines a lot of different game play aspects and somehow manages to nail most of them and even make me enjoy some mechanics that I normally despise. It comes as no shock though, as developer Housemarque has always been top-tier when it comes to arcade-style shooters. From titles like Resogun to lesser-known entities like Nex-Machina, this team can really craft some of the most addictive action titles in the business. Returnal also has the advantage of being the first big PlayStation 5 game coming after launch that really showcases the system. That is a lot of pressure for a developer like Housemarque and they definitely stepped up to the challenge.

The story of Returnal is interesting. Players take on the role of Selene Vassos as she crash lands on an alien planet called Atropos while investigating a strange signal. The game quickly ramps up the mystery as Selene discovers her own corpse. From there things continue to get weirder and weirder as she lives the experience over and over. It is an interesting way to tell the story while also adapting to the roguelike game play. It actually works and does a fantastic job of giving the player just enough with each run to keep things interesting. I was invested and wanted to uncover the weird, and oftentimes bizarre narrative that was being undone.

MSRP: $69.99
Platforms: PS5
Price I’d Pay: $59.99

Returnal is an unapologetic roguelike. Every time Selene starts a new run the game changes up the layout of each area and all of her upgrades are reset. It is the ultimate time loop. It is also no secret that I normally despise these kinds of games. The idea of minor progression and starting over from scratch after every death is not usually my idea of a fun time. Returnal somehow hooked me though. Whether it is the super tight shooting game play, or the fact that it does just enough to make each run as fun as the last is likely the biggest reason.

The game feels like an arcade game at times. This is a third-person shooter that mixes in some Metroid style exploration and shooting that is super tight and feels absolutely fantastic. There are also mixes of bullet-hell inspired game play with enemies tossing patterns of projectiles at Selene. Thankfully, Housemarque has crafted a combat system that is easy to pick-up and fun to master. Selene can jump and dash between waves of bullets all while flowing a steady stream of attacks. There is an active reload mechanic and managing all these systems feels outstanding. Combat is never dull, and when I died it was always because of my mistake and never a cheap death.

Everything has a purpose in the game. Even dodging bullets slowly builds up an adrenaline meter that will add buffs to Selene. There are health upgrades that can extend her lifebar and an array of weapons that she can pick up to help even the odds. The idea behind the game is to explore, power-up, and take down enemies as she reaches each new biome. Every area has a unique style and boss associated with it. The cool part is when you take down a boss it not only gives you a new ability, but you don’t have to fight them multiple times. You can skip them on the next run or choose to fight them if you want to gain additional buffs.

Speaking of upgrades, there are plenty of items in the world to aid you along the way. Returnal works on a risk/reward system when it comes to pick-ups. There are chests that if I opened, could possibly damage my suit. The rewards inside though could be game-changing. There are also parasites which do exactly what one might expect. They offer a benefit while also handing out a detriment. Usually these can be removed by completing a set of objectives or finding another parasite or item to remove them. It makes exploration feel rewarding while also coming with a hint of danger.

There is progression in the game, albeit very limited. Guns are one example. When you find a gun it has a trait that can be unlocked if you kill enough enemies with it. Once unlocked, the next time you find that gun it already has that unlocked. Again this relies on the risk/reward system that players sometimes have to choose to give up a better gun in order for the long haul to unlock a new perk. There are also abilities that increase exploration opportunities such as the sword and grappling hook. These give players new ways to explore older levels and help in the leveling up process.

While Housemarque nails most of what makes these games good, it doesn’t come without a few issues. For one, Returnal suffers to keep players hitting that ‘one more run’ mentality. Runs in this game can be long. I have spent hours playing one run only to die in some stupid way, and that is really deflating. While I get that you cannot save the game, it still hurts when I am knee deep in a great run with some awesome weapons and something comes up and I have to force myself to die, or I get frustrated and do something stupid because I am in a hurry. The devs mention putting the system into rest mode, but if a patch downloads or the system updates, the run is lost. There have also been issues with the game crashing late in runs, which is also really upsetting.

Returnal is really a gorgeous game. Housemarque is king when it comes to particle effects and this title is no different. The game runs at a pretty solid 60fps with very minor dips from time to time. The world is also extremely interesting, and even though it is randomly generated each run, it feels organic. The voice acting and music are equally impressive. This feels like a genuine horror game at times thanks to the atmosphere. The implementation of the Dual Sense is also worth noting. The rumble effects are almost as impressive as Astro’s Playroom with minor movements when rain is hitting Selene. It really is an incredible effect.

Returnal is a game that comes at a time when PS5 owners are starved for a new title. It will do really well, but I wonder how many people will stick with it due to the roguelike nature. The launch issues are also causing problems with losing runs, which are overly long and really defeating when lost. Still it did something very few games of its type manage to do, it got me to really enjoy the genre. I loved playing Returnal and I would definitely love a linear-progression version of it, but am perfectly satisfied jumping back in just to play because it feels so good. I hope they make some quality of life changes over time and really bring this game home. As it stands this is a great roguelike experience that can deliver many hours of entertainment if you don’t mind recycling that fun over and over.

Review copy of game provided by publisher.