Returnal has a lot of themes going through it but what really stuck with me more than the story tones is the risk reward gameplay loop. Every action you take throughout this rogue like arcade third person shooter has consequences to be measured for potentially long and short term gains. Is it worth the risk at this point opening this malignant chest? How badly do I need a stronger weapon? Should I explore this Biome or take an early shortcut to the next one? Should I go in this secret room with just my starting side arm? Is the positive on this parasite worth the negative aspect? Literally everything you do is a risk reward decision, some of which can have utterly fatal consequences. I actually loved that balance scale system and though you can become good enough to overcome most negative consequences with permeant traits and experience there will be times it gives you a surprise kicking throwing you back to start all over, there is a reason the Ascension downloadable content references the Greek King Sisyphus.
choices aside, it's moment to moment gameplay is excellent. The developer Housemarque has leveraged all it's experience in fast paced arcade games to make each encounter a pretty thrilling experience. It plays smoothly and the guns are extremely satisfying to use especially once you start leveling up traits for extra abilities like homing rockets, portal turrets, leech bullets etc. I never thought I'd enjoy Rogue Likes but I'm really starting to get into them seeing that constant progression. My one issue with Returnal though is the levels. Don't get me wrong, the art design and visuals are really good, leaning heavily into H.R Geiger and the Aliens franchise in a lot of aspects with great lighting and fog effects. The game has a genuinely creepy atmosphere. What I mean is that though there are 6 biomes, 2 of them are just kind of reskinned versions of earlier ones and though there are differences with some rooms being completely new and new enemies I couldn't help but feel a little disappointed.
It's pretty much my only complaint though. The story is way different than I expected but revealed steadily though logs and imagery and the lead character Selene's voice acting by Jane Perry is really good, at times, somber, at times professional and at times a little crazy. This game isn't for everyone, I can absolutely see that, you do have to put some time into it to really get the most out of it and see some of it's more subtle aspects but once it hooks you a 20 minute run will turn into a few hours before you know it.
+ Great gameplay loop.
+ Action is fast paced with cool weapons.
+ Great art design and story themes.
- A couple of the biomes were kind of disappointing.
choices aside, it's moment to moment gameplay is excellent. The developer Housemarque has leveraged all it's experience in fast paced arcade games to make each encounter a pretty thrilling experience. It plays smoothly and the guns are extremely satisfying to use especially once you start leveling up traits for extra abilities like homing rockets, portal turrets, leech bullets etc. I never thought I'd enjoy Rogue Likes but I'm really starting to get into them seeing that constant progression. My one issue with Returnal though is the levels. Don't get me wrong, the art design and visuals are really good, leaning heavily into H.R Geiger and the Aliens franchise in a lot of aspects with great lighting and fog effects. The game has a genuinely creepy atmosphere. What I mean is that though there are 6 biomes, 2 of them are just kind of reskinned versions of earlier ones and though there are differences with some rooms being completely new and new enemies I couldn't help but feel a little disappointed.
It's pretty much my only complaint though. The story is way different than I expected but revealed steadily though logs and imagery and the lead character Selene's voice acting by Jane Perry is really good, at times, somber, at times professional and at times a little crazy. This game isn't for everyone, I can absolutely see that, you do have to put some time into it to really get the most out of it and see some of it's more subtle aspects but once it hooks you a 20 minute run will turn into a few hours before you know it.
+ Great gameplay loop.
+ Action is fast paced with cool weapons.
+ Great art design and story themes.
- A couple of the biomes were kind of disappointing.