PS Plus Series: Returnal (PS5)
Reviewed on Playstation 5
With the cost of gaming seemingly growing tenfold year after year, finding affordable value within the space has become the focal point of a lot of discussions. “Games shouldn’t cost $70!”, “Games are shipping incomplete”, “Your paying money for something with the risk of not enjoying it”.
There are too many opinions to state on this topic. Let’s take a look at where there is already value to be gained for those looking to enjoy our treasured pastime without having to give up an arm and a leg to do so.
We will start looking at some amazing games you can play behind affordable subscription services such as Xbox Game Pass and the revamped PlayStation Plus.
First on the lineup: Returnal, available on the Extra tier of PS Plus.
Roguelike Games Don’t Disappoint:
We have seen the popularity that roguelikes can garner. Hades, Vampire Survivor, & looking at the excitement of Hades II being announced at The Game Awards. It is without a doubt they have not disappointed as of late.
Returnal falls right in line as the roguelike experience adds huge risk and reward decisions, replay value, and also an unbelievable sense of achievement the further you are able to make it through the story. I found myself getting lost for hours on end as I made my way through the level designs of the overgrown ruins, fractured wastes, and more only really to discover how locked in I was after I gained a moment of peace by finally completing an objective on a run I had set for myself.
The metroidvania aspect of suit upgrades, that you need to fully explore the finer details of every area, were very well distributed throughout my entire playthrough. I found myself not realizing I was missing something until I happened to discover it on a good run. This made me want to dive back in each time I died and my run had to restart. I was hooked and I can’t say that about many brand-new games and IPs in the recent years.
Atropian Survival:
Everybody loves a good challenge! Returnal definitely brings it and then some. They even give you a heads-up at the beginning of the game, “Hey look.. Game is hard ok don’t be mad at us, we told you beforehand..” (my paraphrasing of course) so you really can’t be mad at them.
Don’t let this scare you off, the learning curve is actually very manageable and the pacing of the game allows the player to quickly get the hang of the mechanics, your deaths will be very minimal. They will be due more to you going for a specific objective on a run, than a lack of skill.
It’s been compared to souls games in difficulty but it’s not as hard or as unforgiving as they are. You can turn an absolutely abysmal run into one that takes you very far to the end of the game. All you need is some good RNG here and there and to gather yourself from your previous mistakes and you are good to go.
You are rewarded for the time you put into the game and it is satisfying when you see yourself improve. Returnal has been the most satisfying platinum I have achieved in any game so far and I credit that to its design and progression.
A Moment of Peace:
The last thing that I want to note that stands out about Returnal is, the next-gen experience. Many have argued if we have truly seen a next-gen experience so far into the lifecycle of the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S.
Returnal may not be a “true next-gen” experience depending on what your definition is, but it shows the potential for where we can go with the new tech. It uses the ability of the dual sense controller extremely well. Aiming and using the special ammo from a weapon is on the same trigger and differentiate by the amount of pressure that you place on it.
Light pressure for normal aiming and pulling the trigger all the way to utilize the special ammo. The vibrations are also very intuitive with the types of weapons that you are using.
There is a genuine distinction between weapons.
Audio cues from the controller allow you to understand when you have reloaded, when your special ammo is ready to use, and even when you are out of ammo – and need to be extra careful while you wait to gain more. My experience was the best version of immersion because of these subtle nuances created by the dual sense controller and audio design.
Final Thoughts:
No game is perfect so as always I have to place my one true complaint with the game right here at the end. Even though this is the most satisfying platinum trophy I have earned, that is where a true flaw lies in the game.
A good amount of the trophies are collecting different items and inscriptions throughout the areas of the game. This is HEAVILY rng based.
Certain rooms only spawn a fraction of the time and you have to complete multiple runs over and over to get that one room or area you need to collect what you need.
This can be very frustrating and take a ton of time if you are not tracking which ones you have collected and from where. For myself, I had one left in Crimson Wastes and I spent a ton of time trying to spawn ONE room.
It is the only complaint I have but it can be major depending on the patience and personality that you have. Sorry completionists….
Overall, Returnal is one of the best games I played in 2022 and adds value to the PS Plus Extra Tier. If you are subscribed to this service and have not played yet I encourage you to do so. You will not be disappointed.
Returnal (PS5)
Final Verdict: 9.1/10
Thank you so much for making it to the end!
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