• Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.

Returnal |OT| Live. Die. Repeat.

Con_Z_ǝdʇ

Live from NeoGAF, it's Friday Night!
Damn I hit the max amount of ether you can carry
angry episode 2 GIF
 

Darak

Member
Be careful if you have the disc version and start to play without downloading the patches. I accidentally started to play without having the patch installed and reached the second area. Now, after patching, I can't progress any further (the portal to that area is stuck with a 'GAME IS NOT FULLY DOWNLOADED' error message).

The unpatched game feels surprisingly different, compared to the patched version. For example, the revival checkpoint costs just a bunch of standard coins instead of 6 ether, and there are many changes to weapons, enemy attacks and even the HUD. I enjoyed it more, but it may be just due to RNG.
 
After getting the bug almost every run, I went back to default outfit and it's never happened since. Several runs later.




Save Ether for the reconstructor room so you can have another life.

My strategy for new biomes (assuming you're 1-3 biomes), is get the 25% integrity upgrade, check for astronaut toy in first biome. Buy both if they're there. Then go to second biome. When I 1 shotted 3rd boss, I just did a full entire run. I killed first boss and second boss, then just kept going.

The 25% integrity is key, both biomes offer it. Even the 3rd does. Get'em!

Is there a benefit to beating the bosses you already beat again?
 

drotahorror

Member
I beat it. I have 24 hours played according to my PS5 profile. Maybe take away an hour or two from leaving it paused.

Bo_Hazem Bo_Hazem Have you been playing it more, now that you've beaten it? I want to play another round but I think I'm gonna take a break.
 

SlimySnake

Flashless at the Golden Globes
I spent a good amount of time building a good loadout on Biome 1. Figurine, Additional protection, +50% health, big health vial. Headed to Biome 3 with confidence I will beat it this time… but no.. got gangbaned by the flying robots almost at the beginning. I’m done.
Lol that's four of my runs this afternoon.. Back to back to back.

If the combat wasn't so good i would've traded it back already.
 

SlimySnake

Flashless at the Golden Globes
Another 2 hour run wasted. I just can't kill the first boss. I really regret paying 80 bucks for this. I have absolutely no intention to touch this game again until they patched some sense into this game. I think Ive never regretted a purchase as much as this one.
Yep. I'm hoping they quickly patch this game or the word of mouth alone will kill it. This is a game that's going to live and die by the word of mouth and so far it's split.

Placing stores at the start of the biomes should be an easy fix. Removing malfunctions altogether or putting them in a harder separate difficulty would go a long way towards making the game feel rewarding.
 

Bo_Hazem

Banned
I beat it. I have 24 hours played according to my PS5 profile. Maybe take away an hour or two from leaving it paused.

Bo_Hazem Bo_Hazem Have you been playing it more, now that you've beaten it? I want to play another round but I think I'm gonna take a break.

Tried searching for the sunface piece, beaten the whole biome along with the boss and it's fucking not there. Closed the game and watched the secret ending on youtube. I think I'll move on as I don't stomach replaying games.
 

drotahorror

Member
Tried searching for the sunface piece, beaten the whole biome along with the boss and it's fucking not there. Closed the game and watched the secret ending on youtube. I think I'll move on as I don't stomach replaying games.
I was hoping it would be worth replaying just for fun and variety. Like, adding new enemies, modifiers etc. Hades did an awesome job at making me want to beat the game a few dozen times. I'm typically not a person to beat a game more than once.

I think weapon proficiency should be 30 after beating the game and enemies should scale accordingly. Was having fun playing with 4 attachments on a weapon. Now I'm back to 1.

Also, pro tip: The purple plants don't hurt you hah. I always shot them in the first biome, I thought they were poisonous.
 
Last edited:

Bo_Hazem

Banned
I was hoping it would be worth replaying just for fun and variety. Like, adding new enemies, modifiers etc. Hades did an awesome job at making me want to beat the game a few dozen times. I'm typically not a person to beat a game more than once.

I think weapon proficiency should be 30 after beating the game and enemies should scale accordingly. Was having fun playing with 4 attachments on a weapon. Now I'm back 1.

Also, pro tip: The purple plants don't hurt you hah. I always shot them in the first biome, I thought they were poisonous.

Yes replayability is there but you're talking to the wrong person. I stopped replaying games probably since PS3. Barely forced to replay Uncharted collection, bought Crash insane trilogy and played for 20 minutes and never played it again. Bought that classic Sonic game on PS4 and didn't even download it. I think you should better ask someone else, lol. But yeah during the run it was refreshing.
 

drotahorror

Member
Yes replayability is there but you're talking to the wrong person. I stopped replaying games probably since PS3. Barely forced to replay Uncharted collection, bought Crash insane trilogy and played for 20 minutes and never played it again. Bought that classic Sonic game on PS4 and didn't even download it. I think you should better ask someone else, lol. But yeah during the run it was refreshing.

Sounds like me. I did the same with Crash Trilogy. Roguelites are the only genre that I can play more than once, but that's the nature of the genre.
 

FrankWza

Member
I would say if you just allowed transportal jumping from biome to biome that would be cool. Like, if you go all the way back to the ship it can give you the option to jump biomes only to the first translocator discoverable in each or closest to biome start. This way, if you want to explore and loot you can and you can find more portals. If not you can just jump to your last started incomplete biome and level there.
 

James Sawyer Ford

Gold Member
There's definitely a few minor tweaks they could do to still keep the game satisfying but not as punishing. But I keep playing regardless of what they will do, but I expect some patches and maybe even an easy mode.

If I don't beat this by RE8 I will just go to that game and come back later. No big deal. Game is so satisfying to play!
 

James Sawyer Ford

Gold Member
Part of the charm of the malignants is that there's risk/reward...I like them, but I wish you knew what you were getting yourself into instead of it being mostly hidden.

Every playthrough I have I basically have a completely different perk system which really changes up how I play...so it's interesting in that regard.
 

SCB3

Member
There's definitely a few minor tweaks they could do to still keep the game satisfying but not as punishing. But I keep playing regardless of what they will do, but I expect some patches and maybe even an easy mode.

If I don't beat this by RE8 I will just go to that game and come back later. No big deal. Game is so satisfying to play!
Pretty much my thoughts as well
 

White-fire

Member
Made it to the 5th biome. Loving the game so far, I’ve only died about 4 time to where I am at now, the 5th biome definitely has a difficulty spike. This is the most fun I’ve had with a game in at least 2/3 years for sure. I also like how the game saves midway after biome 3 to allow you to continue from a good place that is fair.

Really have only minor complaints with this game, once you learn how to utilize the game’s mechanics like hoarding resin, fabricators, and waiting for high proficiency before collecting guns it makes the game way easier. Definitely easier than any souls game which I could never beat the first bosses in.
 
Last edited:

DonJorginho

Banned
Bo_Hazem Bo_Hazem How did you find
Hyperion in Biome 4? I almost beat him first try with barely any health due to how you spawn with no health in biome 4 at the start, I just got fucked by the part where he traps you in with his thorns and pummels you with his orange orbs, you reckon I got lucky almost beating him or is he that much of a cakewalk compared to Nemesis?
 

Raonak

Banned
I'm pretty good at hard games (beat DMC3/4 in DMD mode), but this game is kicking my ass. 12 hours. 30 deaths so far. only made it to the second biome.
I don't know how people are completing this in ~15 hours.

BUT even with the countless deaths, they don't feel like a waste to me. Every time I'm playing I'm getting slightly better at the combat. And most importantly, the core gameplay is really fucking fun.

For me, this game is like playing a run of bloody palace in DMC and trying to see how far I get.
 
Last edited:

skit_data

Member
I just fell through the floor for about a minute or two after picking up an artifact in a secret area in Crimson Waste. I was curious enough to wait to see what would happen so I kept falling without restarting the cycle. I fell for about a minute, saw the whole map slowly disappear above me as i fell. Suddenly all ambient sound disappeared, followed by Selenes scream.

I respawned in the secret room, ready to continue my 2h run. I lost s little health and adrenaline but I was so happy my run wasn’t wasted.

Sometimes I thank my bad sense of humour that involves laughing at stupid game glitches.

Edit: And OMG, I LOVE the rising pitch trait on the carbine
 
Last edited:

GymWolf

Gold Member
I don't know what entity possesed me and made be capable to beat the third boss at first try...(with the fucking rocket launcher nevertheless)

The boss fight was something out of bayonetta, beatiful.

Biome 3 wasn't so bad, the robots and flying drones are not that hard tbh or maybe i was just lucky.

Now i'm half into biome 4 but i have to sleep, hopefully the rest mode is not gonna fuck me up.

Unlocked the pylon thingy gun, fuck yeah.
 
Last edited:

Bo_Hazem

Banned
Bo_Hazem Bo_Hazem How did you find
Hyperion in Biome 4? I almost beat him first try with barely any health due to how you spawn with no health in biome 4 at the start, I just got fucked by the part where he traps you in with his thorns and pummels you with his orange orbs, you reckon I got lucky almost beating him or is he that much of a cakewalk compared to Nemesis?

Probably the easiest boss yet most entertaining with that music.
 
Died 3 times on the 1st boss fight(4hrs+ in). I'm done until I get a save option. I just don't have the time and patience to keep playing the world over and over trying to find weapons/upgrades again. Feels like chore. Great audio and level design though. I'm not mad I paid $70, I'm sure they'll patch something in and I'll jump back into it.
 

Bo_Hazem

Banned
I'm pretty good at hard games (beat DMC3/4 in DMD mode), but this game is kicking my ass. 12 hours. 30 deaths so far. only made it to the second biome.
I don't know how people are completing this in ~15 hours.

BUT even with the countless deaths, they don't feel like a waste to me. Every time I'm playing I'm getting slightly better at the combat. And most importantly, the core gameplay is really fucking fun.

For me, this game is like playing a run of bloody palace in DMC and trying to see how far I get.

Sometimes good loot, also kinda all say hollowseeker is the best weapon. Stacking stats from 1st to the last boss was actually more like 8-7 hours for one complete run from 1st to the end after 2 premature fails. DMC is a melee game, this one needs more shooter experience.
 

HotPocket69

Banned
Yep. I'm hoping they quickly patch this game or the word of mouth alone will kill it. This is a game that's going to live and die by the word of mouth and so far it's split.

Placing stores at the start of the biomes should be an easy fix. Removing malfunctions altogether or putting them in a harder separate difficulty would go a long way towards making the game feel rewarding.

Expecting anything like this is ludicrous. We’ll be lucky if they patch in anything at all related to saving 😂 You have no idea how this company is

“Should be an easy fix” 🤣🤣
 
Last edited:

Bo_Hazem

Banned
Died 3 times on the 1st boss fight(4hrs+ in). I'm done until I get a save option. I just don't have the time and patience to keep playing the world over and over trying to find weapons/upgrades again. Feels like chore. Great audio and level design though. I'm not mad I paid $70, I'm sure they'll patch something in and I'll jump back into it.

You can have 2+ deaths per cycle without losing progress. Read the tips, might help:

 

Bo_Hazem

Banned
I don't know what entity possesed me and made be capable to beat the third boss at first try...(with the fucking rocket launcher nevertheless)

The boss fight was something out of bayonetta, beatiful.

Biome 3 wasn't so bad, the robots and flying drones are not that hard tbh or maybe i was just lucky.

Now i'm half into biome 4 but i have to sleep, hopefully the rest mode is not gonna fuck me up.

Unlocked the pylon thingy gun, fuck yeah.

If you die you'll comeback to 4th, so don't worry.
 

Krizalidx11

Banned
I don't know the name of this weapon but it is a cheat for me






fire 3 shots at a group of enemies and see them lose their life bars while you run away from that spot
 

James Sawyer Ford

Gold Member
Just beat Boss 4!! Fucking loved that fight, best one yet...MUSIC WAS AMAZING. Felt so epic.

But immediately getting to Biome 5 and I got RNG-Fucked LMAO.....Had hardly any health and it spawns me in a section where I can't return and have to go through a goddamn Yellow DOOR. FUCK THIS SHIT! But oh well, lmao....this is the worst aspect of the game

Those stupid ass purple rings can't be dodged through??? Bo_Hazem Bo_Hazem
 
Last edited:

Bo_Hazem

Banned
Just beat Boss 4!! Fucking loved that fight, best one yet...MUSIC WAS AMAZING. Felt so epic.

But immediately getting to Biome 5 and I got RNG-Fucked LMAO.....Had hardly any health and it spawns me in a section where I can't return and have to go through a goddamn Yellow DOOR. FUCK THIS SHIT! But oh well, lmao....this is the worst aspect of the game

Those stupid ass purple rings can't be dodged through??? Bo_Hazem Bo_Hazem

Yes, purple waves and bullets you can't dodge through them. Also be careful from the pink, slow arrows that follow you as they cause malfunctions.
 

skit_data

Member
Also be careful from the pink, slow arrows that follow you as they cause malfunctions.
Ah! So that’s what happened to me! I fell into a secret area where one of those huge block head tentacle spawned. In panick I saw my suit getting malfunctions during the fight but I managed to kill him!

Unfurtunately I just died to Ixion instead. He had 1/20 of his last healthbar when I died. I quit for tonight.
 

Bo_Hazem

Banned
isn’t that the same as dodging in the air? Pretty sure I got hit doing that

Meaning you dodge over them, not into them.

Nemesis is phew lad territory

Yeah it was a tricky one but managed to beat him in one go.

Why. Can't. I. Beat. These. Fucking. Robots

The Souls games didn't make me question my abilities as much as this

Could It be i'm actually shit at games?

I should be a game journalistist

I still think the 3rd biome is the hardest. You beat those flying machines or any other flying shit by sprinting into cover then shoot them as they come inline.
 

Bo_Hazem

Banned
I think if I ever stream many would laugh, because when I feel danger I just run away. The problem I see here many have gotten spoiled with the "health regeneration" era of games, as this game is more fitting for at least the era around PS2-3. Overall I think roguelike games are the most hardcore games, and Returnal isn't even considered hard in that genre.

Wanna waste your time with funky weapons? Good luck then. I would rather stick with hollowseeker, carbine comes second, and pistol third. Those are great weapons to fight in close and far range, while you SHOULD NOT use L2 to aim and just stick to hip fire unless you're fighting some enemy very far away and no danger around you.
 
Last edited:
Top Bottom