Returnal - Review Thread

Game InformationGame Title: ReturnalGenre: Third-person shooter, roguelike, psychological horrorPlatforms: Playstation 5Media: Announcement TrailerCombatGameplay WalkthroughTGA TrailerGameplay Trailer | Story TrailerAtropos | Hostiles'The Tide' Launch TrailerDeveloper: Housemarque InfoPublisher: Sony Interactive EntertainmentPrice: Standard - $69.99 USD / £69.99 GBP/ €79.99 EUR / $89.99 CAD / $124.95 AUDDigital Deluxe - $79.99 USD / £79.99 GBP / €89.99 EUR / $99.99 CAD / $139.95 AUD contentsRelease Date: April 30, 2021More Info: /r/Returnal | Wikipedia Page)Review Aggregator:OpenCritic - 87 | 93% Recommended [Cross-Platform] Score DistributionMetaCritic - 86 [PS5]Markedly arbitrary list of past Housemarque games -EntryScore Platform, Year, # of CriticsTransworld Snowboarding74 XB 2002, 14 criticsSuper Stardust HD85 PS3 2007, 21 criticsGolf: Tee it Up!69 X360, 2008, 17 criticsDead Nation77 PS3, 2010, 49 criticsOutland83 PS3, 2011, 28 criticsFurmins76 iOS, 2012, 7 criticsSuper Stardust Delta82 PSV, 2012, 42 criticsResogun84 PS4, 2013, 66 criticsAlienation79 PS4, 2016, 63 criticsNex Machina88 PS4, 2017, 47 criticsMatterfall72 PS4, 2017, 57 criticsReviewsArs Technica - Sam Machkovech - UnscoredBut this is the stuff that keeps Sony fanboys drooling: ambitious new IP that succeeds more than it fails while turning the familiar into something fresh. Returnal clearly heralds a new era for Housemarque, in terms of turning the focused arcade-blasting likes of Super Stardust HD into quest-worthy 3D action. Keep it coming, Sony and Housemarque.Kotaku - Ari Notis - UnscoredReturnal feels like a next-gen game.Polygon - Diego Arguello - UnscoredHousemarque’s PS5 exclusive elevates the time loop genreSkill Up - Ralph Panebianco - UnscoredVideo Review - Quote not availableConsole Creatures - Bobby Pashalidis - RecommendedHousemarque has delivered its finest title to date and while it may not be for everyone, there is something special here that I can’t quite put down. Returnal offers a satisfying loop strengthened by a sense of discovery that few games offer.Eurogamer - Chris Tapsell - RecommendedIn Returnal, Housemarque builds a game on both euphoric highs and confounding lows.GameOnAUS - Royce Wilson - DislikedIf you like challenging games which require reflexes, juggling several different threats at once, and grinding through levels to improve your skills – and are interested in a sci-fi thriller – then Returnal will have a lot to offer. For gamers looking for a more accommodating action/adventure experience, or wanting something that doesn’t have more grind than a lensmaking factory, however, Returnal is not the game you’re looking for.Daily Star - Tom Hutchison - 5 / 5 starsI have thoroughly enjoyed playing Returnal so far and its unique die-and-start-over mechanic, excellent graphics, gameplay and sound all work brilliantly to deliver yet another fantastic first-party exclusive for the PS5.Game Rant - Cameron Corliss - 5 / 5 starsHousemarque's Returnal is a shining example of what the studio is capable of, packing tight gameplay together with an interesting world.GameSpew - Richard Seagrave - 10 / 10Playing Returnal, it feels like next-gen has truly begun.Game Informer - Daniel Tack - 9.5 / 10Returnal brilliantly meshes roguelike mechanics with precise combat and enigmatic exploration, making for an excellent gameGeek Culture - Jake Su - 9.5 / 10A truly AAA sci-fi roguelike masterpiece full of intense moments and inviting mysteries, Returnal continually reminds us of why we love Housemarque so much in the first place.Fextralife - Castielle - 9.3 / 10A sleeper hit, Returnal is bound to captivate you from start to finish, no pun intended. If you are a fan of good Sci-fi in the vein of The Expanse, Stranger Things, or Mass Effect, you surely won't want to miss this game. Returnal is the early front runner for Game of the Year 2021, making a compelling case to get a Playstation 5...if you can find one.Wccftech - Kai Powell - 9.3 / 10Barring a sci-fi horror tale that doesn't quite nail the slow building reveal, Housemarque has absolutely succeeded with their fusion of third-person shooting and roguelike elements in Returnal, one of my personal favorite PlayStation 5 titles so far.Video Chums - A.J. Maciejewski - 9.2 / 10Returnal absolutely blew me away with its challenging combat, atmospheric exploration, amazing sound design, and rewarding campaign setup. Housemarque crammed a ton of elements into this experience and everything comes together brilliantly.GameSpot - Mike Epstein - 9 / 10Returnal blends elements of shooters, roguelikes, action games, and horror to redefine bullet hell and conjure a mysterious, moody masterpiece.GamingBolt - Shubhankar Parijat - 9 / 10Returnal is an astounding game, one that easily and instantly claims the proud title of being Housemarque's best game to date, and is an unmissable killer app very early in the PS5's life.GamingTrend - David Burdette - 90 / 100Firsts don't come around very often, but this is one of PlayStation's first PS5 exclusives and Housemarque's first triple A releases, and the combination is a triumphant success. I'm not sure how they've managed everything in play, taking the bullet-hell stylings of old and meshing them with the trappings of a third-person roguelike, but it works to a fantastic degree. On top of that, the action-packed gameplay is some of the best around, additionally being one of the most immersive and next-gen experiences available thanks to an incredible understanding of the DualSense controller. Yes, the story may take a backseat, but that's the nature of the roguelike genre, and doesn't hinder Returnal in the slightest. I may not be much for roguelikes, but I can see myself "returning" to play this one again and again.Gfinity - George Yang - 4.5 / 5 starsReturnal is undoubtedly one of Housemarque’s best games and is a triumph for the PlayStation 5. The premise is interesting right off the bat, and the way the game feeds narrative breadcrumbs throughout the game only made me want to continue on. With the tight gameplay that the studio is known for, along with an intriguing story and blockbuster presentation, Housemarque hits all the right spots. Returnal sits as one of PlayStation’s most unique exclusives.Glitched Africa - Marco Cocomello - 9 / 10Returnal went from a tough horror game to a brilliant arcade roguelike bullet-hell shooter. Very few games can evolve this way. Returnal is roguelike at its finest and one of the best reasons to own a PS5.Metro GameCentral - GameCentral - 9 / 10What should have been a hotchpotch of other people's ideas, made worse by frustratingly high difficulty, is in reality one of the most cleverly designed video games of recent years, with superb action and endless replayability.PlayStation Universe - Joe Apsey - 9 / 10Returnal is a masterclass in how to create gripping, exhilarating arcade action and feels like the first game to truly realise the PS5's potential. It uses everything the system offers to craft an experience completely unlike anything else available today at this budget. Apart from narrative missteps, Housemarque's latest is flawless and a game that everyone who owns a PS5 and every gamer should experience at some point. I hope this is the start of a new, prosperous franchise for PlayStation and Housemaque.Press Start - Brodie Gibbons - 9 / 10With some doubt at the front of people's minds, Returnal is a shushing finger across the lips of detractors as well as a tremendous example that PlayStation's middle line titles can still offer as much value and entertainment as its tentpole exclusives. Housemarque achieves an atmosphere like few can and set up a universe ripe for expansion while marrying it to a grind - which is more forgiving than most of its kind but will still alienate some -that's both brutal and gratifying all at once.Push Square - Stephen Tailby - 9 / 10Housemarque has delivered the PS5 promise with Returnal. All the console's bells and whistles enhance the experience, making this a real showpiece for the hardware. But more than that, the game is a force to be reckoned with; the breathless combat, super slick gameplay, and the subtle but unsettling story combine for an experience of surprising scale. Rogue-lite aspects mean it won't gel with everyone, but for those looking for a challenging, addictive arcade shooter, this comes highly recommended.Spiel Times - Caleb Wysor - 9 / 10It’s almost hard to believe that Housemarque have created their first third-person shooter with Returnal. Yet in doing so, they've instantly catapulted themselves to the top of the heap of action shooter developers.TheSixthAxis - Jim Hargreaves - 9 / 10It feels immensely satisfying to be sat here in 2021, eons after playing Super Stardust HD on PS3, and see just how far Housemarque has come. Offering a visual bullet hell spectacle, a showcase for the DualSense controller and a rewarding sci-fi narrative woven around the roguelike loop, we can say with unflinching confidence that Returnal is the PS5's best game to date.VideoGamer - Josh Wise - 9 / 10Complex systems are made simple, by committing their clutter to muscle memory, and play-good play, at any rate-requires that you, like Selene, ride its enigmatic loop.We Got This Covered - David Morgan - 4.5 / 5 starsReturnal cast a spell on me -- awing with explosive combat, immersing with haptics, and captivating with a monumental atmosphere. Not only is it an easy game of the year contender, but it might also be one of the best action rogue-lites ever made.Worth Playing - Redmond Carolipio - 8.8 / 10If there's a sticking point to Returnal, it's that it's a big PS5 exclusive that is most definitely not for everyone. It's next-gen beautiful all the way, but if you've never played a game like this before, even all that beauty and amazing design might not be worth the sense of dejection you might feel as the body count starts mounting. Returnal and other games like it will force newer players to ask questions about what kind of games they want to experience. It takes a little bit of weird thinking to relish the prospect of repeated punishment. I recommend it, just for the experience of it. If you're part of that wider audience who wants to give a next-gen roguelike a shot, then be prepared for an awakening. And another one. And … another one.Easy Allies - Brad Ellis - 8.5 / 10Returnal is a great new step for Housemarque on the PS5, thanks to its excellent gameplay, intriguing narrative, and replayability. Review Copy Provided by PlayStationGaming Nexus - Eric Hauter - 8.5 / 10Returnal is a shining technical achievement, possibly the best looking game on PlayStation 5. With addictive gunplay, a brutal learning curve, and a focus on exploration and temporary buffs, roguelike fans will be in heaven. Be warned though, the difficulty level is not for everyone. Though I learned to love Returnal with time, many players may walk away frustrated.PowerUp! - Adam Mathew - 8.5 / 10Returnal makes an important, evolutionary (house)marque on the arcade shooter landscape.Digitally Downloaded - Matt Sainsbury - 4 / 5 starsScratch beneath that surface and the game doesn’t say much to justify its existence, and it is going to be far too challenging for a lot of players, but within its fairly narrow scope, for the audience that it was made for, Returnal is going to be a vividly entertaining ride.EGM - Josh Harmon - 8 / 10Returnal excellently blends third-person shooter gameplay with bullet-hell style enemies and roguelike elements to craft a fun, challenging action game that you'll have a blast learning to master. The only real shame is that the action is yoked to a story that mistakes being vague for being smart and interesting.GamesRadar+ - Ben Tyrer - 4 / 5 starsReturnal can be messy, tough, and perhaps a little too uncompromising for a $70 game. And yet, despite the moments of pad-clenching exasperation, it remains a moreish experience even after you've plummeted its depths.Hardcore Gamer - Kevin Dunsmore - 4 / 5Returnal stands as Housemarque's most ambitious title yet, taking the studio away from the arcade genre and into uncharted territory.IGN - Mitchell Saltzman - 8 / 10Its roguelike runs are too long and it needs a way to save in the middle of them, but Returnal's third-person shooter action, clever story, and atmosphere are excellent.Kakuchopurei - Alleef Ashaari - 80 / 100I won't mince words. If you're expecting to play through Returnal just for the story or expecting it to be like any other AAA PlayStation exclusive before it, then you should probably skip it altogether. Returnal is for those who are ready to grit their teeth for some truly unforgiving and punishing combat. Consider that a genuine warning.Screen Rant - Scott Baird - 4 / 5 starsReturnal is a brutally difficult roguelite shooter.Telegraph - Dan Silver - 4 / 5 starsDazzling next-gen graphics belie a hardcore rogue-like which could test your patience as much as your reflexesDestructoid - Chris Carter - 7.5 / 10Returnal is a mostly thrilling sci-fi action romp that suffers from a lack of scale at times. In the moment, I'm completely fixated on my run, upgrading like a fiend, and dashing around for iFrames like I was playing a Capcom game. But after that run ends and I'm looking at the bigger picture, Returnal can feel a little smaller than it actually is. Keep that in mind before you take the pricey plunge.Post Arcade (National Post) - Chad Sapieha - 7.5 / 10Housemarque's PlayStation 5 exclusive is a punishingly tough roguelike shooter with great action – assuming you don't mind diving into bullet hell.Paste Magazine - Dia Lacina - 6 / 10I'm cynical because the assumption that Housemarque has made here is that AAA games are a genre unto themselves, one whose form is based on cinematic regurgitation, excess, and the speed of disposability. And what sucks is they're slowly being proven right. Prestige television came early to this console generation, and I'm sure for many it will happily pass the time and then it will pass away into memory because memories are short, and there's always a next big thing, and then a bigger next big thing.Thanks OpenCritic for the review export via /r/Games https://ift.tt/3xJcaT8