What You Should Know About Returnal

 

What is Returnal?

 

Returnal is a third-person shooter video game developed by Housemarque and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment. It was released for PlayStation 5 on April 30, 2021. Two years later, on February 15, 2023, it was released for PC.

Game Main Subject

Our main character in Returnal is Selene. We are members of a space exploration alliance called Astra, and during our journey we receive a distress call from a planet. Knowing that we shouldn't have landed, we heed the call for help and land on the planet, but during the landing, things don't go as planned and our shuttle is completely destroyed.
 

Gameplay and Mechanics

Players often encounter enemies in narrow and cramped battle arenas. Movement, shooting and skill use are vital. It is important to move quickly to evade the attacks of the enemies, use the aiming skill to direct the attacks against the enemies, and take advantage by using the surrounding objects.

Returnal offers possibilities equipped with a variety of weapons and items. Players can collect weapons dropped from enemies or find weapon upgrades in enemy camps. Each weapon has different characteristics and firepower, so it's important to choose weapons that suit your playstyle.

Another important feature of the game is the system of malfunctions and debuffs. Players receive malfunctions due to items or events they interact with, and these malfunctions give the player temporary disadvantages. To clear these debuffs and gain an advantage, players get the opportunity to treat them by defeating enemies or using certain items.

Returnal features challenging boss battles and advanced enemy types. Boss battles often require strategy and quick reaction. Players must unravel the boss's attack patterns and target their weak points.

Exploration and puzzle solving also play an important role in the game. You can explore different regions on the planet, find hidden areas and put together story pieces.

What You Need to Know

Patience is Virtue

One of the most obvious overarching themes in Returnal is that you're expected to die and re-do the loop as many times as you can, until you finally succeed. However, Returnal can be quite challenging from the first entry and has many systems that cannot be used without you trying multiple loops.

What Subject Are You Good At?


Finding your specific strengths can be difficult in Returnal, but it's crucial to learn whether you prefer longer range combat or getting up close and personal with your enemy. Returnal has ten weapons and many different abilities to collect throughout each cycle.

Melee is Crucial

In addition to your weapon, you'll also have access to a powerful melee attack that doesn't get much attention. The melee attack in Returnal is really powerful and can usually kill smaller enemies in one hit, even in later biomes.

Fault Very Important

In the game, almost every malicious item you interact with has the potential to cause a malfunction in your outfit. When a malfunction is triggered, you will receive a random negative effect and you must complete a certain task to recover from this effect. Fortunately, some consumables allow you to get rid of all your malfunctions immediately. By using these materials, you can quickly recover from the difficulties of breakdowns and gain a better advantage.

Finally

Returnal is a game that successfully blends different dynamics. Its fun and fast-paced structure allows you to continue without getting bored easily. Even after an angry death, it can make you want to play again after a short time. This allows it to have a structure that connects the player.