Returnal Reviews
I'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.
This lack of variety in the style of play makes every run feel samey, and they begin to blur together. That leads to a roteness that made me want to put down the game when I was struggling with the difficulty. I like challenging games, but roguelites need to walk a fine line between familiarity and routine. Familiarity is the warm embrace of something that feels like home. Routine is boredom, and it is poison for a game like this.
You won't want to break the cycle because Returnal offers an immersive experience that sucks you in for hours. However, when you finally break the cycle and reach the end of Selene's journey, you will realize just how much of a masterpiece Returnal is.
There’s certainly a lot that Returnal does right and, if nothing else, it is genuinely interesting to see an AAA take on roguelites.
I just wish they had taken a bit more time to think about how all the elements fit together. The actual design of Returnal is problematic. While I was willing to push through that most of the time, I wish I didn’t have to. This game is going to be a home run for many players. The core gameplay is stunning, and if you can sit back and enjoy the ride, you may love it. Just prepare yourself for what you’re getting into. The quality of Returnal makes me enormously excited for what Housemarque can do with higher budgets and modern games. I just hope they learn some lessons here to make their next title even better. Arcade is dead. Long live arcade.
Exploration and combat make Returnal an excellent game that I can't recommend at this moment because of all the technical issues plaguing it.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Returnal is a game unlike any other. But with flaws and bugs like many other games.
Review in Slovak | Read full review
Enemies spawn in unpredictable ways, and for what it thinks it's worth, Returnal tries to keep you guessing, on your toes, and Eveready -- like the battery.
At its core, Returnal is one of the most satisfying third-person shooters I’ve played - it’s Hades via Vanquish. It forces you to meet it at its tempo and doesn’t relent. It makes Doom Eternal seem like Baby’s First Shooter. It’s gorgeous, frenetic, and endlessly replayable. I just wish success wasn’t so tied to luck, which only exacerbates any frustrations you have when repeatedly trekking through areas you’ve already beaten. Even after the credits rolled, I felt satisfied, but that satisfaction was also mixed with relief - the ordeal was finally over and the chiropractor's elbow has been removed from the small of my back.
Demanding but excellent combat and gorgeous visuals sit awkwardly in a half-baked roguelike structure.
Returnal is a very good proposition for PC gamers, but it needs time to improve the technical problems that deprive it of perfection.
Review in Greek | Read full review
Almost everything about Returnal is working towards making it the premier PS5 exclusive. Stellar graphics, a great story, and amazing gameplay make it a joy to play, but a lack of saving and the constant fear of crashes make it hard to recommend at the present moment. At the end of the day, Returnal is a fantastic game, but whether or not you want to risk wasting hours of your life on potential crashes is really up to you.
Returnal brings smiles, combining relentless action with amazing people and a good story, but also a very atmospheric sound and deep lore. However, to enjoy it for ten minutes, you will probably spent hours irritated, without feeling that you progress.
Review in Greek | Read full review
Unforgiving roguelike gameplay of Returnal is not for everyone, but this is another good PC port of PlayStation exclusive game with loads of options and visual improvements.
Review in Slovak | Read full review
I loved playing Returnal and I would definitely love a linear-progression version of it, but am perfectly satisfied jumping back in just to play because it feels so good. I hope they make some quality of life changes over time and really bring this game home. As it stands this is a great roguelike experience that can deliver many hours of entertainment if you don’t mind recycling that fun over and over.
Housemarque's PlayStation 5 exclusive is a punishingly tough roguelike shooter with great action – assuming you don't mind diving into bullet hell.
Returnal 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.
Returnal is a solid game that will hit for roguelike fans especially but might set the barrier for entry too high for those just curious. The PC port pushes the graphical boundaries even further and makes Returnal look breathtaking.
The PC version makes Returnal's controls more flexible, but it's not enough to change the frustration of dying. The rollercoaster ride of a thrilling battle, only to be plunged into a painful cycle of dying and dying again because of a single mishap, can be a real test of the player's mental capacity.
Review in Chinese | Read full review