Returnal Reviews
The mixture of shooting arcade "bullet hell" with roguelite results in an interesting proposal, which in its jump to PC leaves an even more colorful technical plot. Of course, its difficulty and style may not be to the liking of all players, so if you do not like challenges and loops or repetitions, better think of another game.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
In this PC port, the game features all the good things that made it stand out on PS5.
Review in Italian | Read full review
I’ve raved about how amazing it is that we can play PlayStation exclusives on PC before, and with Returnal I feel that this is the very encapsulation of Sony’s goal. Returnal is a chaotic delight to play, and fits perfectly with the setup and mindset of a PC gamer. I’m already looking forward to trying my next run.
As long as your PC is up to the job, this is top-notch conversion of one PlayStation 5's finest, combining razor-sharp shooting with dense atmosphere and a captivating story.
Demanding but excellent combat and gorgeous visuals sit awkwardly in a half-baked roguelike structure.
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.
Returnal is an apex-tier game that capitalizes on the PS5's capabilities as a "next-gen" platform.
It’s easy to misjudge Returnal as some kind of pretentious Sony story-driven drivel. The truth is that it’s a hardcore 3D action game that has more in common with Doom Eternal and Metroid Prime than anything Sony has ever made before. It does suck to lose almost everything and starting from the beginning, but sometimes that’s just the way it goes.
Returnal is the game the PlayStation 5 needed. It demonstrates every aspect of the new console’s technical prowess and sets the standard for future games. On top of that, it packs in a thoroughly enticing story with fantastically fluid gameplay.
Returnal for me is as close to a masterpiece as I think I’ve gotten. Despite a few small visual glitches, nothing that I encountered was game breaking. There were no crashes or any bugs that would force me to start a new run. Once I started playing, I didn’t want to put the game down. I was fully hooked into this world, into Selene’s story, and I wanted to fight my way out of there.
Returnal is a very difficult title to evaluate and, therefore, to recommend. It's not bad — on the contrary, it's addictive, beautifully crafted, has controls bordering on perfection, and sublimely leverages the PS5's next-gen features. But its cruel game design is for few; most players will become discouraged and abandon the game along the way. If you like roguelikes, enjoy a good challenge and have unwavering persistence, I definitely recommend Returnal. But if you're one of those people who doesn't like the mechanics of starting over hundreds of times with little progress between the runs, you better move on.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
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.
The core gameplay loop is definitely not for everyone but the rewards for persisting are well worth pursuing here. The gunplay and movement feels absolutely divine and the "one more run" approach to the gameplay is certainly addictive and unique amongst larger budgeted titles.
Un misil teledirigido a la parte de nuestro cerebro que indica adicción y diversión.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
I am not a fan of roguelite and any roguelike games, but after spending time on the planet Atropos with Selene, I began to love Returnal and its peculiar mix of gameplay elements. I may not like its narrative, but Housmarque did a wonderful job of creating such a beautiful game that gives you tons of challenges and replayability. There’s one thing to remember: git-gud.
Returnal is an amazing game. It has the most satisfying gameplay Housemarque has created to date.
Returnal intends to present itself as the first big new original PlayStation 5 exclusive, and it certainly does not disappoint. With its enveloping narrative, well thought out mechanics and great implementation of the PS5’s distinctive features, we won’t be surprised if many players end up getting dozens (or hundreds) of hours of enjoyment out of Returnal. Despite one or two bizarre design choices, lacklustre boss encounters and some persisting technical issues, this is a very recommendable experience, and the first big affirmation of arrival from this new generation.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Review based on a copy of the game purchased by Softpedia.
Returnal is a wonderful harmony of encounter design, a visually stunning bullet ballet, and an evocative story.