Gaming Returnal (PS5)

[Ainu]

So I finally started playing this two days ago and I have to say, it's just awesome. The gameplay is sublime, I just can't put it down. On the first few runs I didn't really have a clue what I was doing but yesterday it clicked and I had a great run through the first biome. Picked up a strong weapon, some good upgrades, made it all the way to the first boss and scraped through on my first attempt. It was exhilarating.

I did some exploring and died a couple of times in the second biome, which has an awesome setting. The visuals and atmosphere are top notch as well, the entire package is fantastic. Can't wait to die some more after work.

 

[afrocentricity]

So yeah.... This game is fecking awesome.

 

[esmufc07]

So I finally started playing this two days ago and I have to say, it's just awesome. The gameplay is sublime, I just can't put it down. On the first few runs I didn't really have a clue what I was doing but yesterday it clicked and I had a great run through the first biome. Picked up a strong weapon, some good upgrades, made it all the way to the first boss and scraped through on my first attempt. It was exhilarating.

I did some exploring and died a couple of times in the second biome, which has an awesome setting. The visuals and atmosphere are top notch as well, the entire package is fantastic. Can't wait to die some more after work.

Good man! I found Biome 3 a real challenge the first time round. Let us know how you get on.

Really hope they do a sequel of some sort because I really loved this game.

 

[Vidyoyo]

Can't wait until it comes to gamepass

Spoiler

 

[Ainu]

Good man! I found Biome 3 a real challenge the first time round. Let us know how you get on.

Really hope they do a sequel of some sort because I really loved this game.

I'm already taking a hammering in biome 2. Six deaths and counting compared to three in the first. I haven't even reached the boss yet. This might take a while.

 

[afrocentricity]

I love the boss battles in this (3rd being a highlight so far). It's amazing how well they've transferred the gameplay etc to 3rd person over the shoulder gunplay. I'm kinda hoping there'll be dlc...

 

[Ainu]

Phew, took me loads of attempts to finally reach the second boss but I managed to down it in one go. That was tense, my hands are still shaking. I had tons of integrity and loads of stat upgrades, plus a large healing item. Couldn't have done it without those things, that third phase was brutal.

 

[afrocentricity]

@esmufc07 what's next once you beat the game and credits roll? I'm still playing because I love the gameplay loop and I feel like there's more to do but it ain't clear...

I was on a good run in the first area and I stumbled into a new area, looked similar to the 3rd biome. I prob should have avoided it as I had such a good loadout.... but nope, I pushed on and got wrecked.

 

[esmufc07]

@esmufc07 what's next once you beat the game and credits roll? I'm still playing because I love the gameplay loop and I feel like there's more to do but it ain't clear...

I was on a good run in the first area and I stumbled into a new area, looked similar to the 3rd biome. I prob should have avoided it as I had such a good loadout.... but nope, I pushed on and got wrecked.

How many Biomes have you done? There’s 6 in total. If you have finished all those and want the true ending you have to find 6 secret fragments (sun fragments I think they’re called), one in each Biome.

 

[afrocentricity]

How many Biomes have you done? There’s 6 in total. If you have finished all those and want the true ending you have to find 6 secret fragments (sun fragments I think they’re called), one in each Biome.

Ok so just keep playing and then I'll find them as I go along? What was the new area off the first biome?

 

[esmufc07]

Ok so just keep playing and then I'll find them as I go along? What was the new area off the first biome?

Yeah they’re in random locations but I found mine fairly easily…..

what do you mean first area off the first biome? You play Biomes 1 to 3 which acts as Act 1, 4 to 6 for Act 2 and then the sun fragments plus the final boss is act 3.

 

[afrocentricity]

Yeah they’re in random locations but I found mine fairly easily…..

what do you mean first area off the first biome? You play Biomes 1 to 3 which acts as Act 1, 4 to 6 for Act 2 and then the sun fragments plus the final boss is act 3.

I wish I recorded it now. There's a section in the first biome that was sort of off limits due to no grapple hook. You see a couple harmless robots there. I checked it out once I got the grapple and it led to a new area. No portal, just a whole new area that looks kinda like the 3rd biome.

 

[esmufc07]

I wish I recorded it now. There's a section in the first biome that was sort of off limits due to no grapple hook. You see a couple harmless robots there. I checked it out once I got the grapple and it led to a new area. No portal, just a whole new area that looks kinda like the 3rd biome.

Ah yeah that’s Biome 3! Just means you don’t have to go through Biome 2 to get there now as you’ve got the hook.

 

[afrocentricity]

Ah yeah that’s Biome 3! Just means you don’t have to go through Biome 2 to get there now as you’ve got the hook.

Oh right? Fair enough...

That 1st biome feels fecking hard now. Like getting jumped by loads of different things (including a few tough ones) in the 2nd room!

 

[Ainu]

Act 1 is done, still haven't died to a boss yet. I took my time cleaning out Biome 1 and 2 before going to 3 this time, I was pretty much invincible walking into the boss room. Five regular and two large silphium vials, a small astronaut, over 200% integrity, I was ready for anything. It felt like the easiest of the three bosses so far.

 

[afrocentricity]

Act 1 is done, still haven't died to a boss yet. I took my time cleaning out Biome 1 and 2 before going to 3 this time, I was pretty much invincible walking into the boss room. Five regular and two large silphium vials, a small astronaut, over 200% integrity, I was ready for anything. It felt like the easiest of the three bosses so far.

Great battle though. I beat him again A last night with a load out like yours and it didn't feel quite as epic second time around. I think the ones where you just about beat them, where it feels like any mistake and you're fecked... Those are great.

Surprised at how much I like this game tbh, although I suspected it would be my jam.

 

[Ainu]

Great battle though. I beat him again A last night with a load out like yours and it didn't feel quite as epic second time around. I think the ones where you just about beat them, where it feels like any mistake and you're fecked... Those are great.

Surprised at how much I like this game tbh, although I suspected it would be my jam.

Oh yeah, definitely a dramatic battle, with that setting and music. I had a great weapon for this one, a Rotgland Lobber with a couple of excellent traits that increased the damage over time. I just had to shoot it occasionally and then focus on evading while its health bar was getting destroyed. I guess it would be a whole different story if you brought a Spitmaw Blaster to this fight, that would be such a terrible match up.

I'll reserve my final judgement for when I finish it, but so far I think this game is simply sublime in everything it does. Gameplay, setting, graphics, performance, soundtrack, enemy design, the horror elements and the excellent delivery of its intruiging story and lore. I knew I was going to love this but it still exceeded my expectations. I'll be amazed if I'll play a better game this year, or even next year.

 

[afrocentricity]

How the feck do you find the sunface fragments?

I'll be amazed if I'll play a better game this year, or even next year.

Yeah it definitely sets a high bar.

 

[esmufc07]

How the feck do you find the sunface fragments?

They’re randomised - they can appear anywhere in the six biomes (one in each). I actually didn’t find them too hard to find….

 

[afrocentricity]

They’re randomised - they can appear anywhere in the six biomes (one in each). I actually didn’t find them too hard to find….

Do you have to do anything before they start showing up? Feel like I've searched every inch of that first biome. Checked the first 3 and can't see em.

 

[esmufc07]

Do you have to do anything before they start showing up? Feel like I've searched every inch of that first biome. Checked the first 3 and can't see em.

You have to have completed the game first, and then they should start appearing.

 

[afrocentricity]

You have to have completed the game first, and then they should start appearing.

Done that mate, credits rolled and all of that. I'll try again later...

 

[Ainu]

Okay Biome 5 seems to be where the game gets real. Got into a room with two of these frozen Severed, two melee hits from full health (don't know exactly how much integrity, between 100-150%) and I'm dead. That feels... a little too much to be honest. And I did so well fighting off about 10 fecking homing missile drones without taking a single hit a couple of rooms earlier.

 

[afrocentricity]

You have to have completed the game first, and then they should start appearing.

Still...................... Nothing. Nada! Who can I beat up to numb this pain??

Okay Biome 5 seems to be where the game gets real. Got into a room with two of these frozen Severed, two melee hits from full health (don't know exactly how much integrity, between 100-150%) and I'm dead. That feels... a little too much to be honest. And I did so well fighting off about 10 fecking homing missile drones without taking a single hit a couple of rooms earlier.

Icy place yeah? Agreed it's tough going. You need good rng and it felt like to me, rng had gone to shit. It doesn't get much harder though and watch out for the tether, once that's on you for a little bit they are going to warp in close to you so be ready to evade. I love it though

 

[Ainu]

Icy place yeah? Agreed it's tough going. You need good rng and it felt like to me, rng had gone to shit. It doesn't get much harder though and watch out for the tether, once that's on you for a little bit they are going to warp in close to you so be ready to evade. I love it though

It was tough but currently it's Biome 6 that's giving me a hell of a time. I haven't fully died yet but I've been hit by so many critical malfunctions that all of my artifacts, including a revival item, are destroyed and my 200+% max integrity has been decimated to about 110%. Just been put back at the reconstructor, so that's gone as well. There are no teleporters so I'm facing an insane trek back to the Malformed Typhonops that utterly destroyed me, just so I can get destroyed again with my measly 110% integrity, no artifacts, no healing items and no respawn. Here goes, I guess.

Edit: yup, lasted all of 10 seconds against it. That's a run of 4 hours built up through biomes 4, 5 and 6 down the drain, just before I could reach the key to the vault in 6.

 

[afrocentricity]

It was tough but currently it's Biome 6 that's giving me a hell of a time. I haven't fully died yet but I've been hit by so many critical malfunctions that all of my artifacts, including a revival item, are destroyed and my 200+% max integrity has been decimated to about 110%. Just been put back at the reconstructor, so that's gone as well. There are no teleporters so I'm facing an insane trek back to the Malformed Typhonops that utterly destroyed me, just so I can get destroyed again with my measly 110% integrity, no artifacts, no healing items and no respawn. Here goes, I guess.

Sounds like a rough run.... have fun

 

[Ainu]

Sounds like a rough run.... have fun

Well I at least managed to get the Delphic Visor so it wasn't all for nothing, but jesus, I am not looking forward to hours of grinding just to prepare for another Malformed Typhonops battle. I feel like you could put me in a fight with all three bosses of Act 1 simultaneously and I'd still do better than against a single one of the those.

 

[esmufc07]

It was tough but currently it's Biome 6 that's giving me a hell of a time. I haven't fully died yet but I've been hit by so many critical malfunctions that all of my artifacts, including a revival item, are destroyed and my 200+% max integrity has been decimated to about 110%. Just been put back at the reconstructor, so that's gone as well. There are no teleporters so I'm facing an insane trek back to the Malformed Typhonops that utterly destroyed me, just so I can get destroyed again with my measly 110% integrity, no artifacts, no healing items and no respawn. Here goes, I guess.

Edit: yup, lasted all of 10 seconds against it. That's a run of 4 hours built up through biomes 4, 5 and 6 down the drain, just before I could reach the key to the vault in 6.

These failures will make your inevitable success all the sweeter. Really hope they release some DLC for this, just a wonderful experience all round.

 

[esmufc07]

Still...................... Nothing. Nada! Who can I beat up to numb this pain??

just have to keep trying! Check every room and every nook and cranny, they’re there somewhere.

 

[Irwin99]

Don't suppose they've added a save function yet? even just a little one?

 

[BusbyMalone]

Don't suppose they've added a save function yet? even just a little one?

Nope. The only time it saves is when you complete a biome (sort of). They did kind of address the issue a few months ago when they highlighted a post on Reddit that was talking about a lack of save. They didn't directly say they're going to implement one or anything, so I wouldn't hold your breath on it.

When I was playing it I would just play until I completed a Biome and then just leave it there. It was less painful that way!

 

[Bosws87]

Hope this is ported to pc some point down the line it’s made for it!

 

[afrocentricity]

Hope this is ported to pc some point down the line it’s made for it!

Nixxxes prob working on it as we speak

 

[afrocentricity]

just have to keep trying! Check every room and every nook and cranny, they’re there somewhere.

 

[esmufc07]

 

[afrocentricity]

For real though I know this is a game I'll keep coming back to as it's fun to play (especially stoned)

Don't suppose they've added a save function yet? even just a little one?

Hopefully it comes. I can deal but it would be nice to be able to shut down the game mid run.

 

[Ainu]

Just finished Biome 6 and reached the credits. I guess that technically counts as "finishing" the game? Did it in 22 hours with 18 deaths. That final run was so intense and I didn't have a clue what I was doing with the boss. Thank god for the portal beam on my Hollowseeker, it pretty much won the fight for me.

I'm obviously not done yet, seems like there's plenty left to discover.

 

[esmufc07]

Just finished Biome 6 and reached the credits. I guess that technically counts as "finishing" the game? Did it in 22 hours with 18 deaths. That final run was so intense and I didn't have a clue what I was doing with the boss. Thank god for the portal beam on my Hollowseeker, it pretty much won the fight for me.

I'm obviously not done yet, seems like there's plenty left to discover.

Portal beam is ace!

 

[Ainu]

@afrocentricity Are you still looking for those fragments? I did another run through 1-3 and then 4-6 clearing every single room and found all six fragments along the way. If you couldn't find any, that doesn't seem right.

I believe they only start showing up if you went through all possible house sequences up to that point, so maybe you're missing one of those?

 

[afrocentricity]

@afrocentricity Are you still looking for those fragments? I did another run through 1-3 and then 4-6 clearing every single room and found all six fragments along the way. If you couldn't find any, that doesn't seem right.

I believe they only start showing up if you went through all possible house sequences up to that point, so maybe you're missing one of those?

I'll have to check. Somethings definitely not adding up....

Edit: I reckon that's what it is:

Spoiler