Gaming Returnal (PS5)

Ainu

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I'll have to check. Somethings definitely not adding up....
You need to make sure that the house in both Biome 1 and 4 isn't showing a red porch light. If it's red, you can enter and play another sequence. Then restart cycle, return until it stops being red. I'm not sure if you can get different sequences in 1 and 4 so I'd definitely check both just to be sure.
 

Ainu

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Did another run to get the real ending yesterday evening and I decided to do the Biome 4 boss again along the way. That might be one of the greatest boss fight experiences in any game. The main organ theme playing through the entire Biome 4 and getting louder when you approach the tower, the way the music crescendos while you are climbing up towards it and becomes deafeningly loud at the top and then seeing the boss itself. When you realize the significance of the music it only adds to what an emotional journey that is. A stunning fight as well. Housemarque have crafted a masterpiece here.
 

afrocentricity

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Agreed mate, found a house segment there too so hopefully that's enough.
 

Ainu

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Even after completing the entire game several times and fighting bosses and elite enemies over and over again, Biome 3 drones are still by far my most feared enemies. They are absurd. At least when you're getting into a Malformed Severed or Malformed Typhonoid fight, you know what to expect. Drones though, they spawn constantly and swarm you, they shoot a barrage of fast rockets with insane tracking that are basically impossible to dodge - a single dodge is not enough and your dodge cooldown is too long for another timely dodge - and also do obscene amounts of damage. It doesn't help that the attack is virtually impossible to see coming, unless you're not shooting them. They don't have tons of health but they don't go down super fast either.

They're the only enemies in the game I'd consider legitimately broken.
 

afrocentricity

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Even after completing the entire game several times and fighting bosses and elite enemies over and over again, Biome 3 drones are still by far my most feared enemies. They are absurd. At least when you're getting into a Malformed Severed or Malformed Typhonoid fight, you know what to expect. Drones though, they spawn constantly and swarm you, they shoot a barrage of fast rockets with insane tracking that are basically impossible to dodge - a single dodge is not enough and your dodge cooldown is too long for another timely dodge - and also do obscene amounts of damage. It doesn't help that the attack is virtually impossible to see coming, unless you're not shooting them. They don't have tons of health but they don't go down super fast either.

They're the only enemies in the game I'd consider legitimately broken.
Think I agree. Enter the room and see them and it's pretty much:

 

esmufc07

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Even after completing the entire game several times and fighting bosses and elite enemies over and over again, Biome 3 drones are still by far my most feared enemies. They are absurd. At least when you're getting into a Malformed Severed or Malformed Typhonoid fight, you know what to expect. Drones though, they spawn constantly and swarm you, they shoot a barrage of fast rockets with insane tracking that are basically impossible to dodge - a single dodge is not enough and your dodge cooldown is too long for another timely dodge - and also do obscene amounts of damage. It doesn't help that the attack is virtually impossible to see coming, unless you're not shooting them. They don't have tons of health but they don't go down super fast either.

They're the only enemies in the game I'd consider legitimately broken.
Yeah I wouldn’t disagree with that; they were awfully annoying in Biome 3 and 5. As you say pretty much impossible to dodge, I always had to hide behind a pillar or a wall which always felt like cheating.
 
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afrocentricity

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Yeah I wouldn’t disagree with that; they were awful annoying him Biome 3 and 5. As you say pretty much impossible to dodge, I always had to hide behind a pillar or a wall which always felt like cheating.
I don't even think it's cheating. Sometimes you peek out to look as it feels clear and you get 5-6 rockets in the face..
 

Ainu

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Yeah I wouldn’t disagree with that; they were awfully annoying in Biome 3 and 5. As you say pretty much impossible to dodge, I always had to hide behind a pillar or a wall which always felt like cheating.
For some reason they never annoy me in Biome 5, I don't know why. It feels like their tracking is a lot less severe, or perhaps the rockets have less splash damage. Anyway, got the first 3 biome surveys done, now missing a single xenoglyph in each biome of Act 3, along with two more scout logs.
 

Irwin99

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Can someone explain the 'save mid-cycle' thing? This could become a reason to buy for me. Also is the story good/interesting or is it more of a Souls type thing where gameplay immersion and lore are key?
 

esmufc07

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Can someone explain the 'save mid-cycle' thing? This could become a reason to buy for me. Also is the story good/interesting or is it more of a Souls type thing where gameplay immersion and lore are key?
Previously you couldn't save and quit out of the game without losing your run, these can be anything from a few minutes long (which isn't a problem) to several hours long. So if you wanted to pause your progress to play another game you wasn't able to, you'd lose your progress and have to start your run again. I personally never found it too much of an issue, as I tend to only play one game at a time, but can see how it would be frustrating to others.

Story is interesting enough, it's definitely more Souls type in terms of lore, but there are also several cut-scenes too. I wouldn't say the story is anything amazing, but decent enough. Overall though I'd highly recommend the game as it's probably my GOTY.
 

Irwin99

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Previously you couldn't save and quit out of the game without losing your run, these can be anything from a few minutes long (which isn't a problem) to several hours long. So if you wanted to pause your progress to play another game you wasn't able to, you'd lose your progress and have to start your run again. I personally never found it too much of an issue, as I tend to only play one game at a time, but can see how it would be frustrating to others.

Story is interesting enough, it's definitely more Souls type in terms of lore, but there are also several cut-scenes too. I wouldn't say the story is anything amazing, but decent enough. Overall though I'd highly recommend the game as it's probably my GOTY.
Thanks. I'm tempted to get it now as the save thing was putting me off.
 

Irwin99

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It's very frustrating but i'm enjoying it more and more. The first boss was really tough and i died about 6 times just on that battle alone but I've just beaten the second one after one failed attempt. Combat is very smooth and the world is very alien and weird which I like. Most frustrating thing for me is actually making it through the biomes to reach the boss and dying on the way or losing too much health.

I presume the player should go back to the house after completing each boss and after you inevitably die in the nest area? I don't think i got an item reward this time, just a cutscene.
 

esmufc07

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It's very frustrating but i'm enjoying it more and more. The first boss was really tough and i died about 6 times just on that battle alone but I've just beaten the second one after one failed attempt. Combat is very smooth and the world is very alien and weird which I like. Most frustrating thing for me is actually making it through the biomes to reach the boss and dying on the way or losing too much health.

I presume the player should go back to the house after completing each boss and after you inevitably die in the nest area? I don't think i got an item reward this time, just a cutscene.
Yeah you can only go in the House at certain points so always best to go in when it lets you.

Third biome is a tough one and it’s a tough run, but I found the boss at the end fairly straightforward.
 

afrocentricity

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Everyone needs to give this game a go. A lot of people misunderstand what it's about and what it's like to play.

Just take your time when you're underpowered, what's you get a few good artifacts and such, you can start flying through @Irwin99. On that note, spend your when in that thing at the start off the stage, it unlocks a new artifact.
 

Ainu

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The most important part of this game is unlocking permanent weapon traits. Once you start getting good traits on the Hollowseeker and especially the Electropylon Driver, the game becomes almost trivial. You won't need another weapon ever again.
 

TrustInJanuzaj

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The most important part of this game is unlocking permanent weapon traits. Once you start getting good traits on the Hollowseeker and especially the Electropylon Driver, the game becomes almost trivial. You won't need another weapon ever again.
I could not get going with that electropylon weapon, I just hated It for some reason. The Hollowseeker or the Assault Rifle every time for me, with an occasional shotgun thrown in the mix.
 

esmufc07

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I could not get going with that electropylon weapon, I just hated It for some reason. The Hollowseeker or the Assault Rifle every time for me, with an occasional shotgun thrown in the mix.
Electropylon without any power ups is fairly basic, but once you’ve got several upgrades going on it’s the best weapon in the game for me. Just shreds enemies in such a satisfying way.
 

TrustInJanuzaj

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Electropylon without any power ups is fairly basic, but once you’ve got several upgrades going on it’s the best weapon in the game for me. Just shreds enemies in such a satisfying way.
I probably didn't spend enough time with it in truth and so I just stuck to the tried and tested methods that I knew. If I ever jump back in I'll have to try to use it consciously.
 

afrocentricity

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All the guns are good in some configurations. Leech guns are kinda OP though, as are turrets and traps... I love this game...
 

Irwin99

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I wonder how much of the game is based on exploiting the element of luck? It took me 30-40 minutes to get to the boss again on biome 3; I was really doing well and had an extra life, full and augmented health, a decent weapon and the enemies weren't too tough ...until i met these fecking flying suicide bots in one room that took a massive chunk of my health away before getting another tough batch of enemies right before the boss itself :mad: I'm convinced that was the best run for random weapons/health power ups that I could have possibly had and I fecked it up.

Enjoying it though. Definitely nice to see a game take chances.
 

b82REZ

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I wonder how much of the game is based on exploiting the element of luck? It took me 30-40 minutes to get to the boss again on biome 3; I was really doing well and had an extra life, full and augmented health, a decent weapon and the enemies weren't too tough ...until i met these fecking flying suicide bots in one room that took a massive chunk of my health away before getting another tough batch of enemies right before the boss itself :mad: I'm convinced that was the best run for random weapons/health power ups that I could have possibly had and I fecked it up.

Enjoying it though. Definitely nice to see a game take chances.
The drones ruined it for me.

I fell off hard when I lost 5 or so back to back runs by getting dive bombed by the drones.

The game is undoubtedly very well made, but for me there are some balance issues with enemy types. I've no doubt there is a way to not get fecked by the drones but it gets tiring when they're the main reason you lose runs.

Now they've added saving I plan to go back to it eventually. It should lessen the frustration of losing potentially an hour or my life.
 

esmufc07

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I wonder how much of the game is based on exploiting the element of luck? It took me 30-40 minutes to get to the boss again on biome 3; I was really doing well and had an extra life, full and augmented health, a decent weapon and the enemies weren't too tough ...until i met these fecking flying suicide bots in one room that took a massive chunk of my health away before getting another tough batch of enemies right before the boss itself :mad: I'm convinced that was the best run for random weapons/health power ups that I could have possibly had and I fecked it up.

Enjoying it though. Definitely nice to see a game take chances.
Wait until Biome 5 :lol: You just have to be very quick with those bastards and use your surroundings for cover. They are a complete pain in the arse though.
 

Ainu

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Wait until Biome 5 :lol: You just have to be very quick with those bastards and use your surroundings for cover. They are a complete pain in the arse though.
For some reason I always felt like their homing missiles are a little less accurate in biome 5 than 3. They never annoyed me in 5 but were the bane of my existence in 3.
 

esmufc07

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For some reason I always felt like their homing missiles are a little less accurate in biome 5 than 3. They never annoyed me in 5 but were the bane of my existence in 3.
Honestly I’m Biome 5 I had rooms filled with the feckers, used to drive me insane :lol: