Gaming PlayStation 5

Bojan11

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https://blog.playstation.com/2021/04/01/returnal-hands-on-preview/

Ever since last year’s first reveal, you know some of what to expect. Housemarque has touched upon Returnal’s combat; teased its story. (If you haven’t kept up to date, don’t worry: we recap below). Now, after spending several hours with a near-complete version of the game, we have a better sense of how these and more come together. And, in addition, how Housemarque is leveraging the PlayStation 5’s features for an impressive next-gen debut.

A broadcast signal of unknown origins draws Selene, a Greek-American ASTRA deep space scout to an unmapped world. Her arrival onto Atropos is a violent one: an explosive accident mid-orbit sends her ship Helios spiralling into a crash landing. This sequence is an excellent early showcase for what the studio’s got in store for us with the DualSense controller’s haptic feedback: every metal-crunching impact is mimicked on the controller. When a flaming Helios roars across the width of your TV screen, you feel that fatal flyby through your hands.
The ASTRA scout isn’t a trigger-happy supersoldier. Thoughtful rather than cavalier, she has a scientist’s mind and an explorer’s tenacity. She’s also human. That steadfast persona slow unravels, sold convincingly by Jane Perry’s grounded vocal performance. Uncertainty slowly creeps into the edges of her analytical monologues, while recovered audio logs – voice recordings of another self (is it future, or is it past?) that tease upcoming encounters – unsettle with their increasing erraticness.

In the field, Selene’s nimble. Dash-dodges to leap across chasms, avoid – even pass through – enemy projectiles. A coloured HUD radial around the character marks direction and proximity of attacks. She can mantle. Early unlocks of a blade and hookshot open up melee and faster traversal options. The hookshot’s generous reach on marked grapple points zip you across wide areas.

Within any cycle, dealing damage but avoiding it yourself builds Adrenaline, a mechanic that stacks up to five levels, each tier unlocking an enhancement: increases to weapon damage, vision (enemies marked by a red circle), strengthening your melee attack and more. Get hit once and everything resets. It’s a great incentive to stay sharp and promotes high-level play.

Weapons recharge rather than reload; during that time a trigger tap right to instantly recharge and earn a damage bonus (Overload). Mess up and your weapon jams. Every weapon has an alt-fire mode and an additional unlockable ability once you’ve downed enough enemies. Both are pulled from a large pool of possible attacks, leading to an extensive range of potential weapon builds.
At the bottom left corner of your on-screen HUD are suit integrity (health) and weapon proficiency bars. Integrity can be replenished or extended with collectables. Your weapon proficiency bar dictates the power level of the next found weapon, be it an enemy drop or unlocked chest. That too can be increased through items collected. Weapons range from familiar analogues (pistol, rifle) to otherworldly types (the Spitmaw Blaster fires a corrosive fluid that eats away at enemy health over time). The audio on these things packs a punch: blasts echo across valley floors and reverberate in tight quarters. Fun fact: Those reverberations are in real time, using a mix of 3D audio and ray casting, dynamically changing based on your position


Built on top of all that are multiple, interconnecting game systems that spice up every cycle. Artifacts give you buffs for the duration of your current run (deal 10% more damage to a low health target, or use slo-mo when in alt-fire mode, for example). Consumables are one-off activations (healing shot, shields). Parasites, living, scuttling entities that’ll latch onto your suit if picked up, best example the gamble of Returnal’s modifiers, always pairing reward with risk. One may increase the stats of the weapons you find next, but your melee damage is reduced by half. A specific alien device can remove all parasites but costs Oblities, the planet’s version of currency dropped by enemies on death and unearthed from rocks that glow a tell-tale yellow.

You’re forever outnumbered, but quick reactions and core feedback loops make for satisfying combat encounters.

There’s a vibrant diversity to the alien species intent on killing you as soon as you enter an area. Multi-tentacled quadrupeds, leaping biped juggernauts, squid-like flyers, armoured lurkers… their ferocity and attack patterns are scaled such that with quick wits and reactions they’re survivalable, regardless of which combination or number you face. Many fire projectile cascades. There’s an echo here of bullet hells, but brightly coloured as they are, you’re never caught unawares. I have to speak to the game’s 3D audio design, which, if you’re wearing a compatible headset, lets you better pinpoint enemy placement around you. While wearing the Pulse 3D Wireless headset for PS5 on one cycle, I registered the sound of an enemy approaching from the rear. I whirled round, freezing my aim exactly where it was spawning, taking it out before it could pounce.
While you’re never far from a firefight, Returnal is as much an explorative platformer as it is a shooter. You’re not ploughing through a set number of small arena-style kill boxes in quick succession. Level design is hugely varied and you have breathing room to explore. For the majority of your playtime, a good two-thirds of the screen real estate is dedicated to the world around you. Yes, that’s also to best assess threat placement during combat, but it also captures the colossal scale of the alien civilisation. Smaller touches outside combat sell the atmosphere. The indistinct call of wildlife in the far distance; writhing grass that’s one of the planet’s non-aggressive lifeforms; the dirt smears that gradually accumulate on Selene’s suit; the steady patter of rainfall felt through the DualSense controller’s haptic feedback.

Doorways open to claustrophobic alleys, multi-floor structures, tiny caves, partially-destroyed bridges. Hidden catacombs and side rooms are rife. Traps, interactive alien devices – and the items needed to access them – are nestled here and there (such as Fabricators, which generate items, or the Reconstructor, a one-time resurrection machine you’ll return to on death, keeping you in the current cycle with loadout intact). Unreachable spots will taunt you until you’ve found and incorporated the right alien tech to access in future cycles. You’re given a general compass direction to your central goal, but you’re otherwise free to explore as much or as little as you like. Further exploration and backtracking will help you upgrade equipment, unlock sealed sections and delve into the lore of the long-dead civilisation. Alternatively, focus on combat and stack the odds increasingly against you. It’s your choice.
Every biome is visually distinct, with its own challenges and creatures (though once encountered, ultra-tough ‘Elite’ versions of enemies will start to bleed into other locales). Progression is non-linear. Each biome has a main ‘boss’, but once overcome, you’re not locked to facing it down on subsequent cycles. Stumble into the right area, and you can travel straight to another biome. Here’s your PS5 console’s SSD at work: passing through a portal into another part of Atropos seems as fast as walking through a door. Resurrections are also quick: a few seconds of flashback and you reawaken at the crash site.
 

GaryLifo

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Graphics are really a very small part of what makes a game great IMO.

One of my favourite games is binding of isaac which wouldn't look out of place in the 16 bit era.

I've just bought outriders, and the graphics are perfectly fine but do not blowyour socks off, but I'm really enjoying the game after 8 hours so far and can't wait to get back on it later tonight to keep progressing.

I get that people think next gen console therefore graphics need to be something incredible, but honestly the best things about ps5 are fast load times and extremely steady 60fps animations.
 

Bosws87

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Graphics are really a very small part of what makes a game great IMO.

One of my favourite games is binding of isaac which wouldn't look out of place in the 16 bit era.

I've just bought outriders, and the graphics are perfectly fine but do not blowyour socks off, but I'm really enjoying the game after 8 hours so far and can't wait to get back on it later tonight to keep progressing.

I get that people think next gen console therefore graphics need to be something incredible, but honestly the best things about ps5 are fast load times and extremely steady 60fps animations.
Framerate > graphics from someone thats still playing the majority of games at 1080p.
 

Berbasbullet

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Graphics are really a very small part of what makes a game great IMO.

One of my favourite games is binding of isaac which wouldn't look out of place in the 16 bit era.

I've just bought outriders, and the graphics are perfectly fine but do not blowyour socks off, but I'm really enjoying the game after 8 hours so far and can't wait to get back on it later tonight to keep progressing.

I get that people think next gen console therefore graphics need to be something incredible, but honestly the best things about ps5 are fast load times and extremely steady 60fps animations.
Is outriders worth a crack? I’ve been on the demo and found it to be alright!
 

TrustInJanuzaj

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The load times really do make a remarkable difference. I’m only playing Skyrim again for the millionth time but just loading into new areas is so much faster with some being near instant. I primarily played the game a long time ago on the PS3 and it was almost an entirely different game at that point.
 

T00lsh3d

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Looking at games, bit of a non-gamer here so advice appreciated. I know what to get for my son but fancy actually playing a few myself. Looked at one called Mortal Shell, would people recommend?
 

GaryLifo

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Is outriders worth a crack? I’ve been on the demo and found it to be alright!
I was very on the fence after the demo, I enjoyed it, but I wanted to see a bit more before buying. Watched some streamers who had early access yesterday and it tipped me into buying it.

I've had about 8 hours so far and I am honestly really enjoying it. The world tier system ensures it's always a challenge and the abilities are fun and great to experiment with. Loot drops frequently and because they put really good mods even on blue rarity gear, it makes any blue drop worth looking at. I also love the crafting system and the fact you can permanently claim a mod into your library by breaking down the item that has it.

Story isn't grabbing me, but I don't buy games like this for story anyway.

Always hard to tell someone else if they should get it or not, but I've done Destiny 1 and 2, division 1 and 2, borderlands 1,2 and 3, anthem, avengers etc and I'd put this among the better looter shooters I've played. Below destiny and borderlands, but plenty above the others.
 

Solius

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Is Tropico any good or would I be better off just redownloading Civ?
 

Berbasbullet

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I was very on the fence after the demo, I enjoyed it, but I wanted to see a bit more before buying. Watched some streamers who had early access yesterday and it tipped me into buying it.

I've had about 8 hours so far and I am honestly really enjoying it. The world tier system ensures it's always a challenge and the abilities are fun and great to experiment with. Loot drops frequently and because they put really good mods even on blue rarity gear, it makes any blue drop worth looking at. I also love the crafting system and the fact you can permanently claim a mod into your library by breaking down the item that has it.

Story isn't grabbing me, but I don't buy games like this for story anyway.

Always hard to tell someone else if they should get it or not, but I've done Destiny 1 and 2, division 1 and 2, borderlands 1,2 and 3, anthem, avengers etc and I'd put this among the better looter shooters I've played. Below destiny and borderlands, but plenty above the others.
Interesting, thanks for the detailed reply. I'm never great at these kinds of games so will think about it.
 

Berbasbullet

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@esmufc07 how you finding ghosts so far?

Also does anyone here play dead by daylight? It’s cross platform and fun/terrifying.
 

amolbhatia50k

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Looking at games, bit of a non-gamer here so advice appreciated. I know what to get for my son but fancy actually playing a few myself. Looked at one called Mortal Shell, would people recommend?
I think that's a bit of a Souls like game, by which I mean, really difficult. Could be wrong. But as a non gamer you're probably better off going for something which has a good narrative/story to keep you gripped.
 

TrustInJanuzaj

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Anyone have any suggestions for fun coop games to play with mates? We have previously played a mix of games from Warzone and Destiny (1&2) to pro clubs and mine craft but just want something different. Tempted by No Mans Sky after all these updates over the years. For shooters, what is that Remnant like from this months PS plus games?
 

T00lsh3d

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I think that's a bit of a Souls like game, by which I mean, really difficult. Could be wrong. But as a non gamer you're probably better off going for something which has a good narrative/story to keep you gripped.
Cheers. I’m going to get it, see what happens
 

Robert

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To be honest, as a casual gamer I'm quite bored of my PS5. I've completed Valhalla and Miles Morales, and games like Warzone and FIFA just aren't appealing to me anymore, they absorb too much time to achieve anything decent. I very occasionally play Rocket League and Fall Guys and I was looking forward to Gran Turismo but thats next year now.

Anyone got any glimmers of hope for me before I resolve to sell it?
 

Bosws87

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To be honest, as a casual gamer I'm quite bored of my PS5. I've completed Valhalla and Miles Morales, and games like Warzone and FIFA just aren't appealing to me anymore, they absorb too much time to achieve anything decent. I very occasionally play Rocket League and Fall Guys and I was looking forward to Gran Turismo but thats next year now.

Anyone got any glimmers of hope for me before I resolve to sell it?
Ratchet & Clank and Returnal around the corner.

Selling it won't achieve much if you get it again when more games are out as a price drop isn't realistically anytime soon.
 

Gehrman

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To be honest, as a casual gamer I'm quite bored of my PS5. I've completed Valhalla and Miles Morales, and games like Warzone and FIFA just aren't appealing to me anymore, they absorb too much time to achieve anything decent. I very occasionally play Rocket League and Fall Guys and I was looking forward to Gran Turismo but thats next year now.

Anyone got any glimmers of hope for me before I resolve to sell it?
Resident evil: Village?
 

afrocentricity

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To be honest, as a casual gamer I'm quite bored of my PS5. I've completed Valhalla and Miles Morales, and games like Warzone and FIFA just aren't appealing to me anymore, they absorb too much time to achieve anything decent. I very occasionally play Rocket League and Fall Guys and I was looking forward to Gran Turismo but thats next year now.

Anyone got any glimmers of hope for me before I resolve to sell it?
If you're casual then play the PS plus collection games, can also pick up the free monthly games, and pad it out with PS Now. Would keep you occupied between the big releases (a few of which will be out shortly.
 

Bojan11

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Alan Wake 2 is getting made with epic.

Copyright © 2021 by Bojan.
 

Pexbo

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Has anyone heard anything concrete yet about PS5 supporting 2K monitors?
 

ArmandTamzarian

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Has anyone played Mad max? It didn't review particularly well but has a bit of a cult following now.
I played and completed it, really enjoyed it. This video from ACG sold me on it and It didn't disappoint.


If you don't have the time to watch all that he has a shorter review up too, definitely worth checking out but only if you aren't burnt out on the usual open world guff, of which this game doesn't really do anything new. I got it for free on PS Plus though, I'd say get it if you can get it heavily discounted. I'm not sure if my opinion would be different if I paid money for it :wenger:
 
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el3mel

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I played and completed it, really enjoyed it. This video from ACG sold me on it and It didn't disappoint.


If you don't have the time to watch all that he has a shorter review up too, definitely worth checking out but only if you aren't burnt out on the usual open world guff, of which this game doesn't really do anything new. I got it for free on PS Plus though, I'd say get it if you can get it heavily discounted. I'm not sure if my opinion would be different if I paid money for it :wenger:
I played it back at the time of its release. Good but at best an above average game really. Combat is decent, car fights are good, open world looks good but side activities are repetitive as hell..etc. Just your typical open world game really. Good enough to kill some time for 15 or so hours as long as you aren't expecting anything revolutionary.
 

TrustInJanuzaj

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I played and completed it, really enjoyed it. This video from ACG sold me on it and It didn't disappoint.


If you don't have the time to watch all that he has a shorter review up too, definitely worth checking out but only if you aren't burnt out on the usual open world guff, of which this game doesn't really do anything new. I got it for free on PS Plus though, I'd say get it if you can get it heavily discounted. I'm not sure if my opinion would be different if I paid money for it :wenger:
Thanks for this. Yeh I certainly don’t expect anything revolutionary. I’m still annoyed I managed to miss it on PS plus but I’d be tempted at a heavily discounted price. The car customisation and combat looks fun.
 

ArmandTamzarian

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Thanks for this. Yeh I certainly don’t expect anything revolutionary. I’m still annoyed I managed to miss it on PS plus but I’d be tempted at a heavily discounted price. The car customisation and combat looks fun.
Aye there's nothing really special about it but the gameplay loop, the barren open world and the driving aspect just really seemed to scratch an itch I had.