![]() Yes, Returnal is a first-party AAA PlayStation exclusive, but it has more in common with From Software’s Bloodborne than its cousins. However, I feel like the most important thing I can point out in my review for Returnal is this, and it’s something that I would like to emphasize very much to those contemplating whether to buy this game: ![]() That guy really knows how to set a proper mood. Fun fact: Returnal‘s original soundtrack is composed by Bobby Krlic, who was responsible for the music in 2019’s acclaimed horror movie Midsommar by Ari Aster. In addition, the music also helps set the tone for the game’s dark setting and intense combat. Lovecraftian elements can also be seen in the designs, especially the enemies, many of which are floating squid-like creatures with tentacles. Some of the alien humanoids and architecture look distinctly like they’re a homage to the late H.R. It seems like the developers were really inspired by Ridley Scott’s Alien franchise. There are only six House segments in the game, but they reveal Selene’s backstory and past.Īs a science fiction enthusiast, I appreciate the atmospheric tone of the game. The game’s narrative is told via various mediums, including audio logs from other versions of Selene strewn throughout the biomes, as well as alien scribblings to learn about the planet’s lore and cinematic House segments, which take place in first-person. There are layers upon layers of a deepening mystery to uncover. The game is going for a “show, don’t tell” core philosophy and it shows. Things aren’t spelt out for players, so don’t expect a heap of exposition to simply drop on your lap via a few lines of dialogue. I won’t spoil any details from the plot of Returnal, of course, but it feels like the game is trying hard to be vaguer than it really is. Returnal drops players as Selene mid-cycle, as she discovers that she’s on a time loop after discovering her own rotting corpse on the alien planet Atropos after seemingly crash landing there for the first time. The former is often what drives the mystery of the narrative. What makes a time loop story compelling are what caused it to start happening in the first place (the origin) and what the protagonist has to do in order to stop the repeating cycle (the solution). It’s been done to death, but new stories often put their own spin on the tired trope, and that includes Returnal. Every sci-fi franchise has gone the time loop route in a story or episode ( Star Trek, Doctor Who, The Twilight Zone, etc), and some are even based entirely on that premise alone (most notably, movies like Groundhog Day and Edge Of Tomorrow). The time loop is a common trope in science fiction properties. The biggest question of all is: Can a roguelike game be worth a whopping US$70 (or RM299 in Malaysia)? Read on to find out more. After finally playing it, I can say that this is definitely a roguelike game that isn’t afraid to ramp up the difficulty to the extreme. Developer Housemarque is best known for 2013’s Resogun and 2016’s Alienation), but this is their first attempt at making a AAA game. Returnal is the PS5’s first true exclusive in a while and it has a lot to prove. Genre: Third-Person Roguelike Action Bullet Hell Game
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