Returnal (PC) – Review
It’s an odd coincidence that we get a PC version of Returnal, our favourite game of 2021, in the same month that the GameCube classic Metroid Prime receives a new remake. Returnal and Metroid Prime shared a lot of similarities, which was clear at the time, but after playing the two games consecutively, the similarities seem even more pronounced. The fact that Returnal is among the best games of its generation, however, should only be seen as a praise since it is by no means a copy of the other title.
The original Returnal was created by Finnish developer Housemarque, who was previously best known for arcade style action games like Super Stardust and the excellent Nex Machina. The PC version was created by British company Climax Studios. Returnal was actually their first try at a larger-scale, action adventure game, but based on how well it turned out, you’d think they’d been producing them for years.
Even though this is a rather simple PC port that merely adds a few technical tweaks, we’re eager to see what they’re working on next, which has been indicated to not be a sequel. Still, any opportunity to work on Returnal again is quite welcome. But, you also receive any further DLC that was made available after the game’s initial release. If nothing else, this has provided an opportunity to learn more about it.
Returnal does have a narrative, but it is completely subjective. You could argue that it’s a little too hazy, but what matters is how it makes you feel, not so much what’s happening. The storyline positions you as scientist Selene Vassos, who crash-lands on a mystery planet and gets stuck in a cycle where she regenerates back at her ship after each death.
There are echoes of Tom Cruise’s Edge of Tomorrow in the creature designs, among other things, but what starts out as a fairly simple sci-fi adventure quickly turns into a Lovecraftian nightmare.
Although there are a few minor Metroidvania gameplay elements because this is largely a third-person shooter, the lonesome, depressing atmosphere, color-coded biomes, and the very small, self-contained locations you move between are quite similar to Metroid Prime. It’s a roguelike, as you might have suspected from the mention of time loops, but Housemarque were reluctant to call it one when it initially came out for whatever reason.
The first thing you notice is what a great shooter this is since the roguelike features don’t show up right away. To create what is essentially a 3D bullet hell shooter, Housemarque’s experience with arcade action games is perfectly leveraged. The creatures you fight shoot huge showers of neon-colored projectiles that initially seem impossible to avoid but can be avoided with the proper strategy and forethought.
Although this is mainly restricted to unlocking new weapons and equipment so that they have a chance to appear at random during your next run, you do preserve some documentation of your progress after you die. The relatively simple pistols and assault rifles (and a sword) to a gun that spits electrified nets and the amazing Dreadbound, that shoots enormous boomerang-like bullets, each weapon also has randomly assigned attachments that can make them exceptionally handy.
Repeating the same levels over and over again is not nearly as monotonous as it might sound because even while the stages themselves are created, the sequence in which they appear and the angle from which you enter them are randomly determined for each loop. Returnal is extremely challenging—comparisons to Dark Souls are not unwarranted—but it’s not insurmountable if you maintain a watchful attitude and are familiar with all of the monster forms.
Although while it is simple to attribute a poor run on being unlucky with the level design or weapon distribution, there is an awkwardly difficult spike that appears at the halfway point of the game. There were also complaints about the PlayStation 5 version’s inability to pause a run and pick it back up later, however the issue was resolved in a later update and is now available right away here.
More information can be found in our original review, but before we talk about the DLC, we should mention how great the boss fights are. One in particular, which makes brilliant use of licenced music, is one of the finest in the modern period.
Given that the DLC debuted after the main game and received little publicity, we anticipate that many people won’t be familiar with it. There are two main parts, the first of which is a cooperative option where a second player assumes the role of a different Selene from a separate loop, which actually makes sense in the context of the game’s plot.
Having a partner completely alters the mood of the game, but whether it makes it simpler or not depends largely on who you’re playing with. Sadly, there is no cross-play with the PlayStation 5.
Tower of Sisyphus, the other brand-new game, is essentially a randomised survival mode in which you try to survive as long as you can. Although it is not a new concept, Returnal’s multiple systems make effective use of it, and it serves as a nice showcase for the excellent fighting.
There are several ray-tracing choices, 4K and upscaling technologies including DLSS and AMD’s FSR, support for ultrawide and super ultrawide monitors, as well as other PC-specific capabilities. Although it was a PlayStation 5 exclusive, the original was never a technological powerhouse; it looked like it belonged to a prior generation. Nevertheless, like with anything on the PC, the mod community may have something to say about it.
Returnal is a contemporary masterpiece that ought to be enjoyed by as many people as possible, regardless of the platform on which it is presented. Its various sources of inspiration are obvious, yet the integration of traditional 2D gaming and exploration with contemporary 3D exploration is seamless. Every time you die, the game pushes you to repeat the action, but the actual challenge is getting yourself to stop.
