Introduction

Imagine being a professional astronaut who crashes on an alien planet and ends up reliving the same day over and over like some cosmic Groundhog Day—but with way more tentacles and existential dread. Welcome to Returnal, where every death is just another chance to impress those loving alien horrors. And trust me, they love to see you struggle. Developed by Housemarque, this PS5 title combines rogue-like elements with frenetic third-person shooting to create an experience that’s as beautiful as it is brutally unforgiving.

Gameplay

Returnal stars Selene Vassos, a space pilot stuck on the alien planet Atropos. Upon crash-landing, she discovers she’s caught in a deliciously cruel time loop: every time she dies, she wakes up at the moment of her crash, despite the fact that she's already experienced death repeatedly and might have even killed herself once...or twice, but who's counting? Traversing Atropos feels like a twisted ballet filled with sweet, sweet carnage. You navigate procedurally generated biomes, fighting off a bizarre cast of extraterrestrial foes. These strange enemies come at you with attacks that could only be conceived of by someone with a serious appetite for chaos. Enemy bullet patterns look like the unfortunate lovechild of a Cirque du Soleil performance and a particularly bad fever dream. The control scheme is smooth as butter, but don’t let it fool you; you’ll still be dashing, shooting, and quickly crying for your mom as you face an avalanche of fireballs and lasers. The ability to unlock various weapons, each boasting unique traits, adds depth to just shooting the nearest monster in the face. The game also introduces a grappling hook, which feels right out of a superhero movie, allowing for even more flashy maneuvering—because why run away from death when you can stylishly dodge it? The latest Ascension update even tosses in some cooperative multiplayer, inviting one unfortunate friend to the chaos. Misery loves company, after all.

Graphics

The visuals in Returnal are simply stunning, like the angular concepts of a sci-fi blockbuster combined with lush, alien landscapes that pop like a colorblind artist on a caffeine high. Running on Unreal Engine 4, every biome feels unique, from the shifting biomes teeming with creepy flora and fauna to the dark, foreboding underbelly of Atropos's alien terrain. Standing still to appreciate the environment is risky business, but that's just part of the immersion. The game runs at a glorious 60 frames per second and rocks out with 4K visuals that are boosted by clever upscaling, keeping everything as smooth as your favorite video game character’s special abilities. The atmosphere is alive with effects thanks to real-time ray tracing that can make even a slab of alien rock look exquisite. If this game was a movie, it would sweep the visual effects awards before anyone even got a chance to sit down in the theater. Combine that with an audio design that engulfs you with eerie sounds and pulsating soundtracks courtesy of Bobby Krlic, who deserves an award just for making you paranoid about adopting a pet dog because of the tension he creates. Seriously, if you like sci-fi, get ready to have your mind blown!

Conclusion

Returnal is an adrenaline-infused loop of joy and pain that satisfies the craving for challenging gameplay alongside a rich narrative and breathtaking visuals. However, you will die, and then die some more. This game has a way of making death feel like a mandatory part of the experience rather than a setback, which may alienate casual gamers wanting a chilling evening of pistol-whipping alien monsters. But if you’re ready to embrace the chaos and have that sweet, sweet dopamine rush of finally defeating those nightmarish foes, then buckle up. Returnal is a journey worth taking, even if it means traveling back in time every time you get an alien fireball to the face. 9/10—the looping cycle of pain and beauty is real, and I’m here for every second of it.

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