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Returnal - Information Thread, update: Digital Foundry PC Port Review - "It's Good, But Could Be Great"


SaysWho?

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I'm super excited for this game - will definitely be playing it at midnight tonight EST. I've enjoyed all the PS5 games so far, including Demon's Souls (remake), Astro's Playroom, Marvel's Spider-Man and Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales (both technically PS4 games as well, but play much better on the PS5), and now Returnal!

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I'm not one to 'review concern' myself out of buying a game but that Eurogamer, and a couple even very positive ones, definitely made me pause and think that the structure might not be my cup of tea. Not that I think Eurogamer are the ultimate opinion among a ton of really great other reviews but I can see their criticisms being things that would supremely piss me off and their criticisms don't come off as whining or bitchy to me either.

 

I have yet to actually play a rogue-anything game (I think?) because the concept just totally turns me off on paper and reading how monotonous, RNG-heavy and frustrating the structure can be reads like 'that's exactly why you don't play these games dude' to me. I think I should've checked out Hades to dip my toe into that genre to see what I think, I had intended to buy it anyway but then got hung up on a bunch of other great games.  

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15 minutes ago, Bloodporne said:

I'm not one to 'review concern' myself out of buying a game but that Eurogamer, and a couple even very positive ones, definitely made me pause and think that the structure might not be my cup of tea. Not that I think Eurogamer are the ultimate opinion among a ton of really great other reviews but I can see their criticisms being things that would supremely piss me off and their criticisms don't come off as whining or bitchy to me either.

 

I have yet to actually play a rogue-anything game (I think?) because the concept just totally turns me off on paper and reading how monotonous, RNG-heavy and frustrating the structure can be reads like 'that's exactly why you don't play these games dude' to me. I think I should've checked out Hades to dip my toe into that genre to see what I think, I had intended to buy it anyway but then got hung up on a bunch of other great games.  

 

I do not enjoy RNG-related elements generally speaking, and am not a fan of procedurally generated content or roguelites/roguelikes. But Hades was a downright amazing game (Hades being my first real stab at a roguelike), and since Returnal errs more on the Hades side of the equation, I'm all in. There is a version of roguelites that do work for people who aren't normally fans of roguelites and avoid them generally speaking (like me and you). If that helps any.

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18 minutes ago, Greatoneshere said:

 

I do not enjoy RNG-related elements generally speaking, and am not a fan of procedurally generated content or roguelites/roguelikes. But Hades was a downright amazing game (Hades being my first real stab at a roguelike), and since Returnal errs more on the Hades side of the equation, I'm all in. There is a version of roguelites that do work for people who aren't normally fans of roguelites and avoid them generally speaking (like me and you). If that helps any.

I'm definitely playing both Hades and Returnal at some point but I'm pretty sure Returnal will be at some later point, possibly with a sale. From what I had read after you guys all raved about it, the Hades progression and variety is more suited to, yeah, people like us. There are several reviews I read here that even while scoring it high stated that the rogue aspect of it isn't well handled, to paraphrase, and starts showing its seams quickly. Not what I was expecting based on how amazing it looks and how much work they surely put into this. After reading some of those impressions and about not being able to save mid-run I can't help but wish it could've just had a damn 'normal' game structure instead. I know that's like saying 'I want this game but not this game' but I think you know what I mean haha 

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2 hours ago, SaysWho? said:

 

I'm glad I have the platinum headset now. 3D audio in this game is sounding sick.

 

So all this 3D audio shit made look if there is a way to get my Xbox/PC rig 800lx to work on ps5 somehow, which never worked for me on ps4, but figured I’d check it, and it works! Just put the little dongle thing in pc mode and that’s working now, bad ass. These were made for dolby atmos on X so they might work pretty well with the tempest stuff. Free ps5 headset for me!

 

So, anything else besides this that is a good show off for their tech yet? 

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18 minutes ago, Bloodporne said:

I'm definitely playing both Hades and Returnal at some point but I'm pretty sure Returnal will be at some later point, possibly with a sale. From what I had read after you guys all raved about it, the Hades progression and variety is more suited to, yeah, people like us. There are several reviews I read here that even while scoring it high stated that the rogue aspect of it isn't well handled, to paraphrase, and starts showing its seams quickly. Not what I was expecting based on how amazing it looks and how much work they surely put into this. After reading some of those impressions and about not being able to save mid-run I can't help but wish it could've just had a damn 'normal' game structure instead. I know that's like saying 'I want this game but not this game' but I think you know what I mean haha 

 

Hades seems more for people like us, I agree. A lot of reviews mentioned Returnal as being similar to Hades, but more of a roguelite but still with a lot of story (esoterically told) so I'd agree one should try Hades first before Returnal. I'll let you know if I think Returnal is Hades-level worthy for people who don't like roguelikes (like us) when I play it tonight/tomorrow. :)

 

The only real turn off to me is the inability to save during a run unless you go into safe mode or leave the PS5 on. This normally makes sense for a roguelite but given the runs can take upward of 2 hours for completion means when I want to try a winning run down the line I better clear my schedule or be ready to leave the game paused. In Hades a run (once you got good) would normally take me 20-25 minutes per run. 

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1 hour ago, Greatoneshere said:

 

Hades seems more for people like us, I agree. A lot of reviews mentioned Returnal as being similar to Hades, but more of a roguelite but still with a lot of story (esoterically told) so I'd agree one should try Hades first before Returnal. I'll let you know if I think Returnal is Hades-level worthy for people who don't like roguelikes (like us) when I play it tonight/tomorrow. :)

 

The only real turn off to me is the inability to save during a run unless you go into safe mode or leave the PS5 on. This normally makes sense for a roguelite but given the runs can take upward of 2 hours for completion means when I want to try a winning run down the line I better clear my schedule or be ready to leave the game paused. In Hades a run (once you got good) would normally take me 20-25 minutes per run. 

Cool cool, sounds good! Thanks man. I'm actually still stuck on Shadow Tactics anyway. I'm on my third consecutive playthrough, it's that fucking good.

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On Kinda Funny's review (im on my work comp or else I'd link it), Blessing said that it's heartbreaking when you die far into a run. I can see that being a turn off for people to have to start from almost scratch. He saw it as a positive, though. 

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2 minutes ago, johnny said:

On Kinda Funny's review (im on my work comp or else I'd link it), Blessing said that it's heartbreaking when you die far into a run. I can see that being a turn off for people to have to start from almost scratch. He saw it as a positive, though. 

 

We all must GIT GUD.

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This one is interesting:

 

 

Only because I remember when Ebert was alive, he did not think video games were art, and he would often have civil discussions about it with his gamer followers. He was always super respectful and even welcomed them to more discussion in his final blog post.

 

So I just think it's interesting maybe in a meta sort of way that they have someone reviewing video games for the site. Cool!

 

 

1 hour ago, stepee said:

 

So all this 3D audio shit made look if there is a way to get my Xbox/PC rig 800lx to work on ps5 somehow, which never worked for me on ps4, but figured I’d check it, and it works! Just put the little dongle thing in pc mode and that’s working now, bad ass. These were made for dolby atmos on X so they might work pretty well with the tempest stuff. Free ps5 headset for me!

 

So, anything else besides this that is a good show off for their tech yet? 

 

Shit, I thought you were just asking the board in general. :lol: 

 

I dunno. I mean, I don't know if something like Demon's Souls or Astro Bot was amazingly 3D audio, but I would use the headset for them and it sounded great, sooo.... maybe try that. :p 

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8 minutes ago, Bloodporne said:

I've seen several headlines about the first must-own, the first big PS5 game and so on...did these people somehow miss Demon's Souls? I'm no expert but to me that shit was next-gen as hell between the amazing sound, graphics and incredible loading times. 

 

If you get a PS5, you must own Astro Bot. :] 

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9 minutes ago, SaysWho? said:

 

If you get a PS5, you must own Astro Bot. :] 

 

This is true! I guess I’ll try Demons Souls and Astro Bot on headphones and see, but maybe Returnal is the first big implementation of it so I should just wait to experience that hmm.

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59 minutes ago, SaysWho? said:

 

If you get a PS5, you must own Astro Bot. :] 

I admit I haven't played it yet...

 

I've honestly felt almost swamped with great games since I got the PS5. Not necessarily PS5 titles even but just playing stuff I missed with increased performance has been fucking cool. I've been meaning to try Astro Bot but then shit like Nex Machina and Shadow Tactics happens and I can't multitask. I only really play one or two games max at a time.

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4 minutes ago, Bloodporne said:

I admit I haven't played it yet...

 

I've honestly felt almost swamped with great games since I got the PS5. Not necessarily PS5 titles even but just playing stuff I missed with increased performance has been fucking cool. I've been meaning to try Astro Bot but then shit like Nex Machina and Shadow Tactics happens and I can't multitask. I only really play one or two games max at a time.

 

Hell I pulled out my PS3 to play a bunch of Ratchet & Clank, mainly because Rift Apart is coming out.

 

I really loved the PS4 and its library, and future years could be barren for all I know (history would suggest otherwise but I'm just sayin'), but this is one heck of an opening year thus far.

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1 hour ago, Bloodporne said:

I've seen several headlines about the first must-own, the first big PS5 game and so on...did these people somehow miss Demon's Souls? I'm no expert but to me that shit was next-gen as hell between the amazing sound, graphics and incredible loading times. 

 

So I enjoy indiewire reviews, and on the one I posted, it says something that would add context to it:

 

"While “Spider-Man” and the “Demon’s Souls” remake showcased the system’s horsepower, and “Astro’s Playroom” insisted that Sony’s latest console wouldn’t just be more of the same, “Returnal” so inherently seizes upon what the new tech can do that it feels like nothing less than the first true PS5 game."

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I feel like calling Returnal the first true PS5 game seems a bit unfair given Demon's Souls was downright excellent. I assume it's because Demon's Souls is a remake and thus not wholly original/new? Even with the elaboration that @SaysWho? posted, it kind of demeans Demon's Souls a little is all. That was a true PS5 game to me and I played the original on PS3 back in the day.

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I run all my audio through my PC, and have my headphones hooked up to my PC.  I'd assume I can't take advantage of PS5's 3d audio with the way its currently setup.  

 

Guess Ill need to run some tests to compare a direct connection to the controller vs what I do now.

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12 minutes ago, SaysWho? said:

 

So I enjoy indiewire reviews, and on the one I posted, it says something that would add context to it:

 

"While “Spider-Man” and the “Demon’s Souls” remake showcased the system’s horsepower, and “Astro’s Playroom” insisted that Sony’s latest console wouldn’t just be more of the same, “Returnal” so inherently seizes upon what the new tech can do that it feels like nothing less than the first true PS5 game."

Maybe they just think not letting you save in a game is baller next-gen as fuck and are therefore slightly confused.

 

Okay, stupid joke aside, I understand what they're getting it but don't really agree. I don't think Demon's Souls was just horsepower, then again maybe Returnal's controller options and 3D sound are just at a level I haven't experienced yet so I just don't know how next-gen this feels comparatively. 

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3 minutes ago, Bloodporne said:

Maybe they just think not letting you save in a game is baller next-gen as fuck and are therefore slightly confused.

 

Okay, stupid joke aside, I understand what they're getting it but don't really agree. I don't think Demon's Souls was just horsepower, then again maybe Returnal's controller options and 3D sound are just at a level I haven't experienced yet so I just don't know how next-gen this feels comparatively. 

 

I don't agree either. Makes for decent conversation, I guess, but a game is a game to me. I mean, I know Sackboy is on both PS4 and PS5, but it had to be scaled down to 720p to work on PS4, and.... it still released on PS5. Gonna go out on a limb and say it was likely developed with the intention of being for PS5 and made it possible to play on PS4.

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Demon Souls is just a nice looking game, but it’s nothing crazy that feels next gen. It feels more like it would be the enhanced version of a ps4 game to me, they just didn’t release the ps4 version. Which makes sense, since it’s an enhanced version of a ps3 game. The dual sense implementation isn’t great and there is no ray tracing for one. 

 

Returnal seems like it might be more of the real deal for showing off ps5 tech, though it doesn’t matter much because if it’s not Returnal then Rachet is super close.

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So what is with the complaining about the lack of save if you can portal to the new biome after you die? Is it that if you close the game, it doesn’t save that info and you literally have to start from the beginning?

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1 hour ago, JPDunks4 said:

I run all my audio through my PC, and have my headphones hooked up to my PC.  I'd assume I can't take advantage of PS5's 3d audio with the way its currently setup.  

 

Guess Ill need to run some tests to compare a direct connection to the controller vs what I do now.

I am interested to see what happens but I expect to see that it should work fine with your pc set up unless your running some thing weird . The PS5 is just decoding to a stereo L/R ,the 3D audio is just baked in to it. 

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