Topic: Returnal

So had a good run for about 3 hours. Managed to beat Biome 4 (that was an awesome boss) and get through 5. I was very fortunate as I had a parasite that healed me at low integrity and a Caribne with the leech perk which restored health. Without them, most certainly would've been toast.

Sadly on Biome 6 I got, I think, half way. And died by a random enemy because I just was impatient and too into the action. Never mind!

@NedStarksGhost Well done for getting through 4 and 5 in one go. 4 is amazing and the climb up to the boss fight and every thing after is a real highlight.

Some get stuck on 5 for a while so brilliant that your past that. It does up the difficulty some again but feels like a major achievement when you best it. I’m sure you’ll be back on it in no time.

The thing with B6 is just take your time and be patient. Don’t worry about rushing in so much and distance can be your friend.

@NedStarksGhost Yeah well done, although I rinsed through Biome 4 first go, I really struggled with biome 5. I wasn't until I went to back to revisit it for collectibles that was able to enjoy it.

@NedStarksGhost Nice one. Luckily you never need to do B5 again though as you can bypass that one almost instantly.

You did well to get through that one first go!

@render @JohnnyShoulder @Thrillho

Thanks all. I do put it down to lucky drops with the parasite and weapons! But yes that boss fight for B4 was immense, great build up to it!

I have a question for you all. Have I missed out on much from beating B1/2/3 first go and not repeating each Biome?

I know with this I've been in the house a few times in B4 and it's been different each time so I'm curious if I've missed anything from the first act.

@NedStarksGhost I think all you will have missed is collecting the scout logs and ciphers which you can go back and do later. Otherwise the house cut scenes you can catch up in B4 as it sounds like you already have been.

I can’t think of anything else unless anyone else can?

@NedStarksGhost Yeah, I’m not for certain but there might be a couple house sequences that are unique to B1. I think 3 in total. Same with B4 if I’m not mistaken. What I’m not sure of is whether the normal B1 sequences will unlock in B4. I don’t think so but I could be wrong.

The game doesn’t expect you to go through the whole first Act in one go! 😄

And yeah, lots of ciphers and scout logs that need multiple runs in order to unlock and find. Also data cubes. But it’s okay. I think it’s clear that you’ll have the opportunity to mop things up if you want later. I don’t think there was any key information contained in Biome 1.

And congrats for slaying the dragon that is Biome 5! It’s actually true that your best shot at the latter Biomes does seem to be the first time you get there because a player will tend to be pretty buffed from having gone through the prior Biome thoroughly and beat the boss and all. But the trick is to have the mental stamina to stick with it and put in that full 3 hour effort, so good job there. It’s harder to build yourself back up to that level again, but like was said — I skipped Biome 5 still and buffed up in 4 and went straight to 6. At first I felt underpowered, but I got the hang of it. The Biome really changes up some of the strategies needed.

@render @Th3solution good to know nothing crucial and you can go back!

Haha I had the feeling the game wanted me to die multiple times per act... Oops!

Just to double check... Biome 5 is the snowy ruins and Biome 6 the under water one? Or is that just Biome 5 continued?

@NedStarksGhost Yes, on Biome 5 and 6. Where you are now is Biome 6, Abyssal Scar.

And I say it changes up the necessary strategy because of the way jumping is more floaty and the way the walkways are so narrow and often being attacked from many directions with no where to dash to without falling into the abyss. I had gotten used to just dashing around in the middle of the melee, but B6 makes you take things slower and assess your terrain carefully before charging in.

And to your point — I’m not sure where this nomenclature of calling the levels by Biome 1-6 came from. They have actual names in the game: Overgrown Ruins, Crimson Wastes, etc, etc. But gamers pretty quickly just kept calling them 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. 😂

Back in the loop! Thought I was done, but Pyre doesn’t give me the same action the Returnal does. Going for the plat after getting two more surveys done, now only biomes 2 and 3 left to do!

@Just_2_milky You can do it 👍

I’m feeling the same with Hades. It’s a great game, don’t get me wrong, but it’s not grabbing me like Returnal did. There’s something unique about it and the gameplay is something else. I just found it totally addictive and couldn’t wait to get back on it again.

@render played hades on switch and will likely double dip in the future, while it’s amazing, (and some parts of the game are handled better than Returnal) the third person shooter gameplay feels better & is more addicting.
I need a ceberus-esque npc in Returnal!
Have you gotten the trophy for petting him 10
Times?

@Just_2_milky That’s the same for me, the 3Diness and the shooting / dashing mechanics are just so well implemented in Returnal. The story is damn good too.

I’ve not checked out the trophies for Hades so good to know that’s one. I might probably already halfway there but only because you can’t walk past without wanting to pet it 😆

@Th3solution great thanks for confirming that!

Yeah it really does, I kept falling and missing the ledges! Was not expecting it to do that!

Haha I'll be honest the Biome numbering thing suits me fine as I'm rubbish at remembering names!

Can't see me playing it today. Had far too much beer yesterday, and I don't think Returnal is the sort of game I can cope with hungover!

Hey all I've been reading this thread with interest, I don't have returnal but am at the point now where I'll be purchasing my next game.

I can play for around 2-3hrs max on an evening, so the lack of save function is putting me off. Am I to presume that this isn't a game for me then? I'm not really keen on leaving the console on overnight in rest mode.
It'll either be this or ratchet so welcome any thoughts

@MatthewJP You will potentially still be able to make good progress in that amount of time, depending on how quickly you pick things up. I wouldn't worry about using rest mode, I used it all the time when I was playing Returnal and didn't have any problems.

@MatthewJP yeah, you could to a really good run in 2-3 hours. I am about 45-50 hours in and have used rest mode a lot, and I haven’t hade any problems. If you can get it for 50 it’s an absolute steal and a must have ps5 game!

Amazon has it for 50$ and other stores probably do to, just didn’t check

Thanks both, that's food for thought. I'm a 'physical' gamer so having finished resident evil village I'll trade that in for a decent amount off the next one. Returnal is tempting even though I'm a complete newbie at this genre, it seems a lot of people are hooked on it once getting into it

@MatthewJP believe me I was too. After beating the 1st boss I went downstairs to have a glass of water, and I could not hold the cup as my hands were shaking! 🤣 fast forward and I’ve beaten the game and am close to the play! If you are determined, you can do it!

@MatthewJP I was not sure whether it would be my thing as I've not really enjoyed games in the same genre, but Returnal had its hooks into straight away.