PossibLeigh

@ElMarko And not liking a genre is fine, but your initial dismissal was Flawed. Also to say the genre has disappeared in an article about a game in the genre is a bit odd isn't it? Wasn't Hades also one of the biggest games last year? 😜

@Jaz007 Sorry, I'm not sure which comment of mine you're replying to, but it sounds like you agree with me?

I'm well versed in the roguelike and roguelites genres, and the way other genres generally handle death / saving etc... FPS is not my favoured genre, but I was there when it all began, No worries.

As I play Returnal more I'm realising it's designed to mitigate the slog as much as it can. I can now get from biome 1 to biome 3 in 15 minutes, for example.
I'm still in favour of a save state though, if it can be done without spoiling the brilliantly designed immediacy of the front end.

Games used to be brutal due to technology limitations, but these days, more accessibility is a good thing.

@ElMarko Your original comment said replaying levels from the start. The vast majority of games at least ask us to do that. It's only recent open world action RPGS that don't punish failure in some way.
Whilst geographically you do "go right back to square one" in roguelites like Returnal, there is always meta-progression made. You've also learnt more about the environment, the enemies and the world around you, which is the real progression. In that way it's no different to a long, punishing stretch of something like Dark Souls.
And, like Dark Souls, shortcuts open up to help you get back to where you were quickly. I've just realised that a new piece of equipment has allowed me to skip straight from biome 1 to biome 3. In 15 minutes I'm back to making the kind of progress you're referring to.
It's fine to prefer games like Valhalla, that spoon feed you rewards and spectacle with minimal challenge (I like them too), but some of us also like to work for our victories.
The risk / reward level is higher in roguelites, hence they are a more intense, gripping experience.
The ignorance around the genre is winding me up, so apologies for splurging at you. Mate.

EDIT: Forgot to say that I am actually in favour of a suspend save state for those who lack time, but the game IS designed to mitigate these things as much as it can.

I've been thinking about this and part of the problem may be the quite radical way the game opens with no title screen. Tough to reconcile going into a save state with that game intro.

@Rob_230 The daily challenge runs have leaderboards, but it should be easy to just disable the save state function for challenge runs, which are shorter than an actual run anyway.

@Profondo Agree with much of what you say. There seems to be a knee jerk reaction to rogue lites and likes that is unwarranted.

However, I'm this case I think a save state is a fair request. Runs can take hours, rather than the minutes of other roguelites.

@ElMarko Yes.

@ElMarko "Playing levels from the start everytime you die..."

Uh... Isn't that how a lot of games work?

@orson Video games are stupid and pointless. What's YOUR point?

@Ssimsim Calibrators raise your overall firearm proficiency which is then applied to all guns you pick up that run. So, if you advance from proficiency 2 to 3, say, then all guns you pick up will be at level 3. Once you get to level 4, the next guns will be level 4. Your proficiency level resets upon death, but calibrators are fairly plentiful in the first biome.

Blimey! Someone's been busy! 🤭

Installing now and I'd forgotten how loud the PS5 drive gets when copying data!

@Porkman85 Same, I usually trust EG. Maybe, the opposite to you, I'm convincing myself there must be a skill gap and I'll be fine!

I expect this game to thrash me soundly.

Edited to say, I did really enjoy that Eurogamer review. They've got some talented writers.

@Porkman85 The Eurogamer review makes no mention of the hard checkpoint so I'm wondering how far he was able to make it through the game. Seems there may be a bit of a skill gap between that chap and Mr Tailby. All the hands on I've seen say challenging, but not insane.

@Kirbyboy92 Lots of hype building, I guess! For me, the constant dev updates and reveals have worked really well to raise my interest. Not sure how you missed the many, many articles. 😜

@Hurblyburbly I'm the same. With my growing old man status, the reactions ain't what they used to be. I'll just play it for the experience.

I was expecting biome shortcuts, but that hard checkpoint at world 4 is a good idea. Still won't stop people moaning though. My copy has just arrived, but I must stay focused on my uni work for a little while longer!

Another game I will probably never complete but enjoy trying!

Nothing for me so this might be a good month for me to drop my sub temporarily. But..... Would the asynchronous online of Returnal work without a sub?

@DualshockInfinit I really fancy the look of that.

@LPB The protagonist is quick and the enemies and bullets large. The space is very much needed.

@Chaotic_Goat I've heard it is customisable, but would imagine the down the sights / alt fire command has to be the left or right shoulder button.

I am EXCITE! Fair play, House Marque, it looks totally finished, an outlier in today's console market. I've not heard of any bugs at all, bar a few minor frame dips it seems rock solid.

Is a bug free, complete when shipped game worth more moolah than a buggy one?

Hades is a good game, no doubt. Tight loop, snappy and responsive, well designed. But is it really deserving of all these awards? The much vaunted integration of progression and narrative left me cold as it pretty much amounted to lots of pointless chatter. I checked out after beating Hades twice, so maybe it kicks into high gear story wise later?

@ApostateMage Maybe they are being generous and will have it in more categories next year when it's actually finished. 🤪

It definitely benefits from being one of very few PS5 native games. I've just caved. I've seen enough to know I'm gonna have a good time. Maybe even £61.06 worth of good time. I've had to move some things around, but I never really used that cottage in the cotswolds anyway.

The poll has exposed how quickly our resolve crumbles in the face of potentially fantastic gaming goodness! Me, I'm seeing it less and less as £70 (£63ish), and more and more as an experience I don't want to miss out on from day 1. Damn you, fleixble, corrupt moral system!

@PaperAlien Could be, as I'm only getting the 10% offer in app. Still, good bargain hunting, dude!

@PaperAlien Do you mean the 10% discount, or an actual £10 discount? I'd buy it now at £53, but can't get it. Cheapest I cna find on eBay is £63ish, but it won't let me apply the PARCEL10 voucher.

@ralphdibny ah, the animated DC shows are my blind spot! I've been told I am missing out, so will have to rectify that!

My resolve is caving. The desire to not endorse the new pricing strategy is paling against my desire to get this game on my telly!

EDIT: Although I look, from the outside, like a fully grown adult, when it comes to resisting video games I desire I'm worse than a kid!

@ralphdibny Ah, I feel ya man. I too have been kept away from my partner for over a year now. Just waiting for borders to re-open. Luckily, she doesn't care for TV so I don't have to postpone watching anything.

Yeah, BL is a weird one for me. Objectively, it's probably the best CW show, but just didn't keep me engaged for reasons I've not yet defined.

Star Girl is good. Fairly typical CW fair with better cinematography. It's elevated by it's fantastic choreography. I didn't believe any show could make Sports Master cool, but his fight style is awesome! Hope you guys can reunite soon and get on it.

@Th3solution Ha, fair play, I tip my hat to you, sir. Dead Cells was way too tough for me! I did enjoy my time with it though.

I've read that in Returnal, once you beat a boss you never have to beat it again (which is unlike most roguelites), so that's another barrier to progression removed.

I really do think that this, like Hades before it, is going to popularize the genre with a lot of people who previously dismissed it. I hope those who do change their minds go back and try some of the indie developed influences on this and Hades (which really didn't do much that was new).

I shelved it a long time ago, but never bothered with a refund. It stands as a physical reminder to me to never preorder. I will go back to it at some point.

@ralphdibny Yes, Legends is a very close second. I have Titans as number 3. Isn't there new Legends in a week or two?

There seems to be quite a few people with basic misconceptions of roguelikes/lites. It's just a different structure. If it's a good roguelike/lite, you will always be making overall progress. People complaining about having to replay after death. Isn't that what happens in a 'normal' game? Isn't that what happens after dying in a souls game? You're doing yourselves a disservice by being so blinkered. Good roguelikes/lites have way more variety than an average game and usually way more interlocking systems.

@Voltan At last the genre gets the recognition it deserves!

@ralphdibny Haha, I do actually watch them all (though I may drop Flash soon if it doesn't buck up it's ideas) and you are 100% correct!

@elvisfan1 Personally, I'd rather more focus on games than a whole different medium. Horses for courses.

@ralphdibny Hi! Just wanted to say Doom Patrol has been so, so good, so loving your avatar.

@a1904 Doesn't like roguelikes, but likes Hades. There's an essential contrast there I just can't put my finger on! 😜 Does Hades (an archetypal roguelikes) have scaling difficulty? I thought it just got harder with each new biome. I missed that AND was still crap at the game.
In Returnal's favour, I hear that once you beat an areas boss, you never have to fight them again. May make those restarts slightly less annoying. I see what you are saying though. Auto saving before each 'room' would go against the design principles of roguelikes.

My main concern for this game is due to the presentation of bullet hell in a 3D setting. The camera position behind the main character is not conducive to full situational awareness. Eurogamer touch on this in their piece. They also say that attacks are well telegraphed which is a good way of sidestepping the perspective issue. It's looking really good. Still can't afford it.

@a1904 amay I ask what it is you don't like about roguelikes?

@Nepp67 Control does that. (Haptic footsteps)

@nessisonett Great question!

@NEStalgia Are they similar at all though, other than 'zombies' (or mushroom approximations of)? Genuine question. I've played TLOU and DG, but not TLOU2. I'm struggling to think of similarities between TLOU1 and DG.

@TheArt I'll be extremely disappointed if that was happening. A game should be rated on its own merits. I can't believe PuSqu would think like that.

@Dezzy70 Yeah, it was a joke. I don't really blame Brexit. I just like to blame it for everything in a self-mockingly liberal elite kinda way.

@Dezzy70 I blame Brexit. Fudge it, why not?!

Nnnnyyaarg... Must... Resist... Can't... Urge.. to... Police... Grammar... Too... Strong...

... the editing and animation ARE awesome.

I'm seeing this more and more in commentary, but can't ignore it in an article. Sorry! Don't hate me! I love PushSquare! 😂

Didn't I hear Squenix have set up a production company, or is my brain inventing that? If so, bet it's related to that.