Returnal for PS5 review - A mesmerizing blend of action and horror - Android

Returnal gameplay: There is nothing permanent except change

Returnal is like other good roguelikes — think Dead Cells or Hades — but it surprisingly also feels like a spiritual successor to Super Metroid. Weapon placement and item drops are always random, but occasionally you'll find a piece of permanent equipment that'll open up new paths that can fast track your progress and uncover new secrets in other biomes, just like in a traditional Metroidvania.

There's a clear emphasis on risk and reward throughout the game.

This also helps keep the momentum up with constant playthroughs. One of my problems with roguelikes is not being able to learn enemy patterns in later levels because of how difficult it was once you were there. In Returnal, with the right piece of gear, you can almost immediately head back to the biome you died at. You also don't have to beat the boss of the biome again after defeating it the first time. These slight tweaks were enough to numb the pain of constant death in a game with no checkpoints and made replays less of a chore.

There's a clear emphasis placed on risk and reward throughout the game. Parasites can be bound to your suit and offer bonuses as well as crippling suit malfunctions; you sometimes find spoiled and malignant health drops that may prove more harmful than good; more kills fuel your adrenaline, which gives your temporary skill boosts so long as you don't take damage; and occasionally you'll even find the bodies of other players, which you can choose to avenge for powerful weapons. You're constantly rolling the dice in Returnal, but not everything is so set in stone. Weapons, for example, improve as you use them, and eventually, you'll come across more powerful versions, packed to the gills with useful skills. As your weapon proficiency improves, so does the quality of the weapons you find.

Returnal's world is constantly shifting, like a puzzle being rearranged with every new cycle. Every playthrough is procedurally generated, and each section of every biome is immaculately designed, full of secrets that are both obvious and hidden, and set the stage for every enemy encounter. When the rooms locked down, I felt the claustrophobic tension building, like a hand around my neck, and both the relief of a victory or a frustrating defeat were equally palpable.

Returnal's world is constantly shifting, like a puzzle being rearranged with every new cycle.

That can be attributed to the world that Returnal takes place. The planet of Atropos is home to an ancient alien civilization, one that bears a resemblance to our world with technology light years ahead. From the overgrown forest, red deserts, frozen wastelands, and even underwater biomes, every area felt unique and striking in its own way.

I almost wished that Returnal was a different type of game if only to allow me to stay in the ruins of this long-dead world for longer. The game is unrelenting, which made the moments of solace feel like real breaths of air before being pulled back under the surface.

Returnal story: Silence is better than unmeaning words

Returnal is heavy on the action, but its quiet moments remind you that it's very much a psychological horror game. Selene's fate is a horrific one, and it's made hauntingly clear as you uncover your own dead bodies staring down at you from a cliff, floating stiff in the waters, or slumped against a wall. The ancient civilization she wanders through becomes more than scene dressing and the logs you find, left behind by other versions of yourself, chart Selene's inevitable descent into madness.

But the story itself is told in brief flashes and almost never in a traditional way. Occasionally, you'll also come across your old home, which shifts the perspective to first-person and allows you to wander Selene's memories, unpacking her deep-rooted trauma that leads the story to some very surprising and sometimes disturbing places. These segments feel like they ripped straight out of P.T./ Silent Hills (RIP) and you'll want to experience them all to grasp the full story.

But the story itself is told in brief flashes and almost never told in a traditional way.

Even at the end, I felt my head spinning at the game's climax. Selene's tragedy is rooted in Greek mythology and might require extra homework for those who aren't familiar. There's not one Greek myth you can point to that fully encompasses Returnal's plot, and there are references to many prominent gods and Titans scattered throughout. Whatever your interpretation, I found Selene's suffering biblical in nature, the world around her diverse and unique, and her ever-changing cycle of torment profound.