Returnal - RLLMUK and BAFTA GOTY 2021 - Free Ascension DLC out now!

[KartoffelKopf]

52 minutes ago, Doctor Shark said:

Gotcha, thanks. I’ve been reluctant to play this since the first day as reading through the thread I could see people losing hours of progress after game resume crapped out etc. 

 

Yeah, I was the same and put it off until they added the save option. Had a few goes, started to get my head round it, then Elden Ring came out..... I will play this properly one day.

[Vemsie]

 

[Siri]

Looks like the Steam version is being prepped. Lots of references in the rich text of the changelog!

[Vemsie]

 

[CheekyMonkey]

I've waited and waited and waited for the price to drop on this because I really didn't want to pay $124 AUD for it. What bloody luck I did wait, because I upgraded my PS Plus to the new top tier and this is included! 

 

Really just did not know what to make of it for the first 2-3 hours. I just kept dying at the same spot (relatively speaking) as it would usually spawn 2 of the tougher creatures together and my weapon just didn't seem to have enough oomph to help me. I also wasn't finding certain items (eg house key, melee blade) even though I was exploring the level as much as I could. 

 

Then on one cycle I seemed to just get a bit lucky with drops, and found the blade weapon, the house key, then got to the boss and was within a whisker of beating him. So - I guess my question is, did I improve, or was it purely because the game decided to help me out a bit more with a lucky run? 🤔

[Gigawatt]

I'm not aware of the game doing any behind the scenes balancing, so I'd hazard a guess you're just getting a bit better.  By the time you're able to finish the game you'll be able to go back and blast through the early levels hardly ever being hit.  I'd still get the odd cycle where I'd screw up and die really quickly mind you.  It's a beautiful example of pure game mechanics and your improvement is pure skill rather than 'levelling up'.

 

My top-tip is to turn on 'Always Sprint' and then spend the whole time running around like a maniac - this game is not a cover shooter!

[SozzlyJoe]

Loving the gameplay, whilst accepting that for 'git gud' games I usually beat a few bosses then the motivation just fades away. I'll have fun up to that point though!

Question though, what should I be prioritising here? Should I be saving ether for the chests? Is there anything I can level up to help me over runs apart from ether?

[Vemsie]

14 minutes ago, SozzlyJoe said:

Loving the gameplay, whilst accepting that for 'git gud' games I usually beat a few bosses then the motivation just fades away. I'll have fun up to that point though!

Question though, what should I be prioritising here? Should I be saving ether for the chests? Is there anything I can level up to help me over runs apart from ether?

Traits. Starts unlocking different traits for weapons instead of switching to every new one you come across. And use Ether at the device near the crashed ship to permanently unlock consumables

Some good tips:

 

[Floshenbarnical]

Avoid death? That's a bloody good tip, I wish I'd thought of that.

[Alan Stock]

This is a harsh mistress to come back to. I decided to come back to mop up the final ending, and keep getting wrecked by the biome 4 boss. One problem with having all the weapons unlocked is that some of the trait combos are really useless for bosses, so you're left with the choice of downswapping for a lower damage, earlier weapon or soldiering on with what you have. Really though its getting caught by random blobs that are out of camera in the boss that's getting me killed, going to need to start saving up for those extra lifesavers!

[Hylian]

On 01/07/2022 at 05:10, CheekyMonkey said:

I've waited and waited and waited for the price to drop on this because I really didn't want to pay $124 AUD for it. What bloody luck I did wait, because I upgraded my PS Plus to the new top tier and this is included! 

 

Really just did not know what to make of it for the first 2-3 hours. I just kept dying at the same spot (relatively speaking) as it would usually spawn 2 of the tougher creatures together and my weapon just didn't seem to have enough oomph to help me. I also wasn't finding certain items (eg house key, melee blade) even though I was exploring the level as much as I could. 

 

Then on one cycle I seemed to just get a bit lucky with drops, and found the blade weapon, the house key, then got to the boss and was within a whisker of beating him. So - I guess my question is, did I improve, or was it purely because the game decided to help me out a bit more with a lucky run? 🤔

The game can swing quite quickly in your favour if you play well. You can go from feeling overwhelmed to overpowered in just a few rooms. There are lots of game mechanics that reward good/perfect play: adrenaline; silphium - > resin; picking up more obolites. 

[JPR]

On 01/07/2022 at 05:10, CheekyMonkey said:

Then on one cycle I seemed to just get a bit lucky with drops, and found the blade weapon, the house key, then got to the boss and was within a whisker of beating him. So - I guess my question is, did I improve, or was it purely because the game decided to help me out a bit more with a lucky run? 🤔

 

I had a run like that where after 8hrs of failing to beat the first boss it felt like the game was taking pity on me and saying if you don't do it now you never will. So I got to the boss with a great weapon, large and full health bar and a few healing consumables feeling great about it, dropped down and the bugger didn't spawn. I was really starting wonder if I'd made a mistake getting Returnal then. Took me another hour to finally beat it, but then I went and beat biome 2 on my first run, makes no sense.

 

Glad I was stubborn and persisted though as I absolutely love it, should have known my enjoyment of anything Housemarque would be greater than my aversion to the mention of roguelike. Might have to go back to it this weekend and carry on up the tower.

[Fretnoise]

Just started playing this again for the faintly ridiculous reason that it’s included in the new PS+ thingie and I can play it without digging out the disc…

 

Had my arse handed to me a few times, but went on to beat Phrike after a couple of goes (it all came flooding back) and then had my first co-op game with a random, which was really good. We both seemed to be keeping an eye on each other and saving guns and health for each other etc. I bet it’s a nightmare if you get paired with an idiot   We got through to the 3rd boss (as far as I’d got previously) and…. died horribly. Nice change though. 

[Vemsie]

 

[Vemsie]

RLLMUK Game of the Year not mentioned unfortunately.

[p1nseeker]

Got to 13m in the tower. Tricked out dreadbound made mincemeat of everything. 

 

I still jump on this when i want a quick blast on something. Even if it's just to make progress at unlocking traits etc.

[Dark Soldier]

This is everything I dreamed of. God fucking damn.

 

Only done two cycles so far. Got my arse destroyed first cycle.

 

Second cycle I got to what I think is the first major boss, down to half health in his third wave before the twat got me. Seems simple enough. That AR is amazing, think mine was +4.

 

Had five parasites and got the achievement.

 

Progressed the story in some trippy ways.

 

But overall God Damn this is a videogame.

[p1nseeker]

Ok but you're banned from the tower of sisyphus. Trying to keep up with your scores on Trials nearly killed me 😂

[Dark Soldier]

18 minutes ago, p1nseeker said:

Ok but you're banned from the tower of sisyphus. Trying to keep up with your scores on Trials nearly killed me 😂

What's your psn tag 🤣

[p1nseeker]

6 minutes ago, Dark Soldier said:

What's your psn tag 🤣

 

p1nseek3r_

[Rog]

Back to the game for fun. Restarting it I thought “great, they’ve got rid of the tedious need to burst all the pods to maximise oblites”. Lovely time in the first act, then I got to the second. 

[shirubagan]

Just played some co-op for the first time and it took a few rooms to get into the rhythm and work together but it was great fun. 
 

Jumped into a Tower run and beat the first boss for the first time. 
 

This game. So glad I bought it even though it’s be free to me on Extra now. 

[Colonel Panic]

I’ve been playing this again too! I beat the first boss in May 2021 and the second in Feb 2022! 
 

Just spent few goes killing Phrike again so it’s time to head back to the third biome for me! 😬

[grounded_dreams]

If anyone is interested, the game director Harry Kruege and actor Jane Perry are doing a BAFTA Masterclass talk and Q&A on the evening of Monday 26th September in London.

More details and how to purchase tickets can be found here

[Parappa]

I have recently started this and despite having no idea what I am really doing but it seems great.  It seems hard as nails and remembering when to reload is a pain but I think I am having fun. 

 

I have made it to what I assume is the 1st boss a few times now and got it about half way down however you then have to restart - and I have to restart from scratch it seems?  I don't think I have seen a weapon over +2 yet.  Perhaps I am missing something but you can't just go straight to the boss? (otherwise you will be underpowered)  

 

Maybe I am missing something - but it seems to be great and the sound is incredible. 

[scissorkicks]

3 hours ago, Parappa said:

I have recently started this and despite having no idea what I am really doing but it seems great.  It seems hard as nails and remembering when to reload is a pain but I think I am having fun. 

 

I have made it to what I assume is the 1st boss a few times now and got it about half way down however you then have to restart - and I have to restart from scratch it seems?  I don't think I have seen a weapon over +2 yet.  Perhaps I am missing something but you can't just go straight to the boss? (otherwise you will be underpowered)  

 

Maybe I am missing something - but it seems to be great and the sound is incredible. 

This is all by design, yes. It's a "rogue-lite" I guess.

BUT - you do progress. You unlock permanent upgrades, shortcuts etc. It's daunting at first but it absolutely pays off. Promise.

[Parappa]

12 minutes ago, scissorkicks said:

This is all by design, yes. It's a "rogue-lite" I guess.

BUT - you do progress. You unlock permanent upgrades, shortcuts etc. It's daunting at first but it absolutely pays off. Promise.

Thanks for the support 😜. I love Housemarques stuff so looking forward to getting stuck in.

[Sarlaccfood]

43 minutes ago, Parappa said:

Thanks for the support 😜. I love Housemarques stuff so looking forward to getting stuck in.

Once you beat a boss you can skip them after that too.

[smac]

There's also a portal to the end boss that appears near the start of the area, if I recall correctly.

[Vemsie]

17 hours ago, Parappa said:

I have recently started this and despite having no idea what I am really doing but it seems great.  It seems hard as nails and remembering when to reload is a pain but I think I am having fun. 

 

I have made it to what I assume is the 1st boss a few times now and got it about half way down however you then have to restart - and I have to restart from scratch it seems?  I don't think I have seen a weapon over +2 yet.  Perhaps I am missing something but you can't just go straight to the boss? (otherwise you will be underpowered)  

 

Maybe I am missing something - but it seems to be great and the sound is incredible. 

A tip I always give as not everyone realizes this: do not constantly pick-up every new weapon you come across. Start unlocking weapon traits as they are permanent and will be added to the mix in future runs. Some other tips: statues with yellow eyes drop oobolites, the sword - when unlocked - is excellent againts flying enemies, you can recover a small amount of health once by returning to the ship and sleeping in it, try to get your combo/adrenaline and health meter up as quickly as possible and use Ether on the Cthonos device in the starting area to unlock new consumables.

Enjoy, it's a banger of a game.