Returnal ps5 reviews driver#

Not everyone will enjoy the challenge, but this is pure arcade shooting at its finest. It's no hyperbole to say that the game left us physically shaking at points, particularly some of the boss battles. The rainbow of bullets, shockwaves, and lasers are relentless, and can come from almost any direction. Fights are frenetic and seriously intense - you're forced to fight aggressively to thin enemy numbers, but you also have to stay on the move.

Some weapons feel more useful than others, but powerful Alt-Fire attacks and Weapon Traits are randomly assigned, and can make a huge difference to whichever gun you have equipped.įortunately, the combat is electric, whatever the case.

Returnal ps5 reviews driver#

However, later weapons get more experimental the Rotgland Lobber throws out acidic rounds that deal damage over time, while the Electropylon Driver sends out rods that connect with damaging energy, and enemies tethered to them will be continuously weakened. New weapons are introduced fairly steadily, and these mostly stick to stereotypes - a machine gun, a shotgun, and so on.

As you take down baddies, your weapon proficiency level increases, and that means any guns you find will be that much more powerful. You start out with a simple pistol, but it'll handle early enemies pretty well. There was a risk that this sudden change in perspective would feel jarring or detached, but the game establishes first person moments from the off, and it's so integral to the story that it feels like it belongs. There's an uneasy atmosphere in the murky corridors, and things only get weirder as you pay return visits. As if the presence of the House in this eldritch hellscape isn't eerie enough, the camera pulls in and you explore the space in first person. As you explore, a typical, American country home will appear in the environment from time to time, and you can go inside. While we're on the subject of story, we have to mention the House. Through audio logs and Xenoglyphs you need to translate, you'll get a little background on Selene and the planet's ancient alien race, but the vast majority of your time will be spent blasting neon nasties - more on that shortly. The story actually takes somewhat of a backseat for most of the game. This is partly because the narrative is so closely tied into the game's design Selene's struggle as she adjusts to her Groundhog Day predicament is something you'll observe as you slowly inch forward through the game's six biomes. Returnal will do little to sway people who dislike this structure, but it's a fantastic example of the genre, and one of the best we've played in a long time. Indeed, most of your progress is reset when you kick the bucket, and randomly generated environments mean a slightly different experience every time you set off - this is a rogue-lite through and through.