As we gradually phase out the era of the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, it’s becoming increasingly apparent that the future lies within the next-generation platforms. Game studios are dedicating their focus to creating immersive experiences for those who’ve gotten their hands on a PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X, making it a great time to be a next-gen console owner. However, the narrative takes a slightly different turn for the PC gaming community. In this Returnal review, we will explore how the game fares on PC, comparing it to its PS5 version, and whether it is worth your time and investment.
If you’re someone who finds the allure of PC gaming irresistible, you’ve probably noticed that the hardware requirements for modern games have been scaling up at a noticeable pace. This trend reignites one of the oldest queries in the gaming world: “Can my PC handle this game?” The recent port of “Returnal,” a game that was once exclusive to the PlayStation 5, brings this question to the forefront. Released almost two years ago, “Returnal” made a splash in the gaming community as a roguelike game that showcased the raw power and capabilities of the then-new PS5.
It captivated gamers with its breathtaking graphics, cutting-edge special effects, and ultra-fast streaming capabilities. As “Returnal” has now graced the world of PC gaming, the question arises: can the PC version hold its own against the PS5 original? Can it deliver the same visual splendor and smooth gameplay that it did on the PS5? And, most importantly, does it do justice to the PS5’s rendition of the game?
In our Returnal review, we have spent considerable time on this PC port, and the verdict is in: Returnal on PC doesn’t just meet expectations—it surpasses them! The PC port is exceptional, offering an experience that rivals, if not surpasses, its console counterpart. With its settings maxed out, “Returnal” can push even the most powerful PCs to their limits, offering a taste of the intensity that next-gen console gaming brings.
However, even if you’re working with a more budget-friendly mid-tier system, you’re not left out of the action. By forgoing some of the more resource-intensive features such as ray tracing, you can still enjoy the adrenaline-pumping bullet hell action that “Returnal” has to offer. So, whether you’re a high-end PC gamer or a mid-range system owner, “Returnal” offers an unforgettable gaming experience that serves as a testament to the potential of next-generation gaming. The following section of the Returnal PC review will explore the unexpected challenges that the game introduces and how they shape the overall experience.
Table of Contents
A Testament to Survival: Embracing the Unexpected in Returnal
The initial moments of Returnal are unequivocally disastrous, a tempest of confusion and curiosity. As we take control of our protagonist Selene, we’re immediately hurled into the disarray of a swiftly executed cutscene that depicts a devastating spaceship crash. What follows is a cascade of questions – we’re in the dark about Selene’s presence on this seemingly inhospitable planet, her intentions, and the mysterious circumstances surrounding the calamitous event that led to her arrival.
Undeniably, there is a sense of bewilderment that envelops us as we find ourselves entrenched in the hostile environment of this alien biome, brimming with danger at every turn. From the untouched wilderness to the seemingly inhospitable inhabitants prepared to hunt us down, we’re left to confront the harsh reality that we’re certainly not here for a leisurely journey.
Navigating the Dance of Death: It’s Not the End, but a New Beginning
Our Returnal game review wouldn’t be complete without mentioning its innovative death and resurrection mechanics. Contrary to what you might initially assume, Returnal encourages you to embrace the inevitability of death. As paradoxical as it might sound, mortality in the gaming universe often acts as an intricate key to progression. This is reminiscent of the captivating gameplay dynamics of Hades, where death was an integral part of the experience. In Hades, we often found ourselves in a repetitive dance with death, each time emerging more equipped and empowered, ready to take on the challenges ahead with renewed vigor.
However, Returnal spins a different yarn in this regard. Here, the consequence of death is a steeper price to pay. The game demands more from its players, as we find ourselves stripped of most of our progress and gear upon Selene’s demise. While there is a glimmer of hope in the retention of certain key items, such as the ever-useful grappling hook or specific raw materials, the majority of our acquired armaments perish with our heroine.
The Ever-Changing Labyrinth: Bracing for the Unpredictable
In this part of our Returnal review, we’ll dive into the unpredictability of the game’s environments. Upon our reincarnation, the terrain we once knew morphs into a new entity altogether. The arrangement of rooms resets, and we’re faced with an entirely different challenge. This reconfiguration pushes us into the uncharted territory of chance and unpredictability, where our fate rests on the roll of a dice.
At times, I’ve found myself stepping through the inaugural door only to be immediately swarmed by an aggressive squadron of enemies, with their leader capable of ending my journey with a mere two-shot salvo. Alternatively, there have been instances where I’ve scoured through the initial locations in vain, desperate for an effective weapon. However, there have also been fortuitous runs where I was blessed with a robust arsenal early in the game, enabling me to tread ahead with an air of confidence.
This unpredictability, this variation in fortunes, is what forms the crux of Returnal’s allure. Driven to the brink of frustration with a relentless series of defeats, I still find myself embarking on the next journey with an eager heart. Eager to discover the novel challenges that lay behind the next door. Eager to confront the reality of an unforgiving planet that harbors no goodwill for its guests.
An Intricate Narrative: Echoes of Dark Souls
Unveiling the plot of a video game can often be a challenging task. At times, it can be akin to uncovering the hidden treasures buried in the depths of a vast ocean. When contemplating this, my mind cannot help but draw parallels to the remarkable gaming series crafted by From Software, fondly known as Dark Souls.
In the opening phases of our gaming experience, we are plunged into an enigmatic universe with nary an understanding of the world or the protagonist. Our introduction to the plot is an abrupt catastrophe sequence that thrusts us into the midst of chaos where survival becomes the sole priority. The early stages of the game serve to familiarize us with the dark, almost desolate world that we must navigate and come to grips with.
Uncovering Layers: The Heroine’s Tale
As we progress, we encounter a peculiar sight – the lifeless form of our heroine. Next to her rests a journal, its entries gradually revealing the intricacies of the narrative. A noteworthy discovery is Selene’s house, a symbol of familiarity in an otherwise alien world. Exploration of these premises, accessible after unearthing certain plot elements, provides additional insight into the narrative, shedding light on previously obscured details and enriching the game’s ambiance.
Adding to the game’s intrigue are the remnants of other players who met their untimely end on Atropos. Presented with these traces, we find ourselves at a crossroads. Should we seek revenge for their demise or let bygones be bygones? One must tread cautiously, though, as the path of retribution is strewn with formidable adversaries. Nevertheless, victory does bring its rewards. In this case, Ether, a unique form of currency that stays with us even in death. This element, too, bears a striking resemblance to Dark Souls, especially the opportunity to witness the demise of other players. However, in this particular narrative, there exists a chance for avenging them.
A Test of Skill: Navigating Through Challenges
Housemarque’s gaming masterpiece offers players an elevated level of difficulty, ensuring that each moment of gameplay is far from a casual stroll. The primary source of difficulty does not exclusively stem from aggressive and potent adversaries—though we do encounter such formidable foes—it is predominantly driven by the uncertainty that cloaks each location.
A simple door could lead to a room filled with useful equipment, or it could unleash a horde of hostile enemies. The element of unpredictability is palpable with each rebirth, transforming each playthrough into a leap into the unknown. This factor unequivocally stamps this game as a venture not tailored for every gaming enthusiast.
Immersing into the Illusionary Nightmare
The visual landscapes in Returnal are an artistic spectacle that grips you from the very start. It’s impossible to ignore the meticulous craftsmanship infused into each aspect of the game. The creators have seemingly poured their heart and soul into ensuring that even the tiniest of details are exquisitely executed.
The vibrant planetary environment of the game is not merely a static background, but a living, breathing entity. As you meander through the verdant expanse, the scenery springs to life, every nuance of movement attesting to the world’s vitality. The blades of grass, for instance, don’t just serve as a green carpet for your character to stride upon. They sway with the rhythm of the breeze, rustling under your feet, transforming the world from a mere visual backdrop to an interactive arena.
The Sinister Vines: Gateway to Higher Realms
Another noteworthy detail that demands attention is the twisting, ever-moving vines. They act as ladders to the higher levels, curling and uncurling like living, sentient beings. At first glance, their almost sinister demeanor can make one instinctively avoid their touch. However, these vines quickly become crucial allies in navigating the vertical dimensions of the game, despite their initial intimidating appearance.
The heavy and foreboding atmosphere is an indispensable companion to the striking graphics, complementing the rich visual tapestry. As you delve deeper into the game, you’ll encounter adversaries, discover cryptic glyphs, unearth enigmatic statues, and face challenging puzzles that require gathering insightful knowledge.
Now, let’s divert our attention back to the enemies briefly. In your journey through Returnal, you will encounter a diverse range of adversaries, each with their unique traits and capabilities. With approximately 50 distinct types, the enemy designs are handled with utmost care, resulting in a vibrant and diverse rogues’ gallery.
Combat Choreography: A Blend of Simplicity and Spectacle
The battle sequences in Returnal are as much an artistic spectacle as they are a gameplay mechanic. Although the weapon models err on the side of simplicity, the overall combat experience is electrifying, thanks to the spectacular visual effects accompanying each shot. The resulting pyrotechnics, whether from your weapons or from enemy attacks, add to the high stakes feel of the battles, making every encounter a visually stunning, adrenaline-fueled experience.
All in all, Returnal’s beautiful nightmare engulfs the player in an artistic, vibrant, and thrilling world that goes beyond a simple game, offering an experience that is immersive, engaging, and wonderfully terrifying.
Experience Returnal on PC: Exquisite Optimization and a Plethora of Options
Returnal, an intense roguelike shooter, transports you into the depths of a hostile alien environment, with thrilling bullet-hell encounters at every corner. The importance of flawless dodges and quick reactions in this game cannot be overstated – and for that, a consistently high frame rate is a prerequisite for truly immersing oneself in the Returnal universe. This Returnal review will now take a closer look at the game’s optimization, settings options, and overall PC performance
Let’s start with the encouraging news: Achieving 60 frames per second (fps) is entirely feasible, even on a mid-range setup. We ran the game on the Asus ROG Strix G15 gaming notebook – a common model, equipped with an Intel Core i7-10750H, 16 GB of RAM, and a GTX 2070. Although a pop-up warned that our hardware might not be supported, and hence the game might run poorly, it ran without a hitch, contradicting the cautionary message. To our delight, there was no occurrence of crashes, and the performance exceeded our expectations.
One noteworthy feature is the game’s options menu, which provides numerous ways to personalize the graphic settings. Our test setup managed medium to high graphic details comfortably, with upsampling activated. You’re spoilt for choice with techniques like FSR, DLSS, or XeSS to use. In our scenario, the DLSS performance mode provided an ideal balance between image clarity and performance.
For those with higher-end hardware and a desire to push their graphics card to its limits, Returnal supports ultra settings, widescreen formats, high resolutions, and contemporary ray tracing. However, using ray tracing is a demanding task and hence may not be feasible for the average gamer. Hence, we recommend maintaining 60 fps for an optimal gaming experience. If achieving high-end graphics isn’t a priority, consider lowering the settings. We can vouch that even on medium settings, Returnal’s unique artistry and atmospheric style shine through, occasional blurry textures or late-rendering vegetation notwithstanding.
To aid players in gauging their system’s performance, Housemarque, the developers, thoughtfully included a comprehensive benchmark divided into stages. By the end, you will have an accurate appraisal of your system’s performance, which should guide you in choosing the ideal settings.
Another concern we had was the game’s seamless streaming. Returnal boasts virtually non-existent load times – your character races from one chamber to the next at a furious pace, teleporting and transitioning into new levels without any noticeable loading delays. This uninterrupted gaming experience was a standout feature on the PS5 and similarly demands a robust SSD on the PC. But here too, our test setup performed admirably, presenting no issues with loading times throughout our gameplay.
Aside from its impressive graphics, Returnal also shines in the auditory department, truly creating a modern gaming experience in every sense.
Returnal on PC: Unleashing the Power of Keyboard and Mouse
This portion of our Returnal PC review will examine the game’s transition from console to PC controls, as well as the customizability and compatibility of the game with different input devices. The gaming world has been abuzz with talk of Returnal, a fast-paced and riveting game that had previously been a hallmark of the PlayStation 5. Noteworthy was its seamless utilization of the PS5’s unique DualSense controller, which undoubtedly enhanced the gaming experience for many. However, with the game now available on PC, there are some understandable questions about how well the control experience translates across platforms. So, can we give the green light? Unquestionably, yes!
Fully Customizable Control Schemes
The transition of Returnal from PS5 to PC has brought with it a level of control freedom that is indeed commendable. Right off the bat, it becomes apparent that the game is smoothly operable using the standard keyboard and mouse setup. You have the liberty to customize the keybindings, aligning them with your personal preferences. With a relatively straightforward control scheme, it takes only a few moments before you are zooming, firing, and scrambling your way through the intense Bullet Hell segments, matching, or perhaps even surpassing, the pace of the console experience.
Compatibility with Various Controllers
For those who still cherish the tactile feedback of a gamepad, worry not. The PC version of Returnal extends its support to a broad array of controllers. Interestingly, the DualSense controller, a hallmark of the PS5 gaming experience, is also wholly compatible with Returnal on the PC. This means that you have the flexibility to retain the console-esque experience if that’s your preference, or venture into the keyboard and mouse territory for a classic PC gaming experience.
To sum up, whether you’re a keyboard and mouse purist or a gamepad enthusiast, Returnal on the PC manages to satisfy both worlds with its versatile control scheme. Its adaptability enhances the accessibility of this thrilling game, making it a fantastic addition to any PC gamer’s library.
Unveiling the Latest: The Exciting New Additions
The updated PC version that has now reached parity with the PS5 version, encompassing all of the enhancements and features that have been introduced since the original launch. It’s pertinent to note that significant alterations have been made through several patches, marking a definitive departure from the original release.
One of the remarkable transformations revolves around the game’s saving mechanism. Previously, it was characterized by a solitary save slot that didn’t accommodate game interruptions. If you switched off the console, it was mandatory to restart the run from the beginning, a fact that was particularly daunting for the players.
However, the recent modifications have been a game-changer. Now, players can conveniently pause their gameplay at any juncture and resume it later, thereby providing a more personalized and user-friendly gaming experience. Even though this modification might seem inconsequential, it is a discernible improvement that enhances the game’s overall convenience.
Cooperative Gameplay: The Advent of Two-Player Mode
Another stimulating feature is the incorporation of a two-player cooperative mode. In this mode, the progression of the guest player aligns with the host, facilitating shared gaming experiences. Regrettably, due to its launch proximity, we couldn’t conduct a comprehensive assessment of this feature under live conditions.
Nevertheless, we have managed to connect our Steam account with the Epic Store, a fundamental step required for accessing the cooperative gameplay on PC. We intend to delve deeper into this co-op mode and will present a detailed analysis in an upcoming update.
Tower of Sisyphus: An Intriguing New Addition
Housemarque, in its innovative stride, has introduced a significant novelty — the enigmatic Tower of Sisyphus. The PC version now integrates this feature right from the outset. The Tower of Sisyphus presents an ‘endless mode’, compelling players to combat hordes of adversaries across multiple levels.
The allure of this intriguing addition doesn’t end here. Upon successfully navigating through the tower, players can evaluate their performance against others through online leaderboards, fostering a competitive spirit. Additionally, the Tower of Sisyphus promises to unveil new story elements and introduces hair-raising first-person sequences, making the journey through the tower an exciting adventure. Consequently, a visit to the Tower of Sisyphus is an enticing prospect that promises a thrilling gaming experience!
An Engaging Quest: Returnal Review
Is this game worth your time? It’s a question that might be swirling around in your head. We’ve lavished praise on the game’s implementation, yet the vital query remains: Does Returnal truly live up to the hype? We enthusiastically affirm that it does! Returnal doesn’t just impress with stunning graphics; it also showcases a compelling roguelike experience with engaging third-person combat gameplay.
The game hooks you in with an intriguing premise, a chilling atmosphere, and a dark narrative revolving around the protagonist, Selene. The journey begins with Selene crash-landing on the mysterious alien planet, Atropos. Soon, she faces her untimely demise at the claws of local creatures, only to resurrect at the crash site. Selene soon grasps the reality of her situation: she’s caught in a surreal temporal loop.
To escape Atropos and return to Earth, she must navigate through six diverse zones, each culminating in a formidable boss that demands defeat. With each new attempt, the level design reshuffles, and the weapons and artifacts you discover vary, ensuring that every run offers a fresh experience. Although Returnal might not match the replayability of Binding of Isaac or the addictive allure of Hades, it delivers a consistently enjoyable roguelike experience brimming with action from start to finish.
A Distinctive Story and Setting
Where Returnal shines is in its ability to differentiate itself from the competition with its eerie environment and enigmatic narrative. You’re periodically thrown into fleeting, disorienting flashbacks and stumble upon haunting audio logs that, thanks to the top-notch voice acting, manage to send chills down your spine. Occasionally, you’ll stumble upon an unsettling house, home to arguably the most terrifying astronaut in video game history.
The story unfurls like a complex puzzle, with every element – from bosses to the name of your spaceship – potentially holding crucial clues. It takes some time and effort to piece together a coherent narrative, and even then, there’s room for diverse interpretations. Housemarque exhibits an admirable faith in the player’s interpretive skills. So, is Returnal worth it? Absolutely, it’s a game that draws you in, dares you to uncover its mysteries, and provides exhilarating action all the way.
The Review
Returnal
Returnal's PC port succeeds in capturing the haunting allure of its PS5 counterpart, if not surpassing it in some aspects. Its visually stunning graphics, meticulously crafted details, and innovative gameplay mechanics offer an immersive, high-stakes experience that is engaging and wonderfully terrifying. The intricate narrative brings an added layer of depth, keeping players intrigued and invested in the game's universe. The PC version's smooth performance, customization options, and optimization show the game's successful transition from console to PC gaming. Overall, Returnal on PC offers an unforgettable gaming experience that truly stands as a testament to the potential of next-generation gaming. For both high-end PC gamers and mid-range system owners, Returnal is definitely worth your time and investment.
PROS
- Visually stunning graphics: Detailed, high-quality visuals bring the game to life.
- Innovative gameplay: The game provides unique mechanics that keep it engaging and thrilling.
- Rich narrative: The game's story is deep and intricate, keeping players invested.
- Smooth performance on PC: The game transitions well from console to PC, with stable performance.
- Customization options: The PC version offers a wide range of settings to tailor the gaming experience.
CONS
- High-stakes gameplay might not appeal to everyone: The game's difficulty level might frustrate some players.
- Resource intensive: Despite good optimization, the game may require a powerful system to enjoy the highest settings.
- The story might be too intricate for some: The complex narrative may be confusing for those seeking a simpler gaming experience.
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