Returnal - PlayStation 5

4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars | 2,569 ratings

Price: 29.99

Last update: 07-31-2024


About this item

The procedural world of returnal invites you to dust yourself Off in the face of defeat and take on new, evolving challenges with every Rebirth.
After crash-landing on a shape-shifting world, selene must search through the barren landscape of an ancient civilization for her Escape.
Isolated and alone, she finds herself fighting tooth and nail for survival. Again and again, she's defeated - forced to restart her journey every time she dies.

Product information


Top reviews from the United States

Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Love and hate this game
Reviewed in the United States on June 11, 2024
This is one of the hardest games for PS5, because every time you lose there is no way to save your progress, you wake up and start everything over again. However, every time you start over the world has changed like you just entered a different reality and the maps are totally different. I really dislike it, but also I really love it, the graphics are amazing, the aliens are cool, the bosses are hard and the story overall is very intriguing. This is a cyberpunk or futuristic game, the suites and the weapons are on another level. If you like puzzles you'll love this game but also hate it, because the game and puzzles aren't easy.
Kyle Horton
5.0 out of 5 stars This game is *HARD*, but not "Unfair"
Reviewed in the United States on March 31, 2022
It seems like many of the reviews of this game either didn't reach the first boss or didn't beat it. This game is just a downright masterpiece.
The game does in fact have a type of checkpoint system in place, people telling you their runs are lasting over an hour, no offense, aren't playing the game right or are getting God Runs without realizing it. I haven't had a run go over 45 minutes unless I have beaten several bosses in a row, and that's on the long end of it. For example, your first mission is to find a key, that's it. Once you find that key you no longer have to find it on subsequent runs, it is automatically in your inventory. From that point you can go straight to the first boss of the game after about 10 mins or so on every run after you find the key. Once you beat the boss, you unlock the next area, and the same type of checkpoint system applies. Once you beat the first boss you do not have to beat it again on every run after the winning run, you can go back to fight the boss if you CHOOSE to, otherwise you can skip it and go immediately to area two. This pattern applies to the rest of the game as well. Yes, dying after a longer run can be frustrating, but you have to know that you are making progress, sometimes it's just hard to see.

Now onto the actual review of the game.

The sound design, visuals and gunplay feel spot on. Most important of all of these is the sound design, what enemies are in a given area, where they are in that area, the game gives all of that information to you through sound alone. The visuals... I mean, it's a game running at 4k 60fps, it's gonna look good. The enemy designs are all a work of art each in their own right, especially some of the bosses (No spoilers). Gunplay is quick and snappy with tons of depth to each weapon. Do I like all the weapons? No, but that's because of my personal playstyle, people will find the weapons they like and use them more than others.

The name of the game is movement, enemies are relentless in their pursuit of your demise, so it's very important to move constantly and create space between you and your attackers. The further you go into the game the more abilities you unlock to avoid incoming projectiles. Speaking of projectiles... There is a TON of them coming at you. Housemarque is known for their Bullet storm games and this game is no exception. The longer you have to react to incoming attacks, the less likely you'll get hit.

Overall, this game is absolutely fantastic, is it more of a niche title than say Uncharted or God of War? Yes, absolutely. But if you're willing to push past that first initial wall of the first area and reach the first checkpoint, you'll never want to put the game down.
Paul Larsen
5.0 out of 5 stars amazing and unforgiving
Reviewed in the United States on September 2, 2022
this game is so cool. brooding and atmospheric. gorgeous. but, alas, i don’t have the patience for it; much too punishing for my taste. maybe some day i’ll pick it back up, but for now, i remain stuck in the first biome.

update: after putting in many, many hours into this game and progressing rather far, i’ve come to the conclusion that this game is bullish!t. difficulty aside (i’m a glutton for punishment, i.e. fanatical FromSoftware fan), this game is downright unfair. couldn’t they throw a bone every now and again? the grind is torturous and the rewards simply aren’t there. i’ve never been so frustrated with a game in my life.

update: starting to gain headway, and feeling better about this game. something keeps me coming back for more.

update: having now beaten the game and obtaining Platinum trophy, i must say that i love it! what a journey. a total pain in the ass, but well worth the trouble. once you gain access to the Electropylon Driver, this game becomes, dare i say, easy? replay value is great; i’ve been jumping into co-op sessions and helping others with their struggle. Tower of Sisyphus is also very fun and challenging.
Amazon Addict
4.0 out of 5 stars UPDATED on Sep 25, 2021: Almost Great. Not for the casual gamer
Reviewed in the United States on June 27, 2021
Sep 25, 2021 Review. Now rated 4 stars: So 3 months later, I completed Returnal. Both the regular ending and the second add-on ending after the credits. I increased my rating from 3 to 4 stars because the game mechanics and design are outstanding. And the mystery of the character that you play (Selene) draws you in. But the lack of a "save" function means you have to put in a lot of time repeating what you've done until you get that amazing run that takes you the distance. Of course, you improve the more times you repeat - until you're good enough to make it through to the end. And so over the past 3 months any time I had a fews hour to kill, I'd play. And Returnal is addictive - so I kept returning until I finished. It's a pity that a lot of people won't experience this game through to the end: as most people have lives to live and simply can't invest the time required for Returnal. And that is a tragedy because this game is an outstanding achievement in game environment production (all 6 biomes and Bosses are stunning in their own way). Given that this game has now been out for over 5 months, Housemarque should do the gaming world a favor and offer up a version that has a "Save" feature. That would make Returnal accessible to the broader audience, and get it the love that it truly deserves. Housemarque, are you listening?

June 27, 2021 Review. Rated 3 stars : Returnal is brilliantly designed. And it could have been the best third-person shooter game of all time. But in an act of artistic hubris, the game developer (Housemarque) decided not to put in a "save" function. I get that repeated dying is part of the "time loop" narrative. But this gets old fast. To complete the 6 Biomes (areas on an alien planet) you need to play a close to perfect game early on so you accumulate enough "stuff" to help you survive. You die - you almost lose everything. This game is for someone who's willing to play 4 hours a day to get someplace - that is, on the offchance, that you have a close to perfect game that day. Otherwise, grind away. This game is definitely not for the casual gamer. A pity: this game lost an opporutnity to be iconic - by just adding a couple of "saves" in each Biome (even making it optional for the hard core gamer).

Best Sellers in

 
 

Halloween and Ash vs Evil Dead RetroRealms Double Feature Special Edition - PlayStation 5

0 0 out of 5 stars 4
79.99
 
 

Logitech G733 LIGHTSPEED Wireless Gaming Headset with suspension headband, LIGHTSYNC RGB, Blue VO!CE mic technology and PRO-G

4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 16360
132.99
 
 

Banishers: Ghosts of Eden (PS5)

4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 164
49
 
 

Octopath Traveler II - PlayStation 5

4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 296
45.97
 
 

SteelSeries Arctis 7P+ Wireless Gaming Headset – Lossless 2.4 GHz – 30 Hour Battery Life – USB-C – 3D Audio – For PS5, PS4, P

4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 3378
119.99
 
 

Sonic Frontiers - PlayStation 5

4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 2211
17.97
 
 

Madden NFL 25 - PlayStation 5

4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 503
34.97
 
 

The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak II Deluxe Edition - PlayStation 5

0 0 out of 5 stars 0
59.99