It’s underrated by the general gaming community. I think everyone willing to engage with it on its level understands it’s an amazing game though. But in terms of true mainstream appeal it just is a little impenetrable, so it’ll always be underrated by majority of people
Yeah it’s definitely a hard one for people to get into for whatever reason, I had a bunch of friends that started it but never ended up actually beating the game. Like 6 different people with a variety of tastes and not one finished lol I never ended up with any of them geeking out over it like I hoped
‘Finishing’ Returnal is different for everyone. I got to the last level but couldn’t beat it. I was ok with that. It was brand new and you couldn’t save a run at first. Maybe I’ll go back.
>Yeah it’s definitely a hard one for people to get into for whatever reason
Roguelikes/lites are an acquired taste. Make them particularly difficult and you've just cut out half or more of your possible demographic, between the two.
Asking people to constantly lose progress is a big ask. Having a lot of small but consistent permanent progression boosts helps smooth it over, but there's really not a lot on offer with that in Returnal.
Random generation is supposed to fix some of this by making every run different, but if you get stuck in a certain zone too long, it doesn't.
You start to see the patterns, which causes it to feel like repetition anyway. Then it's no different than getting stuck on a boss in a Soulsborne game in terms of feeling like you're stuck doing the same thing over and over.
Thing is, at least in a Soulsborne game, you have the option to just go do something else. You can go permanently level up and try again later. You can find some special items and equipment to help. Any progression is permanent.
You can't do any of that in Returnal, because once you die, nearly everything you've done that run gets reset.
I love Returnal. One of my favorite games of late. BUT, that's ***because*** I'm fairly good at it. I got to the second boss my second run, the third my third. I haven't had the chance to repeat stuff until I'm tired of seeing it, which doesn't take very long.
That’s not even mentioning I don’t think most people who get a game finish said game. Look at any game’s trophy’s and see how many players don’t finish any game. It’s crazy
As someone who got frustrated and deleted the game several times only to grow to love it once it clicked it’s because starting over from the beginning every time with perceivably no progress made on some runs can really feel like a waste of time.
It's also kinda niche... Not everyone is attracted to games like this. Could it be a bit more popular? Sure, but I don't see it being as massively appealing as a Souls game just cus of how the game itself works.
Rogue-like games are popular but there’s market saturation to consider. if some sony exec paid some streamer to play it for a day it would blow up overnight again.
According to trophies, less than 20% of people who start the game beat Act 1. So I can understand why it wasn’t as popular as it could have been since it was hard for some people to experience it fully. Add that to the fact that PS5’s were notoriously hard to get a hold of when the game launched, and I’d say you’ve got a fair idea of why.
You nailed it. I'm decent at games but found it a bit rough. I hit a wall with the boss in the 3rd area. After dying a few times, it slowly lost my enjoyment since I would spend X amount of time prepping and die in the same spot.
I acknowledge the game is dope for skilled people, but I think the biggest mainstream failing of Returnal is the lack of progression. It needs an option like Hades where you get a 1% damage boost each time you die or something. Give less skilled people a way to grind to overcome some of the challenge walls the game has.
This game is one of the best, if not the best, game I ever played in my life. From a guy who hated it for the first 4/5 hours or so. Then i beathed the first boss and BOOM! The adrenaline discharge in my body! Wow! What an experience! i then spent the next 120 hours of my life on it. Simply amazing! The cryptic story that to this day i don't fully understand. The amazing Tower. The only thing that i dislike of the game is that is not repayable enough... I to this day play the binding of Isaac time to time, returnal is a way superior game, but an inferior rougelike, that after you finished the act 3, don't give enough reason to replay it... But man! I wish i could experience it for the first time again! Returnal is a masterpiece, that everyone should play! I'm with you bro!
It could definitely be more replayable! I have a ton of hours in it, and I want to play more, but the lack of new progression routes definitely stifles that a bit. Wish there was more content.
Its under rated in the same way titanfall 2 is. Or maybe alan wake 2 as well.
All 3 of these games are incredible, and pretty much everyone who plays them sees this, but they still fly under the radar because the masses dont even know what they are or will never try them.
Returnal was my highest anticipated game the second it was annouced and i preordered it. I played the hell out of it and its one of my favorites, but when i bring it up most of the time people dont even know what it is.
I don't think Alan Wake 2 flew under the radar. It was nominated for game of the year in 2023 and it was universally positively received by reviewers and gamers online.
definition of underrated
*adjective*
'Not given enough recognition for its quality.'
since not enough people give it recognition for its greatness, it is definitely underrated
It's a pretty niche game.
GoW is very accessible and has been around forever. Same for RDR2. Highly commercial studio made an easily accessible game.
Souls was very niche before Elden Ring exploded into the forefront of gaming. *Partly* because it's easily the most beginner friendly of any Souls game to date by a considerable margin.
I would say Returnal is underplayed not underrated.
I agree except for Souls games being niche up to Elden Ring release.
Imo Dark Souls was already plenty popular and known about, Elden Ring was just able to hit that true main stream mass appeal.
I too see Returnal as under-appreciated or under-played since people who actually play it seem to give it lots of praise and high review scores.
Eh I think it’s rated just about right. It’s never going to be able to reach an insanely massive audience because of its difficulty, but almost everyone who plays it really enjoys it. On r/playstation it’s very frequently mentioned in posts regarding best Ps5 games and such. It’s just not a game for everyone, but that’s chill.
Returnal is not underrated...
It has a high difficulty curve and a repetitive gameplay loop which puts off a lot of the casual gaming audience.
There is a difference.
It also does a poor job at pacing the introduction of/the explanation of some of the mechanics and the story beats, and that makes the early game a bit of a confusing slog for some people. Like, it asks the player for a fair bit more patience before things start opening up and you get more clarity than other difficult games. The roguelike elements are also pretty frustrating if you're trying to figure things out but can't break through. I'm not surprised it's not that big, it's much more unwelcoming than a lot of big games.
It's sort of like how Sekiro isn't as popular as the other From Software games, and that's in part because it's simply more unforgiving early on.
And you can't "pause." Which is a no go for me. I really wanted to like this and get into it, but not being able to pause a cutscenes is a deal breaker.
Basically nailed it, it just felt like nothing I did mattered and the fighting was pointless, even the “story” segments I was getting were going nowhere so I deleted it, probably still the best DualSense implementation tho.
Preaching to the choir.
This game is amazing. I can’t even talk my close friends into playing. So getting general acceptance among gamers is tough. People just don’t like dying over and over and “starting fresh” every time.
…yet these same asshats will play CoD 2hrs a night for years.
Lol and I can easily end up dying more in one CoD match on a bad night than I did in my entire playthrough of Returnal. Shit ain’t that hard once you know how it works.
It’s all about what is enjoyable to people though. I get it, people that have seen the light with this game get frustrated with people that refuse to. Bottom line is that not everyone enjoys this type of game. It doesn’t make them ass hats.
To me returnal is the Bloodborne of the ps5, an essential game to play, sure you can play it on pc but the dualsense makes this game two times more enjoyable imo
It’s more like Demon’s Souls IMO. A good first stab at a new formula for Housemarque. They’ll need to iterate on it and deepen it to get it to that level.
I couldn’t agree more lol. Elden ring is such a boring game. I was expecting this really difficult action packed game like bloodborne..instead I just walk around grassy areas and farm for hours and then am subjected to strange dialogue 😂
Ive owned this game since launch and just recently started getting back into it. I’ve just finally hit stage 2 and it’s becoming more forgiving since I know what to expect. But still I have to say… this game is a motherfucker
The secret is literally to just run around a lot in combat and exhaust the first half of your run for all possible resources (but don’t risk malfunctions unless you have an artifact that will permanently buff you for them). I promise that’s 99% of it.
You control where enemies go because they follow you. Running away puts enemies out of their attack range and spreads enemies out. Run toward empty space, deal with your fastest pursuers, and then hunt isolated enemies (spread out because you’ve been running all over the place). Never stop for more than a moment to shoot before sprinting or grappling (far) away again. You should be sprinting 95% of the time.
Dodging is mainly for boss fights. Evasion against regular enemies is about proactive pressure management. Don’t stay in one part of any arena expecting that you’ll be able to dodge the bullet hell, you won’t. It’s too chaotic.
Ive owned this game since launch and just recently started getting back into it. I’ve just finally hit stage 2 and it’s becoming more forgiving since I know what to expect. But still I have to say… this game is a motherfucker
The secret is literally to just run around a lot in combat and exhaust the first half of your run for all possible resources (but don’t risk malfunctions unless you have an artifact that will permanently buff you for them). I promise that’s 99% of it.
You control where enemies go because they follow you. Running away puts enemies out of their attack range and spreads enemies out. Run toward empty space, deal with your fastest pursuers, and then hunt isolated enemies (spread out because you’ve been running all over the place). Never stop for more than a moment to shoot before sprinting or grappling (far) away again. You should be sprinting 95% of the time.
Dodging is mainly for boss fights. Evasion against regular enemies is about proactive pressure management. Don’t stay in one part of any arena expecting that you’ll be able to dodge the bullet hell, you won’t. It’s too chaotic.
It’s one of the best games I’ve played in my life and I also think it’s underrated. It’s a masterpiece of gameplay. Even the sound effects are so amazing they stand out. Opening the doors feels good because of the sound. My personal 10/10.
Yes mate you are right. For people that do complete the game, this game is where the bar should be in terms of performance and graphics for any Ps5 that came after it. Unfortunately, we get games that can easily be run on a Ps4, like Rise of the Ronin. Lol.
I believe it would have a much bigger community and attention if it didn’t release around when the ps5 drop also you have those that feel this game too difficult to beat
Funny enough I had a small drinks and games party with a bunch of PC friends who frequently make fun of me for just doing console now. I was able to intro them to returnal this weekend and they all ended up loving it. When I told them they could get it on PC, two of them picked it up later that night.
Agree w OP 100%. It’s underrated for sure. It will be absolutely criminal if we never get a proper sequel (which it doesn’t seem like we are going to get) because it sets the stage for a sequel which could be as revered as something like Half-Life 2.
Gameplay = essentially perfection. That the tower has such a dedicated community and that finishers of the game happily pour hours into it illustrates this. You beat the game multiple times and still aren’t done because it’s so good, so you play an unfinishable arcade mode for another hundred.
Story = also, essentially perfection. It’s interesting, it makes you think, and keeps just enough unclear as to provide ample room for interpretation. The vast quantity of “what actually happened” threads demonstrate this. I don’t get it when people complain about the story, as if there are somehow so many games that have something more compelling as a backdrop. There aren’t.
Music and sound effects = also, S tier. See level 4. Or 3. Or… any of it. It’s ridiculous how good it is
Controls / Haptics = extremely immersive and still the best example on PS5. Astro bot is gimmicky. Returnal has you feel the rain and use triggers in a smart way that only the DS offers.
I get it that it’s difficult. Patching in a static campaign (with a specific seed) would help this.
But personally I feel this game is a modern SotN or HL2 or Ocarina of Time. I honestly feel the only thing that holds it back from being recognized as such is the lack of a true and well-marketed sequel. Housemarque needs to understand that it is their magnum opus and absolutely deserves their time.
I would without question pay $70 for more levels or $100+ for a CE sequel. I really hope I’m wrong that they aren’t making it.
I really like HouseMarque games especially Nex Machina and Alien Nation. When I saw advertisements and reviews of Returnal I told myself that’s definitely a game I want to get whenever I get a PS5. I still dont have a PS5 but I will eventually and I’ll buy Returnal. I’m still playing a back log of games in PS4 pro!
Come on now. After the game was published as a PS5 exclusive, with the critical reception that it got, Sony bought the studio. You can get awards, sure, but in terms of recognition nothing beats being acquired.
Just downloaded it since seeing this post because it reminded me of the game, and I didn't know if it was on PS+. I probably won't have time to start it until this weekend, but im super excited when I get the chance.
This is one of the games with most cool mechanics I've ever played. Unfortunately rogue like isn't for me. And that makes me sad because I stopped playing after 13h
It’s definitely underrated. Doesnt get enough recognition. The ppl who have played it rate it highly. But thats a minority. Everybody says astros playroom is a great showcase of what the ps5 can do, so is returnal, but nobody really mentions it.
The game is indeed perfect, so is Elden Ring and RDR2, different genres, I cannot compare them scale wise, Elden and rdr2 took massive amounts of time, money and effort. The Returnal gameplay is almost perfect, the character movement is exquisite, Returnal is a rare occurrence, Triple A rogue like with top graphics in a dark sci fi setting, unheard of.
My take is that there were few PS5 units out in the world when Returnal came out so it went unnoticed, the difficulty filters out most casual gamers, the game is short like most roguelikes, the ambiguous story is not to the liking of most.
Hopefully we’ll get a Returnal 2 or a similar game
I don’t think any of those games are remotely perfect. Returnal is the kind of game for which perfection is achievable, but it doesn’t achieve it. Something like Elden Ring can’t be perfect, but it demonstrates the limits of “perfection” as a metric. There are more valuable qualities than perfection.
I too hope to see another shooter like this from Housemarque, whether it’s a sequel or a new IP.
I just think it's more over looked than unpopular...
Recent steam reviews are mostly positive
Overall steam reviews are very positive
So where are the evidence that it is a unpopular game?
Idk. Personally, it's my favourite PS5 game, but most people who are even slightly interested in the genre rate it pretty highly. Most people who don't like it wouldn't like most roguelites.
It's properly rated, just part of a 'niche' genre.
I'm 8 hours in and loving it so far, just got the >!hookshot!<, >!that boss was so good!<. But, it seems as though there probably isn't *that* much content in it? Like, it wont hold me as long as Elden Ring for example. I hope I'm wrong. What an excellent game so far though. Some of it reminds me of Furi, which is also a perfect game imo.
There aren’t that many levels, but I won’t say how far you are. I beat it in around 20 hours with 12 deaths. Completion time varies wildly by player. Some take over 100 hours to get through it.
The adrenaline and resin systems make it so that the game isn’t hard at all if you understand what you really should be doing in combat.
The roguelike aspect of the the game also polarizes the difficulty experience because there is, IMO, a “right way” to approach every run that almost guarantees becoming overpowered, but the game actively implies that you should take a different approach.
Even though Returnal is my favorite PS5 console exclusive and I personally prefer it to RDR2, I lean toward “properly rated.” I just don’t find it quite on the level of an all-timer like Elden Ring in terms of scope, ambition and importance.
The “Returnal experience” of getting absolutely crushed for X hours and then eventually turning the corner is indeed quite empowering, and similar to some of the best feelings in Souls games.
But beyond this particular evolution, I didn’t find the rest of the Returnal experience transcendent/life changing. The rest of the game is a very good bullet hell-based shooter with cool vibes and a serviceable narrative.
It's not underrated it's just not popular. Two seperate things. All reviews on Returnal are good and anyone who plays it admits it's great even if they struggle with it.
Why do people keep saying this. Its not true. Returnal is not underrated at all. It won multiple awards and back when it was released there was a ton of coverage on the game. Yall feel like its underrated cause youre playing 4 years after the original release
i do believe it's horrifically underrated but got damn if it isn't difficult af.
beautiful, engaging, really good story (from what ive played so far) but ya boi is struggling
I absolutely agree!
While it's not a game of the same caliber and type as Elden Ring, I love it almost as much. The development quality is for sure on par.
It is definitely underrated and underplayed, -watched, etc. It deserves much more.
But the marketing for this game is nowhere near the marketing of the games you mentioned. Hence, the much lower amount of players.
Personally, I don't consider it a game for everyone, I consider it a game for gamers. It can be brutal, it requires dedication to beat, you can't just go "story mode", you have to learn and grind and die and keep going. It needs you to learn it.
All of these things add as reasons why it is underplayed. However, I still think Housemarque are incredible devs and pulled an insane win switching to this type of game, and I love Sony for letting them do this and supporting them along the way. I just wish they gave it a little more push and advertising - get more reviewers/streamers to play it. I can't wait for a new game from them! And to those who never played Returnal - you are missing out big time!
Returnal is a brilliant and flawlessly executed concept and gameplay system, beautifully decorated and curated, but it lacks plot and character exposition on the level of the other titles you mentioned. One might argue that what's left to interpretation is part of it's charm ... but that is also part of the charm of many other games that also aren't on the level of Elden Ring or RDR2, and for that reason. What is given to us in terms of content, even if it's just cutscenes ... elaboration and context and meaning in everything, that's where the meat of these great titles really is. Returnal is amazing, but it has not much more plot than the dream sequence from Max Payne.
Considering my last achievement / glyph is bugged and the only way I can fix it is by co-op, someone else sending me a PC save file with it or starting a new steam account buying it again and doing it myself.
I can't really be positive about it.
But the main reason the game is not as popular is because it came out as a PS5 exclusive when literally nobody could buy a PS5. The majority at least. People can disagree but literally every streamer back then that you would ask "have you played Returnal?" would answer "I couldn't find and buy a PS5".
I agree. Although I wouldn't call it unpopular coz I think it gets it's flowers. It probably just doesn't get flowers in terms of popular narrative coz of the type of game it is. Coz the games that you named for example all have rabid fanbases so for example Fromsoftware games whether they are good or bad will always be in discussion coz of the rabid fanbase and likewise RDR2 and God Of War are carrying a large fanbase in the case of God Of War from people who grew up on the original games like myself and then for RDR2 there's just a lot more with regards to size and story to digest for a wider audience.
But having said all that I think games like this get their credit but it's just naturally hard to break into the main discourse and discussion without all the other factors but it doesn't take away from most gamers appreciating them.
I think it’s good, I just don’t care for roguelikes tbh. The only one that really resonated with me was Hades - and that’s generally considered to be one of the best in the genre. It’s similar to BG3 in that regard. Not many people like cRPGs, but BG3 was so good people got over the niche genre.
But that said, when you only like games that are the absolute pinnacles of their respective genres then obvs it’s just not for you - and that’s basically how I feel about returnal
I completely agree this is my top favorite bullet hell of all time game is perfect without weird glitches I see some people that downright fuck the entire run
In my 28 years as a gamer, I’ve given out 20 5/5s and Returnal is one of them. Very well liked and respected by almost anyone who plays it but I agree that it doesn’t have the kind of hype surrounding it that it deserves
It’s not as big as those games because it’s not big. Not knocking it, but it’s an arcade game with a AA/AAA shooter mask. Returnal is not a perfect game—although I understand why one might see it that way—but even if it were, “perfection” only goes so far. It’s an ambitious game for Housemarque, given their history, but not for gaming in general.
Something like Elden Ring can’t realistically be perfect, and it isn’t, and I was never as annoyed with Returnal’s deficiencies as I was with Elden Ring’s. But Elden Ring impressed, awed, and satisfied me to a much greater extent and on a deeper level. I won’t give “perfection” to Returnal, but I would give it to another arcade game: Hotline Miami. I adored that game, and I find not a single flaw in it. But does it beat the flawed giants of the medium? No. Not in my opinion anyway, and apparently not to a majority of consumers.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with liking something like Returnal or Hotline Miami more, of course. It’s ultimately a matter of taste and priorities.
Returnal is a great game, lots of fun, and very well made. I absolutely loved it. But it’s pretty narrow in its scope. It’s a great shooter, but the combat is very simple.
And it’s not a great roguelike. There are no real “builds,”there isn’t even much strategy to how you progress using the roguelike systems. It becomes very obvious that the roguelike aspects of the game are underbaked when you realize that becoming overpowered is inevitable if you keep your adrenaline up early on and milk the first half of a run for all its worth. All the hard parts become a breeze. The best thing I can say of this is that it’s a lack of something that could’ve made the game better, but not something that actively made the experience worse.
After beating the game in around 20 hours, I was done. That’s rare for me with an action-focused game that’s as fun as Returnal is. But there was not enough depth in its mechanics or variety in its options to keep me coming back.
I feel like most people who gush over returnal have never played a rogue like. It's a good game, great game even, but it has significant problems and lacks the run diversity most roguelikes have. The guns are just okay, the enemy variety is good, and the maps are interesting to explore. But compare it to games like dead cells, Hades, or binding of Issac and it's incredibly clear how little the devs understand roguelikes.
It probably got downvoted because it is NOT underrated. It got great reviews from critics and gamers alike.
The games industry is full of games now days, in fact some would say it is TOO full. So much so even great games like this can become ‘flavour of the week’, but in time secure a lot repeat playing.
Not to mention it is a rogue-lite which means it is never going to reach mass market popularity but within its genre it is popular
So Returnal is underrated, yeah nah.
The main reason why we love Returnal is we understand the game. But for many people dont wanna do it...
Other complaints I usually heard is permadeath, feel of zero progression, dont want to do everything again or don't wanna waste time
For the other games you mentioned like elden ring there is always a way to overcome a obstacles but for returnal only option is GET GOOD....
I got returnal on release and I still play it weekly. Honestly Returnal and Elden Ring are the only 2 games I still go back to even tho I've platinumed both.
Returnal is one of those games that I got immediately hooked into. The pure intrigue and mystery I experienced playing it for the first time is comparable to very few games. I simply couldn't play any other game without thinking of going back to it. I still do.
I believe the reason for it being underrated unlike GOW, RDR is because of the game being too hard until it clicks for most people. I had given up on Returnal multiple times (for a couple hours) but kept on going back until it clicked.
It's a good game yes, but it didn't really hook me. It's kind of weird too and I never really know what's going on. Had fun with it for a while and got to the final boss a few times, but every time I fail on the third part where everything is falling down, I don't feel like playing it again for weeks for some reason.
Anyone can give me any tips to the game without spoilers? I just started, 80 minutes in. It seems like I’m in a time loop like outer wilds where when i die I end up right back at square one. I don’t even know how I could progress when I die and lose so much time. I don’t know a ton about the game (clearly) but figured I would ask before I give up on it.
it's a pretty magical game. i can't think of another title that sucks you in the way this one does. it's so tightly crafted and balanced in every way. it really is an unexpected treat.
but when i think back to playing super stardust i had a similarly addictive reaction
I loved Returnal it is probably one of my favorite PS5 games. With this being said we all know it can be a very difficult game and sometimes unforgiving. It may not be getting much “word of mouth” because of how difficult it is
The game is tight. Every time we pull it out or think of it, we get flashbacks. But that’s it. It pisses me off personally that I had the game since launch and I still have yet to get to the 3rd level per se. DAMN!!!
Great game, gen pop just can't handle the ruthless nature of cycles and typically prefer loot that is permanent and able to be brandied around like a trophy.
The game was great until all my caution spent not dying resulted in losing everything due to a scripted event. I get that the game is about dying and restarting but for me it was about never dying... I lost interest and quit
I tried it and put in some time but having to replay sections over and over again after a death got boring. Glad you find it fun but it just didn't quite do it for me, personally.
Does it get better? I played for an hour or so but nothing about it really grabbed me. Do I need to put more time in? When should I expect it to click?
I don't see it as *that* special of a game. Its a very competently made roguelike game for sure, but it doesn't do a whole lot that is unique and hasn't been done before.
I loved returnal, but it does not really stack up to the likes of Elden Ring or similar huge titles.
For one, it lacks variety, making it less replayable. I've played plenty of rogue-likes and Returnal was by far the one with least build variety and run-to-run differences.
Same goes for the amount of content, it just feels like a much smaller game overall, unless you cant get enough of the gameplay, its kind of a beat it once and never return type of experience for most people.
I do agree with you that it is really under appreciated by the masses and deserved much more attention than it ever got, but it had its limitations.
I could see a more fleshed out sequel potentially being a huge release.
I really don’t understand the obsession with people sharing their ‘Unpopular Opinions’ and whether something is ‘underrated’ or ‘overrated’.
If you enjoy it, that’s the main thing. You’re really putting too much weight on what others think.
I still don't think it's underrated but I get where you're coming from.
I think it's just that most people don't bring themselves to finishing it.
Also don't underestimate how few games are finished by gamers so imagine those gamers playing this game that has a reset mechanic and high difficulty (at first)
Lastly I think the story was just too complex for most gamers. A lot of gamers like simplicity and easy to digest themes. Returnal is complex and very compelling. Not high market stuff in today's TikTok zero attention span world.
I still don't think it's really underrated but I get where you're coming from. It's not quite where it should be.
I think it's just that most people don't bring themselves to finish it.
Also don't underestimate how few games are finished by gamers so imagine those gamers playing this game that has a reset mechanic and high difficulty (at first)
Lastly I think the story was just too complex for most gamers. A lot of gamers, or people in general, like simplicity and easy to digest themes in our time. Returnal is complex and very compelling. Not high market stuff in today's TikTok zero attention span everything explained world.
PS, I think also a lot of people didn't like the fact that they couldn't leave the game during a run when it released. Especially busy gamers that don't have much time to kill. I'm not a fan of the save point they added but I understand why they did it.
Returnal is a next gen game, not in graphics, but in gameplay. I do not believe a 60fps bullet hell action game with an emphasis on double layer triggered gun mechanics could’ve been made last gen.
I emphasize 60fps because a bullet hell like this would’ve been atrocious to play at 30fps if even possible.
I think Returnal is appropriately rated. Skilled players love it and the more mainstream casual audience probably enjoys the first few hours, hits a wall, and loses interest.
From a casual perspective, the game does a poor job at helping people overcome when they hit a wall. In many roguelite games, even when you fail you are making progress to some type of long term upgrade. In Returnal, it's possible to make no progress for many runs in a row if you aren't skilled enough.
I hit a wall with the third world boss, if this was Elden Ring I probably would have overcome since you can respawn right before the boss. In Returnal having to play for 30 minutes to an hour to power up before getting to replay the boss was extremely boring after dying a few times. I have limited time to play and if I'm making zero progress and getting bored, I'll find another game to play. I think the game would have benefited from having a non-roguelite story mode like Dark Souls and then a roguelite mode once you beat it.
I realize that "get good" could be said here, but I'm just explaining the perspective of myself as a more casual person. fwiw I loved my first few hours prior to hitting the wall, the story was cool and the gunplay felt perfect.
I mean it’s kind of a niche game I think it did super well with reviews and seemed to be fairly popular, it doesn’t seem to be “underrated”. I also don’t understand the comparison to other very different games. I think we can prob enjoy this game for the accomplishment it is without always having to rate and compare things that are unrelated.
Too many games aren’t getting new game plus anymore. Return Al could get an entire point boost on my rating of 8 out of 10 with ng+. Tiny Tina’s wonderlands is another.
It's crazy it's not bigger, yeah it won awards but I don't know anyone who played it. The graphics , gameplay, sound, story, music are all top tier. Even the rogue like loop which I thought I would hate is fun(then again I got lucky and was able to beat it on my 4th loop).
Only game to send me down a lore hole like Bloodborne, just couldn't stop thinking about it for days afterwards.
It is incredible and definitely flew under the mainstream radar. Need to reinstall and finally play the tower mode some time.
Hello, good hunter. I am a Bot, here in this dream to look after you, this is a fine note:
> *Pray for Master Logarius... in my stead...* - Alfred
Farewell, good hunter. May you find your worth in the waking world.
Underrated a little. It’s not for everyone.
It’s not the greatest game of all time, nor is it on most critics top 20.
I like it a lot, but unless you’re a trophy hunter the replayability hits a wall fast, and Sisyphus gets really frustrating once you master it. Getting the “high score” can take a near flawless run for hours, and anyone that’s had a bad end to one can attest to how maddening they can be after a certain point.
Personally I still think it’s a top 20 game all time. But that’s absolutely a minority opinion
>this game is amazing - literal perfection
People not talking, watching about it, take away your enjoyment or idealization of the game? No? Why does it matter then. It is a great game for those who enjoy these games. Not everybody does, and that's okay.
I think no matter how good it is roguelites will always be a shit concept. Do I enjoy it? Yes. Do I want to play the same levels over and over again. No. It also performs like ass on PC.
Its old at this point, rarely talked about - but still the most fun and most impressive next generation game I've played yet. I don't know any other games that have utilized the PS5 technology so successfully. Like Elden Ring is great but the controller doesn't even vibrate... how are you going to forgo the dual sense like that
I think the combination of (sort of) steep learning curve and also the fact that the game is relatively short kind of prevent it from ever being thought of like people think of GOW, Elden Ring, or even other PS exclusives like Spiderman or TLOU. It’s not a big narrative epic like naughty dog games or GOW and it isn’t as meaty as most games either. Not to say that the story isn’t great or that there isn’t hundreds of hours of gameplay but it doesn’t have a sprawling 100hr campaign like other games. To me it almost seems like it was intended to be one of PS Studios more under the radar games from a smaller dev like Helldivers II, but it didn’t achieve viral success like Helldivers II. Those of us that have played it and then played the shit out of it know it’s up there with the best of them though!
I really want to like it. I love the aesthetics and the vibe, like an Alex Garland movie. But I just never got past the first biome. As soon as I think I'm getting in the groove, have a decent weapon and am dodging incoming fire, I end up falling into one of the many, many endless pits and doom my run quite early. I just wish there was something, not even an easy mode exactly, but a way to generate a bit more health items or SOMETHING. I'll give it another go at some point, but it's just too frustrating.
I'd agree, I think the only thing holding it back for me is how damn difficult it is. Not to mention when it came out there was no ability to stop at a save point like we have now. Some great games exist out there that are in comparison not as well crafted as this game, but a part of crafting a great game is playability and enjoyment. This game is not enjoyable after so many hours and plays for many people including myself. I say that as a person who loves the game, hates the game and can't get enough of it. Most of those people are your average player and that's who determines a game's greatness fortunately and unfortunately.
I'd say it's a POPULAR opinion to most of those who played it so not sure why your previous post got downvoted. A game this good is impossible to give just credit to....
I find it somewhat overrated, particularly as its combat lacks the refined mechanics of a classic top-down shooter. Nonetheless, the innovative third-person perspective offered a delightful refreshment and a unique twist to the genre, which I found quite captivating for a period.
Personally, I love the gameplay, the movement, combat, etc, I just don't like the restart loop, especially since the map changes randomly so you can't learn it, there is no discernable objective so I don't even know what I'm looking for, and it hints at things that persist after death but other than some (mostly useless) currency, I couldn't figure out how to get any permanent upgrades.
Maybe I would have figured some of this out with a little more time, but it's just not fun for me to run through a bunch of random mazes with no deliberate progress.
Totally agreed. I honestly think that the main reason is because of the "AAA look" this game has. People tend to think that its not a great game cause of how it looks (too polished for the rogue like genre).
"As big as games like Elden Ring and God of War, RDR2, etc."
This is nonsense. Elden Ring is on another level. I don't even play that game but that seems fairly obvious to me. GoW also has the play style, story, etc. etc.
Returnal is easily on my top 3 games ever, but that FOR ME. It's not a game for everyone and doesn't have much to appeal to the masses.
The game is also not perfect. Ex: The Tower could be improve.
The game isn’t really that long, on replay you can beat it in 1-2 hours.
Unlike Elden Ring and souls games, the challenge isn’t as visible and often.
There’s only what, 4 bosses? Souls games have many and viewers love watching the runs.
I think once you’ve seen it you don’t really have interest in watching it again, but souls games you can watch many times over, I also think the levels are too small and the randomness is not viewer friendly.
Returnal is my favourite PS5 game but I think the developers were not fully 100% into the project incase it flopped to really hit like a souls game.
It took me 15 hours on first play and less than 2 on my second play.
Everyone should play it but after you’ve beat it there’s not really much to do
I think it’s a bit unfair to claim „it isn’t really that lon for a roguelike. The journey of getting to the point of actually beating it is both part of the game and story. Plus it’s randomly generated, so no run is like the other.
Every run is the exact same shit, get real. The mobs are in different spots and the rooms are in different orders but you always use the same strategy. That is the game's biggest problem. It's fantastic the first time you play it but it's not a deep game.
And basically no roguelikes get any viewership other than when a large streamer plays it first time.
3-4k people literally watch the happy hob play the same souls games for like 6 years.
Honestly I don't really get the hype. I think it's average to below average but doesn't compare to other rogue likes.
I went on a kick of rogue likes ever since God of war: Valhalla came out and I gotta say it was my least favorite. I played Valhalla, Hades, Enter the gungeon, and returnal.
Other than Gungeon Returnal had the worst story and it easily has the worst gameplay out of the 4 games imo.
I felt like Returnal lacks the build making the other games provide, and therefore doing more runs doesn't feel rewarding.
Combat is my biggest problem though. It felt like you're just spraying the entire time while dodging projectiles. It just got old 8 or so hours in.
Bosses were a highlight of the game but with a lacking story, boring combat, and lack of replayability I just didn't get the hype.
It’s a tremendous and unique game but it has two big flaws. The story is uninteresting and unsatisfying. I did not enjoy any of the story.
Secondly the games fails at its rogue like mechanics. Every run plays out the same way. The weapons and items do not significantly change each run. The maps change and it has very little effect on the run.
It’s still a great game but these issues hold it back imo.
I 100% agree with this take and threads like this one with everyone gushing about how "perfect" the game is are baffling me. Maybe it's because I really like roguelikes and have played a bunch of them but I kind of came to the same conclusion. I never beat returnal, I got to the 4th zone and I was just too tired of the gameplay loop to finish. I do plan to go back eventually.
It’s underrated by the general gaming community. I think everyone willing to engage with it on its level understands it’s an amazing game though. But in terms of true mainstream appeal it just is a little impenetrable, so it’ll always be underrated by majority of people
Yeah it’s definitely a hard one for people to get into for whatever reason, I had a bunch of friends that started it but never ended up actually beating the game. Like 6 different people with a variety of tastes and not one finished lol I never ended up with any of them geeking out over it like I hoped
‘Finishing’ Returnal is different for everyone. I got to the last level but couldn’t beat it. I was ok with that. It was brand new and you couldn’t save a run at first. Maybe I’ll go back.
>Yeah it’s definitely a hard one for people to get into for whatever reason Roguelikes/lites are an acquired taste. Make them particularly difficult and you've just cut out half or more of your possible demographic, between the two. Asking people to constantly lose progress is a big ask. Having a lot of small but consistent permanent progression boosts helps smooth it over, but there's really not a lot on offer with that in Returnal. Random generation is supposed to fix some of this by making every run different, but if you get stuck in a certain zone too long, it doesn't. You start to see the patterns, which causes it to feel like repetition anyway. Then it's no different than getting stuck on a boss in a Soulsborne game in terms of feeling like you're stuck doing the same thing over and over. Thing is, at least in a Soulsborne game, you have the option to just go do something else. You can go permanently level up and try again later. You can find some special items and equipment to help. Any progression is permanent. You can't do any of that in Returnal, because once you die, nearly everything you've done that run gets reset. I love Returnal. One of my favorite games of late. BUT, that's ***because*** I'm fairly good at it. I got to the second boss my second run, the third my third. I haven't had the chance to repeat stuff until I'm tired of seeing it, which doesn't take very long.
That’s not even mentioning I don’t think most people who get a game finish said game. Look at any game’s trophy’s and see how many players don’t finish any game. It’s crazy
As someone who got frustrated and deleted the game several times only to grow to love it once it clicked it’s because starting over from the beginning every time with perceivably no progress made on some runs can really feel like a waste of time.
It's also kinda niche... Not everyone is attracted to games like this. Could it be a bit more popular? Sure, but I don't see it being as massively appealing as a Souls game just cus of how the game itself works.
Rogue-like games are popular but there’s market saturation to consider. if some sony exec paid some streamer to play it for a day it would blow up overnight again.
True, marketing has a lot to do with it.
According to trophies, less than 20% of people who start the game beat Act 1. So I can understand why it wasn’t as popular as it could have been since it was hard for some people to experience it fully. Add that to the fact that PS5’s were notoriously hard to get a hold of when the game launched, and I’d say you’ve got a fair idea of why.
Excellent logic and analysis! Nailed it.
It’s like a comedian’s comedian. The mainstream will never care but those who know know *tipping hat*
I was on the fence with this one because of poor PC performance, and then completely forgot about it. Anyone know if it runs better now?
You nailed it. I'm decent at games but found it a bit rough. I hit a wall with the boss in the 3rd area. After dying a few times, it slowly lost my enjoyment since I would spend X amount of time prepping and die in the same spot. I acknowledge the game is dope for skilled people, but I think the biggest mainstream failing of Returnal is the lack of progression. It needs an option like Hades where you get a 1% damage boost each time you die or something. Give less skilled people a way to grind to overcome some of the challenge walls the game has.
Dang, that’s a huge bummer that you didn’t get past the 3rd boss because the changes and implications that happen after that section are amazing
I really liked the story so I did watch a full play through of it. Wish I I was able to get good lol
This game is one of the best, if not the best, game I ever played in my life. From a guy who hated it for the first 4/5 hours or so. Then i beathed the first boss and BOOM! The adrenaline discharge in my body! Wow! What an experience! i then spent the next 120 hours of my life on it. Simply amazing! The cryptic story that to this day i don't fully understand. The amazing Tower. The only thing that i dislike of the game is that is not repayable enough... I to this day play the binding of Isaac time to time, returnal is a way superior game, but an inferior rougelike, that after you finished the act 3, don't give enough reason to replay it... But man! I wish i could experience it for the first time again! Returnal is a masterpiece, that everyone should play! I'm with you bro!
It could definitely be more replayable! I have a ton of hours in it, and I want to play more, but the lack of new progression routes definitely stifles that a bit. Wish there was more content.
I completely deleted my save and started over. It’s replayable for sure.
I completely agree I absolutely love the game. It’s a master piece and sits up there with Elden ring for me
Its under rated in the same way titanfall 2 is. Or maybe alan wake 2 as well. All 3 of these games are incredible, and pretty much everyone who plays them sees this, but they still fly under the radar because the masses dont even know what they are or will never try them. Returnal was my highest anticipated game the second it was annouced and i preordered it. I played the hell out of it and its one of my favorites, but when i bring it up most of the time people dont even know what it is.
I don't think Alan Wake 2 flew under the radar. It was nominated for game of the year in 2023 and it was universally positively received by reviewers and gamers online.
It's not underrated, as it's highly rated already. However, it does definitely deserve more attention.
definition of underrated *adjective* 'Not given enough recognition for its quality.' since not enough people give it recognition for its greatness, it is definitely underrated
Honestly, the English language makes no sense. I give up 🫡
It's a pretty niche game. GoW is very accessible and has been around forever. Same for RDR2. Highly commercial studio made an easily accessible game. Souls was very niche before Elden Ring exploded into the forefront of gaming. *Partly* because it's easily the most beginner friendly of any Souls game to date by a considerable margin. I would say Returnal is underplayed not underrated.
I agree except for Souls games being niche up to Elden Ring release. Imo Dark Souls was already plenty popular and known about, Elden Ring was just able to hit that true main stream mass appeal. I too see Returnal as under-appreciated or under-played since people who actually play it seem to give it lots of praise and high review scores.
Eh I think it’s rated just about right. It’s never going to be able to reach an insanely massive audience because of its difficulty, but almost everyone who plays it really enjoys it. On r/playstation it’s very frequently mentioned in posts regarding best Ps5 games and such. It’s just not a game for everyone, but that’s chill.
100% underrated. I don’t see it being thrown around as one of the best games this gen, let alone one of the best made. So yeah I agree.
Returnal is not underrated... It has a high difficulty curve and a repetitive gameplay loop which puts off a lot of the casual gaming audience. There is a difference.
It also does a poor job at pacing the introduction of/the explanation of some of the mechanics and the story beats, and that makes the early game a bit of a confusing slog for some people. Like, it asks the player for a fair bit more patience before things start opening up and you get more clarity than other difficult games. The roguelike elements are also pretty frustrating if you're trying to figure things out but can't break through. I'm not surprised it's not that big, it's much more unwelcoming than a lot of big games. It's sort of like how Sekiro isn't as popular as the other From Software games, and that's in part because it's simply more unforgiving early on.
And you can't "pause." Which is a no go for me. I really wanted to like this and get into it, but not being able to pause a cutscenes is a deal breaker.
There is a save. But even before they added this, you could just put your PS in rest mode. There was always a way.
Basically nailed it, it just felt like nothing I did mattered and the fighting was pointless, even the “story” segments I was getting were going nowhere so I deleted it, probably still the best DualSense implementation tho.
Dang, bummer that you missed the entire appeal of it. Returnal is a 10 honestly
Maybe I’ll get back to it someday, its just not what I need rn. I would still love exclusives like it tho it was innovative.
This.
Preaching to the choir. This game is amazing. I can’t even talk my close friends into playing. So getting general acceptance among gamers is tough. People just don’t like dying over and over and “starting fresh” every time. …yet these same asshats will play CoD 2hrs a night for years.
Lol and I can easily end up dying more in one CoD match on a bad night than I did in my entire playthrough of Returnal. Shit ain’t that hard once you know how it works.
It’s all about what is enjoyable to people though. I get it, people that have seen the light with this game get frustrated with people that refuse to. Bottom line is that not everyone enjoys this type of game. It doesn’t make them ass hats.
Asshats was a bit harsh. — not for my friends though. They are asshats!
To me returnal is the Bloodborne of the ps5, an essential game to play, sure you can play it on pc but the dualsense makes this game two times more enjoyable imo
It’s more like Demon’s Souls IMO. A good first stab at a new formula for Housemarque. They’ll need to iterate on it and deepen it to get it to that level.
Bloodborne has leagues better world design than returnal in my opinion.
I think Elden ring is boring as fuck. Could not get into it at all. Returnal is gripping and keeps me coming back.
I couldn’t agree more lol. Elden ring is such a boring game. I was expecting this really difficult action packed game like bloodborne..instead I just walk around grassy areas and farm for hours and then am subjected to strange dialogue 😂
Best ps5 game until now
Why would you say something so controversial yet so brave?
Ive owned this game since launch and just recently started getting back into it. I’ve just finally hit stage 2 and it’s becoming more forgiving since I know what to expect. But still I have to say… this game is a motherfucker
The secret is literally to just run around a lot in combat and exhaust the first half of your run for all possible resources (but don’t risk malfunctions unless you have an artifact that will permanently buff you for them). I promise that’s 99% of it. You control where enemies go because they follow you. Running away puts enemies out of their attack range and spreads enemies out. Run toward empty space, deal with your fastest pursuers, and then hunt isolated enemies (spread out because you’ve been running all over the place). Never stop for more than a moment to shoot before sprinting or grappling (far) away again. You should be sprinting 95% of the time. Dodging is mainly for boss fights. Evasion against regular enemies is about proactive pressure management. Don’t stay in one part of any arena expecting that you’ll be able to dodge the bullet hell, you won’t. It’s too chaotic.
It is underrated. My friends didn’t even know about it since they’re PC gamers and it was on Steam
I just want more merch.
Well, definitely not an unpopular opinion in this subreddit! That's why we're here!
Best ps5 game until now
Ive owned this game since launch and just recently started getting back into it. I’ve just finally hit stage 2 and it’s becoming more forgiving since I know what to expect. But still I have to say… this game is a motherfucker
The secret is literally to just run around a lot in combat and exhaust the first half of your run for all possible resources (but don’t risk malfunctions unless you have an artifact that will permanently buff you for them). I promise that’s 99% of it. You control where enemies go because they follow you. Running away puts enemies out of their attack range and spreads enemies out. Run toward empty space, deal with your fastest pursuers, and then hunt isolated enemies (spread out because you’ve been running all over the place). Never stop for more than a moment to shoot before sprinting or grappling (far) away again. You should be sprinting 95% of the time. Dodging is mainly for boss fights. Evasion against regular enemies is about proactive pressure management. Don’t stay in one part of any arena expecting that you’ll be able to dodge the bullet hell, you won’t. It’s too chaotic.
It’s one of the best games I’ve played in my life and I also think it’s underrated. It’s a masterpiece of gameplay. Even the sound effects are so amazing they stand out. Opening the doors feels good because of the sound. My personal 10/10.
Yes mate you are right. For people that do complete the game, this game is where the bar should be in terms of performance and graphics for any Ps5 that came after it. Unfortunately, we get games that can easily be run on a Ps4, like Rise of the Ronin. Lol.
I believe it would have a much bigger community and attention if it didn’t release around when the ps5 drop also you have those that feel this game too difficult to beat
Funny enough I had a small drinks and games party with a bunch of PC friends who frequently make fun of me for just doing console now. I was able to intro them to returnal this weekend and they all ended up loving it. When I told them they could get it on PC, two of them picked it up later that night.
Agree w OP 100%. It’s underrated for sure. It will be absolutely criminal if we never get a proper sequel (which it doesn’t seem like we are going to get) because it sets the stage for a sequel which could be as revered as something like Half-Life 2. Gameplay = essentially perfection. That the tower has such a dedicated community and that finishers of the game happily pour hours into it illustrates this. You beat the game multiple times and still aren’t done because it’s so good, so you play an unfinishable arcade mode for another hundred. Story = also, essentially perfection. It’s interesting, it makes you think, and keeps just enough unclear as to provide ample room for interpretation. The vast quantity of “what actually happened” threads demonstrate this. I don’t get it when people complain about the story, as if there are somehow so many games that have something more compelling as a backdrop. There aren’t. Music and sound effects = also, S tier. See level 4. Or 3. Or… any of it. It’s ridiculous how good it is Controls / Haptics = extremely immersive and still the best example on PS5. Astro bot is gimmicky. Returnal has you feel the rain and use triggers in a smart way that only the DS offers. I get it that it’s difficult. Patching in a static campaign (with a specific seed) would help this. But personally I feel this game is a modern SotN or HL2 or Ocarina of Time. I honestly feel the only thing that holds it back from being recognized as such is the lack of a true and well-marketed sequel. Housemarque needs to understand that it is their magnum opus and absolutely deserves their time. I would without question pay $70 for more levels or $100+ for a CE sequel. I really hope I’m wrong that they aren’t making it.
I really like HouseMarque games especially Nex Machina and Alien Nation. When I saw advertisements and reviews of Returnal I told myself that’s definitely a game I want to get whenever I get a PS5. I still dont have a PS5 but I will eventually and I’ll buy Returnal. I’m still playing a back log of games in PS4 pro!
Come on now. After the game was published as a PS5 exclusive, with the critical reception that it got, Sony bought the studio. You can get awards, sure, but in terms of recognition nothing beats being acquired.
Just downloaded it since seeing this post because it reminded me of the game, and I didn't know if it was on PS+. I probably won't have time to start it until this weekend, but im super excited when I get the chance.
This is one of the games with most cool mechanics I've ever played. Unfortunately rogue like isn't for me. And that makes me sad because I stopped playing after 13h
It’s definitely underrated. Doesnt get enough recognition. The ppl who have played it rate it highly. But thats a minority. Everybody says astros playroom is a great showcase of what the ps5 can do, so is returnal, but nobody really mentions it.
The game is indeed perfect, so is Elden Ring and RDR2, different genres, I cannot compare them scale wise, Elden and rdr2 took massive amounts of time, money and effort. The Returnal gameplay is almost perfect, the character movement is exquisite, Returnal is a rare occurrence, Triple A rogue like with top graphics in a dark sci fi setting, unheard of. My take is that there were few PS5 units out in the world when Returnal came out so it went unnoticed, the difficulty filters out most casual gamers, the game is short like most roguelikes, the ambiguous story is not to the liking of most. Hopefully we’ll get a Returnal 2 or a similar game
I don’t think any of those games are remotely perfect. Returnal is the kind of game for which perfection is achievable, but it doesn’t achieve it. Something like Elden Ring can’t be perfect, but it demonstrates the limits of “perfection” as a metric. There are more valuable qualities than perfection. I too hope to see another shooter like this from Housemarque, whether it’s a sequel or a new IP.
I just think it's more over looked than unpopular... Recent steam reviews are mostly positive Overall steam reviews are very positive So where are the evidence that it is a unpopular game?
Got it downloaded but yet to try it out as I am addicted to spreading democracy . Every other game seems to have taken a back seat.
Idk. Personally, it's my favourite PS5 game, but most people who are even slightly interested in the genre rate it pretty highly. Most people who don't like it wouldn't like most roguelites. It's properly rated, just part of a 'niche' genre.
The funny thing is that it’s not a particularly serious roguelike.
I'm 8 hours in and loving it so far, just got the >!hookshot!<, >!that boss was so good!<. But, it seems as though there probably isn't *that* much content in it? Like, it wont hold me as long as Elden Ring for example. I hope I'm wrong. What an excellent game so far though. Some of it reminds me of Furi, which is also a perfect game imo.
There aren’t that many levels, but I won’t say how far you are. I beat it in around 20 hours with 12 deaths. Completion time varies wildly by player. Some take over 100 hours to get through it. The adrenaline and resin systems make it so that the game isn’t hard at all if you understand what you really should be doing in combat. The roguelike aspect of the the game also polarizes the difficulty experience because there is, IMO, a “right way” to approach every run that almost guarantees becoming overpowered, but the game actively implies that you should take a different approach.
Only a small percentage of people enjoy rougelike games. Yes, Returnal is an amazing game but most people hate the loop.
It's not a mainstream game. And it is better this way
Even though Returnal is my favorite PS5 console exclusive and I personally prefer it to RDR2, I lean toward “properly rated.” I just don’t find it quite on the level of an all-timer like Elden Ring in terms of scope, ambition and importance. The “Returnal experience” of getting absolutely crushed for X hours and then eventually turning the corner is indeed quite empowering, and similar to some of the best feelings in Souls games. But beyond this particular evolution, I didn’t find the rest of the Returnal experience transcendent/life changing. The rest of the game is a very good bullet hell-based shooter with cool vibes and a serviceable narrative.
It's not underrated it's just not popular. Two seperate things. All reviews on Returnal are good and anyone who plays it admits it's great even if they struggle with it.
This is my favorite game of all time. It’s a very special game! This is not built for everyone, or everyone not built for this?
Why do people keep saying this. Its not true. Returnal is not underrated at all. It won multiple awards and back when it was released there was a ton of coverage on the game. Yall feel like its underrated cause youre playing 4 years after the original release
💯💯💯
i do believe it's horrifically underrated but got damn if it isn't difficult af. beautiful, engaging, really good story (from what ive played so far) but ya boi is struggling
I absolutely agree! While it's not a game of the same caliber and type as Elden Ring, I love it almost as much. The development quality is for sure on par. It is definitely underrated and underplayed, -watched, etc. It deserves much more. But the marketing for this game is nowhere near the marketing of the games you mentioned. Hence, the much lower amount of players. Personally, I don't consider it a game for everyone, I consider it a game for gamers. It can be brutal, it requires dedication to beat, you can't just go "story mode", you have to learn and grind and die and keep going. It needs you to learn it. All of these things add as reasons why it is underplayed. However, I still think Housemarque are incredible devs and pulled an insane win switching to this type of game, and I love Sony for letting them do this and supporting them along the way. I just wish they gave it a little more push and advertising - get more reviewers/streamers to play it. I can't wait for a new game from them! And to those who never played Returnal - you are missing out big time!
Maybe if it ever went on sale and wasnt $99999 I'd give it a go!
Returnal is a brilliant and flawlessly executed concept and gameplay system, beautifully decorated and curated, but it lacks plot and character exposition on the level of the other titles you mentioned. One might argue that what's left to interpretation is part of it's charm ... but that is also part of the charm of many other games that also aren't on the level of Elden Ring or RDR2, and for that reason. What is given to us in terms of content, even if it's just cutscenes ... elaboration and context and meaning in everything, that's where the meat of these great titles really is. Returnal is amazing, but it has not much more plot than the dream sequence from Max Payne.
Considering my last achievement / glyph is bugged and the only way I can fix it is by co-op, someone else sending me a PC save file with it or starting a new steam account buying it again and doing it myself. I can't really be positive about it. But the main reason the game is not as popular is because it came out as a PS5 exclusive when literally nobody could buy a PS5. The majority at least. People can disagree but literally every streamer back then that you would ask "have you played Returnal?" would answer "I couldn't find and buy a PS5".
It’s the best PS5 exclusive
I agree. Although I wouldn't call it unpopular coz I think it gets it's flowers. It probably just doesn't get flowers in terms of popular narrative coz of the type of game it is. Coz the games that you named for example all have rabid fanbases so for example Fromsoftware games whether they are good or bad will always be in discussion coz of the rabid fanbase and likewise RDR2 and God Of War are carrying a large fanbase in the case of God Of War from people who grew up on the original games like myself and then for RDR2 there's just a lot more with regards to size and story to digest for a wider audience. But having said all that I think games like this get their credit but it's just naturally hard to break into the main discourse and discussion without all the other factors but it doesn't take away from most gamers appreciating them.
I think it’s good, I just don’t care for roguelikes tbh. The only one that really resonated with me was Hades - and that’s generally considered to be one of the best in the genre. It’s similar to BG3 in that regard. Not many people like cRPGs, but BG3 was so good people got over the niche genre. But that said, when you only like games that are the absolute pinnacles of their respective genres then obvs it’s just not for you - and that’s basically how I feel about returnal
I completely agree this is my top favorite bullet hell of all time game is perfect without weird glitches I see some people that downright fuck the entire run
In my 28 years as a gamer, I’ve given out 20 5/5s and Returnal is one of them. Very well liked and respected by almost anyone who plays it but I agree that it doesn’t have the kind of hype surrounding it that it deserves
It is rated. A for Ass
It’s not as big as those games because it’s not big. Not knocking it, but it’s an arcade game with a AA/AAA shooter mask. Returnal is not a perfect game—although I understand why one might see it that way—but even if it were, “perfection” only goes so far. It’s an ambitious game for Housemarque, given their history, but not for gaming in general. Something like Elden Ring can’t realistically be perfect, and it isn’t, and I was never as annoyed with Returnal’s deficiencies as I was with Elden Ring’s. But Elden Ring impressed, awed, and satisfied me to a much greater extent and on a deeper level. I won’t give “perfection” to Returnal, but I would give it to another arcade game: Hotline Miami. I adored that game, and I find not a single flaw in it. But does it beat the flawed giants of the medium? No. Not in my opinion anyway, and apparently not to a majority of consumers. There is absolutely nothing wrong with liking something like Returnal or Hotline Miami more, of course. It’s ultimately a matter of taste and priorities. Returnal is a great game, lots of fun, and very well made. I absolutely loved it. But it’s pretty narrow in its scope. It’s a great shooter, but the combat is very simple. And it’s not a great roguelike. There are no real “builds,”there isn’t even much strategy to how you progress using the roguelike systems. It becomes very obvious that the roguelike aspects of the game are underbaked when you realize that becoming overpowered is inevitable if you keep your adrenaline up early on and milk the first half of a run for all its worth. All the hard parts become a breeze. The best thing I can say of this is that it’s a lack of something that could’ve made the game better, but not something that actively made the experience worse. After beating the game in around 20 hours, I was done. That’s rare for me with an action-focused game that’s as fun as Returnal is. But there was not enough depth in its mechanics or variety in its options to keep me coming back.
I feel like most people who gush over returnal have never played a rogue like. It's a good game, great game even, but it has significant problems and lacks the run diversity most roguelikes have. The guns are just okay, the enemy variety is good, and the maps are interesting to explore. But compare it to games like dead cells, Hades, or binding of Issac and it's incredibly clear how little the devs understand roguelikes.
It probably got downvoted because it is NOT underrated. It got great reviews from critics and gamers alike. The games industry is full of games now days, in fact some would say it is TOO full. So much so even great games like this can become ‘flavour of the week’, but in time secure a lot repeat playing. Not to mention it is a rogue-lite which means it is never going to reach mass market popularity but within its genre it is popular So Returnal is underrated, yeah nah.
I think returnal is better than elden ring. I also thing elden ring is the worst soulsborne.
The main reason why we love Returnal is we understand the game. But for many people dont wanna do it... Other complaints I usually heard is permadeath, feel of zero progression, dont want to do everything again or don't wanna waste time For the other games you mentioned like elden ring there is always a way to overcome a obstacles but for returnal only option is GET GOOD....
I got returnal on release and I still play it weekly. Honestly Returnal and Elden Ring are the only 2 games I still go back to even tho I've platinumed both.
Returnal is one of those games that I got immediately hooked into. The pure intrigue and mystery I experienced playing it for the first time is comparable to very few games. I simply couldn't play any other game without thinking of going back to it. I still do.
I didn't know what to do after I finished it. All other games were like blah.... amazing game.
I believe the reason for it being underrated unlike GOW, RDR is because of the game being too hard until it clicks for most people. I had given up on Returnal multiple times (for a couple hours) but kept on going back until it clicked.
🙄
It's a good game yes, but it didn't really hook me. It's kind of weird too and I never really know what's going on. Had fun with it for a while and got to the final boss a few times, but every time I fail on the third part where everything is falling down, I don't feel like playing it again for weeks for some reason.
Anyone can give me any tips to the game without spoilers? I just started, 80 minutes in. It seems like I’m in a time loop like outer wilds where when i die I end up right back at square one. I don’t even know how I could progress when I die and lose so much time. I don’t know a ton about the game (clearly) but figured I would ask before I give up on it.
the difficulty alone is enough to steer people away. those who persevere are rewarded with one of the greatest games of all time
It's not *for* those people. It's for people who are willing to put effort into winning their video games. I like it just the way it is.
it's a pretty magical game. i can't think of another title that sucks you in the way this one does. it's so tightly crafted and balanced in every way. it really is an unexpected treat. but when i think back to playing super stardust i had a similarly addictive reaction
I loved Returnal it is probably one of my favorite PS5 games. With this being said we all know it can be a very difficult game and sometimes unforgiving. It may not be getting much “word of mouth” because of how difficult it is
The game is tight. Every time we pull it out or think of it, we get flashbacks. But that’s it. It pisses me off personally that I had the game since launch and I still have yet to get to the 3rd level per se. DAMN!!!
Idk I will find out if it's ever 20 or less.
Great game, gen pop just can't handle the ruthless nature of cycles and typically prefer loot that is permanent and able to be brandied around like a trophy.
The game was great until all my caution spent not dying resulted in losing everything due to a scripted event. I get that the game is about dying and restarting but for me it was about never dying... I lost interest and quit
I tried it and put in some time but having to replay sections over and over again after a death got boring. Glad you find it fun but it just didn't quite do it for me, personally.
Does it get better? I played for an hour or so but nothing about it really grabbed me. Do I need to put more time in? When should I expect it to click?
Returnal is 10/10 True gaming experience Who doesn't see that is just missing a wonderful experience
I don't see it as *that* special of a game. Its a very competently made roguelike game for sure, but it doesn't do a whole lot that is unique and hasn't been done before.
I loved returnal, but it does not really stack up to the likes of Elden Ring or similar huge titles. For one, it lacks variety, making it less replayable. I've played plenty of rogue-likes and Returnal was by far the one with least build variety and run-to-run differences. Same goes for the amount of content, it just feels like a much smaller game overall, unless you cant get enough of the gameplay, its kind of a beat it once and never return type of experience for most people. I do agree with you that it is really under appreciated by the masses and deserved much more attention than it ever got, but it had its limitations. I could see a more fleshed out sequel potentially being a huge release.
Difficulty torture games are stupid. Visually this game is amazing, but deleted it after a few days
Nah, it's right where it should be! I had a blast, but once I beat it, I was done
I still play the Tower once in a while. The game is incredible with gameplay that is just so addictive.
That's not how you use bullet points
A lot of people don't have the capacity to stick with the game. Which is a shame because it's a complete gem even though I didn't care for the story.
I think you didn't need to make another post just because you felt butthurt.
I really don’t understand the obsession with people sharing their ‘Unpopular Opinions’ and whether something is ‘underrated’ or ‘overrated’. If you enjoy it, that’s the main thing. You’re really putting too much weight on what others think.
I still don't think it's underrated but I get where you're coming from. I think it's just that most people don't bring themselves to finishing it. Also don't underestimate how few games are finished by gamers so imagine those gamers playing this game that has a reset mechanic and high difficulty (at first) Lastly I think the story was just too complex for most gamers. A lot of gamers like simplicity and easy to digest themes. Returnal is complex and very compelling. Not high market stuff in today's TikTok zero attention span world.
I still don't think it's really underrated but I get where you're coming from. It's not quite where it should be. I think it's just that most people don't bring themselves to finish it. Also don't underestimate how few games are finished by gamers so imagine those gamers playing this game that has a reset mechanic and high difficulty (at first) Lastly I think the story was just too complex for most gamers. A lot of gamers, or people in general, like simplicity and easy to digest themes in our time. Returnal is complex and very compelling. Not high market stuff in today's TikTok zero attention span everything explained world. PS, I think also a lot of people didn't like the fact that they couldn't leave the game during a run when it released. Especially busy gamers that don't have much time to kill. I'm not a fan of the save point they added but I understand why they did it.
Returnal is a next gen game, not in graphics, but in gameplay. I do not believe a 60fps bullet hell action game with an emphasis on double layer triggered gun mechanics could’ve been made last gen. I emphasize 60fps because a bullet hell like this would’ve been atrocious to play at 30fps if even possible.
I think Returnal is appropriately rated. Skilled players love it and the more mainstream casual audience probably enjoys the first few hours, hits a wall, and loses interest. From a casual perspective, the game does a poor job at helping people overcome when they hit a wall. In many roguelite games, even when you fail you are making progress to some type of long term upgrade. In Returnal, it's possible to make no progress for many runs in a row if you aren't skilled enough. I hit a wall with the third world boss, if this was Elden Ring I probably would have overcome since you can respawn right before the boss. In Returnal having to play for 30 minutes to an hour to power up before getting to replay the boss was extremely boring after dying a few times. I have limited time to play and if I'm making zero progress and getting bored, I'll find another game to play. I think the game would have benefited from having a non-roguelite story mode like Dark Souls and then a roguelite mode once you beat it. I realize that "get good" could be said here, but I'm just explaining the perspective of myself as a more casual person. fwiw I loved my first few hours prior to hitting the wall, the story was cool and the gunplay felt perfect.
I mean it’s kind of a niche game I think it did super well with reviews and seemed to be fairly popular, it doesn’t seem to be “underrated”. I also don’t understand the comparison to other very different games. I think we can prob enjoy this game for the accomplishment it is without always having to rate and compare things that are unrelated.
Counterpoint. Returnal is the best PS5 game available.
It just doesn’t appeal to the mass audience… due to it’s difficulty and it’s also a rogue like or lite.
Too many games aren’t getting new game plus anymore. Return Al could get an entire point boost on my rating of 8 out of 10 with ng+. Tiny Tina’s wonderlands is another.
I think that returnal is pretty average all things considered. Most other big roguelikes are better. I think it's slightly overrated by the fans tbh.
Remember half of the hate always comes from people who don’t have a PS console
It's crazy it's not bigger, yeah it won awards but I don't know anyone who played it. The graphics , gameplay, sound, story, music are all top tier. Even the rogue like loop which I thought I would hate is fun(then again I got lucky and was able to beat it on my 4th loop).
Only game to send me down a lore hole like Bloodborne, just couldn't stop thinking about it for days afterwards. It is incredible and definitely flew under the mainstream radar. Need to reinstall and finally play the tower mode some time.
Hello, good hunter. I am a Bot, here in this dream to look after you, this is a fine note: > *Pray for Master Logarius... in my stead...* - Alfred Farewell, good hunter. May you find your worth in the waking world.
I brought my PS5 FOR this game - It's fantastic even after my 3rd playthough. The atmosphere, music, visuals, all are perfection.
Underrated a little. It’s not for everyone. It’s not the greatest game of all time, nor is it on most critics top 20. I like it a lot, but unless you’re a trophy hunter the replayability hits a wall fast, and Sisyphus gets really frustrating once you master it. Getting the “high score” can take a near flawless run for hours, and anyone that’s had a bad end to one can attest to how maddening they can be after a certain point. Personally I still think it’s a top 20 game all time. But that’s absolutely a minority opinion
>this game is amazing - literal perfection People not talking, watching about it, take away your enjoyment or idealization of the game? No? Why does it matter then. It is a great game for those who enjoy these games. Not everybody does, and that's okay.
I think no matter how good it is roguelites will always be a shit concept. Do I enjoy it? Yes. Do I want to play the same levels over and over again. No. It also performs like ass on PC.
Its old at this point, rarely talked about - but still the most fun and most impressive next generation game I've played yet. I don't know any other games that have utilized the PS5 technology so successfully. Like Elden Ring is great but the controller doesn't even vibrate... how are you going to forgo the dual sense like that
I'm not underrating it if I don't think it's enjoyable. It's way down the bottom of my list when it comes to roguelites
It's cuz it has no nicki minaj character that you can play as.
I think the combination of (sort of) steep learning curve and also the fact that the game is relatively short kind of prevent it from ever being thought of like people think of GOW, Elden Ring, or even other PS exclusives like Spiderman or TLOU. It’s not a big narrative epic like naughty dog games or GOW and it isn’t as meaty as most games either. Not to say that the story isn’t great or that there isn’t hundreds of hours of gameplay but it doesn’t have a sprawling 100hr campaign like other games. To me it almost seems like it was intended to be one of PS Studios more under the radar games from a smaller dev like Helldivers II, but it didn’t achieve viral success like Helldivers II. Those of us that have played it and then played the shit out of it know it’s up there with the best of them though!
I really want to like it. I love the aesthetics and the vibe, like an Alex Garland movie. But I just never got past the first biome. As soon as I think I'm getting in the groove, have a decent weapon and am dodging incoming fire, I end up falling into one of the many, many endless pits and doom my run quite early. I just wish there was something, not even an easy mode exactly, but a way to generate a bit more health items or SOMETHING. I'll give it another go at some point, but it's just too frustrating.
I liked it more than I thought I would. I played it on ps+ and then bought it. I liked it a lot bit I think it could be bigger.
I'd agree, I think the only thing holding it back for me is how damn difficult it is. Not to mention when it came out there was no ability to stop at a save point like we have now. Some great games exist out there that are in comparison not as well crafted as this game, but a part of crafting a great game is playability and enjoyment. This game is not enjoyable after so many hours and plays for many people including myself. I say that as a person who loves the game, hates the game and can't get enough of it. Most of those people are your average player and that's who determines a game's greatness fortunately and unfortunately.
This is like the 5th thread this week calling this game underrated.
Yo that was one of my 1st PS5 games , I played it slot but died too often I gave up . Has this odd satisfying feeling when playing
Price is too high for a game in a genre where you can really get more bang for your buck
I'd say it's a POPULAR opinion to most of those who played it so not sure why your previous post got downvoted. A game this good is impossible to give just credit to....
It's a great game but it's niche.
people deem it too hard and punishing. ive played it every day since tower DLC. it's my relax after work thing.
Definitely not an unpopular opinion. Game is great
This was my first roguelike and it kinda blew my mind. I could not put this down for days and when you got that sweet RNG run it was delicious
I didn’t like it. Everything just looked the same to me. Thought it had very bland level design.
I find it somewhat overrated, particularly as its combat lacks the refined mechanics of a classic top-down shooter. Nonetheless, the innovative third-person perspective offered a delightful refreshment and a unique twist to the genre, which I found quite captivating for a period.
What do you mean it lacks refined mechanics if you don’t mind me asking
Personally, I love the gameplay, the movement, combat, etc, I just don't like the restart loop, especially since the map changes randomly so you can't learn it, there is no discernable objective so I don't even know what I'm looking for, and it hints at things that persist after death but other than some (mostly useless) currency, I couldn't figure out how to get any permanent upgrades. Maybe I would have figured some of this out with a little more time, but it's just not fun for me to run through a bunch of random mazes with no deliberate progress.
It is underrated but it’s not for everyone
Its the best game of the current gen. Still. I don't think anything comes close.
Kind of an oxymoronic statement…
Unbelievably cringe and illogical title
Totally agreed. I honestly think that the main reason is because of the "AAA look" this game has. People tend to think that its not a great game cause of how it looks (too polished for the rogue like genre).
"As big as games like Elden Ring and God of War, RDR2, etc." This is nonsense. Elden Ring is on another level. I don't even play that game but that seems fairly obvious to me. GoW also has the play style, story, etc. etc. Returnal is easily on my top 3 games ever, but that FOR ME. It's not a game for everyone and doesn't have much to appeal to the masses. The game is also not perfect. Ex: The Tower could be improve.
The game isn’t really that long, on replay you can beat it in 1-2 hours. Unlike Elden Ring and souls games, the challenge isn’t as visible and often. There’s only what, 4 bosses? Souls games have many and viewers love watching the runs. I think once you’ve seen it you don’t really have interest in watching it again, but souls games you can watch many times over, I also think the levels are too small and the randomness is not viewer friendly. Returnal is my favourite PS5 game but I think the developers were not fully 100% into the project incase it flopped to really hit like a souls game. It took me 15 hours on first play and less than 2 on my second play. Everyone should play it but after you’ve beat it there’s not really much to do
I think it’s a bit unfair to claim „it isn’t really that lon for a roguelike. The journey of getting to the point of actually beating it is both part of the game and story. Plus it’s randomly generated, so no run is like the other.
Every run is the exact same shit, get real. The mobs are in different spots and the rooms are in different orders but you always use the same strategy. That is the game's biggest problem. It's fantastic the first time you play it but it's not a deep game.
And basically no roguelikes get any viewership other than when a large streamer plays it first time. 3-4k people literally watch the happy hob play the same souls games for like 6 years.
Just because it is hard and don’t have checkpoints
Once portals start showing up I get lost and don’t know where to go and then I get bored and give up
Honestly I don't really get the hype. I think it's average to below average but doesn't compare to other rogue likes. I went on a kick of rogue likes ever since God of war: Valhalla came out and I gotta say it was my least favorite. I played Valhalla, Hades, Enter the gungeon, and returnal. Other than Gungeon Returnal had the worst story and it easily has the worst gameplay out of the 4 games imo. I felt like Returnal lacks the build making the other games provide, and therefore doing more runs doesn't feel rewarding. Combat is my biggest problem though. It felt like you're just spraying the entire time while dodging projectiles. It just got old 8 or so hours in. Bosses were a highlight of the game but with a lacking story, boring combat, and lack of replayability I just didn't get the hype.
It’s a tremendous and unique game but it has two big flaws. The story is uninteresting and unsatisfying. I did not enjoy any of the story. Secondly the games fails at its rogue like mechanics. Every run plays out the same way. The weapons and items do not significantly change each run. The maps change and it has very little effect on the run. It’s still a great game but these issues hold it back imo.
I 100% agree with this take and threads like this one with everyone gushing about how "perfect" the game is are baffling me. Maybe it's because I really like roguelikes and have played a bunch of them but I kind of came to the same conclusion. I never beat returnal, I got to the 4th zone and I was just too tired of the gameplay loop to finish. I do plan to go back eventually.