Returnal (PS5 April 2021)

[Lazy8s]

This is my next game.

https://www.playstation.com/en-us/games/returnal/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5929rKazHbE

[KAC]

Yes seems like a good game to return once you are done.

[Lazy8s]

Cyko, sorry I missed your last text yesterday...

That game breaking patch....

https://www.polygon.com/22421791/ret...ing-bug-update

I need to re download the game I can fire it up, but the progress it lets you keep is borked. It's also spawning enemies that I've not seen in 25 runs that I can't even fight yet.

[Nascar24]

wtf,, Sounds like this game needs some work.

[Lazy8s]

Originally Posted by Nascar24

wtf,, Sounds like this game needs some work.

It does, which is really sad. The visuals, the combat, enemies, landscapes are just ridiculously amazing. Tough as hell, but you know that going in. I'm really hoping when I fire it back up later that the problems are resolved.

[Cyko]

No worries dude. Figured you’d headed into the game after I showed you how to spank that boss like a petulant child

Really is a BS situation with the patch. Like, it wasn’t just a minor thing that happened to a few people. Send it was fairly widespread.

Like Lazy said, unfortunate because the game itself - while ridiculously difficult - is a damn good time.

[Lazy8s]

I hate this game. I either have to learn how to quit being fumble fingered as hell on that controller or ditch this game. There are no other options.

I never would have guessed there's a sado-masochist hidden deep within me

[Cyko]

Have you tried any of the alternate control schemes? “Adaptive” is a bit of a rough adjustment from the more traditional layouts.

[Lazy8s]

Originally Posted by Cyko

Have you tried any of the alternate control schemes? “Adaptive” is a bit of a rough adjustment from the more traditional layouts.

I haven't. This may sound silly, but after I have no idea how many deaths I think I'm "getting it" now. I tense up way too much, so I miss reloads, accientally hit f1 and use my consumable, that kind of stuff.

That last run at Phrike just got easy though, suddenly felt almost as comfortable as if I were in Nioh or a Souls game.

I'm a slow learner but once I get it I'm usually good. 13 runs at Phrike btw. Even figured out the tree guys for quick kills. All melee wrecks them

Edit: Have you run into the "Boss" that spawns in the optional chest areas sometimes? Looks like the big fire spitting guys, but has multiple attacks like rings of fire? He legit sucks. Haven't beat him yet.

[Cyko]

Oh man. Just wait until you get to the 3rd boss.

Can’t wait to hear you rage about that guy. It’s…intense.

[Lazy8s]

Originally Posted by Cyko

Oh man. Just wait until you get to the 3rd boss.

Can’t wait to hear you rage about that guy. It’s…intense.

I already have PTSD from the first two

3rd biome is messing me up bad. I just had to shut the game down for a bit. Dizzy, sweating, shaking hands. I think I'll be happy when this one is over and done with.

[Nascar24]

Definitely isn't going to be my type of game.

[Lazy8s]

Originally Posted by Nascar24

Definitely isn't going to be my type of game.

It's literally the most brutal game I've ever played. I've died 20 feet outside my front door There is no "difficult but fair" here.

The problem is that when you do progress, the game is so beautiful, and the play is so satisfying that I have to come back for more. Man...there is a freaking mini boss I haven't been able to beat, so I just run away now

I'm really glad I got it, but it just hurts so very much and so very good

[Nascar24]

Graphics sound great, but I would never see them as I dont have the patience for this type of game.

[KAC]

Originally Posted by Lazy8s

I already have PTSD from the first two

3rd biome is messing me up bad. I just had to shut the game down for a bit. Dizzy, sweating, shaking hands. I think I'll be happy when this one is over and done with.

Possibly knocked off 3-5 years of your life. Why though?

[Lazy8s]

Originally Posted by Nascar24

Graphics sound great, but I would never see them as I dont have the patience for this type of game.

I don't really either lol. I just needed something different than the usual soulsborne stuff I prefer and this seemed to fit the bill.

[Jankan]

I can never understand the lure of these type of games. Where is the fun in redoing things 1000 times over and getting frustrated with it.

[KAC]

Originally Posted by Jankan

I can never understand the lure of these type of games. Where is the fun in redoing things 1000 times over and getting frustrated with it.

Plus perma death.

[Lazy8s]

Originally Posted by Jankan

I can never understand the lure of these type of games. Where is the fun in redoing things 1000 times over and getting frustrated with it.

I'm not trying to convince anyone to buy the game. It's just completely different from anything I've played before, and it's an amazing game in it's own right. It goes way beyond simply spamming r1 and dying a lot. But like they say, different folks...to each their own.

[KAC]

You can try to play Outriders with some higher world tiers and get your ass handed to you if you want it that bad.

[Lazy8s]

Originally Posted by KAC

You can try to play Outriders with some higher world tiers and get your ass handed to you if you want it that bad.

I know you think that difficulty level is all this is about, and that's why I haven't been responding to your posts.

It's not.

[Lazy8s]

@ Cyko if you're still playing this - that 3rd biome - I have never played anything that difficult anywhere anywhen ever.

I had about 10 legit deaths to the mobs.

I had several crashes, all progress lost right before the boss

That boss though - that was just poetry in motion. I've never fought such a beautiful boss fight before

First try and done. Then Selene's story just gets whacked lol. What a crazy game

[Lazy8s]

Boss 4 down. That was fun - The game starts you at the 4th biome every time after act 1, so players don't have to start at the very beginning any more

So far, act 2 is easier. So far

[Cyko]

Haven’t been able to play much of anything lately. Some turnover on the leadership team at work has meant the rest of us are picking up the slack. Should get better next week but Biomutant comes out then, so I may be shelving this until some sort of save option is implemented. I love the game, but having to restart a 2-3 hour run because the game decides to screw you due to RNG is a little much for me right now.

[Lazy8s]

I have to wait for Biomutant, hopefully not too long though.

[Lazy8s]

So I completed this today. As far as the main game anyway. There's more that is available after the final boss is down.

True next gen title.

-Combat: Hands down the best 3rd person gunplay I've ever enjoyed.

-Weapons and variety: Maybe 8 variants on 3 classes of weapon. Assault rifle, pistol, rocket launcher, and some 'alien type' weaponry.

-Story: Haunting, and so well done, especially the outtakes at a certain location that should never have been where she found it.

-Graphics and environments: Top notch, especially biome 6. Just haunting and frightening.

-Voice acting and scripts: Nearly perfect, as you find data logs while progressing through the game, as well as "alien" transcripts that piece together the story.

-Difficulty: This one is tough. The game is not "Difficult but fair". It's murderous, and most times is doing anything and everything the devs could possibly justify to stop you.

On the one hand - it's nucking Futz, insane. On the other, I haven't had this much of a rush after mob fights and boss fights since my first run with Dark Souls 1. What a rush.

Overall 9/10 from me. Perma death wasn't my cup of tea really, but this game changed that given the setup and the fact that just when I was taking it too personally, the RNG would give me a sweet, smooth run. Not often, but enough to make me keep going.

178 deaths start to finish. What a rush.

[Nascar24]

My TV would be broken if I ever bought this Maybe I will buy at bargain bin price.

[Lazy8s]

Originally Posted by Nascar24

My TV would be broken if I ever bought this Maybe I will buy at bargain bin price.

I got really good at just putting the controller down and walking away

It's the kind of game that, if you know what you're in for and are ok with trying it, it's just phenomenal. Insanely good - I actually couldn't stop smiling during some of the boss fights and challenges.

Other times though...it's like the RNG waits for you to get all toughened up and think you're doing good before it b***ch slaps all the way back to last week

And yet it's so good I never minded coming back to it. Texting back and forth with Cyko his eyes probably rolled so hard at my raging he hurt himself

[Cyko]

Originally Posted by Lazy8s

Texting back and forth with Cyko his eyes probably rolled so hard at my raging he hurt himself

Hell no. That was the funniest sh*t I’ve read in a while.

You could be the best player in the world, but if the RNG decides to fck you it’s better to just bend over and take it then start a new run. It’s a great game, but VERY unforgiving.

[Lazy8s]

Originally Posted by Cyko

Hell no. That was the funniest sh*t I’ve read in a while.

You could be the best player in the world, but if the RNG decides to fck you it’s better to just bend over and take it then start a new run. It’s a great game, but VERY unforgiving.

It's downright vindictive

FYI if you do NG+ the game allows you to start back at biome 1. I had close to 280% integrity and almost all artifact slots filled when I beat the final boss and it took everything away but for the permanent tools you get like the grappling hook. Everything lol.

On that note though, I'm almost back to the biome 4 boss. Zero death run so far. Bosses 2 and 3 almost got me, but I got through.

I got gud

edit: Boss 4 down, still no deaths Back in biome 5 now, which is the worst by far imo.