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[Draugoth]

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Game Information​

Game Title: Returnal
Platforms:

• PlayStation 5 (Apr 30, 2021)
• Steam, Epic Games Store (February 15, 2023)

Trailers:

• Returnal - Story Trailer | PS5
• Returnal - State of Play Gameplay Walkthrough | PS5
• Returnal - Gameplay Trailer | PS5

Developer: Housemarque, Nixxes
Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Review Aggregator:

MetaCritic - 86/100 - 17 Reviews

Critic Reviews:

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Digital Chumps - 100/100

Returnal is still a perfect game in my opinion. It hits all the right notes, even when it feels impossibly difficult. The gameplay structure is complicated, precise, and entertaining. The PC upgrade makes the experience even better with superior visuals and a plethora of ways to play the game. This is a superior version of a superior title.

GamersRD - 100/100

Returnal completely surpasses the PS5 version by providing wonderful graphics and amazing optimization. It literally squeezes the full potential of the new GPUs. One of the best combinations is 3D Audio with Dolby Atmos and of course the DualSense support makes the game way more immersive. Returnal is one of the best choices for PC gamers this 2023.

GameSpew - 100/100

Going back to Returnal on PC, we were instantly reminded why we fell in love with it. This is a game like no other. We were disappointed when Housemarque announced it was stepping away from the arcade-style games that it became known for, but when Returnal was unleashed we quickly came to terms with it. This may be a third-person shooter with roguelike elements and lashings of horror, but it’s Housemarque’s penchant for making games that keep you going back for more that ties it all together. And the result is quite simply phenomenal.

Game Rant - 90/100

Returnal on PC has all the content on day one that was released for the original game in the year after its launch, meaning that it's debuting on PC in a better state than it was in when it first came to PS5. Developer Climax Studios has hit it out of the park with this port, so any PC gamers curious about Returnal can feel confident picking it up, but they might want to consider getting a DualSense to go with their purchase.

Metro GameCentral - 90/100

One of the best PlayStation exclusives of recent years is an inspired mix of bullet hell shooter and roguelike dungeon crawler, that somehow still feels like nothing else on console or PC

GameStar - 86/100

Quotation forthcoming.

Multiplayer.it - 85/100

Quotation forthcoming.

Vandal - 82/100

Quotation forthcoming.

Dexerto - 60/100

Returnal on the Steam Deck is going to look a little ugly. All three supersampling options aren’t the best in the world, as AMD’s FSR and Nvidia’s NIS options muddied the screen and VSR turned the game into a gloopy mess. There are also options to turn down the rendered resolution, as well as turn on Dynamic Resolution, but nothing ever managed to run or look ‘right’.

 

[AndrewRyan]

So excited to play it portably! Downloading now for PC and Steam Deck.
PCGamer 74/100

 

[rofif]

Why is it installing some epic store shit ?!

 

[VN1X]

Why is it installing some epic store shit ?!

Eh?

 

[rofif]

Eh?

epic online services. not store, sorry... but still. What is that ?

 

[GHG]

I'm not sure why this is getting the reviews it is considering the stuttering issues. Do PC reviewers just not care anymore or what?

 

[SLB1904]

Detexto really gave it six because don't run on their overpriced handheld?

 

[Tomi]

Playing right now
Having some stuttering issues, but game is nuts

 

[near]

epic online services. not store, sorry... but still. What is that ?

Possibly this:

Epic Online Services release free PC crossplay tools

Add over half a billion new players to your PC community and build one connected community across stores with free crossplay tools from Epic Online Services.

dev.epicgames.com

"Today, we are launching a new crossplay tool for game developers—starting with PC. This service is the first in a series of plug-and-play crossplay services that give developers everything they need to connect their game and community across platforms and stores."

 

[Alexios]

 

[Ducktail]

Returnal is really an incredible game, great to see it coming to PC.

 

[ANDS]

Detexto really gave it six because don't run on their overpriced handheld?

That is literally the only negative I could find in the review. Bizarre. PC Gamer review is also interesting but for the exact opposite reason; guess the game isn't for everyone.

 

[Alexios]

Detexto really gave it six because don't run on their overpriced handheld?

What makes the Steam Deck overpriced? I thought it's the most budget friendly of similar devices? What's a cheaper device with similar specs or the same price but better specs?

 

[GHG]

Fuck me this looks amazing. Definitely getting this once the stuttering issues are resolved.

 

[DenchDeckard]

PC version looks amazing! i'll pick it up as soon as they fix the port. Incredible game and the best Sony exclusive this gen.

 

[nemiroff]

I'm more than happy to be wrong about this game. I might bite if the good reviews stick.

Edit: I'm confused, is that Dexerto review a PC review or a Steam Deck fanboy review..?

 

[TheMan]

You know I played this on PS5 when I was briefly subscribed to the higher tier of PS plus (not worth it btw) and I thought this game was just ok. Good production values but I wasn't really compelled to play a ton.

 

[nikos]

Game feels godlike on a mouse and keyboard. Worth the wait.

 

[SLB1904]

What makes the Steam Deck overpriced? I thought it's the most budget friendly of similar devices? What's a cheaper device with similar specs or the same price but better specs?

You are right. Is just an expensive handheld. This game wasn't made fir handheld. Complain about it just show the ignorance about it

 

[Holammer]

Most of the negative user reviews on Steam mentions that it installs and requires Epic Online Services + launcher to be installed to work (can someone confirm?)
Way to go to nuke your first impression.

 

[StreetsofBeige]

Most of the negative user reviews on Steam mentions that it installs and requires Epic Online Services + launcher to be installed to work (can someone confirm?)
Way to go to nuke your first impression.

Something has to come from $1B of investment Sony poured into Epic.

Sony Invests $1 Billion Into Epic Games' Metaverse Development

Epic fledgling metaverse gets a big shot in the arm.

www.gameinformer.com

 

[nikos]

For anybody interested in the settings:

 

[Black_Stride]

The DF thread is going to be a blood bath if this game doesnt have any major issues:

 

[Kataploom]

Most of the negative user reviews on Steam mentions that it installs and requires Epic Online Services + launcher to be installed to work (can someone confirm?)
Way to go to nuke your first impression.

Definitely something to look at when buying games now... these PC devs don't know how else to fuck on consumers... Don't they see how many just don't want to install Epic shit?... "Why?" you may ask, well, for whatever reasons

 

[rofif]

No epic launcher needed. only online services app

 

[Black_Stride]

Definitely something to look at when buying games now... these PC devs don't know how else to fuck on consumers... Don't they see how many just don't want to install Epic shit?... "Why?" you may ask, well, for whatever reasons

Epic Online Services is effectively the easiest and cheapest way to get online functionality into your game.
I take it you didnt play Hades or Among Us.....they both use EOS.....actually if I think about it, quite alot of games use EOS for their online functionality.

 

[Tomeru]

I don't mind bad reviews, but that PC Gamer is really amazing. When you read/listen to that - that's when you know.

I'm considering double dipping. No doubt it'll be easier to 100% again, and I didn't give the coop mode a try before...

 

[rodrigolfp]

"Returnal on the Steam Deck is going to look a little ugly."

 

[Killer8]

Did they lower the RAM requirement before launch? Could've sworn it was 32GB at some point yet now it's 16GB.

I'm going to be disappointed if this is yet another stutter struggle mess on PC, but the PS5 is supposedly not immune to loading stutters either.

 

[Mister Wolf]

Stutter.

 

[CheeseCake]

I really wish this game was marketed better for PC :/

You barely see anyone talking about it. It's kinda sad because it's a really good game.

 

[ChoosableOne]

Great game, wow. I was thinking of playing 2 hours and returning it, but I had a lot of fun and I didn't understand how the time passed (I took a break at 2.1 hours lol). But I'm starting to think that rogue-lite elements will undermine my fun, even though I normally love the genre. I hope I'm wrong. Playing it with keyboard and mouse and it feels awesome.

I'm not sure why this is getting the reviews it is considering the stuttering issues. Do PC reviewers just not care anymore or what?

I don't have any stutters. My specs are: i7 9700k(base clocks), 3060 ti, nvm ssd, 32 gb ram(at 3600mhz), windows 11, 1440p gysnc monitor/144hz. I'm playing it on High settings, FPS around 70-80(almost stable). I've only changed Vsync option(turned it off). GPU utilization goes up to %100, cpu around %50-60. Nvidia driver version 528.02.
I got one crash(fatal error) while playing though.

Detexto really gave it six because don't run on their overpriced handheld?

What a lame review that is. He says "it's another homerun for Sony" in his review.

Did they lower the RAM requirement before launch? Could've sworn it was 32GB at some point yet now it's 16GB.

I'm going to be disappointed if this is yet another stutter struggle mess on PC, but the PS5 is supposedly not immune to loading stutters either.

Yes, they were saying something like that but then they changed it. As far as I can see it's using something like 5-6gb. I don't know if the 32gb ram helped with the stutter issue, it's not using much ram after all.

 

[DenchDeckard]

So wait...you have to sign into epics online to play it?

If this is true, no way GHG picks it up.

Why the fuxk do we need to sign into epic through steam?

 

[Sanepar]

I think like hogwarts, RT is the source of stutters.

 

[GHG]

So wait...you have to sign into epics online to play it?

If this is true, no way GHG picks it up.

Why the fuxk do we need to sign into epic through steam?

Oh back to behaving like a clown are we? Only been about 24 hours, that was quick.

 

[ChoosableOne]

So wait...you have to sign into epics online to play it?

If this is true, no way GHG picks it up.

Why the fuxk do we need to sign into epic through steam?

When you first install the game, it installs the "epic online" application for a short time, and when you enter the game, the "epic online app" runs in the background. So, it doesn't open "epic store", but uses epic online app for online features.

I think like hogwarts, RT is the source of stutters.

Might be, I'm playing without "RT" (default "high" settings).

 

[T4keD0wN]

I think like hogwarts, RT is the source of stutters.

Hogwarts stutters even without RT, it just seems to make it way worse as RT will need more memory + it puts more workload on the CPU and unreal engine 4 is really bad at utilizing more CPU cores properly.

 

[SmokedMeat]

"Returnal on the Steam Deck is going to look a little ugly."

Right?? We’re talking a damn PS5 game running on a portable.

 

[Buggy Loop]

Wait, can you give a bad score to a game now because it’s having trouble on Steam deck?

 

[Alexios]

Played this a bit. Can't maintain 60fps in the benchmark, goes down to about 40 at the worst moment no matter the settings, so I guess I'll lock it to 30 and stick with Epic settings.

Doesn't look so epic tbh. Also got some flickering like texture z fighting here and there (mostly seen in the scene getting close to that first body), some weird loding of shading shifting around pretty massively as you advance and many assets change lod way too closely and abruptly too.

I seem to get some micro stuttering too when just doing stuff with not much happening, the benchmark didn't show it, just when I start shooting or boost around Idk, I don't have a fps counter on outside the benchmark but it just seems to hitch for a fraction of a 2nd, I can feel it.

At any settings that, lowest too.

The game seems alright. I need to re-start it and actually watch the intro cos I skipped all that, O should have known it'd just plop you in game seamlessly.

Not much story to it I take it? Since it throws the twist like, right away on who's that first dead astronaut etc. Then again that part justifies the whole gameplay style.

Also, this lady can obviously just squeeze through the bars of the giant gates you unlock. Noone noticed that?

 

[VN1X]

Played about two and a half hours so far and am absolutely loving it. Performance isn't nearly as bad as some outlets have made it out to be and while there is some stutter it certainly isn't "unplayable" by any stretch. Game runs fine on native 1440p and high settings but the fps does fluctuate wildly depending on the scene; about 90-130 range on a 5800X3D + 6800XT (not overclocked). With FSR enabled and RT Shadows on Medium (this also looks best imo) it will sit around the 120-160 mark.

Anyway the level design, the narrative, the mechanics, the snappy gameplay... it's all fantastic really and I had to force myself to put it down. Really odd that PC Gamer gave this a 7 in my opinion and the sub headline they gave it makes me think they don't really 'get' it (or the genre itself lol).

This along with Hi-Fi Rush and Scars Above (don't sleep on this btw) later this month, hooooo-whey! 2023 is off to a great start to say the least.

 

[Kokoloko85]

How well does Steamdeck run it? Performance wise

 

[Lasha]

Did Dexerto select that quote? Since when are PC games rated on how well they run on a Steam deck?

 

[Stuart360]

I posted this in the other thread but it may be better here as people are talking about performance -

The game seems pretty well optimized for me.
1080p Epic settings (no RT obviously), 60fps. GPU usage in the 50-80% usage range, and cpu usage is barely anything.
3700x/32gb Ram/GTX 1080ti.

Barely any loading stutter except the odd single stutter to 59fps every so often.
I honestly think because i'm a couch gamer that plays on a 60hz tv (and therefor plays at vsynced 60fps) i rarely get much loading stutter in UE games compard to a lot of poeple. I really do think playing at unlocked framerates makes the stuttering a lot worse.

Also can i just ask, the opeining area/biome, is it supposed to be that dark?. Its so dark its hard to see lol.

 

[VN1X]

Played this a bit. Can't maintain 60fps in the benchmark, goes down to about 40 at the worst moment no matter the settings, so I guess I'll lock it to 30 and stick with Epic settings.

Doesn't look so epic tbh. Also got some flickering like texture z fighting here and there (mostly seen in the scene getting close to that first body), some weird loding of shading shifting around pretty massively as you advance and many assets change lod way too closely and abruptly too.

I seem to get some micro stuttering too when just doing stuff with not much happening, the benchmark didn't show it, just when I start shooting or boost around Idk, I don't have a fps counter on outside the benchmark but it just seems to hitch for a fraction of a 2nd, I can feel it.

At any settings that, lowest too.

The game seems alright. I need to re-start it and actually watch the intro cos I skipped all that, O should have known it'd just plop you in game seamlessly.

Not much story to it I take it? Since it throws the twist like, right away on who's that first dead astronaut etc. Then again that part justifies the whole gameplay style.

Also, this lady can obviously just squeeze through the bars of the giant gates you unlock. Noone noticed that?

There's a ton of story that's told throughout as you progress.

Also it would help if you listed your specs with regards to the performance you mentioned in your post.

 

[Puscifer]

epic online services. not store, sorry... but still. What is that ?

Cross play

 

[kiphalfton]

Detexto really gave it six because don't run on their overpriced handheld?

Puh-lease.

Overpriced handheld? The steamdeck?

That thing that is literally $100 more than the switch (that in and of itself isn't half as capable tech wise).

 

[Puscifer]

Played this a bit. Can't maintain 60fps in the benchmark, goes down to about 40 at the worst moment no matter the settings, so I guess I'll lock it to 30 and stick with Epic settings.

Doesn't look so epic tbh. Also got some flickering like texture z fighting here and there (mostly seen in the scene getting close to that first body), some weird loding of shading shifting around pretty massively as you advance and many assets change lod way too closely and abruptly too.

I seem to get some micro stuttering too when just doing stuff with not much happening, the benchmark didn't show it, just when I start shooting or boost around Idk, I don't have a fps counter on outside the benchmark but it just seems to hitch for a fraction of a 2nd, I can feel it.

At any settings that, lowest too.

The game seems alright. I need to re-start it and actually watch the intro cos I skipped all that, O should have known it'd just plop you in game seamlessly.

Not much story to it I take it? Since it throws the twist like, right away on who's that first dead astronaut etc. Then again that part justifies the whole gameplay style.

Also, this lady can obviously just squeeze through the bars of the giant gates you unlock. Noone noticed that?

I kinda like that, Housemarque is an extremely "gamey" studio and they keep the momentum going. It honestly wasn't even an issue for me on PS5 till you mentioned it lol

 

[nemiroff]

The forced Epic Online thingy is a dealbreaker for me. Good thing I have plenty enough games to play.

 

[drotahorror]

Runs really solid and minimal stuttering maxed out NO RT. RT reflections atleast, cause insane stutters.

6700k 3060ti 16gb ram 1080p. Average 90 fps or so