PlayStation Official Returnal Discussion

[Kevster]

Finished it today, the Abyssal Scar is possibly the best underwater level I’ve ever played.

All in all would call it a masterpiece, loved the entire experience, even though I was never in a rush, explored through every run, I was shocked when I seen 37 hours played, time flew by and I don’t think I’m finished exploring.

Bravo Housemarque, Bravo.

 

[SwamiLeoni]

Finished it today, the Abyssal Scar is possibly the best underwater level I’ve ever played.

All in all would call it a masterpiece, loved the entire experience, even though I was never in a rush, explored through every run, I was shocked when I seen 37 hours played, time flew by and I don’t think I’m finished exploring.

Bravo Housemarque, Bravo.

Same brother. Recency bias is real, but in my time playing that game, it will live with me forever.

 

[Zazen]

Finished it today, the Abyssal Scar is possibly the best underwater level I’ve ever played.

All in all would call it a masterpiece, loved the entire experience, even though I was never in a rush, explored through every run, I was shocked when I seen 37 hours played, time flew by and I don’t think I’m finished exploring.

Bravo Housemarque, Bravo.

Yeah it is a masterpiece imo. Probably my favorite gameplay in the last several years. Sound was great too with the 3D headphones on. Awesome soundtrack and creepy atmosphere. Just nailed everything for me. It was criminal that it wasn’t nominated for game of the year, especially considering it was a weaker year overall two years ago. It was my personal goty.

 

[KidBaize]

This has been on my wishlist for a while and finally picked it up in the Steam sale last week. Played a few hours this weekend and love the atmosphere and gameplay so far.

Died a bunch already so I get that it's a roguelike but I still don't really understand what's going on or how things work. Feel like I'm stuck in the Painted World again.

I've died a couple times at this one spot where there are these lasers you have to dash through to get three pickups on some stairs. That part is fine. But there's a green health pickup under the stairs and when I try to reach it I just fall to my death. Is it floating in mid air or something? Are you not able to loot everything you see?

 

[Law Talkin’ Guy]

I really got to get back to this one soon. Never did beat the first biome.

 

[KidBaize]

I really got to get back to this one soon. Never did beat the first biome.

I'm having fun just dashing around and exploring.

 

[KidBaize]

A couple more questions:

Do you find weapons, upgrades and items in the same sequence every run? Are they tied to a particular biome or randomized?

Do teleporters transport you to the same spots every run or is that random?

 

[rikwebb]

A couple more questions:

Do you find weapons, upgrades and items in the same sequence every run? Are they tied to a particular biome or randomized?

Do teleporters transport you to the same spots every run or is that random?

Guns are normally randomized where they pop up in the level but there are a few that get u locked with each biome but make sure you don't rush changing weapons and make sure you unlock the traits as they make things easier as you go on further runs (plus more traits become available with proficiency levels)

The area layouts are usually the same but are randomized where they turn up each time

Also re: your earlier question you will unlock more tools to help with stuff like that as you progress through the biomes

 

[KidBaize]

Guns are normally randomized where they pop up in the level but there are a few that get u locked with each biome but make sure you don't rush changing weapons and make sure you unlock the traits as they make things easier as you go on further runs (plus more traits become available with proficiency levels)

The area layouts are usually the same but are randomized where they turn up each time

Also re: your earlier question you will unlock more tools to help with stuff like that as you progress through the biomes

Thanks. And why do you sometimes start over inside the ship and have to crawl out like it's your very first run again, while other times you're already outside? Is that because I died too quickly or something?

 

[rikwebb]

Thanks. And why do you sometimes start over inside the ship and have to crawl out like it's your very first run again, while other times you're already outside? Is that because I died too quickly or something?

It's just a random thing, it annoys me having to start in the ship on some runs

 

[KidBaize]

It's just a random thing, it annoys me having to start in the ship on some runs

Yeah it's so slow getting out.

And I guess I just have to run past the shielded enemies for now? I can't seem to figure out how to damage them. Sorry for all the questions but this game is kind of confusing.

 

[rikwebb]

Yeah it's so slow getting out.

And I guess I just have to run past the shielded enemies for now? I can't seem to figure out how to damage them. Sorry for all the questions but this game is kind of confusing.

There's a permanent pickup in biome one that you can use to hit them plus some guns have a shield breaker alt fire

 

[KidBaize]

There's a permanent pickup in biome one that you can use to hit them plus some guns have a shield breaker alt fire

Oh shit I need to find those

 

[Ashen One]

Going to have to reinstall this and finally finish it. You all are making me want to play it again haha

 

[KidBaize]

Going to have to reinstall this and finally finish it. You all are making me want to play it again haha

Man I am dying like crazy but the gameplay is getting addictive

 

[Dinkin_Flicka]

Man I am dying like crazy but the gameplay is getting addictive

Once you level up a few key gun upgrades, it gets a lot more manageable. You'll feel like youre hitting a wall, then all of a sudden get a few good drops and have a magical run.

My favorite gun was the electropylon driver, that thing could roast waves of enemies. Made it super easy to dish out consistent damage shooting from the hip while maintaining focus on dodging damage rather than precision aiming.

 

[KidBaize]

Once you level up a few key gun upgrades, it gets a lot more manageable. You'll feel like youre hitting a wall, then all of a sudden get a few good drops and have a magical run.

My favorite gun was the electropylon driver, that thing could roast waves of enemies. Made it super easy to dish out consistent damage shooting from the hip while maintaining focus on dodging damage rather than precision aiming.

Still in the overgrown ruins area but I just found a level 3 weapon I think, a tachyomatic carbine. I was actually liking my last weapon, the spitmaw blaster. It has pretty good stagger which is useful against all these damn mobs. But I'm sick of that starting pistol with its wimpy pew pew and I'll probably be using it again in a few minutes lol

 

[SaiWa]

Oh shit I need to find those

A few tips for you if you haven’t already figured it out:

You are going to die a lot… so at the beginning focus of gaining/leveling up things that will carry over to your next run.

1. Weapon perks. As you level up the weapons you pick will also be at your level and the number of perks the weapons will have will also increase. Each perk will have a proficiency bar and that increases as you use the weapon. That carries over so if you are halfway towards unlocking a perk and die, it will be halfway next time you pick up that gun with that perk. I suggest focusing on leveling perks of your favorite weapons, even at the cost of not using another higher levelled weapon at times. The sooner you unlock that perk the more powerful that favorite weapon will be. They’ll be runs where your favorite weapon doesn’t drop and that’s ok. Then level up another weapon during the run. Might become your favorite. So when the stars align and you are experiencing a great run with your ideal artifacts, parasites, etc then your weapons will also be stronger.

2. Every single weapon is viable and powerful but it depends on perks. At the beginning some of them are trash and don’t become awesome till much later. The easiest weapons to use early on are the electropylon driver and the rotgland lobbed. Both of these weapons provide damage over time and are the fire and forget type of weapons. Fire , concentrate on running dodging and repeat repeat.

3. Ether - the currency you use to open/use malignant items without the risk of triggering malfunctions. I’d save them till you max out at 30 then start using them at critical points. Need health grab a malignant silphium. See a bunch of ethers past several rooms, open a 5-ether chest. But keep the stock high for an emergency or for when you are ready to a run becomes promising and you want to go for it.

4. Focus on anything that will increase/maintain your integrity/health, then protection over attack power.

5. don’t be terrified of malfunctions. They’re easy to fix and you can use it to your benefit with a specific build. There is an artifact that replenishes your health whenever you get or fix a malfunction. The best one is the one that increase your health bar. If you can get both of those artifacts you can continually get and fix malfunctions while fixing/increasing your health.

 

[SaiWa]

Still in the overgrown ruins area but I just found a level 3 weapon I think, a tachyomatic carbine. I was actually liking my last weapon, the spitmaw blaster. It has pretty good stagger which is useful against all these damn mobs. But I'm sick of that starting pistol with its wimpy pew pew and I'll probably be using it again in a few minutes lol

Carbine is decent. It has a healing perk, damage heals you so it’s solid but there are easier weapons to use. Spit maw is a shotty and pretty hard to use at lower level. It’s fine when it’s not hectic but when shit goes down and you are surrounded it’s not as good IMO. The pistol is surprisingly good with a few perks. But yeah the weapon is so tiring to,use at times cause u always start with it.

 

[KidBaize]

A few tips for you if you haven’t already figured it out:

You are going to die a lot… so at the beginning focus of gaining/leveling up things that will carry over to your next run.

1. Weapon perks. As you level up the weapons you pick will also be at your level and the number of perks the weapons will have will also increase. Each perk will have a proficiency bar and that increases as you use the weapon. That carries over so if you are halfway towards unlocking a perk and die, it will be halfway next time you pick up that gun with that perk. I suggest focusing on leveling perks of your targeted weapons, even at the cost of not using another higher levelled weapon at times. The sooner you unlock that perk the more powerful that your favorite weapon will be. They’ll be runs where your favorite weapon doesn’t drop and that’s ok. Then level up that weapon during the run. Might become your favorite. So when the stars align, it’ll be great run with your ideal artifacts, parasites, and your weapons will be stronger.

2. Ever single weapon is viable and powerful but it depends on perks. At the beginning some of them are trash and don’t become awesome till much later. The easiest weapons to use early on are the electropylon driver and the rotgland lobbed. Both of these weapons provide damage over time and are the fire and forget type of weapons. Fire , concentrate on running dodging and repeat repeat.

3. Ether - the currency you use to open/use malignant items without the risk of triggering malfunctions. I’d save them till you max out at 30 then start using them at critical points. Need health grab a malignant silphium. See a bunch of ethers past several rooms, open a 5-ether chest. But keep the stock high for an emergency or for when you are ready to a run becomes promising and you want to go for it.

4. Focus on anything that will increase/maintain your integrity/health, then protection over attack power.

5. don’t be terrified of malfunctions. They’re easy to fix and you can use it to your benefit with a specific build. There is an artifact that replenishes your health whenever you get or fix a malfunction. The best one is the one that increase your health bar. If you can get both of those artifacts you can continually get and fix malfunctions while fixing/increasing your health.

Awesome thanks!

Should I use my ether at that first machine by the ship or just save it up?