PlayStation Official Returnal Discussion

[KidBaize]

You could that as well. Might work better for @KidBaize. Only problem I see the weapon perks aren’t as levelled u since you are rushing past everything you do not need to beat. So you are going with weaker weapons but getting super familiar with boss mechanics. Boss mechanics are pretty simple IMO though so I never struggled with most bosses. Exploring the game was the fun part for me so the struggle to explore and beat everything was what drove me to play it again and again.

Yeah I've been trying to save as many health pickups as possible for the boss. Also saving all the chests since apparently your weapon proficiency determines the level of items you'll get. So hopefully if I can learn how to deal with a few enemies that keep killing me I'll be better off. But it's a grind atm.

 

[KidBaize]

I tried to play the game this way but it just doesn't work for me. I started just running to the boss rooms as quickly as I could avoiding all side content. That way I can start learning the attack patterns of the boss. Also some of the rooms had harder fights than the actual boss. Once I beat the game and stated collecting the sun dials then I would explore more.

Very similar to how I play souls games really. I try to get all the lanterns/boss room first, then I go back and fully explore the level.

The side rooms are scary. That miniboss invades randomly and sometimes he's got laser turrets and shit.

 

[method115]

The side rooms are scary. That miniboss invades randomly and sometimes he's got laser turrets and shit.

Yes it was to much for me. I found that heading straight for the bosses was just a strategy that worked out well for me. After running through the game once then I got more comfortable exploring everything. This game has a real\risk reward type system and I came to the conclusion that the risk is almost never worth the reward, for me anyways.

 

[KidBaize]

Yes it was to much for me. I found that heading straight for the bosses was just a strategy that worked out well for me. After running through the game once then I got more comfortable exploring everything. This game has a real\risk reward type system and I came to the conclusion that the risk is almost never worth the reward, for me anyways.

I'll try it this way for a bit and then probably switch to what you're doing if all the backtracking gets annoying. The boss doesn't seem that hard so I don't really need to be super tanky. Learning its moveset is more important.

 

[KidBaize]

Finally on to biome 2. I guess everyone makes a beeline for the crimson gate once it's open? No point in clearing 1 again if you don't have to.

This game is wicked. The music, atmosphere and creepy visits to the house. It has some serious Solaris vibes.

 

[SaiWa]

Finally on to biome 2. I guess everyone makes a beeline for the crimson gate once it's open? No point in clearing 1 again if you don't have to.

This game is wicked. The music, atmosphere and creepy visits to the house. It has some serious Solaris vibes.

Yes. The enemies progressively get stronger so you have a bigger incentive to level up in the first biome but you can skip biome 1 altogether if you want.

 

[KidBaize]

Have you run into a weapon called a Hollowseeker? It’s my favorite WPN. I’ve some higher traits unlocked for it and has proven my trusty slayer.

Like Sai advised, I try to commit to progression for a couple WPNs over picking up the latest drop willy-nilly. The carbine you mentioned is sick, IMO. It’s hard to pass up a WPN sometimes if it’s high-levelled, admittedly.

There’s also a WPN state called Hardened, iirc, that grants a small shield to help mitigate DMG. You can tell if you have this without going into menu by a small red projection from the WPN. I don’t know what grants it, TBH.

Finally got a hollowseeker halfway through biome 2 and can see why people like it so much.

 

[KidBaize]

Do weapon traits and alt fire modes change as your weapon proficiency increases?

Apparently some traits only unlock at weapon proficiency level 5 and then more at 15. So if I keep my starting weapon will traits start emerging as I progress through the game? Or do I have to swap to a new weapon to get more traits and alt fire modes?

 

[rikwebb]

Do weapon traits and alt fire modes change as your weapon proficiency increases?

Apparently some traits only unlock at weapon proficiency level 5 and then more at 15. So if I keep my starting weapon will traits start emerging as I progress through the game? Or do I have to swap to a new weapon to get more traits and alt fire modes?

There's also some that unlock at 25 too, its random which ones they'll have when you pick them up

 

[KidBaize]

There's also some that unlock at 25 too, its random which ones they'll have when you pick them up

So you have to pick up a new weapon then. It would be cool if they upgraded with you.

 

[rikwebb]

So you have to pick up a new weapon then. It would be cool if they upgraded with you.

The first reply on here should help you better than I've been trying to describe for the last 10 minutes for this reply haha



But as you unlock traits the database entry will look like this for a weapon as you move on

https://preview.redd.it/g2e49bo7t6571.jpg?width=1080&crop=smart&auto=webp&s=f7ac548d49cc39fed0ca7350b7cf4b32d2c7ecb1

 

[Valhoven]

The first reply on here should help you better than I've been trying to describe for the last 10 minutes for this reply haha



But as you unlock traits the database entry will look like this for a weapon as you move on

https://preview.redd.it/g2e49bo7t6571.jpg?width=1080&crop=smart&auto=webp&s=f7ac548d49cc39fed0ca7350b7cf4b32d2c7ecb1

We can pick one from among those unlocked or we get all unlocks active per pickup? I just want leech rounds, mang. Never had before.

 

[rikwebb]

We can pick one from among those unlocked or we get all unlocks active per pickup? I just want leech rounds, mang. Never had before.

You get one trait from each level and its random which ones you get

 

[KidBaize]

The first reply on here should help you better than I've been trying to describe for the last 10 minutes for this reply haha



But as you unlock traits the database entry will look like this for a weapon as you move on

https://preview.redd.it/g2e49bo7t6571.jpg?width=1080&crop=smart&auto=webp&s=f7ac548d49cc39fed0ca7350b7cf4b32d2c7ecb1

This game is so complicated lol

 

[KidBaize]

So if I'm reading him correctly, each weapon type has its own pool of unique traits which may show up based on your proficiency level and RNG, but all weapon types share the same pool of alt fire modes that show up based solely on RNG.

 

[SaiWa]

So if I'm reading him correctly, each weapon type has its own pool of unique traits which may show up based on your proficiency level and RNG, but all weapon types share the same pool of alt fire modes that show up based solely on RNG.

Correct.

That is why i recommend you focus on your favorite weapons. By levelling as many perks up as you can you will have a stronger weapon that much faster instead of just levelling up every weapon. When you are just running straight to the next biome all the time, not only will your be very under-levelled but you never spent the time/effort to level up the perks.

Also use the alt-fire modes as often as possible. That is the only to level it up.. by using them.

Obviously you cannot control what weapons you get throughout your run.. Or can you?

Controlling weapon drops:
I believe this is still in effect. If you do not pick a weapon, it will not be added to the pool of available weapons for that run and you will never get it again once you move on the next biome. The theory is this. You always start with the pistol. Let's say you want to focus levelling up the Hollowseeker and the Electropylon driver. And as luck would have it the first weapon you find is a Hollowseeker. You pick it up and fire/use it. The next weapon you find is the Spitmaw Blaster. Do NOT pick it up. Nor any other weapon you do not want. If you make it to Biome 2 with the Hollowseeker (picking up other Hollowseekers is okay), then the Spitmaw Blaster and any other weapon you skipped will not drop again throughout your run. Also if you have a very powerful Hollowseeker and the Electropylon drops, even if you do not want to swap to it, because it is one of your favorites, you should pick it up, fire it a few times and then swap back to the Hollowseeker. Then you guarantee that you will get either the Hollowseeker or the Electropylon later in the run.

Ignore the above. I just ran it again and it doesn't work. Either they patched it or it was all BS. lol

I've never cared for controlling my drops since i've use all of them and have long since levelled all the perks to max but this trick will help you focus on certain weapons.

 

[SwamiLeoni]

Correct.

That is why i recommend you focus on your favorite weapons. By levelling as many perks up as you can you will have a stronger weapon that much faster instead of just levelling up every weapon. When you are just running straight to the next biome all the time, not only will your be very under-levelled but you never spent the time/effort to level up the perks.

Also use the alt-fire modes as often as possible. That is the only to level it up.. by using them.

Obviously you cannot control what weapons you get throughout your run.. Or can you?

Controlling weapon drops:
I believe this is still in effect. If you do not pick a weapon, it will not be added to the pool of available weapons for that run and you will never get it again once you move on the next biome. The theory is this. You always start with the pistol. Let's say you want to focus levelling up the Hollowseeker and the Electropylon driver. And as luck would have it the first weapon you find is a Hollowseeker. You pick it up and fire/use it. The next weapon you find is the Spitmaw Blaster. Do NOT pick it up. Nor any other weapon you do not want. If you make it to Biome 2 with the Hollowseeker (picking up other Hollowseekers is okay), then the Spitmaw Blaster and any other weapon you skipped will not drop again throughout your run. Also if you have a very powerful Hollowseeker and the Electropylon drops, even if you do not want to swap to it, because it is one of your favorites, you should pick it up, fire it a few times and then swap back to the Hollowseeker. Then you guarantee that you will get either the Hollowseeker or the Electropylon later in the run.

I've never cared for controlling my drops since i've use all of them and have long since levelled all the perks to max but this trick will help you focus on certain weapons.

There's obviously a tier list, but would you say all weapons are viable to reach end game?

 

[SaiWa]

There's obviously a tier list, but would you say all weapons are viable to reach end game?

Absolutely. There are certain combo of perks once maxed out will make certain weapons damn near OP. The coilspin shredder is one of the worst guns to use at the beginning. but once you max out twin disc, shattering discs. retarget, negative discs, or enhanced charge/enlarged chamber it destroys and clears rooms/bosses. I've destroyed the final boss in seconds (each levels) with this weapon and it was the weapon i levelled up last because it was so bad at the beginning.

The Spitmaw blaster is the only weapon that is conditionally limited since it is a shotgun. If you can be close it's awesome but there are certain bosses you cannot get close to so it handicaps this weapon depending on the situation. If you get the slug shot perk then it negates distance damage falloff but i still found other weapons to be way better from a distance.

 

[KidBaize]

Correct.

That is why i recommend you focus on your favorite weapons. By levelling as many perks up as you can you will have a stronger weapon that much faster instead of just levelling up every weapon. When you are just running straight to the next biome all the time, not only will your be very under-levelled but you never spent the time/effort to level up the perks.

Also use the alt-fire modes as often as possible. That is the only to level it up.. by using them.

Obviously you cannot control what weapons you get throughout your run.. Or can you?

Controlling weapon drops:
I believe this is still in effect. If you do not pick a weapon, it will not be added to the pool of available weapons for that run and you will never get it again once you move on the next biome. The theory is this. You always start with the pistol. Let's say you want to focus levelling up the Hollowseeker and the Electropylon driver. And as luck would have it the first weapon you find is a Hollowseeker. You pick it up and fire/use it. The next weapon you find is the Spitmaw Blaster. Do NOT pick it up. Nor any other weapon you do not want. If you make it to Biome 2 with the Hollowseeker (picking up other Hollowseekers is okay), then the Spitmaw Blaster and any other weapon you skipped will not drop again throughout your run. Also if you have a very powerful Hollowseeker and the Electropylon drops, even if you do not want to swap to it, because it is one of your favorites, you should pick it up, fire it a few times and then swap back to the Hollowseeker. Then you guarantee that you will get either the Hollowseeker or the Electropylon later in the run.

I've never cared for controlling my drops since i've use all of them and have long since levelled all the perks to max but this trick will help you focus on certain weapons.

Interesting. I die so much that I've fully upgraded every weapon already lol. The game's movement is amazing so I'm having fun just running aound, exploring and trying everything.

 

[SaiWa]

Interesting. I die so much that I've fully upgraded every weapon already lol. The game's movement is amazing so I'm having fun just running aound, exploring and trying everything.

Ignore the Controlling Weapon Drop suggestion.. Shit don't work. I never did it but heard/read about it and decided to try for shits n giggles. Ran a quick game and it didn't work at all.

You upgraded all the perks?! I am going to say probably not... Did you beat the game yet?

The game's movement and the way the action plays out is what kept me coming back for more. I've only lodged about 700+ hours... lol.