PlayStation Official Returnal Discussion

[KidBaize]

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.

Just found the house, blade and then finally the boss. Even made it to phase two. But now back to the pistol haha.

Really cool game. I was stuck in those early areas for a few hours but all of a sudden things got interesting.

 

[Valhoven]

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

Picked back up again just last week. This game is a flag-bearer for current gen, IMO. Special one and a DualSense delight.

I mentioned to Sai in the PS thread but there’s this cloaked teleporter in biome 2 (gatekeeper in a way) that warps behind me for deathblow DMG. He also intimidates me now so I play like sheet when he shows. I’m crit when I do survive him; the run is Swiss cheese at that point, though. I can no-hit the Ruins boss (Phrike?) so get pretty discouraged by this mini-boss bum bodying me.

I loathe starting over in death and wish we just got reset to current biome but the lore, atmosphere, and gameplay are too masterclass to walk away from.

 

[KidBaize]

Will that big door that I just unlocked with the crimson key stay unlocked? Probably not I guess.

 

[KidBaize]

Picked back up again just last week. This game is a flag-bearer for current gen, IMO. Special one and a DualSense delight.

I mentioned to Sai in the PS thread but there’s this cloaked teleporter in biome 2 (gatekeeper in a way) that warps behind me for deathblow DMG. He also intimidates me now so I play like sheet when he shows. I’m crit when I do survive him; the run is Swiss cheese at that point, though. I can no-hit the Ruins boss (Phrike?) so get pretty discouraged by this mini-boss bum bodying me.

I loathe starting over in death and wish we just got reset to current biome but the lore, atmosphere, and gameplay are too masterclass to walk away from.

Yeah starting over after a good run is a little depressing

 

[Valhoven]

Just found the house, blade and then finally the boss. Even made it to phase two. But now back to the pistol haha.

Really cool game. I was stuck in those early areas for a few hours but all of a sudden things got interesting.

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.

 

[Valhoven]

Will that big door that I just unlocked with the crimson key stay unlocked? Probably not I guess.

Yeah, I can sometimes find that Crimson gate and room again in mere minutes when starting a new cycle. Just hop through.

 

[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.

No I think I've only found three weapons so far. Thanks I'll watch out for a hardened state. I'm still trying to figure out the weapons info section and the rest of the suit computer tbh. It's a little messy.

 

[SaiWa]

Awesome thanks!

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

To unlock new weapons and stuff? Yes. But you should have a stock of ethers before doing it. Recommend max capacity and build it back up.

I consider myself a super veteran of the game so I’ve unlocked everything and can run the entire game without spending ethers. But yes that machine unlocks items and makes it available into the pool of random items you can find.

 

[KidBaize]

To unlock new weapons and stuff? Yes. But you should have a stock of ethers before doing it. Recommend max capacity and build it back up.

I consider myself a super veteran of the game so I’ve unlocked everything and can run the entire game without spending ethers. But yes that machine unlocks items and makes it available into the pool of random items you can find.

Ok thanks. So get 30 before I start depositing them. What's the stock for though? What are ethers best spent on?

 

[KidBaize]

How tf are you supposed to get back to the boss when everything keeps changing? Worst runback ever.

And I keep getting invaded by some crazy op red demon in side rooms. Then the doors lock me in.

 

[SaiWa]

Ok thanks. So get 30 before I start depositing them. What's the stock for though? What are ethers best spent on?

It’s my recommendation but if you find yourself in a deep good run use them. But. Don’t deposit to claim a new item til you have 30 for sure. Ethers are need in case of an emergency, I think it cost what? 15 ethers to deposit?

How tf are you supposed to get back to the boss when everything keeps changing? Worst runback ever.

And I keep getting invaded by some crazy op red demon in side rooms. Then the doors lock me in.

It changes every run but eventually you will have seen all the different rooms along with the different monsters that can appear. The boss room (in the first biome) will always be that long stairs leading to a giant door and behind it will be the hole you fall off.

Generally you should run through the entire biome and try not to use any health items. Try to beat every single room and save the boss room and special hard room (you’ll see a monster stuck on the door that u have to shoot off and it’s gold on the map I think). Once you clear all the rooms, you should be at the highest possible level and then you tackle the gold room. If you beat that, go back to all the rooms and pick up all the health silphiums. If you can remember where the large one is. Pick that up first then pick all the other ones so they increase your health bars. I also save the secret rooms so during this run back I claim them.

Once done you can now attack the boss room. Rinse and repeat.

Sounds tedious but you are practically scrapping and setting yourself up to be at the highest level with the best weapons before each boss fights.

As for the red midboss (red glow that shrinks, locks you in) those are random. Minimum one per biome but usually two. Depends. The idea is to hit then run.. more run than hit.

You should also have the sword for melee now. Melee is your best friend against almost every non-boss opponents. The smaller ones are all one hits. Use your melee often and as much as possible. Master it.

 

[KidBaize]

It’s my recommendation but if you find yourself in a deep good run use them. But. Don’t deposit to claim a new item til you have 30 for sure. Ethers are need in case of an emergency, I think it cost what? 15 ethers to deposit?



It changes every run but eventually you will have seen all the different rooms along with the different monsters that can appear. The boss room (in the first biome) will always be that long stairs leading to a giant door and behind it will be the hole you fall off.

Generally you should run through the entire biome and try not to use any health items. Try to beat every single room and save the boss room and special hard room (you’ll see a monster stuck on the door that u have to shoot off and it’s gold on the map I think). Once you clear all the rooms, you should be at the highest possible level and then you tackle the gold room. If you beat that, go back to all the rooms and pick up all the health silphiums. If you can remember where the large one is. Pick that up first then pick all the other ones so they increase your health bars. I also save the secret rooms so during this run back I claim them.

Once done you can now attack the boss room. Rinse and repeat.

Sounds tedious but you are practically scrapping and setting yourself up to be at the highest level with the best weapons before each boss fights.

As for the red midboss (red glow that shrinks, locks you in) those are random. Minimum one per biome but usually two. Depends. The idea is to hit then run.. more run than hit.

You should also have the sword for melee now. Melee is your best friend against almost every non-boss opponents. The smaller ones are all one hits. Use your melee often and as much as possible. Master it.

Yeah the sword is pretty op and you get iframes on your dash so I keep trying to use dash attacks but then end up taking too much damage. I need to chill and be more patient. It's hard not getting hit especially around the bridge and later areas.

The red miniboss that comes through the portal is the same one that killed me at the beginning of the game I think.

 

[SwamiLeoni]

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.

I think I stuck with the Hollowseeker throughout the campaign. Awesome weapon.

 

[KidBaize]

I'm starting to recognize the different rooms now. I assume the water filled sections drain at some point and those items will be available later. At first I thought they were just traps but I found a flooded side room with no items in it so I assume that will be a shortcut later or something.

 

[SwamiLeoni]

I really feel for those still stuck on the first two Biomes and haven't made it to Biome 3 yet. I don’t think I’ve ever gripped a controller so tightly in any video game as I did during that Biome. The adrenaline was unreal.

The real treat comes at the end of Biome 4.

Hang in there!

 

[KidBaize]

I really feel for those still stuck on the first two Biomes and haven't made it to Biome 3 yet. I don’t think I’ve ever gripped a controller so tightly in any video game as I did during that Biome. The adrenaline was unreal.

The real treat comes at the end of Biome 4.

Hang in there!

That's me lol. 40 deaths and only seen the first boss three times. Pretty sure I could beat it if I could get there more often.

 

[Valhoven]

I really feel for those still stuck on the first two Biomes and haven't made it to Biome 3 yet. I don’t think I’ve ever gripped a controller so tightly in any video game as I did during that Biome. The adrenaline was unreal.

The real treat comes at the end of Biome 4.

Hang in there!

Rather than encourage, this just scares me, ha.

 

[method115]

Generally you should run through the entire biome and try not to use any health items. Try to beat every single room and save the boss room and special hard room (you’ll see a monster stuck on the door that u have to shoot off and it’s gold on the map I think). Once you clear all the rooms, you should be at the highest possible level and then you tackle the gold room. If you beat that, go back to all the rooms and pick up all the health silphiums. If you can remember where the large one is. Pick that up first then pick all the other ones so they increase your health bars. I also save the secret rooms so during this run back I claim them.

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.

 

[SaiWa]

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.

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.

 

[method115]

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.

I agree the boss mechanics were pretty simple but I still need a good 2-3 turns to get it down. At that point I could beat the boss with any weapon really it was just a matter of how long it would take.

Once I got the spider web gun (forget the name) then I could pretty much do anything I wanted. That gun is so OP. I just put webs everywhere and run nonstop.