Is Returnal Really That Hard?

Returnal has built a bit of a reputation for itself as a hard game, but is it actually, or is it more a case of learning its beats?

[thejigisup]

Its appropriately difficult amd once you know nits beats its still difficult but not anything absurd like Ninja Gaiden levels of difficulty. If the game was any less difficult imnaure I wouldn't enjoy it. Dying one million times is part of its charm.

[UncertainCategory]

I realize this is going to come across as a flex.. But I completed the game, got to the credits (so act 1 and act 2) without dying a single time. Its difficulty in my opinion is overstated, though it is a fantastic experience from start to finish.

[Flawlessmic]

Ur either redicuously crazy good at these games or your lying, more so as even just feeling out the systems shouldve screwed u over at least once in the begining not to mention enemy patterns.

Awesome game currently getting my ass kicked by the biome 2 boss.

Game is far from easy but wouldnt say overly hard either.

U just need to keep trying as u will see improvements.

[ThePacemaker]

Going thru the first two biomes without a single death? Hmmm … in terms of difficulty, Returnal blows Demons Souls out of the water.

[Flawlessmic]

So i finally beat ixion and moved on to biome 3 and got fair into biome 3!!

All was well, had heaps of health and a good build then got absolutely slaughtered in the space of 15 seconds lol.

No chance anyone did this in one run.

PS, THE ROCKET LAUNCHER SUCKS! if had kept my machine gun wouldve been alright i reckon

[RpgSama]

@Flawlessmic

LOL, same thing happened to me, I was like, "Rocket Launcher!!! Overkill!!!!!" To then immediately meet my doom like a couple of minutes later.

Tip: if you are in the middle of a good run do not trade weapons for stuff you do not know how to use properly, you WILL die. If it's a new weapon pick it up so it's added to the rotation and then trade it back again for the one you were using.

[melons]

This is just an outright lie.

You are funnelled into an unwinnable fight in the first biome to teach you the mechanic of death.

[Flawlessmic]

@rpgsama

😂 glad im not alone hahaha was pretty shattered as that was the furthest i had gotten and was doing so well.

Lesson learnt though and good tip on swapping just to get in rotation byt then pick uo my original gun.

[AKS]

Aren't you pitted against an essentially unbeatable enemy early in the game to demonstrate the cyclical nature of constant resurrections? You killed that enemy? I found it impossible to dodge it when it dashes.

[walruskiller]

The large red 4 legged dog thing with the tentacles? It’s not unbeatable, it’s definitely a harder enemy compared to others but you can kill it no problem. Total bullshit that the guy above says he beat the first two biomes without dying though. I humbly consider myself above average at these types of games and still died on the first boss’ third phase.

[DaMist]

My playthrough was interesting, on my first run i beat biome 1 and the boss without dying and made it to the second boss. Then I got stuck there for a few runs. Then I managed to beat it biome 3, 4 in a single run, getting stuck on biome 5 for a bit as well. Died a total of 23 times, and i got one more thing to do to get the secret ending.

[blackblades]

I like to think no game is hard, just gotta put in the work and learn and adapt to the game. Easy mode isnt gonna solve anything it only gonna hold your hands.

[metalhead]

I beat the first three bosses on the first try. It’s tough to get through, but not impossible.

I did die on my first attempt killing the fourth boss though. That one is a little tougher

[sin7279]

[nooooo!

[Futureshark]

Its certainly fair that's for sure.

[Paleblood]

In my experience, this is one of the best games I have played. At first, I died a lot but once I learned the mechanics, which items to have, which weapons to use, enemies behavior, then I started the get the grip of it.

I bought the game on Friday and finish it on Sunday. Now I have to get the sun faces in order to get the final true ending.

I belive the game is not that hard as many would like to believe. I have played really hard games where there is just frustration like Ninja Gaiden, Souls games and Sekiro.

Returnal is a challenge but is fun and satisfying.

[MIDGETonSTILTS17]

It depends how many Housemarque games you’ve played. After 32 deaths/20 ish hours, I JUST developed the habit to dash forward through oncoming projectiles. I bet vets of this sorta game started Returnal with that habit.

That’s how they stomp the game early on without practice: they’ve practiced in other games already