We're getting ever closer to Steam's big Summer Sale 2024. We're still a f?ew weeks away, admittedly, but there are a couple more events until then to keep us in the mood, and one of them is ongoing for the n??ext few days.

Yesterday, Steam kicked off its Endless R??eplayability Fest, a sales event that celebrates those games that just seem to go on forever. But, you know, in a good way. Essentially, if it's something you can play over and over again without A) getting bored, or B) having the exact same expe?rience as the first time, then it's probably here.

We've got discounts on a bunch of games, with a few being teased in the above trailer, such as Don't Starve, Dead Cells, Mortal Sin, and Risk of Rain 2.? As always with these events, it goes on for a week, so this one will be ending Monday, May 20 at 10am PT.

Endless fun (wait...did I say that already?)

You can see everything that's in the Endless Replayability Fest by visiting the Steam page. I'm seeing a few titles already that have grabbed my attention, including Stellaris, which recently experienced a boon in popularity thanks to its Machine Age DLC.

There's also Balatro, LocalThunk's "poker roguelike" that hit the scene back in February, and has been enjoying a decent amount of success these past few months. It's currently at "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam, so it must be doing something right.

There are also a couple of newer games that have been listed, including Hades 2 and Manor Lords, but these aren't discounted. They've just been included as part of the event. Personally, I've got my eye on Dwarf Fortress, which is 20% off at the mom??ent. Always fancied getting lost in this simulation, because I've got nothing else going on.

The post Balatro, Stellaris, and more are in Steam’s Endless Replayability Fest appeared first on Destructoid.

On the third anniversary of Returnal's release, developer Housemarque announced two new additions to the game's universe. Both are bo??oks, to help you?? enhance your understanding of its world and story.

Returnal: Fallen Asteria and The Art of Returnal are the first two official books that Housemarque has produced for Returnal. The former seeks to tell the PC and PS5 game's story in a new form, a graphic novel, while the latter will lay bare some of the conceptual and final artwork the team made for the game. As someone who is a huge fan of video game a??rtbooks, I'm particularly excited to delve into this one because the game world is astounding on PS5 and PC. That's why I've outlined where to buy them below, so no one misses out.

Where to buy Returnal: Fallen Asteria

Returnal: Fallen Asteria will be released on October 22, 2024, and I've listed the best places to pre-order or purchase it for the RRP of $19.99/£20 below. This is the graphic novel version of the game, so if y??ou can only buy one book and don't want a repeat of the sto??ry, check the next book out.

• Dark Horse Comics (UK &US): Dark Horse Comics is the company Housemarque is making this book with, so it makes sense that it's the main retailer selling it. The retailer has a great reputation and I believe it can even ship to a local Forbidden Planet in the UK if that would help you at all.
• Amazon (UK & US): Amazon is a safe bet for most purchases. The price is no different here, but if you do pre-order, you'll guarantee the price early.
• Penguin Random House (US): Penguin Random House is another option for US fans to purchase from. They're pretty reliable and more likely to have the book in stock if it sells out at other retailers quickly.

Where to buy The Art of Returnal

The Art of Returnal will also be released on October 22, 2024, and will cost $49.99/£50. I've listed the best retailers you can purchase it?? from below so you can try a few options if it sells out.

• Dark Horse Comics (UK & US): Dark Horse Comics is usually a good retailer for purchasing video game books, and they always arrive on time. I'd go for this retailer just because they're closest to the source, though there are other options out there.
• Amazon (UK & US): Amazon is always a good bet for buying books like this. They're usually packed pretty well and arrive on the day of release, which is always a lovely surprise if you forget about your pre-order.
• Penguin Random House (US): I've included Penguin Random House here as another alternative for US fans who might not get to ordering their copy until later down the line, just in case the book sells out elsewhere.

The post Where to buy Returnal: Fallen Asteria and The Art Of Returna?l appeared first on Destructoid.

After a stellar career at Housemarque, Harry Kru??eger is ready to move on to the next adventure in his life.

In the announcement by Housemarque, Krueger is thanked for the work he has done, especially with Returnal, which played a large role in catapulting the studio from a?? small group of Finnish creators to a first-party Sony partner. Krueger also reflects on this and expresses pride in all the accomplishments his team has earned.

Ilari Kuittinen, who is the General Manager and Co-Founder of Housemarque, also comments on Krueger's departure. He claims Krueger's "passion and direction have been vit??al" for ??the studio which has endured the death and rebirth of the "Arcade".

Although Krueger doesn't explain what prompted the departure, he states that it was a difficult decision. He is also confident that the studio has a bright future ahead, as it has "an exciting new project in the works, a fantastic team th?at’s stronger than ever, and the continuous support of Sony and PlayStation Studios."

Krueger isn't the only notable industry figure who has stepped down from a long-held position. Pete Hines announced his departure from Bethesda not long after Starfield's launch, and Activision Blizzard's Bobby Kotick is also preparing to ??leave after 32 years with the gaming giant.

The post Returnal director Harry Krueger l??eaving Housemarque after almost 15 years appeared first on Destructoid.

Re-re-cycling

Last week saw Sony Interactive Entertainment release dazzling space shooter Returnal on the PC platform, and while the PS5 Housemarque gem has been suitably? well-received by critics and players, that doesn't mean that it hasn't come without a few minor bugs that need blasting into the stratosphere.

A new patch, available to download right now, takes an initial pass at some of these issues. The priority here is removing a bug that caused grasses to pop-in when Returnal is played on its "Epic" particle settings. This issue should now be resolved. Additionally, t??he new patch fixes a bug that was causing music to pause on rare occasions, along with auto-sync problems with certain resolutions.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKZV00??Esu54&ab_channel=PlayStation

"We are honoured to have so many new players experiencing our dark, deep and beautiful action thriller, Returnal!" reads a message accompanying the patch notes. "Bringing Returnal to PC and capturing that PlayStation 5 experience took a lot of work and focus from the team at Climax Studios, with support from Housemarque and XDEV. We have been blown away and are so thankful for the? amazing reviews, feedback and reports you have shared with us so far."

"We have continued to work on Returnal since launch, moni????toring your feedback and will continue to work on patch updates to support the game ahead."

Returnal, originally launched on PS5 in the spring of 2021, is a visually compelling shooter that tells the tale of a space explorer trapped in a time loop. The adrenaline-pumping adventure is renowned for its dazzling visual design, strong use of light and color, compelling challenge, and frantic, trigger-pumping action. The PC port is the latest in a series of PlayStation titles added to the desktop platform, such as God of War, Uncharted 4, Death Stranding, Marvel's Spider-Man, and Horizon Zero Dawn.

The post Returnal PC patch fixes po?p-in grass and other bugs appeared first on Destructoid.

Suit up again

For many, Returnal kind of came and went. Despite some of the hang-ups I?? had with the launch build, I stuck with it, and it was definitely worth my time. The PC edition not only benefits from a few PC-exclusive graphical tweaks, but the hindsight of fan-demanded features amid the PS5 version's patches. In other words, this sci-fi rogue is still worth playing.

[galler?y columns="7" size="medium" link="file" ids="363278,363279,363280,363281,363282,363283,363284"]

Returnal PC version options

Let's touch on what the PC version offers first. While PS5 cross-play is notably missing, there's support for Ultrawide at 21:9 and Super Ultrawide at 32:9 resolution settings, a DualSense control option, AMD FSR, and Nvidia DLSS. Graphically, it's roughly inline with what Sony has offered in the past. Those hindsight additions I mentioned earlier? The big one is the "Suspend Cycle," which thankfully lets players actually save the game (yeah, it was a whole thing). Then there's the photo mode (which, again, was not in the launch version), as well as co-op support, and the Tower of Sisyphus challenge area?.

It's a lot, and Returnal PC heavily benefits from it (alongside of visual and mechanical fixes from prior patches). Despite clearing the original, it was almost like revisiting a new game. The intro is short and sweet, and gets you in the thick of things in 15 minutes or less. From there you're going on run after run, trying out new strategies, choosing whether or not to play around with the game's "malfunction" risk/reward system, and getting a little bit closer to the end.

The curse-like nature of malfunctions (where you get a benefit in exchange for a debuff) is brilliant, as you can cure said curse by completing a mini-objective. It's a small conceit, but it's extremely clever, especially as someone who typically avoids permanent curses in rougelike/roguelite games. It immediately fueled me into?? c??learing the first zone right away, like I never really stopped playing the PS5 version.

[caption id="attachment_363288" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

One of the best parts of Returnal is how much choice you have in terms of interacting with so many facets of it. The story is presented in an interesting, cryptic way, but you can also mostly ignore it and just blast some aliens. Alternatively, you can pour over every detail, lore log, and environmental nuance if you want to engage with i?t on that front. It's an incredibly atmospheric game, and maintains much of its uniqueness several years after launch.

I'm glad that Housemarque kept iterating with Returnal, addressed some concerns, and generally just lifted up the game after launch. If you've been putting off Returnal, congrats! Now is probably the time to give it a go, especially since the Steam version is launching day one at a $10 cheaper price point compare??d to the orig??inal PS5 debut.

The post Returnal is still very much worth playing on PC appeared first on Destructoid.

Let's do the time warp again... and again... and...

Sony Interactive Entertainment and developer Housemarque have finally announced a release date for the PC edition of the dazzling PS5 sci-fi adventure, Returnal �The chrono-chaoti?c ??shooter will arrive on the Steam platform on February 15.

In addition, Housemarque released the PC requirements nece?ssary in order to get Selene's incredibly visual, effects-laden odyssey up and running on your rig. The specifications range from "Minimum" (720p at 60FPS) to a top-tier "Ray-Tracing" bracket (4K at? 60FPS with enhanced reflections and shadows).

For those yet to experience Returnal, it showcases Housemarque's trademark flashy, firework-like visual aesthe?tic, as well as fast-paced and incredibly "busy" on-screen action. As such, the true wonder of its (literal) death-defying tale of identity and destiny, all set against t??he backdrop of a massive alien world, understandably requires a decent amount of juice in its myriad gas tanks.

Returnal? launches February 15 on PC (Steam). It is als?o available right now on PS5.

The post Returnal wi?ll finall??y crash land onto PC February 15 appeared first on Destructoid.

One more ride on the merry-go-round...

Following on from its official reveal at last week's Game Awards, studio Housemarque has released the PC specifications for its wicked, chrono-confusing blaster Returnal �which, following its celebrated run on PS5, will finally be headed to the PC platf?orm (via Steam) in early ??2023.

As those who have played Returnal will attest, the sci-fi epic is a visually dazzling experience, jam-packed with sparkling effects, intricately designed enemies, and almost constant, even chaotic, action setpieces. The "Recommended" PC specs reflect this, asking for a pretty beefy 32GB in RAM, as well as an nVidia RTX 2070 (8GB) and a six-core processor. In addition, the specs strongly recommend that Returnal be installed on an?? SSD, with a footprint of 60GB.

Minimum specifications were also provided, which tones down the memory drain to 16GB and the graphics card to a more modest GTX 1060. But given that part of Returnal's appeal is its visual brilliance, one can't help but wonder how much of the experience might be lost in translation. Housemarque is nothing if not a fine developer, particularly when it comes to the technical side of gaming. So hopefully Returnal will be ready to rock for its grand debut on PC, allowing a wider aud??ience to experience this trigger-pumping interstellar experience.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=0iNGNYuR5_8&ab_channel=PlaySta?tion

Here? are the Minimum and Recommended PC speci??fications for Returnal:

MINIMUM:

OS: Windows 10 64-bit (version 1903)

Processor: Intel Core i5-6400 (4 core 2.7GHz) AMD ??Ryzen 5 1500X (4 c??ore 3.5GHz)

Memory: 16 GB RAM

Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 (6 GB) AMD Radeon RX 580 (8? GB)

Storage: 60 GB available space

Additional Notes: SSD Recommended

RECOMMENDED:

The post Here are the meaty PC specs for Housemarque’s Returnal appeared first on Destructoid.

Selene's odyssey starts again, and again, and...

Alongside the news that The Last of Us Part I is coming to PC in March 2023, Sony also took time at The Game Awards to offer a release window for a PC port of Housemarque's dazzling space adventure, Returnal �A?s revealed in a short trailer, the time-skipping title will hit Steam an?d Epic Games Store in early 2023.

Launching in April 2021 as a showcase piece for the burgeoning PS5 platform, Returnal is the story of an intrepid space explorer, Selene, who crash ??lands on a mysterious planet, playing host to the remnants of some lost, undiscovered civilization. Meeting an untimely end soon aft??er jettisoning her spacecraft, Selene finds herself resurrected back in its cockpit, doomed to relive life, after life, after life until she can uncover the mystery behind this strange world and, hopefully, find her way back home.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=0iNGNYuR5_8&ab_channel=??PlayStation

Developed by shmup enthusiasts Housemarque, Returnal combines the team's love of bullet hell gameplay with its proven talent for creating eye-popping visuals, dramatic lightning effects, and wide palette of splendid colors, in order to create a compelling third-person adventure. Celebrated for its challenging action, lush environments, and intriguing story of self-reflection, Returnal was an early hit for Son??y's fancy new hardware and was almost custom-made for the splendor and power of the PC platfor?m.

Returnal launches on PC via Steam and Epic Games Store in early 2023.

The post Returnal comes pew-pewing onto PC in early 2023 appeared first on Destructoid.

It Takes Two and Ratchet & Clank also at the winners' table

This weekend saw the International Game Developers Association (IGDA) host its annual awards ceremony, The IGDA Global Industry Game Awards. The event recognizes some of the best titles in recent memory, with a keen focus on the mechanics, technical prowess, and? use of new and upcoming technology to create titles that are as respected by developers as they are by butto??n-mashing players.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBal-P2BT4Y

While many titles were featured in the 2022 edition of the IGDA Game Awards, several titles, in particular, walked away with armfuls of gongs. The biggest winner was Arkane's time-warping shooter Deathloop, which bagged itself a very impressive 13 awards across numerous categories. This was closely followed by Electronic Arts' co-op adventure and frequent GOTY winner It Takes Two, which would go home carrying 10 trophies.

Among the other big winners were Housemarque's excellent PS5 blaster Returnal, and Insomniac Games' cartoonish adventure Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, both of which masterfully used the fledgling PS5 infrastructure to create ambitious titles with dazzling visuals, epic locations, and exciting, cinematic gamepla??y. On the indie front, newcomer Double Loop Games won the awards for Upcoming Indie Studio and Workplace Diversity and Inclusivity.

You can check out the full list of winners from the 2022 IGDA Global Industry Game Awards below.

Art

• 2D Animation â€?Unpacking by Witch Beam
• 2D Character Design â€?Boyfriend Dungeon by Kitfox
• 2D Environment Art â€?Unpacking by Witch Beam
• 3D Animation â€?em> It Takes Two by Hazelight Studios
• 3D Character Design â€?It Takes Two by Hazelight Studios
• 3D Environment Art â€?Deathloop by Arkane
• Cinematography â€?Life is Strange: True Colors by Deck Nine
• UI Art â€?em> Deathloop by Arkane
• VFX â€?Returnal by Housemarque

Audio

• Music Composition â€?Deathloop by Arkane
• Sound Design â€?Returnal by Housemarque
• Voice Acting â€?Deathloop by Arkane

Design

• Accessibility Innovation â€?Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart by Insomniac Games
• Gameplay Design â€?It Takes Two by Hazelight Studios
• Level Design â€?It Takes Two by Hazelight Studios
• Systems Design â€?Deathloop by Arkane
• UI/UX â€?em> Deathloop by Arkane

Engineering/Technology

• Achievements in New Technology â€?Returnal by Housemarque
• AI â€?Returnal by Housemarque
• Audio Technology â€?Deathloop by Arkane
• Engine Technology â€?Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart by Insomniac Games
• Gameplay Technology â€?Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart by Insomniac Games
• Graphics Technology â€?Forza Horizon 5 by Playground Games
• Networking Technology â€?Valheim by Iron Gate AB & It Takes Two by Hazelight
• Systems Technology â€?Deathloop by Arkane

Support

• Community Management â€?It Takes Two by Hazelight Studios
• Customer Support â€?em> It Takes Two by Hazelight Studios
• Marketing â€?Deathloop by Arkane
• Production/Management â€?em> Deathloop by Arkane
• Quality Assurance â€?Deathloop by Arkane
• Research & Analytics â€?Deathloop by Arkane

Writing/Narrative

• Dialogue â€?It Takes Two by Hazelight Studios
• Narrative Design â€?It Takes Two by Hazelight Studios
• Story â€?em> It Takes Two by Hazelight Studios
• World Building â€?Returnal by Housemarque

Miscellaneous

• Representation â€?Deathloop by Arkane
• Upcoming Indie â€?Double Loop Games
• Workplace Diversity and Inclusivity â€?Double Loop Games
• Trust/Safety â€?Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker by Square Enix

The post Deathloop, Returnal score bi??g at the 2022?? IGDA Game Awards appeared first on Destructoid.

"Atropos" and "Helios" were spotted on a code-named SteamDB page that fits the bill

It feels like a matter of time before Sony and Housemarque bring Returnal over to PC, and today, we're one step closer to that port becoming a reality. As spotted by @Nibellion, a listi??ng on SteamDB c??ontains references to the adrenaline-pumping PS5 exclusive.

While the SteamDB page uses the codename "Oregon," it includes specific words and phrases related to Returnal including "Atropos" (the alien planet), "Helios" (Selene's ship), and the "Tower of Sisyphus" (an endless mode recently added to Returnal on PS5).

Additionally, this presumed Returnal PC build has on-?brand Steam tags like "Third-Person Shooter," "Bullet Hell," "Sci-fi," "Rogue-lite," and "Female Pro?tagonist."

[Update: Screenshots of the PC version of Returnal (and also Sackboy: A Big Adventure) have seemingly leaked from Reddit user EmpressofSony. The images show off the games' graphics settings which, in Returnal's cas??e, includes a toggle for ray-traced reflections.

Curiously, neither of these PC ports were confirmed at yesterday's State of Play, but Sony did announce PC versions of Spider-Man (August 12) and Miles Morales (Fall 2022).

So while nothing is confirmed yet, we do know that Sony is expecting "significant year-over-year growth" in its PC game sales for fiscal year 2022. (Check out page 32 of the report.) As of March 4, 2022, the PC version of Horizon Zero Dawn has brought in $60 million to date, Days Gone has cleared $22.7 million, and God of War is at $26.2 million.

To reach the sort of PC net sales that Sony is suggesting, it'll need to ramp up its porting efforts with more of PlayStation's? big-hitte?rs, which sounds great to me.

Who's next in line?

There's also the matter of the Great Nvidia Leak of 2021, which continues to pan out, slowly but surely. On the PlayStation front, the leak suggested PC ports of Demon's Souls, Ghost of Tsushima, Gran Turismo 7, Horizon Forbidden West, Ratchet & Clank, and yes, Returnal?, among others. Any and a?ll of these games could bring in big bucks on Steam.

When, and in what order? That's what I'm wondering. I'd say that many of these PlayStation exclusives can afford to take their ti?me without losing their relevance, but the sooner, the better for players, of course. We'll see what the grand plan ends up being.

As for Returnal specifically, I think fans are really rooting for a PC version �they want this game (and Housemarque) to succeed and get the wider audience it deserves.

The post SteamDB listing and leaked images point to a Returnal PC port (U??pda?te) appeared first on Destructoid.

Higher risk, higher reward

I'll be the first to admit that I'm pretty bad at video games. The hardest difficulty I'll usually land on is normal, and even then I can have some pretty embarrassing gameplay moments. Games have come a really long way in terms of their accessibility, and offering bette??r options for less skilled players like me, but every time a title comes out that relies on its difficulty as one of its main features, we have a whole new round of Discourse about wheth??er the game needs easier options to play on.

The way Elden Ring has taken over the news cycle the past few months is a great example of this �it's a notoriously tough game, and in response, we saw a whole slew of articles, posts, and tweets about how there need to be easier skill level options. Mods even started popping up for players to download that make the game ?more palatable for players who pr??efer an easy mode, like increasing damage output, decreasing damage taken, increasing healing, etc.

The inclusion of easier difficulty settings often, but not always, overlaps with accessibility. It's important to include accommodations so that differently abled players can play and enjoy games, too, which often includes other settings outside the typical easy mode features like damage reduction. Special sound settings can allow visually impaired or even fully blind players to play through a game without any outside assistance, for example, which is only one of the ways that games have recently made tremendous strides to ?become more accessible to all kinds of players.

[caption id="attachment_319061" align="alignnone" width="1920"] _{[Image Source: SawhorseDVD]}[/caption]

Difficulty with intent

At the same time, though, there are some games out there that include difficult gameplay as part of their artistic vision. Classic examples include all of the Soulsborne games, Cuphead, Super Meat Boy, Nioh, Darkest Dungeon, and The Binding of Isaac, just to name a few. The question, then, is whether a game's focus on difficulty by way of how it overlaps with artistic and narrative experience means that it should never be played with easier settings. This topic has been very controversial online, with many fans feeling that such games including an easy mode would be compromising the??ir artistic vision, and therefore mean a watered-down version of the experience the developers intended.

The c??hallenge developers have, then, is finding ways to present players with a difficulty?? level that scales to them, and presents them with the appropriate level that challenges them without also frustrating them. That's why we have so many levels of difficulty these days, usually including some equivalent of extra easy, easy, normal, hard, and extra hard. Sometimes, though, they want to throw that all out for the sake of making the game they want to make, and I think that's perfectly fine.

Returnal's game director Harry Krueger just went on the PS I Love You XOXO podcast last week to discuss Housemarque's most recent title, and the conversation turned to its difficulty. Krueger shared his thoughts on the importance of Returnal's difficulty and how it relates to its story:

“Celine is talking about dying over and over, and about insurmountable odds. There’s this descent into madness that is happening purely because of the challenges that she’s facing, and her challenges are the players�challenges as well. If you were just allowed to power through a boss without any challenge, or just go like A B C through narrative points, it almost feels like that would create a bit of dissonance.�/p>

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTqH4mKQIkE

Aside from players missing a main theme of the game if they weren't presented with enough of a challenge, Kruger also mentions that players wo??uldn't see a lot of the game's story beats and audio logs if they didn't die on a regular basis.

Thinking about theme

The discussion of difficulty always makes me think of The Last of Us, a game that my friends and I love to play together and discuss, particularly when it comes to the relationship between difficulty and story. On my first few playthroughs, I played on easy, because I simply didn't have the skill to play on anything higher than that. One of those friends really opened my eyes, though, when he told me about g??oing thro?ugh the game on the Grounded difficulty setting, and it makes perfect sense in retrospect.

Because the game's story is so much about the brutality of survival, he said the narrative hits a lot harder when you as a player are on edge the whole time, feeling like you can die at any minute. The scarcity of ever-useful crafting materials also plays a big role, because you really have to put yourself in Joel and Ellie's shoes when it comes to scrounging to survive. I'd definitely have to train up for such a tough playthrough, but The Last of Us is one of those games that's important enough to me, I jus??t might do it someday.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="1200"] _{[Image Source: Cultured Vultures]}[/caption]

Self-imposed difficulty

The way we play Pokemon is a great middle ground, in my opinion. The series is intended for children, so for the most part they're easy to play. I know for a fact that I could power through my Let's Go Pikachu playthrough with little resistance with literally only my starter if I felt like it. There are plenty of more seasoned players who want a more challenging?? Pokemon?? experience, however, so what did they do?

They created the Nuzlocke, a series of self-imposed rules to ratchet the difficulty of those games way up. Some truly amazing, heart-wrenching, and triumphant moments of emergent storytelling come from Nuzlocke runs because of the restraints that players place on themselves. (Jaidan Animations has some awesome Nuzlocke videos that demonstrate this.) The best ?part, though, is that they're entirely optional, and you can make them as hard or easy as you want depending on which rules you decide to adopt.

I am of the opinion that nuzlocking ?gives you an even more intense emotional connection to your own? story because of how attached you get to your Pokemon, but I've also not been able to do one yet due to my skill level, so take that with a grain of salt.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=plSyrHqUh78

Some games are created specifically to be as hard to beat as humanly possible, and there's not really a way around that. I love easier games and benefit from them as someone who doesn't have a lot of technical skill in shooting, platforming, etc, but sometimes there are games that I just can't play due to sheer difficulty. I've heard Celeste is a truly amazing game, but if I'm being honest, I don't think I could ever beat the whole thing. I don't have a ??problem with players modding games to make them easier, but if a game is intended to be tough, it's the developers' prerogative to make it that way.

Triumph is the best reward

However, the times I have really challenged myself, like when I beat Hades' 32 heat optional challenge mode, I felt so incredibly rewarded by that experience. The joy of overcoming the challenge of playing a hard game is something only the medium ?of games can do, and I don't think that that's to be discounted.

Games are literally inventing new means of conveying emotions when it comes to storytelling, and when th??ey use our investment in the act of playing a game for that purpose, it can be more powerful than some of the best writing out there.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="1000"] _{The difficulty-modifying Pact of Punishment in Hades.}[/caption]

I would encourage anyone who considers themselves an "easy mode only" person to find a game they really enjoy and push themselves a level above what they're usually comfortable with �as someone who was scared to? try new things, I promise it's incredibly rewarding once?? you give it a shot. Sure, the lows can be lower, but the highs are totally worth it.

I do think that people take the conversation about difficulty way too seriously, because at the end of the day playing video games is supposed to be about having fun, so people should be able to play whatever game they want however they want. How adamant you are about playing games that are? intended to be hard on harder difficulties comes down to how much you value the developers' intent, and it can be a lot of fun to honor that intent. It's just important to remember that while one player might enjoy difficulty and the narrative immersion it can bring, other players want to breeze ??through.

However you play, just don't be a dick about it to other people??, that's all I ask.

Story Beat is a weekly column discussing anything and everything to do with storytelling in video games.

The post For some video game stories, the only option is to ‘git gud’ appeared first on Destructoid.

Both indies and big productions took home trophies today

The winners for the 2022 BAFTA Games Awards have been announced, and Housemarque's Returnal took hom??e the top prize. Alongside the PlayStation 5 exclusive, several other stars of 2021 added more trophies to their collection tonight.

Returnal leads the pack with wins in Best Game, Best Music, Audio Achievement, and Performer in a Leading Role for Jane Perry. It Takes Two and Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart took home two BAFTAs apiece. Unpacking also took home two, thanks t????o the publicly voted EE Game of the Year award.

The indies made a strong showing tonight, though. Chicory: A Colorful Tale, Inscryption, Before Your Eyes, TOEM, Unpacking, and The Artful Escape all won awards. And No Man's Sky received recognition for its continuous?? growth, winning the Evolving Game category.

The 2022 BAFTA Games Awards were held in London and streamed out over Twitch, YouTube, and Facebook. You can find a Twitch VOD of the awards show here.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOezF7i4mB0

BAFTA Games Awards 2022 Winners

Animation: Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart - Insomniac Games / Sony Inter?active Entertainment

Artistic Achievement: The Artful Escape - Beethoven & Dinosaur / Annapurna Inte?ractive

Audio Achievement: Returnal - Housemarque / Sony Interactive Entertainment

Best Game: Returnal - Housemarque / Sony Interactive Entertainment

British Game: Forza Horizon 5 - Playground Games / Xbox Game Studios

Debut Game: TOEM - Something We Made

Evolving Game: No Man's Sky - Hello Games

Family: Chicory: A Colorful Tale - Greg Lobanov, A Shell in ??the Pit, Madeline Berger, Alexis Dean-Jones, Lena Rain?e / Finji

Game Beyond Entertainment: Before Your Eyes - GoodbyeWorld Games / Skybound Games

Game Design: Inscryption - Daniel Mullins Games / Devolver Digital

Multiplayer: It Takes Two - Hazelight Studios / Electronic  Arts

Music: Returnal - Housemarque / Sony Interactive Entertainment

Narrative: Unpacking - Wren Brier, Tim Dawson, Annie Vande??rMeer - ??Witch Beam / Humble Games

Original Property: It Takes Two

Performer in a Leading Role: Jane Perry as Selene Vassos, Returnal

Performer in a Supporting Role: Kimberly Brock as Hollis Forsythe, Psychonauts 2

Technical Achievement: Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart - Insomniac Games / S??ony Interactive Entertainment

EE Game of the Year (Public Vote): Unpacking - Witch Beam / Humble Games

The post Returnal, It Takes Two, and Ratchet & Clank among winners at 2022 BAFTA Games Awards appeared first on Destructoid.

Where's Bouldy when you need him?

Sony Interactive Entertainment and developer Housemarque has released a lengthy breakdown video showcasing the upcoming Ascension DLC for excellent sci-fi adventure Returnal. The?? 18-minute video holds particular focus on the "Tower of Sisyphus" �set to?? provide players with their toughest challenge.

The Tower of Sisyphus is, essentially, Returnal's new "endless" mode. Hardened time walkers fans will be tasked with guiding returning adventurer Selene as she picks her way through floor after floor of increasingly tough, increasingly hard-hitting enemies �standing toe-to-tentacle with familiar creatures and bosses featured Returnal's main story campaign.

It goes without sayi?ng that the following breakdown video contains in-game spoilers.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0BZT8BqKhQ

Unlike most Endless Modes, however, the Tower of Sisyphus will be emboldened with brand new story elements, with players unlocking new first-person segments, unlocking more of the mysteries of Selene's past an?d the fated events that have brought her to this terrifying intergalactic time-loop.

As the player run 'n' guns their way through this batta??lion of baddies, they will be given frequent rest-stops with which to boost their skills and arsenal, evening the odds as they edge ever further through the battlefield, whilst learning more of our intrepid hero's story. There are even a few surprises in store, with powerful new weaponry, and perhaps even a few new threats...

Returnal is easily one of my favorite titles of 2021, and a gem of a release from Housemarque, and the Ascension DLC �which will also add some exciting co-op action �/a> looks to only build upon the excellence that has come before. I'm definitely ??looking forward to checking it out when it finally?? hits PS5 on Tuesday, March 22.

The post Returnal’s Tower of Sisyphus provides Selene her toughest challenge yet appeared first on Destructoid.

I was starting to fear the worst

Much to fans' delight, Returnal isn't done yet. They've been clamoring for more content, especially after a recent Twitter teaser, and it's actually coming this month. During this afternoon's State of Play stream, Housemarque announced Returnal: Ascension �a new challenge tower, and co-op support, are arriving on March 22 with the 3.0 up??date.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZsVRtrRsUBk

To quickly touch on the "endless" content, there's a new how-far-can-you-get activity called the Tower of Sisyphus that's playable after you've ??gotten the Icarian Grapnel (grapple hook) after beating the second boss. According to Sony, this is "an ascending gauntlet of increasingly dangerous phases, with each containing twen??ty floors."

You?'ll need to clear out "all the enemies on each floor and secure your passage to the next one up." It's essentially a score-chasing arcade experience with a multiplier (which used to be Housemarque's wheelhouse), with some "new narrative content to be explored."

Co-op is also coming on March 22, but it's specifically for the main Returnal campai?g??n �so the "Tower of Sisyphus, House sequences, and Challenge Mode" are excluded.

"By accessing the Chronosis portal near the crash landing (and in other select parts of the game), you’ll have the option to either host or join a public cycle. Or, if you’d like to share the experience with a friend, you can also choose to host a private cycle instead," Housemarque explained in a post-show announ??cement on the PlayStation Blog.

"If players get too far apart, they will be tethered back together. This is to ensure that the focus remains on cooperative gameplay and both players feel connected to the fates of each other. If one o?f the players is downed, there is still hope: the other one has the option to revive them."

Tethering concerns aside, my mind also we?nt straight to co-op progression.

Here's the rundown: "Progression is tied to the host, so if you’re struggling to overcome a certain boss or biome, bringing in another player to help may open your road to triumph. Client players who join to help will also get to keep some progress they make �such as collecting logs and xenoglyphs �and the more games they assist with the? more their Scout Rank will grow."

I'm super curious how online co-op will be balanced (in terms of damage, health, enemy spawns, etc.), as this is a really tricky game for some of us. I actually made an effort to try and finish Returnal recently, but then Elden Ring consumed my life. I'm glad it's still installed on my PS5 with the A?scension update incoming in under two weeks.

"This was our effort towards expanding the lasting power of Returnal, and we hope to see players engage wit?h our new modes for years?? to come," said game director Harry Krueger.

The post Ret??urnal: Ascension adds campaign co-op and a challenge tower appeared first on Destructoid.

Eight nominations for Housemarque's epic

We're into the second wave of Game of the Year gongs for 2021. Earlier this week saw gongs handed out at the annual DICE Awards, and yesterday saw the British Academy of Film and Television Arts unveil its nominees for this year's iteration o?f the BAFTA Games Awards, sched??uled for April 7.

Among a litany of excellent releases from gaming's past year, it is Housemarque's bullet-hell roguelike Returnal with the most to gain, having received a lofty eight nominations in categories including Best Game, Original Property, Narrative, Game Design, and Music. Also putting in an appearance is EA's multiple Game of the Year winner It Takes Two, which will be looking to add a third "Best of" to its previous accolades, scored at The Game Awards and The DICE Awards.

Also in the running amongst the 16 BAFTA categories are Arkane's chrono-shooter Deathloop, Playground's gorgeous racer Forza Horizon 5, and Insomniac's fuzzy adventure Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart. Showing out for the little guys is Daniel Mullins' creepy Inscryption, Acid Nerve's excellent Death's Door, and Witchbeam's viral hit Unpacking.

The full list o?f nominees for the BAFTA Games Awards is? as follows:

Best Game

• Deathloop (Arkane Studios)
• Forza Horizon 5 (Playground Games)
• Inscryption (Daniel Mullins)
• It Takes Two (Hazelight Studios)
• Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart (Insomniac Games)
• Returnal (Housemarque)

EE Game of the Year (Public Vote)

• Deathloop (Arkane Studios)
• The Forgotten City (Storyteller)
• It Takes Two (Hazelight Studios/EA)
• Metroid Dread (Mercury Steam/Nintendo)
• Unpacking (Witch Beam)
• Chicory: A Colorful Tale (Greg Lobanov)

British Game

• Alba: A Wildlife Adventure (ustwo Games)
• Death's Door (Acid Nerve)
• Fights In Tight Spaces (Ground Shatter)
• Forza Horizon 5 (Playground Games)
• Overboard (Inkle Studios)
• Sable (Shedworks)

Evolving Game

• Among Us (Innersloth)
• Animal Crossing: New Horizon (Nintendo)
• Apex Legends (Respawn Entertainment)
• Disco Elysium (ZA/UM)
• Fortnite (Epic Games)
• No Man's Sky (Hello Games)

Debut Game

• The Artful Escape (Beethoven & Dinosaur)
• Eastward (Pixpil)
• The Forgotten City (Modern Storyteller)
• Genesis Noir (Feral Cat Den)
• Maquette (Graceful Decay)
• TOEM (Something We Made)

Technical Achievement

• Forza Horizon 5 (Playground Games)
• Hitman 3 (IO Interactive)
• Psychonauts 2 (Double Fine)
• Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart (Insomniac Games)
• Resident Evil Village (Capcom)
• Returnal (Housemarque)

Original Property

• Deathloop (Arkane Studios)
• Death's Door (Acid Nerve)
• Inscryption (Daniel Mullins)
• It Takes Two (Hazelight Studios)
• Returnal (Housemarque)
• Unpacking (Witch Beam)

Narrative

• It Takes Two (Hazelight Studios)
• Life Is Strange: True Colours (Square Enix)
• Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy (Square Enix)
• Psychonauts 2 (Double Fine)
• Returnal (Housemarque)
• Unpacking (Witch Beam)

Music

• Deathloop (Arkane Studios)
• Far Cry 6 (Ubisoft Toronto)
• Halo Infinite (343 Industries)
• Psychonauts 2 (Double Fine)
• Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart (Insomniac Games)
• Returnal (Housemarque)

Multiplayer

• Back 4 Blood (Turtle Rock)
• Call of Duty Vanguard (Sledgehammer Games)
• Forza Horizon 5 (Playground Games)
• Halo Infinite (343 Industries)
• Hell Let Loose (Black Matter)
• It Takes Two (Hazelight Studios)

Game Design

• Deathloop (Arkane Studios)
• Forza Horizon 5 (Playground Games)
• Inscryption (Daniel Mullins)
• It Takes Two (Hazelight Studios)
• Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart (Insomanic Games)
• Returnal (Housemarque)

Family

• Alba: A Wildlife Adventure (ustwo Games)
• Chicory: A Colorful Tale (Greg Lobanov)
• Forza Horizon 5 (Playground Games)
• Mario Party Superstars (Nintendo)
• Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart (Insomniac Games)
• Unpacking (Witch Beam)

Audio Achievement

• The Artful Escape (Beethoven & Dinosaur)
• Call of Duty: Vanguard (Sledgehammer Games)
• Deathloop (Arkane Studios)
• Halo Infinite (343 Industries)
• Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy (Square Enix)
• Returnal (Housemarque)

Artistic Achievement

• The Artful Escape (Beethoven and Dinosaur)
• It Takes Two (Hazelight Studios)
• Psychonauts 2 (Double Fine)
• Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart (Insomniac Games)
• Resident Evil Village (Capcom)
• Returnal (Housemarque)

Animation

• Call of Duty: Vanguard (Sledgehammer Games)
• It Takes Two (Hazelight Studios)
• Kena: Bridge of Spirits (Ember Lab)
• Life Is Strange: True Colors (Square Enix)
• Psychonauts 2 (Double Fine)

Game Beyond Entertainment

• Alba: A Wildlife Adventure (ustwo Games)
• Before Your Eyes (Goodbye World)
• Chicory: A Colorful Tale (Greg Lobanov)
• Game Builder Garage (Nintendo)
• It Takes Two (Hazelight Studios)
• Psychonauts 2 (Double Fine)

The post BAFTA Games Awards nominees ??include Returnal, Deathloop, It Takes? Two appeared first on Destructoid.

It Takes Two (trophies)

This past weekend saw The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences hold the 2022 iteration of its annual DICE Awards, which recognizes technical, design, and narrative excellence in our wonderful world of video gaming. This yea??r's event saw awards handed out to some of 2021's biggest hitters, helping to bolster the trophy cases of several releases that have already bagged themselve??s multiple industry gongs.

Among the biggest winners of the night were EA's co-op adventure It Takes Two, which took home the coveted Game of the Year award �a trophy that will no doubt sit snugly next to its previous GOTY award, won during December's Game Awards 2021 ceremony. It Takes Two also picked up the Outstanding Achievement in Game Design award, beating out deserved nominees including Deathloop, Inscryption, and Loop Hero.

Insomniac Games' excellent adventure Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart was another of the night's big winners, taking home a hefty four trophies in the field of animation, art direction, technical achievement, and family gaming. On the audio front, Housemarque's sci-fi epic Returnal won awards for both its music and evocative and immersive sound design. Also around to make a scene, Resident Evil Village's undeniable Lady Dimit?rescu won the award for Outstanding Achievement in Character.

You can check out the full list of Dice Awards 2022 nominees and w?inners below.

Game of the Year

• Deathloop
• Inscryption
• It Takes Two
• Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
• Returnal

Outstanding Achievement in Animation

• Call of Duty: Vanguard
• Deathloop
• Kena: Bridge of Spirits
• Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
• Resident Evil Village

Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction

• Call of Duty: Vanguard
• Deathloop
• Kena: Bridge of Spirits
• Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
• Resident Evil Village

Outstanding Achievement in Character

• Deathloop â€?Colt Vahn
• Kena: Bridge of Spirits â€?Kena
• Life is Strange: True Colors â€?Alex Chen
• Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart â€?Rivet
• Resident Evil Village â€?Lady Dimitrescu

Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composition

• Deathloop
• It Takes Two
• Kena: Bridge of Spirits
• Psychonauts 2
• Returnal

Outstanding Achievement in Audio Design

• Forza Horizon 5
• Halo Infinite
• It Takes Two
• Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
• Returnal

Outstanding Achievement in Story

• Before Your Eyes
• Inscryption
• Guardians of the Galaxy
• Psychonauts 2
• The Forgotten City

Outstanding Technical Achievement

• Battlefield 2042
• Forza Horizon 5
• Moncage
• Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
• Returnal

Action Game of the Year

• Deathloop
• Halo Infinite
• Metroid Dread
• Returnal
• The Ascent

Adventure Game of the Year

• Death's Door
• It Takes Two
• Guardians of the Galaxy
• Psychonauts 2
• Resident Evil Village

Family Game of the Year

• Animal Crossing: New Horizons - Happy Home Paradise
• Cozy Grove
• Mario Party Superstars
• Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
• Warioware: Get it Together

Fighting Game of the Year

• Guilty Gear Strive
• Melty Blood: Type Lumina
• Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl

Racing Game of the Year

• F1 2021
• Forza Horizon 5
• Hot Wheels Unleashed

Role-Playing Game of the Year

• Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker
• Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous
• Shin Megami Tensei V
• Tales of Arise
• Wildermyth

Sports Game of the Year

• FIFA 22
• Mario Golf: Super Rush
• NBA 2k22
• Riders Republic
• The Climb 2

Strategy/Simulation Game of the Year

• Age of Empires IV
• Gloomhaven
• Griftlands
• Inscryption
• Loop Hero

Immersive Reality Technical Achievement

• Lone Echo II
• Puzzling Places
• Resident Evil 4 VR
• Song in the Smoke
• Yuki

Immersive Reality Game of the Year

• Demeo
• I Expect You To Die 2
• Lone Echo II
• Resident Evil 4 VR
• Song in the Smoke

Outstanding Achievement for an Independent Game

• Death's Door
• Inscryption
• Loop Hero
• Sable
• Unpacking

Mobile Game of the Year

• Behind the Frame
• Fantasian
• League of Legends: Wild Rift
• Moncage
• Pokémon Unite

Online Game of the Year

• Back 4 Blood
• Call of Duty: Vanguard
• Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker
• Halo Infinite
• Knockout City

Outstanding Achievement in Game Design

• Deathloop
• Inscryption
• It Takes Two
• Loop Hero
• Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart

Outstanding Achievement in Game Direction

• Deathloop
• Inscryption
• It Takes Two
• Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
• The Artful Escape

The post It Takes Two and Ratchet & Clank win big at DICE Awards 2022 appeared first on Destructoid.

Rollin' Sixes

The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences has released its list of nominees for the 2022 iteration of the annual DICE Awards. The event, scheduled to take place February 24 at the glamorous Mandalay Bay?, Las Vegas, will recognize some of the finest releases that rolled out of the gaming industry and into our homes over the course of 2021.

Insomniac Games' stellar PS5 adventure Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is the most nominated game of the awards, with a mighty nine noms in total, including one for the coveted Game of the Year award. Also riding high is Arkane Studios' shooter Deathloop, which itself has racked up an impressive eight nominatio?ns including Game of the Year, Action ??Game of the Year, Outstanding Animation Achievement, and Outstanding Audio Achievement.

Elsewhere in the list, Housemarque's fab sci-fi shooter Returnal, Acid Nerve's delightfully grim Death's Door, Arc System Works' Guilty Gear Strive, and Playground Games' Forza Horizon 5 are all putting on their best tux and hoping to claim themselves a DICE award. The Game Awards' own GOTY, Hazelight Studios' It Takes Two, is also hoping to walk away with yet another best-of-year trophy. Also of note is Daniel Mullins Games' creepy Inscryption, which is slowly?? winning over more and more players with each passing month.

"From all of us at the Academy, we want to thank our peer panelists who continue to dedicate their energy, expertise, and time in evaluating and selecting 2021's best games," writes Meggan Scavio, president of the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. "To all our finalists?, congratulations! You continue to amaze us with how you push the boundaries of creativity, technical innovation, and storytelling."

Here is the full list of nominees for The 25th Annual DICE Awards. Get set?tled, it's a doozy.

Game of the Year

• Deathloop (Arkane Studios / Bethesda Softworks)
• Inscryption (Daniel Mullins Games / Devolver Digital)
• It Takes Two (Hazelight Studios / Electronic Arts)
• Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart (Insomniac Games / Sony Interactive Entertainment)
• Returnal (Housemarque / Sony Interactive Entertainment)

Outstanding Achievement in Animation

• Call of Duty: Vanguard (Sledgehammer Games/ Activision)
• Deathloop (Arkane Studios / Bethesda Softworks)
• Kena: Bridge of Spirits (Ember Lab)
• Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart (Insomniac Games / Sony Interactive Entertainment)
• Resident Evil Village (Capcom)

Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction

• Call of Duty: Vanguard (Sledgehammer Games/ Activision)
• Deathloop (Arkane Studios / Bethesda Softworks)
• Kena: Bridge of Spirits (Ember Lab)
• Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart (Insomniac Games / Sony Interactive Entertainment)
• Resident Evil Village (Capcom)

Outstanding Achievement in Character

• Deathloop - Colt Vahn (Arkane Studios / Bethesda Softworks)
• Kena: Bridge of Spirits - Kena (Ember Lab)
• Life is Strange: True Colors - Alex Chen (Deck Nine / Square Enix)
• Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart - Rivet (Insomniac Games / Sony Interactive Entertainment)
• Resident Evil Village - Lady Dimitrescu (Capcom)

Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composition

• Deathloop (Arkane Studios / Bethesda Softworks)
• It Takes Two (Hazelight Studios / Electronic Arts)
• Kena: Bridge of Spirits (Ember Lab)
• Psychonauts 2 (Double Fine / Xbox Game Studios)
• Returnal (Housemarque / Sony Interactive Entertainment)

Outstanding Achievement in Audio Design

• Forza Horizon 5 (Playground Games / Xbox Game Studios)
• Halo Infinite (343 Industries / Xbox Game Studios)
• It Takes Two (Hazelight Studios / Electronic Arts)
• Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart (Insomniac Games / Sony Interactive Entertainment)
• Returnal (Housemarque / Sony Interactive Entertainment)

Outstanding Achievement in Story

• Before Your Eyes (GoodbyeWorld Games / Skybound Games)
• Inscryption (Daniel Mullins Games / Devolver Digital)
• Guardians of the Galaxy (Eidos-Montréal / Square Enix)
• Psychonauts 2 (Double Fine / Xbox Game Studios)
• The Forgotten City (Modern Storyteller / Dear Villagers)

Outstanding Technical Achievement

• Battlefield 2042 (EA DICE / Electronic Arts)
• Forza Horizon 5 (Playground Games / Xbox Game Studios)
• Moncage (Optillusion / XD)
• Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart (Insomniac Games / Sony Interactive Entertainment)
• Returnal (Housemarque / Sony Interactive Entertainment)

Action Game of the Year

• Deathloop (Arkane Studios / Bethesda Softworks)
• Halo Infinite (343 Industries / Xbox Game Studios)
• Metroid Dread (Mercury Steam / Nintendo)
• Returnal (Housemarque / Sony Interactive Entertainment)
• The Ascent (Neon Giant / Curve Games)

Adventure Game of the Year

• Death's Door (Acid Nerve / Devolver Digital)
• It Takes Two (Hazelight Studios / Electronic Arts)
• Guardians of the Galaxy (Eidos-Montréal / Square Enix)
• Psychonauts 2 (Double Fine / Xbox Game Studios)
• Resident Evil Village (Capcom)

Family Game of the Year

• Animal Crossing: New Horizons - Happy Home Paradise (Nintendo)
• Cozy Grove (Spry Fox / The Quantum Astrophysicists Guild)
• Mario Party Superstars (Nintendo)
• Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart (Insomniac Games / Sony Interactive Entertainment)
• Warioware: Get it Together (Nintendo)

Fighting Game of the Year

• Guilty Gear -Strive- (Arc System Works)
• Melty Blood: Type Lumina (French-Bread, Type-Moon / Delightworks)
• Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl (Ludosity & Fair Play Labs / Game Mill)

Racing Game of the Year

• F1 2021 (Codemasters / EA Originals)
• Forza Horizon 5 (Playground Games / Xbox Game Studios)
• Hot Wheels Unleashed (Milestone)

Role-Playing Game of the Year

• Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker (Square Enix)
• Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous (Owlcat Games / META Publishing)
• Shin Megami Tensei V (Atlus /Sega)
• Tales of Arise (Bandai Namco)
• Wildermyth (Worldwalker Games / Whisper Games)

Sports Game of the Year

• EA Sports FIFA 22 (EA Originals)
• Mario Golf: Super Rush (Nintendo)
• NBA 2k22 (2K Games)
• Riders Republic (Ubisoft)
• The Climb 2 (Crytek)

Strategy/Simulation Game of the Year

• Age of Empires IV (Relic Entertainment, World's Edge / Xbox Game Studios)
• Gloomhaven (Flaming Fowl Studios / Asmodee Digital)
• Griftlands (Klei Entertainment)
• Inscryption (Daniel Mullins Games / Devolver Digital)
• Loop Hero (Four Quarters / Devolver Digital)

Immersive Reality Technical Achievement

• Lone Echo II (Ready at Dawn / Oculus Studios)
• Puzzling Places (Realities.io)
• Resident Evil 4 VR (Capcom)
• Song in the Smoke (17-Bit)
• YUKI (ARVORE Immersive Experiences)

Immersive Reality Game of the Year

• Demeo (Resolution Games)
• I Expect You To Die 2 (Schell Games)
• Lone Echo II (Ready at Dawn / Oculus Studios)
• Resident Evil 4 VR (Capcom)
• Song in the Smoke (17-Bit)

Outstanding Achievement for an Independent Game

• Death's Door (Acid Nerve / Devolver Digital)
• Inscryption (Daniel Mullins Games / Devolver Digital)
• Loop Hero (Four Quarters / Devolver Digital)
• Sable (Shedworks / Raw Fury)
• Unpacking (Witch Beam / Humble Bundle)

Mobile Game of the Year

• Behind the Frame (Silver Lining Studio / Akupara Games, Akatsuki Taiwan Inc.)
• Fantasian (Mistwalker)
• League of Legends: Wild Rift (Riot Games)
• Moncage (Optillusion)
• Pokémon Unite (TiMi Studio Group / The Pokémon Company)

Online Game of the Year

• Back 4 Blood (Turtle Rock Studios / Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment)
• Call of Duty: Vanguard (Sledgehammer Games / Activision)
• Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker (Square Enix)
• Halo Infinite (343 Industries / Xbox Game Studios)
• Knockout City (Velan Studios / EA Originals)

Outstanding Achievement in Game Design

• Deathloop (Arkane Studios / Bethesda Softworks)
• Inscryption (Daniel Mullins Games / Devolver Digital)
• It Takes Two (Hazelight Studios / Electronic Arts)
• Loop Hero (Four Quarters, Devolver Digital)
• Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart (Insomniac Games / Sony Interactive Entertainment)

Outstanding Achievement in Game Direction

• Deathloop (Arkane Studios / Bethesda Softworks)
• Inscryption (Daniel Mullins Games / Devolver Digital)
• It Takes Two (Hazelight Studios / Electronic Arts)
• Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart (Insomniac Games / Sony Interactive Entertainment)
• The Artful Escape (Beethoven & Dinosaur / Annapurna Interactive)

The post Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart leads the charge in ?2022 DICE Awards appeared first on Destructoid.

Some big nods for smaller teams and also, Cyberpunk?

The Game Awards 2021 has revealed its list of nominees for this year's event. Par ??for any awards show, there are certa??inly some pleasant surprises and interesting selections.

Host Geoff Keighley announced the lineup of 2021 Game Awards nominees today during a livestreamed special, running down the list of games in each category. The selections were determ??ined by ballot, with over 100 media and influencer outlets partici??pating.

Some pleasant surprises were in store for indie teams, as some of this year's hidden gems like Chicory: A Colorful Tale, Inscryption, Loop Hero, and more getting nominations. Leading the pack were some expected AAA games, including Deathloop, Returnal, Psychonauts 2, and Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart. Xbox/Bethesda was the most nominated publisher??, followed by Sony, E??A, and Square Enix.

//twitter.com/theg?ameawards/status??/1460657164083679240

Also, Cyberpunk 2077 appears in the Best RPG category. It clears the bar, as a December 2020 launch, but it's an odd choice up against stiff competition in the form of Tales of Arise, Monster Hunter Rise, Scarlet Nexus, and Shin Megami Tensei V.

You can go vote on the nominees at The Game Awards 2021 site here.

Here's the full lineup of The Game Awards 2021 nominees, broken down by category:

Game of the Year

• Deathloop
• It Takes Two
• Metroid Dread
• Psychonauts 2
• Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
• Resident Evil Village

Best Game Direction

• Deathloop
• It Takes Two
• Returnal
• Psychonauts 2
• Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart

Best Mobile Game

• Fantasian
• Genshin Impact
• League of Legends: Wild Rift
• Marvel Future Revolution
• Pokemon Unite

Best Independent Game

• 12 Minutes
• Death's Door
• Kena: Bridge of Spirits
• Inscryption
• Loop Hero

Best Debut Indie Game

• Kena: Bridge of Spirits
• Sable
• The Artful Escape
• The Forgotten City
• Valheim

Best AR/VR

• Hitman 3
• I Expect You To Die 2
• Lone Echo
• Resident Evil 4
• Sniper Elite VR

Best Narrative

• Deathloop
• It Takes Two
• Life is Strange: True Colors
• Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy
• Psychonauts 2

Best Action Game

• Back 4 Blood
• Chivalry II
• Deathloop
• Far Cry 6
• Returnal

Best Action/Adventure

• Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy
• Metroid Dread
• Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
• Resident Evil Village
• Psychonauts 2

Best RPG

• Cyberpunk 2077
• Monster Hunter Rise
• Scarlet Nexus
• Shin Megami Tensei V
• Tales of Arise

Best Fighting Game

• Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles
• Guilty Gear Strive
• Melty Blood Type Lumina
• Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl
• Virtua Fighter 5: Ultimate Showdown

Best Family Game

• It Takes Two
• Mario Party Superstars
• New Pokemon Snap
• Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury
• Warioware: Get It Together!

Best Sim/Strategy

• Age of Empires IV
• Evil Genius 2: World Domination
• Humankind
• Inscryption
• Microsoft Flight Simulator

Best Sports/Racing

• F1 2021
• FIFA 2022
• Hot Wheels Unleashed
• Forza Horizon 5
• Riders Republic

Games For Impact

• Before Your Eyes
• Boyfriend Dungeon
• Chicory: A Colorful Tale
• Life is Strange: True Colors
• No Longer Home

Innovation in Accessibility

• Far Cry 6
• Forza Horizon 5
• Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy
• Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
• The Vale: Shadow of the Crown

Best Art Direction

• Deathloop
• Kena: Bridge of Spirits
• Psychonauts 2
• Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
• The Artful Escape

Best Score/Music

• Cyberpunk 2077
• Deathloop
• Nier Replicant
• Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy
• The Artful Escape

Best Audio Design

• Deathloop
• Forza Horizon 5
• Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
• Resident Evil Village
• Returnal

Best Performance

• Erika Mori (Life is Strange: True Colors)
• Giancarlo Esposito (Far Cry 6)
• Jason E. Kelley (Deathloop)
• Maggie Robertson (Resident Evil Village)
• Ozioama Akagha (Deathloop)

Best Multiplayer

• Back 4 Blood
• It Takes Two
• Knockout City
• Monster Hunter Rise
• New World
• Valheim

Best Ongoing Game

• Apex Legends
• Call of Duty: Warzone
• Final Fantasy XIV Online
• Fortnite
• Genshin Impact

Best Community Support

• Apex Legends
• Destiny 2
• Final Fantasy XIV
• Fortnite
• No Man's Sky

Most Anticipated Game

• Elden Ring
• God of War: Ragnarok
• Horizon Forbidden West
• The sequel to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
• Starfield

Best Esports Game

• Call of Duty
• Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
• Dota 2
• League of Legends
• Valorant

Best Esports Athlete

• Chris "Simp" Lehr
• Heo "ShowMaker" Su
• Magomed "Collapse" Khalilov
• Oleksandr "s1mple" Kostyliev
• Tyson "TenZ" Ngo

Best Esports Team

• Atlanta Faze (Call of Duty)
• DAMWON Gaming (League of Legends)
• Na'Vi (CS:GO)
• Team Spirit (Dota 2)
• Sentinels (Valorant)

Best Esports Coach

• B1AD3
• Crowder
• Engh
• Kkoma
• Silent

Best Esports Event

• The International 2021
• Worlds 2021
• Valorant Masters 2021
• PGL Major Stockholm 2021
• PUBG Mobile Global Championship 2021

Content Creator of the Year

• Dream
• Fuslie
• Gaules
• Ibai
• The Grefg

The Game Awards 2021 will air on Dec. 9, 2021.

The post The Game Awards 2021 reveals its nominees for this year’s event appeared first on Destructoid.

In space, no one can hear you save

There will be a lot of frustrated space-trekkers made happy this morning. Developer Housemarque has released Update 2.0 for its brilliant ac-fi adventure Returnal, bringing ??with it a Photo Mode and finally, a much-requested save function.

While Returnal prides itself on its adherence to presenting an ass-kicking challenge �pushing the player's endurance as they run 'n' gun their way through Selene Vassos' interstellar nightmare �many players found the inability to suspend or s??ave ou??r hero's run mid-cycle frustrating and ungainly. The new Suspend feature will allow a player to save state their current run, allowing them to exit the game and shut down the console.

This is not a "save game" however, as the suspend point will delete itself upon reactivation. It should also be noticed that suspend points cannot be created during boss battles, (or any combat), cinematics, or first-person sequences. But the new feature will be a relief for many Returnal fans.

In addition, Reurnal 2.0 now features what's becoming a standard feature for many third-person adventures: the Photo Mode. So now, provided you can keep our good lady alive, players can pause the action to capture dazzling and dynamic portraits of Selene, her enemies, and the fantastical vistas of the planet Atropos. Returnal is, in my opinion?, one of the best-looking releases this year, with a magnetic and beautiful yet terrifying environment. Savvy shutterbugs can now capture its alien splendor in all of its gooey glory. Good stuff.

The post Retur?nal 2.0 up?date offers mid-cycle save states and photo mode appeared first on Destructoid.

Are you?

It seems like only yesterday I was bemoaning my lack of PS5, and shaking my fist at the scalpers who have made acquiring one my living nightmare. While that sentiment still holds, I now find myself more okay with the fact that I'm just going to wait a little bit longer to get my hands on a next-gen console.

Maybe it's because it's been a few weeks, and time heals all wounds. Or maybe it's that there aren't any big Sony? exclusive releases on the horizon that I'm all that excited about. Yeah, I think it's that one.

Last week, during the Gamescom: Opening Night Live event, Guerrilla officially announced that Horizon Forbidden West is being delayed out of the 2021 holiday release window to February 2022. Personally, I don't mind delays if they make for a better game and save the devs some grief, however, the delay did put the final nail in the coffin of my PS5 hunt. Aside from Returnal, Forbidden West was the ??only PS5 game I was amped to get my hands on, but now that it's off the table until next ??year, well, I'm giving up my search altogether. Or at least until the console is more readily available.

Based on the comments of my last PS5 post, some of you were already ahead of me,? citing the game library being too small or unappealing for you to take th??e plunge just yet.

At this point, I have to concede and completely agree. I thin?k before I was still feeling the hype of owning a brand new console, and wanting to be the first to play the hottest new releases. But what kind of a flex is it when all you can play right now are games that have been out since the console's launch?

Look, I'm not trying to put anyone down who is amped about getting their new console �more power to you! It's just when I have such a huge backlog of awesome Switch, PS4, and PC games, and then put them all aside to replay Stardew Valley for the ?third time, I don't feel like I have the time or effort to go out of my way and spend a ton of money on games I'm not that excited fo??r.

It's been long enough, maybe at this point it's better waiting it out even more, and holding off until there's a slim or upgraded version of the PS5. It feels l?ike something like that would be pretty far out, but w??e pretty much know it's inevitable.

Maybe they'll even put out some new colors or specia??l editions. (This is me manifesting a pink PS5 �make it happen, Sony.)

What do you think? Are you down to keep waiting for a console, or are you going to keep up your search? What will you be playing ??in the meantime? If yo??u already have one, do you feel like it was worth it to get it this early into the generation?

The post With no big releases ahead, I’m cool with waiting longer for a PS5 appeared first on Destructoid.

Returnal, Demon's Souls, and Miles Morales Ultimate Edition are under $50 right now

Slightly hidden in an unassuming Weekend Offer sale on the PlayStation Store, you can find some of the best?? early PlayStation 5 games wit??h honest-to-god discounts.

If you skipped Returnal at launch because $70 is just too much on the line for ??????????????????????????a great-for-some-but-not-all roguelike shooter, you might be tempted by a 29 percent discount.

Same goes for Demon's Souls. It's my favorite PS5 game to this day, but some players are thinking of entering the Souls series with this remake, and again, seventy dollars. While I rarely have buyer's r??emorse with video games, they're starting ??to feel higher stakes.

Here's the full list of?? deals. It's short but high-impact.

• Returnal ($49.69)
• Returnal Digital Deluxe Edition ($59.99)
  • Some early weapon unlocks and the soundtrack.
• Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales ($29.99)
• Marvel's Sp??ider-Man: Miles Morales Ultimate Edition ($49.69)
  • Includes Marvel's Spider-Man Remastered.
• Demon's Souls ($49.69)
• Demon's Souls Digital Deluxe Edition ($70.19)
  • Red-Eye Knight Armor, the Ritual Blade, a few other items, and the soundtrack.
• Sackboy: A Big Adventure ($40.19) [PS4 and PS5]
• Sackboy: A Big Adventure Digital Deluxe Edition ($59.99) [PS4 and PS5]
  • Four costumes, four emotes, an art book, and the soundtrack.
• Nioh Remastered â€?The Complete Edition ($29.99)
• Nioh 2 Remastered â€?The Complete Edition ($29.99) [PS4 and PS5]
• The Nioh Collection ($49.69)
  • Includes Nioh Remastered (PS5) and Nioh 2 Remastered (PS4 and PS5)
• Destruction AllStars Digital Deluxe Edition ($29.99)
  • In-game currency, Lupita Legendary Crow skin, eight Story Mode packs, and an art book.

The sale runs until June 28, 2021.

As more of you are able to l??and a PS5 throughout the year, I'll feel obligated to share deals like these as often?? as I can. "Around $50" seems like Sony's new go-to sale price.

The post Returnal and other pricey PS5 games are under? $50 a?t the PlayStation Store appeared first on Destructoid.

But no mid-mission saving, if that's what you're waiting on

Housemarque's great roguelike Returnal is getting a brand new update today. Version 1.3.7, which should be available on PS5 as your read this, brings with it a handful of we??lcome bug fixes and stability improvements, making Selene's journey into the unknown just a tad smoother.

Among the issues addressed in the new update are several black screen crashes, a bug that was causing our girl to get stuck in the scenery on rare occasions, an audio issue that would cause sudden amplification in sound, and a very specific issue regarding the Ophion boss fight. In addition, Deceased Scouts should now appear in the game world with more frequency. You can find the full patch notes over on the Housemarque blog.

It bears reminding that, should your PS5 be set to "auto-update", any live games of Returnal will automatically shut down once the update drops, so bear this in mind lest you suddenly lose a multi-hour run. The lack of mid-run save options is a complaint that has been levied at Returnal by some of its players. Housemarque is currently investigating ways that it can address this complaint, while retaining the sci?-fi title's thirst f??or challenge.

The post Returnal 1.3.7 update touches down ?today, blasting multiple bugs appeared first on Destructoid.

1.3.6

Did you update to Returnal version 1.3.3? That's old news! 1.3.6 is th??e new hotness. Ah, modern? game development.

In case you didn't hear, Housemarque tried to warn people last-minute about not all?owing auto-updates on y?our PS5, as they may mess with your Returnal run (which requires players to put the game into rest mode). Unfortunately that was a?n understatement, as 1.3.3 corrupt??ed some saves, amid other bugs.

In response, the studio thankfully got a quick fix out and within two days, had addressed the issue in the aforementioned 1.3.6 edition, which is the latest patch. This one fixes some crashes, collision problems, "incor??rect healing behavior, controller mappings, and "numerous minor" bugs, too. You can find the full notes below.

This whole situation is very unfortunate, and I wish that the powers that be allowed the game? a little more time in the oven to shore this all up before it shipped. While I haven't had major issues with the rest requirement yet, I've had many run-ins with the PS5's wonky rest mode in the past, and it's just a matter of time. For the long haul, Housemarque should nip this whole system as soon as possible.

Housemarque [Twitter]

Returnal 1.3.6 patch

• Mul??tiple stability fixes addressing rare crashes.
• Fixed issue with pre-ord?er suits occasionally blocki??ng items and doors.
• Fixed incorrect healing behavior.
• Fixed issues with custom controller mappings.
• Numerous minor fixes
• Fixed issue with corrupted save game. Reminder: To keep act?ive runs, turn off auto-update.

The post Returnal fixes corrupted update issue, but still doesn’t offer proper saves appeared first on Destructoid.

Players are now reporting error messages and messed-up saves after patch 1.3.3.

[Update: What's in patch 1.3.3? A fix? for "certain Trophies" not unlocking correctly (though you'll have to retrace your steps all over), "multiple stability fixes" for "crashes/hangs," and a fix for that one nasty bug with the pre-order suits that prevents item and door interactions, along with other "minor" touch-ups.

Housemarque has also upped "t??he number of scout corpses available in all biomes," something people had been wondering about — have you encountered any bodies yet? Maybe now you will.]

[Update 2: Some Returnal players are reporting corrupted save data and errors in the wake of this patch, which is bad news for permanent unlocks.?? Clearly, there?? are still some bumps to smooth out.]

Not to dive into the whole "lack of saves in Returnal" thing again so soon, but yeah, it's warranted. In a tweet today, Housemarque warned users to ?turn off the PlayStation 5's auto-update feature:

PSA: #Returnal patch and? patch notes will go ??live tomorrow (May 5) at noon PST, 7pm GMT.

Set your #PS5 auto-update off to keep your run.
//t.co/ICzxVHvCEq

— Housemarque (@Housemarque) May 4, 2021

This is the kind of very real what-if situation that players have worried about in light of the way Returnal handles progress. Crashes are one thing — I've had a couple — but I can't say I've ever seen this exact heads-??up warning before, especially for such a widely-publicized, major-publisher-backed game.

For anyone out of the loop, here's a rundown. Housemarque says it's listening to feedback about saves, but as it stands, there isn't a mid-run backup to protect players from crashes — or an option to let folks "quit and continue" if life gets in the way — so the solution, for now, is to put your PS5 in rest mode when you need a break. (I'd call this a workaround, but the game tells you to do this in? a message.)

The idea makes sense in theory, even if it's far from ideal. Your Returnal run should still be there w?hen you power your PS5 back up. But in practice, my results have been mixed. A lot of us don't feel like we can count on the console's rest mode to pull its weight, and when it comes to a game this challenging, with runs that can drag way out without you even realizing it, that's frustrating. And now this.

The caveat about auto-updates messing with rest mode — something plenty of people are bound to miss — is only going to exacerbate the imminent need for an in-game solution. I've had fun with Returnal, particularly in the later bi??omes, bu?t I'm hesitant to sink more time in the game right now.

As a semi-related aside, on a whim, I ended up buying Returnal and New Pokémon Snap on the same wee?kend — talk about tonal whipla??sh. My opinions can and probably will still evolve, but you know what? One of these games exceeded my expectations, and the other fell surprisingly short.

The post Ret?urnal devs warn about run-disrupting PS5 auto-updates ahead of incoming pa?tch appeared first on Destructoid.

Say Cheese

This week saw not one, but two major releases hit the market in the form of two shoot-'em-ups... kinda. Shutterbugs took shots in Nintendo's latest Switch release, New Pokémon Snap, while interstellar explorers focused on a whole different kind of shooting in Housemarque's fantastic Returnal,?? incidentally? the PS5's first exclusive release in months.

In regards to the U.K.'s physical sales, it was New Pokémon Snap that debuted comfortably in the number one spot, edging out Selene's hardcore space-shooting action. This was somewhat inevitable given the popularity of the Pokémon brand, the family-friendly nature of the camera-snapping adventure, and the ongoing shortage of PS5 hardware in the UK scene. As reported by GamesIndustry.biz, this new entry in the photogenic series sold four times as many launch copies as 2000 Nintendo 64 release, Pokémon Snap.

New Pokémon Snap leads a seemingly indelible slew of Switch releases, which includes Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury, Ring Fit Adventure, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and Minecraft. Last week's number one, Square Enix' NieR Replicant, has dropped out of the Top Ten entirely and now resides at number 22. This is business as usual for the JRPG market, at least in regards to physical sales. However, with the launch of Resident Evil Village on May 7, New Pokémon Snap's reign as monar?ch of the UK Charts looks set to be a short one.

Something Wicked This Way Comes.

U.K. video game sales chart w/e: May 1, 2021
(Chart reflects in-store physical sales only)

1. New Pokémon Snap - Nintendo
2. Returnal - Sony Interactive Entertainment
3. Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury - Nintendo
4. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe - Nintendo
5. Animal Crossing: New Horizons - Nintendo
6. FIFA 21 - Electronic Arts
7. Minecraft - Nintendo
8. Grand Theft Auto V - Take-Two Interactive
9. Ring Fit Adventure - Nintendo
10. Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War - Activision

U.K. video game charts [GamesIndustry.biz]

The post New Pokemon Snap beats out Returnal in this week’s UK Charts appeared first on Destructoid.

Housemarque is back

Finally, another PS5 game!

Yes folks, you heard that right, Returnal is a bonafide PS5 release. Is it worth (gulp) $70? It really depends ??on your p??enchant for roguelikes.

Returnal (PS5)
Developer: Housemarque
Publisher: Sony
Released: April 30, 2021
MSRP: $69.99

Housemarque is back and I'm into it. Ever since Super Stardust HD they immediately appeared on my radar and haven't left ever since. While people are quick to point out more well-known games like Resogun when talking about The House, I'm particularly fond of a few of their lesser-known titles like Outland, which was a fantastic take on Ikaruga meets platforming.

This time around the studio is reinventing itself with a third-person shooter roguelike/roguelite. The latter bit is important, because like Hades, you're going to be keeping permanent upgrades, and in the case of Returnal, shortcuts. So if you loathe the idea of "starting all over" upon every death or failed run, that's not as much of a concern here. The gimmick involves a very Prometheus-esque setup of a woman (Se?lene) c??rash-landing on an alien planet filled with creatures that would make H.R. Giger squirm.

Every time Selene dies, she appears right back at the crash site, and needs to figure out why she's there; amid a bit of coming to terms with personal trauma added in for good measure. As a result, Selene feels more like a character than a lot of similar genre staples, but there is a good degree of subtlety to avoid Returnal descending into cloying shlock.

Mechanically, you'll get to your eventual endpoint by huffing it and air dashing through a handful of biomes, ??as you upgrade both an in-run track (that you lose after death) and an overarching permanent track. It takes some getting used to, but the adaptive triggers and rumble are neatly used?? here, allowing for regular fire if you slightly press down on L2 to aim, and alt-fire if you slam down hard. Each biome pits you against a big boss at the end, then you move to the next biome, get more upgrades, and try your luck again.

[brid video="770592" player="12899" title="Returnal%20Review" duration="258" description="Destructoid's review of Returnal.We're NOT taking a look at a new Wicca Phase Springs Eternal album, but a video game named Returnal from Housemarque for the PS5. But is Returnal as good as the album n?ame potential? Find out in today's review!" uploaddate="2021-04-29" thumbnailurl="//cdn.brid.tv/live/partners/10260/thumb/770592_t_1619718734.jpg" contentUrl="//cdn.brid.tv/live/partners/10260/sd/770592.mp4"]

It's very addictive because the "lite" bit of the rogue moniker is prevalent in the minute-to-minute design. Returnal doesn't feel overly oppressive for the sake of it, as enemies can be handled through pure skill and twitch action and don?'t have many opportunities to cheese or otherwise one-shot players so long as you have situational awareness.

Weapons also pack a punch, as do the vast majority of upgrades. Returnal uses a clever risk-reward system too, which can grant you access to better equipment if you chance that a marked item migh??t give you a "malfunction" penalty. Typically you can heal these off with other items and/or some sort of imposed challenge g??oal, like "collect 200 currency."

With this gambling system in mind, the pacing is extremely on-point. Typically upgrades are always within reach, and if they aren't, I can try my luck with the curse mechanic that can also be adapted to with enough time and skill. Even the chance-based systems of Returnal can feel fa?ir and balanced. A helpful map that marks items without? guesswork is a huge plus.

The game's pacing also highly benefits from a moody atmosphere that is haunting with 3D audio on PS5. It's unsettling pretty much at all times, which is a very cool way to play a tense roguelike. At one point I had to pause Returnal because it got too tense. It soun?ds? hyperbolic, but it was a good run! The real ones understand.

It's all good so far right? Well likewise, the more you play, the more you learn and adapt; the more it can become too familiar. In each individual biome I didn't find the enemy or environment variety to be as interesting as I'd like, and if you're stuck on a particular area for a while, it can start to get very samey. It's exacerbated by lengthy periods between permanent upgrades, which can result in a lack? of tangible in-game progress: a problem for people who don't feel like picking up mechanics is its own reward. Daily challenges and leaderboards might coax more out of a specific audience (but I'm going?? to ignore them).

Then there's the rest mode requirement. In Returnal, you need to rest mode your PS5 in order to save progress during a hiatus. So if you're on a really lengthy good run and want to play something else, you're pressing your luck. Given how many issues I've had with rest mode since launch, I'm always uneasy using it, even if all my tests haven't seen any issues.

Returnal is a mostly thrilling sci-fi action romp that suffers from a lack of scale at times. In the moment, I'm completely fixated on my run, upgrading like a fiend, and dashing around for iFrames like I was playing a Capcom game. But after that run ends and I'm looking at the bigger picture, Returnal can feel a little smaller than it actually is. Keep that in mind before you take the pricey plun??ge.

_{[This review is based on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher.]}

The post Review: Returnal appeared first on Destructoid.

People just want to be able to walk away mid-run without having to use the PS5's hit-or-miss rest mode

There's only one thing putting me off playing Returnal right now — okay, two. Three, tops.

This will potentially be the second time I've spent $70 on a PS5 game (the first being Demon's Souls), and honestly, I'm still adjusting to the sticker shock. As someone who already was willing to wait t??o?? avoid paying $60 at launch, I now feel even pickier about what's worth getting and when.

I also don't necessarily have a lot of time to sink into Returnal right now, and from everything I know and love about Housemarque games, it takes a while to get into the groove. That was true of shorter arcade romps like Resogun and Nex Machina, and it's definitely true of Returnal given its bigger-budget scope and potentially very drawn-out roguelike runs. I'm expecting t?o put in dozens of hours, all told.

But really, those are mental barriers I can work through — the thing about saving, though, that's still weighing on me. As Chris explained in his review (and as other players have since complained about on Reddit), Returnal doesn't have a good option for temporary mid-run saves. Basically, you can't — ??not really. If you're in a run and you need to take a break, you've got to put your PS5 in rest m??ode.

For many people, the lack of a save-and-quit option won't be too hard to work around most of the time. But as someone who's woken up to a pissed-off PlayStation 5 that "wasn't properly shut down" due to middle-of-the-night power fluctuations, or the cat stepping on the power strip, or other random mishaps, it's a bit concerning. I don't exactly have peace of mind that my PS5 will slumber peacefully while my Returnal run is left hanging because I had something pry me away from the ??gam?e.

In response to complaints about the lack of an in-game "suspend and resume" solution in Returnal (which other roguelikes have embraced), Housemarque tweeted: "We hear the community and we love you all. Nothing to announce now, but keep playing and enjoying the c??hallenge as you can!"

I'd like the developers to stay true to their tough roguelike vision for Returnal. At the same time, player-centric q??uality-of-life options a??re super super appreciated in this genre, and there's room to budge.

If th??is game is going to draw the large crowd it probably needs to, this stuff is worth? considering.

The post House??marq??ue says it hears the calls for better saving in Returnal appeared first on Destructoid.

Bullet Hail

When Housemarque first announced that it simply felt it had no choice but to leave the shmup scene behind, the Finnish developer's fans were understandably a little disappointed, fearing that the developer would lose its unique style among a suffocating market of third-and-first person shooters. But with the studio's upcoming PS5 release Returnal, it seems that Housemarque is working ha??rd to find a comfortable midd?le-ground.

As demonstrated in its new "Hostiles" trailer, Housemarque is attempting to blend its colorful, visually splendid aesthetic with a more conventionally popular third-person action approach, while also maintaining the twitchy, pulse-pounding bullet-hell action of the studio's former releases, such as Super Stardust HD, Resogun, and Nex Machina.

While I'd?? love to have seen Housemarque continue its twin-stick ways, the studio's survival simply required that it step?? away from its comfort zone and toward mainstream genre gaming at large. This is why it's heartening, at the very least, to see the studio work hard to maintain its unique visual signature, pushing to stand out with a recognizable style - in both visuals and gameplay - as it attempts to break into the cookie-cutter world of AAA gaming.

In recent ventures around the hellscape that is social media, I've seen complaints that Returnal is becoming over-saturated - and that perhaps Housemarque and publisher Sony Interactive are pushing the interstellar roguelike a little too hard. While the latter's recent "impressions" piece - essentially a review of its own fucking game -  should be rightly mocked, I can't help but empathize with Housemarque's desire to get noticed via its torrent of recent trailers and developer diaries.

I absolutely agree that you can over-market a title, (take note, Atlus), but I also feel that unproven brands have no choice but to over-promote, given that the AAA market is now so heavily weighted toward known IPs, popular franchises, remakes, and seque?ls. Out there in the proverbial high street, if your game's cover doesn't say "Call of Duty," "Resident Evil," or "Super Mario," then you're already fighting an uphill battle to score those important "mainstream" sales, the only ones major publishers will point to as a sign of success. For Housemarque, it's vital that Returnal pierces the zeitgeist in this dry period of next-gen releases - or ??we can all look forward to the possibility of it being assigned "remake duty."

Returnal launches April 30, exclusively on PS5

The post Returnal shows Housemarque hasn’t forgotten its shmup roots appeared first on Destructoid.

Hands in wheat and everything

It must have been at least a week since I last told you all how much I'm looking forward to Housemarque's bullet-hell, third-person roguelike Returnal. So it's a good job the Resogun dev released a new trailer so I can remind you: I'm really looking forward to Housemarque's bullet-hell third-person roguelike Returnal.

And that repetition is fitting, as Returnal itself will see brave intergalactic explorer Selene forced to relive an onslaught of epic and brutal encounters again and again, having crash-landed on a mysterious planet and found herself locked into some sort of time-loop. As the new trailer below demonstrates, there's definitely more going on than meets the eye, as not only will Selene engage? in pulse-pounding combat with an army of grim extra-terrestrials, she will also - somehow - find herself coming face-to-face with her own real??ized memories.

Greg Louden, Housemarque's narrative designer and Returnal writer, spoke with PlayStation Blog about the upcoming sci-fi adventure, and took the time to explain four "mysteries" about the new game that have been at the forefront of fans' minds. To be honest, I'd much rather have Returnal's narrative simply unfold in front of me, but one interesting feature noted by Louden will allow players to experience the fates of other Returnal p?layers, encountering the fallen of others and the events that led to their demise. That's a pretty ?neat feature.

All in, I think Returnal's shaping up to pretty dang good. Long-time readers will know I've been disappointed by games I was extremely excited for many, many times. But with the pedigree of Housemarque and the power of next-gen te?chnology, I'm hoping that Selene's chronic-conundrum will assuredly deliver when it launches April 30, exclusively on PS5.

The post Can Selene stop the clock in Housemarque’s Returnal? appeared first on Destructoid.

The best thing to happen in space since Star Fleet?

I'm grateful to be a PS5 owner. I won't say I'm "lucky," because it cost a small fortune - which was made as a work investment on my part - but I know it's an in-demand item, and I don't take it for granted that I was able to get my mitts on one when many weren't as fortunate. Hope those of you on the hunt find one soon. But I can't deny that, personally, I wish there was something I really - I mean really - wanted to play on it.

That task falls to Returnal, Housemarque's intergalactic roguelike shooter, which combines the exploratory horror of titles such as Dead Space with the same bullet-hell gameplay that the Finnish developer has proved itself very adept at in the past. Sony has released a new trailer for the sci-fi adventure, which sees space explorer Selene trapped ??within a vic??ious time-loop, (a popular narrative device in 2021 gaming), after finding herself space-wrecked on an uncharted planet.

The new preview steps away from the kinetic action of previous videos, and focuses a little more on the beautiful-but-frightening locations that Selene will encounter on her chrono-crashing journey into the unknown. Filled with strange alien relics and temples, there's a very Prometheus vibe about the whole affair, and while that might ward off so??me players, for me it's a positi??ve boon. I think it looks exciting, and creepy, and just the right side of weird. Plus Selene looks like an engaging protagonist, and perhaps with far more to her than is being showcased.

I'm hoping that the recent delay will offer Housemarque the extra time need to truly craft something special, ultimately delivering one of my favorite titles of the year, as well as a killer app for Sony's pricey new platform. We'll find out soon enough, Returnal launches exclusively on PS5 April 30.

The post I’m hoping Returnal gives me a reason to truly love the PS5 appeared first on Destructoid.