Bonfireside Chat 200: Returnal (An Attempt)
Added 2022-02-06 15:00:05 +0000 UTCNote: We've added an addendum about Weapon Augments at 53:58. We regret to omission.
Who's ready to get yelled at? We gave it an honest shot, but Returnal just didn't win us over. So this episode is about the first biome, the generalities, and about why we think this isn't a good roguelike (which doesn't mean we think it's a bad game!). We were super intrigued by the story and the atmosphere, if that's any consolation. This is likely disappointing for you, but I ask that if you really enjoy Returnal to hear us out.
Comments
Yep I snapped it up during the recent Steam Spring Sale for PC. I'm on the 6th biome now and have really come to love it. But I agree with you and them that the 1st biome is the big wall (not just for difficulty, but also for drawing players in generally). For example, like they mention, the more fun weapons and abilities all come later. One thing that's a bit of a shame is I think the game's strongest rogue-lite meta-progression thing starts *right after* the first boss. This is where the Metroid Prime DNA and rogue-lite structure actually start to work in concert, instead of clashing. I love that you never have to beat any boss again after a single clear, and how you have some agency in exactly how long to spend in each biome on subsequent runs. I suspect Gary and Kole would have found this commendable, though I still don't think it would have saved the game for them.
Ben Taylor
2024-03-21 19:36:36 +0000 UTCEveryone is entitled to their opinion, but definitely not on the same page with you guys on this one. LOVED Returnal! Very challenging and rewarding game IMO. First biome is definitely the major roadblock for most, so I get it.
Bloodborne In The USA
2024-01-14 17:42:06 +0000 UTCHi duckfeed team. I really enjoyed your take on returnal. I have just finished the game (secret ending also). The game is very brutal early in runs and most of my deaths were in the first 2-3 rooms. It took a friend of mine to talk me through a run, then it really clicked for me. It certainly is not not a typical rogue like as a successful run can take up to 1-2 hours! It is a huge time investment to get into it. That being said, when it clicks and you upgrade a weapon you like, your augments start stacking etc it was a great experience and I hope you get back into it . Gary , the lovecraftesque story I thought would appeal to you also. It’s a pity the time investment didn’t let you experience it.
Charles Elliott
2022-02-15 13:12:13 +0000 UTCSometimes a game just clicks with you & that game was Returnal for me & I've even got the Platinum. The third biome is the real killer out of them & I definitely suggest you push a bit further when you have some time. I do agree with a lot of your points & would really like Housemarque to do another action shooter, but just not another rogue-like, as the story was really interesting & the gameplay loop was ridiculously fun
Shaun Sannerude
2022-02-09 17:47:44 +0000 UTCYeah, I was pretty disappointed that we didn't get a story discussion. He said they can just read what happens but I'm just like, "well... not really"
Jensen Yancey
2022-02-08 17:20:29 +0000 UTCI was really excited when I learned you were doing Returnal. It was my game of the year and one of few games outside Soulsborne I’ve platinumed. I wish we got an enthusiastic two-parter were you cover the whole game and story, but I completely understand you guys. Returnal has a rough first third and it doesnt go well with a deadline. Hoping you will re-discover it some time later!
Akselsen
2022-02-08 10:29:40 +0000 UTCLove Returnal. It has been frustrating as hell, but moment to moment it is one of the most fun games I have ever played. And I am not a SHMUP guy.
Bob Witz
2022-02-08 01:35:56 +0000 UTCIt's too bad this didn't click, I really loved the game (It was riding high as my GOTY until Inscryption came out) and I'm kinda surprised you struggled with it. I played a lot of Binding of Isaac and Gungeon, too, and felt like the skill I built up from those pretty much carried over 1:1 to Returnal.
Jensen Yancey
2022-02-07 21:12:07 +0000 UTCY'all absolutely nailed it with Returnal's problems. There were couple times in playing it that I got in that Bloodborne-esque flow state, but I'd always end up hitting some absurd wall that broke it. The story managed at least one super evocative twist, but its resolution left me pretty cold. Great episode, hope the next lull in souls content treats you better.
Autumn M
2022-02-07 18:32:42 +0000 UTCI’m sorry you guys didn’t have a great experience with it, but you did your best to cover what you could before it became too unbearable, and that’s why Duckfeed is a better podcasting experience to me than all the MLG and other bullshit out there.
Jack Corrigan
2022-02-07 02:01:53 +0000 UTCReturnal was one of my favorite games of last year, but then one of my other favorite games of last year was Eldest Souls, a boss rush game in which I averaged around 50 attempts per boss. So honestly I think you guys are the sane ones
Mike Suskie
2022-02-06 22:32:48 +0000 UTCI truly appreciate you still covering this despite your view on the game. All games are subjective of course. It is a shame you didn't get a chance to progress further through the 6 biomes though as a lot of the negatives are actually alleviated as you progress. That said, if you're not having fun, you're not having fun. I completed it but I will say it was the hardest game I have played, and not necessarily in a good way. I just want to alert listeners who haven't played this, that the way it is described in this epiaode isn't the full picture at all. Once again, thank you both for putting the work in and committing to this, I get the frustration and appreciate your honesty with this. I will also say that they only reason I completed this was that it was one of the only exclusive games on the PS5 - had this come out in a year or two, I don't think it would have had so much praise. Roll on the Elden Ring content!!!! Love the show
Ak1raTron
2022-02-06 22:06:43 +0000 UTCIt took me the better part of a year to beat Returnal after many false starts. It can be very frustrating in the early goings, but I wound up loving it by the end. I (really) hope Housemarque get better at onboarding in the future, because they did so much else right. I don't blame you (or anyone) at all for bouncing off, especially if you weren't having fun.
Joelle
2022-02-06 21:27:14 +0000 UTCThe friend of mine who introduced me to souls recommended we play this game on a bros hangout weekend. We bounced off the end of the second biome 2-3 times and i had to walk away. That doesn’t count the hundred times I died far sooner. Running in place is the way it felt. I feel very validated by your guys sharing my experience and relief upon ending the playthrough. Thank you for this episode.
Greyboxer
2022-02-06 21:11:30 +0000 UTCOh thank god. I enjoy playing games alongside this show and was really dreading my return(al) to this one. After 20 hours, I just couldn’t push past the second biome. I definitely would have enjoyed this game more as a static “save and load” experience. Tonally and moment to moment gameplay where excellent however. But this game will have to be a YouTube experience for me
Richard Everett
2022-02-06 19:43:01 +0000 UTCGreat episode. Really sums up my thoughts on the game too. I got quite a bit further into than you both did (Act 2 Biome 3) but the experience never felt any better.
Nicholas Prior
2022-02-06 18:21:53 +0000 UTCI also played this game for 30 hours and never got out of the first biome so I gave up.
Mac Taylor
2022-02-06 16:50:01 +0000 UTC
