B W

One of my favorite games of the past 10 years. Honestly, if it wasnt for nostalgia inflating games from my childhood, this would probably be a top 5 game of all time for me. It's visually stunning, really showcasing what the PS5 is capable of. The controls and combat are so smooth and responsive that it just feels great in your hands. I technically "beat" the game about 15 hours in, but I've put a total of 40 hours in (so far) and still enjoy playing it. None of the above points are controversial, but the challenge/difficulty of the game is clearly a point of contention for many people. Of note, I am playing it after the patch that allows you to suspend cycle, so I never had to deal with the game before that (though I absolutely see how that would have been a souring experience). The game is challenging, and that's the point. But it's also very rewarding in my opinion. Each run where you get a little further you feel better. And honestly, what helped me was that I stopped worrying so much about "beating the game" and just enjoyed taking in everything around me. I loved replaying these levels, because everything is so pretty and handles so well that I just enjoy doing it. And yes, unlike Hades which has very consistent upgrades that improve each run, Returnal is more reliant on you improving then your character. That being said, people seem to overlook the weapon traits that you slowly unlock, because some of those are positively game busting. This is absolutely not a game for everyone, and there's no shame in not wanting to play a game this punishing. But if you can break yourself of the traditional idea of "beating" the game, and just take in what the game has to offer, I feel its an experience most people will enjoy.