250°

Is Returnal fair as a Triple-A experience?

Returnal is $70 / Triple-A priced game. Given the game's roguelike design principles and focus on a play style that is - up to now - anything but 'AAA' has the reality of Returnal been fairly communicated to players?

In this episode Stace Harman and John Robertson delve into Returnal design, how it has been communicated to players and what it means for a Triple-A space that has not played host to anything like quite it before now.

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indiebydesign.net
Orchard1702d ago

I think we already have the answer - yes, because people are buying it and the vast majority are not complaining about an unfair deal.

1701d ago
Knushwood Butt1702d ago

What is AAA play style exactly?!

I have 48 hours in this and still coming back for more punishment.

NeoGamer2321701d ago

Yes, AAA is a subjective thing to gamers.

Some believe it is the cost to develop, others believe it is the quality of the end product.

I subscribe to AAA being the quality of the end product. To me, whether a game was $100,000 to create or $200,000,000 to create, it is AAA if it was a very high quality of product. Meaning, the game time is the right length, the graphics are really good for the game, the sound is really good, the gameplay is addictive and fun, the controls are spot on, the story is great, and the whole game feels like a very good and cohesive experience.

jjb19811702d ago

Personally, I value several games on a per dollar basis. So if I spend 30 hours on a $60 game, I ask myself if it was worth the $2 an hour. Whatever the exchange may be, I base my value on that. There have been games where I don't even consider that and that's where the true value lies.

stupidusername1701d ago (Edited 1701d ago )

That’s a interesting take. I really enjoy Returnal but I start to question if it was worth the money when I consider what each hour so far costs.
Where I live Returnal (basic edition) costs 100$, and I’ve spent 10 hours so far. 10$ every hour is a lot for a game.

Taero1701d ago (Edited 1701d ago )

And have you completed it in 10 hours? It took me approximately 30 to get the final ending so a little over $3/hour seems fine. If I were a completionist who wanted all of the items etc. I could probably double that.

stupidusername1701d ago

@Taero
No, I'm not that good at it. I'm still playing it, so the ratio is only going to get better. I don't regret buying the game, but the price is steep. Though one could argue that the price is fair considering that games haven't really increased their price in forever.

Darkborn1701d ago

That's a dumb way to put it in my opinion. Your buying an experience. How easy is it to spend $20-30 minimum for watching a movie at a theater for 2 hours? Was that worth $15 an hour? Plus that was a one time experience and a game can be replayed. Go to a theme park and easily exceed $70 for a few hours of enjoyment. It's not a 1:1 for enjoyment. Entertainment is based on the fun factor. Was it fun? Did you enjoy yourself? Those are the questions that matter.

jjb19811701d ago

I guess it's dumb if you make that comparison with other activities.. I never once brought up movies or theme parks. Those moments are spent with family and are about the time we spend together. I don't make a monetary association when going out with my family. Video games are my hobby so I make that connection constantly. There are certain franchises that I will buy without any regard for the day-one price tag. For most other games, even though I know I can have fun, I ask myself if it's worth the price tag for what I will get out of it. My time is limited. $2.50 an hour for TLoU 2 is better than $0.40 an hour for Assassin's Creed Valhalla.

Darkborn1701d ago

Still doesn't make sense. Some games are made with much more quality than others. With your own statement you pretty much said that. Famlly time is quality just like some games are made better than others. You can fully enjoy a game that's shorter and costs the same price as a much larger game such as assassins creed like you said and not have as much fun of a time. Just becuase assassins creed takes 60+ hours to complete but it's a complete boring grind, doesn't make it a better purchase than a 10 hour game that is insanely fun and you think about for years after.

Yui_Suzumiya1701d ago (Edited 1701d ago )

I always wonder where people live that they spend $20 to $30 on a movie ticket. Most I ever spent was $10 and that was a 3D Imax movie. Most theaters I know are $4 to $7 for a ticket.

jjb19811700d ago

My first comment is how I would evaluate a single game. My second comment was how I would compare the value of two games to each other. Don't think to hard.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 1700d ago
franwex1701d ago

I used to do it like that when I was a teenager, but even then I didn’t think it was a fair measure.

It’s still an interesting way of looking at things, but it doesn’t tell the whole picture.

A shorter expensive game can be a great experience compared to a longer game that you get on sale.

Abear211702d ago

It under promised and over delivered. With all the remasters and sequels these days how can anyone complain when something new and unexpected comes along and blows everyone away. Worth it?
Just how can anyone with a PS5 not buy this game?

Lighter91701d ago

Riiiiight. I don't have a PS5 still, and I want this game.

jukins1701d ago

Perfect explanation. Theres something special about this. Ive been on biome 3 for 2 weeks. And i keep coming back.

VersusDMC1702d ago

These arguments will never come up when the Skyward Sword remaster comes out at 60...didn't even come up with New Pokemon Snap being 60 as well. It's like every week with Returnal now.

Vegamyster1701d ago

There has been plenty of articles for years talking about Nintendo’s pricing for games, wether it’s about older games being more expensive or there port practices lol. It’s all about clicks, no different than all articles talking about how the 3DS and Switch would all be failures before they came out etc.

waverider1701d ago

Its a sony game and this is the new strategy to try and downplay and get clicks...

RaiderNation1701d ago (Edited 1701d ago )

Nintendo can kick rocks! The Switch is my last Nintendo system. I bought it at launch and It had a great 1st year with titles like Breath of the Wild, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Splatoon 2, Xenoblade Chronicles 2, Arms, Fast RMX, Mario Odyssey, etc. And ever since then, the output has gotten progressively worse each year. I haven't played mine since Luigi's Mansion 3 in 2019. Since then it's done nothing but collect dust. The offerings from Nintendo since then have either been games that do not appeal to me (Animal Crossing, Pokémon, etc) or they are lackluster, overpriced remasters and Wii/Wii U ports. I think Nintendo's output overall since that first launch year has been incredibly sub-standard.

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130°

Housemarque Reveals It Has No Plans For Live Service Or Free-To-Play Title

Ilari Kuittinen and Gregory Louden of Returnal developer Housemarque have revealed during an interview with Eurogamer at the studio’s 30th anniversary event last week that it has no plans to develop live-service or free-to-play games, “as long as people are buying premium games.”

kpgs240d ago (Edited 240d ago )

Why would they change? That's not where their expertise is.

Redgrave240d ago (Edited 240d ago )

Didn't stop Sony after acquiring Bluepoint, taking them from renowned remaster and remake quality and sticking them on a GoW live service title that never even went anywhere.

I can't speak to what gives Housemarque the ability to be different, but let's be thankful that they are able to do so in wake of current Sony.

240d ago
derek239d ago

That GoW live service game was the dumbest idea ever. I thought they were remaking Bloodbourne or a Demons souls expansion (covering that broken arch stone). Sony was really panicked after that abk/Microsoft news hit. I hope it was a side project for Bluepoint and that there's another one in the pipeline. That GoW game apparently never got off the ground.

Eonjay239d ago (Edited 239d ago )

Blaming Sony for pursuing Live Service when the top 5 games every month by spend and engagement are live service games is illogical. Gamers are telling Sony where to invest so there is a real disconnect between what is said online and what people actually play. Who should Sony listen to? Clearly the logical decision is to listen to people actually playing games and whether we like it or not Sony would be in vioulation of it duty to its investors if it didn't try to pursue LS. People taking out their fustrations on Live Service games by attacking Sony and using it as the industry whipping boy does not fix the industry. You are just telling the rest of the industry that they can keep doing what they are doing because they aren't called Sony. All I hear people say is that they hate live service but every single month the top games are live service. You are all either lying or you don't know what you are talking about. Sony should pursue both SP and live service games.

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150°

Returnal's PS5 Pro upgrade delivers a huge resolution boost and improved performance

One of the best PS5 exclusives looks and plays better on PS5 Pro. Digital Foundry reports.

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eurogamer.net
jznrpg257d ago

I’ll have to start a new run sometime

Knushwood Butt256d ago

I'll have to get a Pro sometime!

VenomUK256d ago

If you’re sure you want one get it before the price rise.

Knushwood Butt256d ago

Yeah, thanks.

I'd like one but can't justify it right now.

jjb1981257d ago

I just played it on the pro earlier and its so smooth and looks much sharper than the base PS5.

Ninver256d ago

This game looks incredible. The gameplay is engaging. Formula for a good time.

Aloymetal256d ago

Just counting the days till DS2 release, It's gonna look crazy good on the pro, can't wait.

anast256d ago

And it looks like Sam got over his haphephobia. It's going to be good.

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260°

Returnal ‘PS5 Pro Enhanced’ patch now available

Housemarque: "Returnal PS5 Pro Enhanced Patch is Out Now! Featuring up to 2.5X the pixels on PS5 Pro for a higher resolution experience of Returnal."

Crazyglues261d ago

Wow this is amazing, I was just replaying this game on Ps5 and loving it again, and now a patch for the Pro... Amazing... Can't wait to check it out on the Pro now...

This game needs a part 2 so bad... One of my favorite Ps5 true nex gen games... Love HourseMarque for this...

IF you have not played this do yourself a favor and get it, it's a hell of a game, tough but super fun to play.
-Love this Game

garos82261d ago

it remains my favourite PS5 exlusive till date. severely underrated

RaiderNation261d ago (Edited 261d ago )

It's also still the only new first party IP released this generation on PS5. Everything else has either been sequels or remakes/remasters.

RaiderNation261d ago (Edited 261d ago )

To those who disagree, please let me know what other new IP Sony has released this generation besides Returnal. Go ahead, I'll wait. And Concord doesn't count because Sony recalled it.

RaiderNation261d ago

@Knushwood Butt

Lmao! You're seriously counting Concord? A game Sony pulled off the shelves and refunded gamers after what, two weeks? That is weak!

VersusDMC261d ago

@RaiderNation

For New IP Sony published Rise of the Ronin, Stellar Blade and Lost Soul Aside on the third party end.

Fairgames, Saros and Intergalactic are the next new IP for first Party.

But does anyone even care about new IP? People love Valve and Nintendo but Valve doesn't even make games anymore and Nintendo doesn't make New IP that often.

StormSnooper261d ago (Edited 261d ago )

It’s a great game.

@raider
But we have had more exclusives than the competition (do they even have any anymore?), and some of those are 2nd party exclusives such as Stellar Blade, Rise of Ronin, Final Fantasy Rebirth, Quantum Error, Neptunia ReVerse, Shines Over: The Damned, etc.

Then we have the first party exclusives such as: Astro Bot, Astro's Playroom (Free with PS5), Demon's Souls (yeah it’s remake but feels like a new game to me), Destruction AllStars (Free with PS Plus), Spider-Man 2, etc.

Then, there is VR games on PSVR2.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 261d ago
VenomUK261d ago

I want to try out the patch, I want to complete the game - but I can't because I can't get past the first world. And before you jump to tell me to 'get good' I tried and I couldn't!

Knushwood Butt261d ago

Venom

Did you get as far as the first boss?

Storm23261d ago

@Venom Do you play on PS5? I would play co-op with you. Or a friend could play co-op with you. I have beaten the game a few times (been a while) and have played a lot of the Tower dlc. A friend could help you complete it.

Abear21261d ago

That underwater level…chef kiss video game magic mystery sauce type stuff

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1nsomniac261d ago

It’s a great game but why does this comment sound so much like it was AI written…. They’re among us!

Stwert261d ago

I have to agree with some of the comments regarding new IP in the PS5 generation, it has been woefully lacking to say the least. Even worse when you consider the excellent games we got in basically every other PlayStation generation.

On the bright side, Sony has finally noticed, publicly admitted and resolved to rectify the situation. Right now I can think of at least half a dozen new IP in development for PlayStation 5, the only downside is that none of them are near ready for release. So we’ve still got a fair wait.

But you know what they say, good things come to those who wait. I’ve a ridiculous backlog of games to keep me going for quite some time across four platforms. So I’ll wait (im)patiently.

Abear21261d ago (Edited 261d ago )

Stellar blade and Returnal plus GT7 is greater than any “exclusives” trio on any other console. Pro upgrades have been gravy as most of us normie gamers enjoy third party releases too.

I’ll say it again, GTA6 is coming and, like most other games (included those ported from other consoles), Pro will be the best version unless you sit at a desk on PC to play. Oh wait, PC version coming in 6 months to a year, don’t hold your breath.

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Eonjay261d ago

This is so crazy I just started playing again 2 days ago! Nice!

jznrpg261d ago

One of the best games this gen

Elda261d ago

I've got to try some Returnal again on my PS5 Pro, it's one of my favorite games this generation.

Luc20261d ago

That's great news! Because of the coop mode I was able to beat some bosses. Gonna play more after the update

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