This is how Returnals co-op actually works

Date:
Thu, 10 Mar 2022 16:38:36 +0000

Description:
Housemarque wants you to die together in Returnal's new co-op mode.

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PS5 roguelike Returnal will be getting a free expansion on March 22, introducing two-player co-op to the sci-fi, time-looping shooter.

The new gamemode was revealed in an announcement trailer (watch it below) during Marchs State of Play , with a follow-up blog post detailing exactly
how co-op will work in the game.

At the start of each cycle, youll be able to access co-op mode through a Chronosis portal, choosing to either host your own game for public players to join, host a private cycle if youd rather play with your friends, or hop into someone elses playthrough. Chronosis portals will also pop up at other select parts of the game, suggesting youll be able to request co-op help at certain times midway through a run, such as before a boss or a new biome.

Returnals co-op mode mostly follows the games core gameplay loop beat for beat, but it throws another player in the mix. You and your partner will traverse the alien world as you normally would but will be tethered back together if you stray too far apart. Developer Housemarque says this is intended to ensure that the focus remains on cooperative gameplay and both players feel connected to the fates of each other.

Players will have separate life pools and the option to revive their partner if theyre downed. But to maintain Returnals punishing difficulty, getting
them back into the fight wont be easy, as youll have to spend a big chunk of time reviving your fallen comrade while navigating the bullet-hell around
you.

All progression will be tied to the host player. That means you can call on a friend or a random buddy to help you get past a particularly challenging
boss, while both players will get to keep any collectible logs or xenoglyphs they discover.

Alongside online co-op, Ascension will add the new Tower of Sisyphus
gamemode. Housemarque is pitching that as Returnals endless mode, in which you'll climb the titular tower floor by floor, fighting through its progressively harder challenges to see just how far you can ascend. Its more of an arcade-inspired mode that encourages you to compete for a high score against your friends.

The Tower of Sisyphus will also introduce a bunch of new items and bosses
into the mix, as well as new narrative developments. Analysis: co-op with preservation

Returnals take on co-op sounds like a delicate one. As with many other roguelikes , Returnal is no walk in the park. It can be a punishing game that will put your mastery of its third-person shooting to the test, and this
co-op mode looks to change none of that. Rather than granting you a buddy to breeze through the game with, it sounds like the co-op mode will preserve Returnals difficulty, offering the option to experience that challenge with a friend.

Thats a style of co-op thats seen great success in recent years with games. Elden Ring and Dark Souls 3 before it included the option to summon fellow players into the game, giving you another sword to rely on in combat without overhauling its difficulty. Its an effective way of adding a social component to a game without undermining the gameplay challenge that makes it so appealing.

In another similarity with FromSoftwares titles, progress in Returnals campaign will save for only one co-op player, relying on the generosity of fans to drive co-op playthroughs. That can be an effective force, as players hop into public sessions not to troll or stir trouble, but to genuinely help others on their time loops. Best roguelike games



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/news/this-is-how-returnals-co-op-actually-works/


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