What is the story behind Returnal?

Instead, the story of Returnal is Selene's process of grief, which unfortunately loops back endlessly until she is able to accept her fate. The game's ending highlights that Selene was in a tragic car crash which resulted in the death of her son. Everything in the game is a representation of her processing that grief.

What did the ending of Returnal mean?

One of the lingering questions at the end of the game is answered in the true ending. The astronaut is Selene herself. Metaphorically, Selene could have kept going straight, abandoning her dreams to be an astronaut and keeping her family intact.

Is Selene the child in Returnal?

This ending (and the house sequence events that precede it) also seem to confirm that Selene wasn't the one driving the car in the original ending and that she was the child. The real driver was her mom, Theia.

Is Returnal all in her head?

The simple explanation is that all of Returnal is taking place in Selene's head. The White Shadow signal she's been chasing? That was simply the light above the water's surface which her car crashed into.

Is there a true ending to Returnal?

Returnal fakes players out with its endings a few times, but there is actually a true ending that players can reach with dedication and grit. Returnal is a game with multiple endings, but not in the way that fans are used to.

Returnal - Explaining The Entire Story

Does Returnal have a secret boss?

Once you've found the Delphic Visor, deep in the Abyssal Scar, you'll be able to face Ophion, Returnal's final boss. Defeat the giant, tentacled monster, and it will slink into its hole on the ocean floor. Follow its carcass down the hole and walk forward. You'll find a small sedan with its headlights on.

How did Helios crash Returnal?

Selene got pregnant, aborted it, and then crashed on that bridge afterwards (she asked if it was safe to drive in Scout Log 60), causing Helios to drown. The game takes place in her head as her guilt and regrets are consuming her.

How many ending does Returnal have?

The game's first two endings are unlocked by simply playing far enough through the game. The hidden ending can only be obtained if the player finds a pair of car keys when Selene is hallucinating or if the player is taken back to her old house. So there are a total of 3 endings in the game.

What happened on Atropos Returnal?

The planet of Atropos is littered with Selene's corpses, as every time Selene dies, she is transported back to the game's opening crash site with the images of an unidentified astronaut and smoke-like tentacles. Selene is then forced to restart her quest again and again - and again.

Is Helios Selene's brother Returnal?

And, as an aside, in Greek mythology, Theia is Selene's mother, after all (but in Greek mythology, Helios is also Selene's brother, making these ties a little bizarre).

What happened to the aliens in Returnal?

Though the sentients appear to be largely extinct, artifacts of their civilization remain, along with "Severed" remnants of their population.

What is the astronaut in Returnal?

The astronaut artifact gives you a second chance when you die. It revives you from a killing blow, once your suit integrity reaches zero. When it activates, you resurrect with all of your weapons, weapon proficiency, modifications, parasites, artifacts, keys, datacubes, consumables, etc.

How did Returnal sell?

As of July, Returnal had sold 560,000 copies since its April release. We expect that number may have tipped over 600,000, or perhaps even 700,000 in the months since, as game sales typically slow down dramatically after a game's release month.

Is Returnal a horror game?

Returnal is stressful and difficult, but once you adjust to its nightmarish gameplay, you can sink into the cerebral and haunting story. It has a total of six biomes, including the starting forest.

What does the machine in the ship do Returnal?

Inside, you'll find a device that allows you to change the timeline between Act 1 and Act 2. This allows you to go back and experience the first three biomes after beating Returnal, so you can test out any new gadgets in the original areas.

What do Sun fragments do in Returnal?

In order to unlock Returnal's secret ending, players must collect all six “sunface fragments” scattered throughout the six biomes. These fragments are portions of a broken sun artifact that, when reassembled, will allow players to activate a short sequence in the Overgrown Ruins house.

How do you activate the secret ending in Returnal?

In order to unlock the secret ending in Returnal, you have to start over with a fresh run. In doing so, you can begin to collect the six Sunface Fragments. You can find these scattered in random places across Returnal's world, meaning that you may need to die and restart several times to get them all.

Has Returnal sold well?

Sony also said today that Returnal sold 560,000+ copies and Ratchet has sold 1.1 million. Given that those are some of the only PS5-only games, safe to assume PS5 owners are a) playing third-party games, b) playing PS4 games on it, c) still looking for the power button?

Will there be DLC for Returnal?

Returnal is getting its first big DLC almost a year after release with the launch of the Ascension update. This patch brings two major features to the game: campaign co-op and an endless challenge mode. To commemorate the release, the lead game designer went in-depth on the co-op mode and the mechanics behind it.

Is Returnal a PS5 exclusive?

It is a true PS5 exclusive for the foreseeable future. Returnal is available now exclusively for PS5.

What does child watch do Returnal?

What the Returnal Child's Watch Does. The Child's Watch brings players back to life when their health reaches zero. You'll come back to life in the exact place you were when you died, with all of your weapons, parasites, artifacts and other items, and a small amount of health.

Can you have 2 astronaut figurines in Returnal?

Also, the two items stack with each other, so you can carry both at the same time, giving you two retries in the same run. For more on this new PS5 exclusive, here are our top Returnal Tips for mastering your cycle. While you can find our Returnal Review, here.

Where is the astronaut in Returnal?

This guide will cover how to unlock one of the most useful early game artifacts – the Astronaut Figurine in Returnal. It's located inside the 20th Century House, which is locked at first and you need to get inside to get the Figurine!

Is Returnal connected to Alien?

Of all the sci-fi and horror properties out there, Returnal reminds me of Prometheus.

Is Returnal based on Prometheus?

Game Review: “RETURNAL” is an ambitious combination of “PROMETHEUS” and “EDGE OF TOMORROW” When Helsinki-based developer Housemarque announced they were developing a third-person shooter for the new PlayStation 5 in the launch window of the console, expectations were undeniably set.