Co-op is a welcome addition to Returnal that brings players together in its alien landscape while adding further depth to the gameplay in ways that might be overlooked unless directly engaged with its mechanics. The Ascension add-on was a free update provided by Housemarque Studio and an unexpected surprise when it arrived for Returnal back in March 2022. Ascension adds the Tower of Sisyphus mode as well as a co-op mode.
Players will immediately notice the Chronosis portal near the crash site, and at the starting point of other locations. These portals are where co-op can be initiated, which is worth noting as the convenience of being able to access these modes from inside the main game is a quality of life feature, rather than through the main menu, which would first require players to exit their game in order to access. Not to mention the fact that the co-op feature feels like a natural extension of Returnal's main narrative regarding multiple realities and versions of oneself. Here are five helpful things to know before jumping into another player's timeline in the order that they might present themselves:
5 Game Chat Etiquette
This one is more of a general rule of thumb rather than a tip for Returnal specifically, but is still worth mentioning. When first being greeted by another player, two messages will pop up on the top right. The first notifies players that game voice chat is active, and depending on whether the player's controller audio is on or off will dictate what the second message says, which is the status of the player's microphone.
The PS5 controller is a great way to conveniently work together through voice chat, although there are certain aspects of this feature that can work against players if not used correctly. For example, if the controller microphone is on, but the player is not using a headset, then the audio from the TV will also come through. This would not be beneficial as it distracts from the other player's experience, while also potentially making communication difficult. Players should be mindful of how they utilize voice chat in certain contexts.
4 Tethering
Players who do not want to use the microphone when engaged in co-op can still find ways to communicate with other players, like shooting in their direction to have them follow the host. However, if this does not work then the update allows players to continue on and let the game take care of the rest through a feature called tethering. Tethering is a feature that, well, tethers one player to another.
If the supporting player moves too far away from the host then the game will teleport that player back to the host. Exploration is a big part of Returnal, so it can be easy for players to become distracted when in another players game. Tethering encourages teamwork and cooperative play so that no player in co-op will have to fight alone.
3 Non-sharable items
While some items like weapons are sharable when traversing the environment, other items like health and weapon upgrades are not, which encourages a more empathetic way of playing regarding the status of the player's teammate. Watching out for each other in regard to health and weapons is a core element to how Returnal approaches co-op.
Players should choose wisely the next time they come up on a health item in this mode, especially if they are close to full health and their teammate is on the brink of death! Players will either die fighting each other for resources or work together to overcome the unforgiving terrain and enemies.
2 Revives
The revive feature in Returnal is a breath of fresh air, as there is no time limit to revive a downed teammate. This is especially useful in a game that might be compared to the "From Software" games in its difficulty. This allows players to take their time and wait for the next opportunity to revive a downed teammate, rather than rushing in and risking death themselves.
Knowing the enemy and using its pattern to think ahead for how players approach revives and other related situations is a recipe for success in co-op.
1 Respawn Together
When players die in co-op mode, the supporting player will actually respawn with the host, unless either party decides they do not want to play with one another anymore. This is a rare feature, because other games that utilize co-op sessions would usually end once the host dies, or lose in the game. This feature further incites the opportunity for accolades, a reward system specifically for the Playstation 5 online service.
One's civility will determine what accolades players are willing to give and receive at the end of each co-op session. Accolades are a sustainable feature that players will accumulate among multiplayer games on Playstation 5, which act as peer reviews that show on users' profile. The more accolades that are accumulated, the better the reputation of the player.
Returnal is among the Playstation 5's best and most original games, and Ascension is a worthy upgrade for players who want a companion on this journey traversing through Returnal's alien world. Traveling is always better with a friend!
Returnal is available on Playstation 5. The game also has a free upgrade through Playstation's higher tier service.