Housemarque's PlayStation 5 exclusive Returnal is a game that's not for those who falter when faced with immense difficulties. Returnal is very challenging, but those who manage the intricacies of this title will find a very rewarding and fulfilling experience. The challenges that come with the game will seem insurmountable, especially as the player moves from one biome to another.
The fourth biome in the game, the Echoing Ruins, is a very monumental section in the game. It is the first location in the game's second act and it will become the game's new starting point. If the player wants to move on from this act and experience this rogue-like title's end-game, they will first have to overcome the Echoing Ruins biome. Like all the other locations in the game, the Echoing Ruins can be very unforgiving, unless the player knows exactly what they're doing.
7 A Familiar Place
As soon as the player jumps back into the game after a very long cutscene, they will immediately realize just how familiar the design of the Echoing Ruins is. This is because the game deliberately designed this biome to look almost exactly like the Overgrown Ruins biome, the very first section of the game.
With this in mind, the player can expect a lot of the same enemy types they've faced in the game's first biome. They should, however, remain extra wary since the enemies in this biome will be scaled up to the player's level, making them more difficult than their first biome counterparts.
6 Mind The Environment
The level design of Returnal is one of the game's greatest attributes. Not only does this speak true in terms of traversal but also the way it aids the player in combat. What this exactly means is that the level design and progression of the game is meant to make the player stronger the further they progress in the game.
Whenever the player enters a room in Returnal, they should always make sure that they loot everything there is that can be looted. They should also be mindful of breakable items that contain hidden Obolites, the game's form of currency.
5 Importance Of Traversal
In this game, the player's ability to effectively move around is just as important as their offensive proficiency. Biomes like the Echoing Ruins are a highlight of this need. In this level, the player will need to move around, jump from one platform to another, and dodge traps and lasers constantly. The players should already be familiar with the game's traversal mechanics at this point, otherwise, they'll never survive the Echoing Ruins biome.
It is always a good rule of thumb in this game, not just in this biome, to always move around when engaged with enemies. This biome forces this element as well since the player will really need to travel vertically and horizontally in order to reach this biome's boss fight.
4 Carry An Astronaut Figurine
One of the safest ways to get through the Echoing Biome, and any other biome in the game, for that matter, is to always carry an Astronaut Figurine. In Returnal, Astronaut Figurines are a means of having a "second life," so to speak. If the player has this item in their inventory when their Integrity Bar reaches zero, they will be resurrected to full health, with all of their items intact.
The player can purchase an Astronaut Figurine from Fabricators for 300 Obolites. Conversely, this item is also something they can randomly pick up in the game. More commonly, the player can earn this as a reward for completing the quests involving the 20th Century House.
3 Take Advantage Of Fabricators
The Fabricators act as the game's "merchants" where the player can exchange their Obolites for items. In the Echoing Ruins biome, a room full of Fabricators will present itself very early in the level. The player should make use of this opportunity to purchase everything they need for what's to come.
Aside from the Astronaut Figurine, the player should also consider items and parasites that are essential to their play style, build, and weapon of choice.
2 Don't Worry About Reconstructors
Reconstructors are peculiar machinations present in Returnal. Initially, the player will be oblivious to the purpose of this device. However, after just one use, its purpose will become apparent. Reconstructors act as a "checkpoint" for the player. This means whenever they die after using a Reconstructor, they will spawn back in the Reconstructor instead of going back to the very beginning.
With that said, the player shouldn't waste their Ethers with Reconstructors while they're in the Echoing Ruins since this biome already acts as a new starting point for the game's second act.
1 Facing Hyperion
Hyperion is the big bad of the Echoing Ruins. This is the boss the player will have to defeat if they want to complete this biome. This extraordinary boss is glued to his enchanting organ, but that doesn't mean this boss fight is a breeze to get through. Hyperion will only begin to move during the third phase of the fight.
The player's ability to utilize the game's traversal mechanics will really get tested in this boss fight. One thing the player should keep in mind when fighting this boss is that he will fire purple lasers at them. These attacks, unlike the other attacks in the game, can't be dashed through safely. The player should also be careful when getting too close to Hyperion as this will trigger spikes to spawn from the ground.