My best run yet, but still not good enough 🪦

I was really feeling good about myself thanks to the progress that I am making in Returnal. Technically I haven't made much progress at all thanks to restarting after every death, but I am learning so much about this world and still loving it.

This third cycle has been by far my best performance yet. Selene lasted over an hour and was deeper than we were deeper than we had ever been in the first biome. Things were looking pretty good.

I discovered my first Reconstructor, which keeps you from respawning all the way back at the ship after your first death during that cycle. I had no clue what it was at the time, but soon found out thanks to the dangers that were ahead.

I also unlocked a new permanent weapon called The Atropian Sword, which is basically the Darksaber from Star Wars, except red. This new weapon had me feeling overly confident, but I was soon smacked back into reality by Phrike.

Phrike was my first run-in with an actual boss in Returnal. I had dealt with some enemies that were vastly more difficult than the basic ones, but nothing quite as dangerous as Phrike. I actually thought that I had survived my first encounter with Phrike, only to learn that he has three separate health bars instead of just one.

Phrike's name comes from Greek mythology's spirit of horror. That is the perfect description of what I was dealing with. A massive four-armed creature that was relentless. The attacks from Phrike were nearly impossible to avoid and I couldn't stay away from her for long. I ended up dying and then realizing that the Reconstructor brought me back into the fight for a second chance. I was dead again moments later.

My strategy was poor and I have since learned my lesson. I will be going back in for another cycle soon and hope that next time I am able to defeat the horrifying boss creature that is Phrike.