Running shoe foams will always return some energy, no matter how cushioned they are. How and when (e.g. immediately or delayed) they return this energy is what makes specific running shoes better suited for training, recovery, racing and more.
If you prefer shorter distances (5K-10K), you won't need industrial amounts of cushioning under your feet. For mid-distances (10K-half marathon), you might want to think about having more support and a durable upper to keep your feet in line when your form falls apart at mile 19. As for long distances (anything over a half-marathon distance), you want running shoes with great energy returns yet lightweight and responsive.