On April 30, Housemarque’s procedurally generated sci-fi psychological thriller Returnal launched exclusively on the PS5 and received predominantly positive reviews, despite some players trying to review bomb the game for its bugs and an unforgiving save system. Returnal combines the feel of an arcade shooter like the studio’s 2013 hit Resogun with mind-bending horror, Greek mythology, and impressive graphics.
The third-person roguelike Returnal tells the story of an Astra scout named Selene, who crash lands on a mysterious planet after tracking an emergency signal. With her ship destroyed, Selene sets out to explore, only to find that the planet is filled with hostile creatures and the remnants of an alien civilization. Oh, and for some reason, whenever she dies, Selene inexplicably returns to life and must start all over again.
Housemarque being an indie studio, many people may not have heard of the company’s previous games, other than perhaps Resogun, which was lauded by players and critics, won several awards, and was a PlayStation Plus offering when it launched. But Housemarque has existed since 1995, and some of the company’s previous titles are currently available on the PlayStation Store at large discounts through May 12.
First up is the already mentioned Resogun, which can be grabbed for less than $7.00, or for free through PS Now for those who subscribe to that service. The voxel-based side-scrolling shooter calls to mind Atari’s Defender, only with much better graphics. Players must rescue the survivors of distant colonies that have been attacked by an alien invasion, using a combination of missiles, laser weapons, and bombs. The game features a cooperative multiplayer mode, allowing gamers to join forces to take down the baddies. For players who find they really enjoy the game, Resogun has two regularly priced expansions and a number of DLC available.
Matterfall released on the PS4 in 2017 and is another sci-fi side-scrolling shooter, this time with platforming elements thrown in. The game takes place on a futuristic world that has been overrun by a mysterious alien infection known as smart matter. Players take on the role of a hero-for-hire, fighting through vertical cityscapes and using alien technology to take out infected enemies. The game is currently 50 percent off and now costs $9.99.
Another game that is also available with a PlayStation Now subscription, Alienation can be purchased from the PS Store by non-subscribers for $4.99. This twin-stick shooter has an isometric view and also features role-playing elements, allowing players to select from three character classes – Bio-Specialist, Saboteur, and Tank – each with their own weapons and abilities. Again, players must fight off an alien invasion, this time on Earth, leading an elite squad of soldiers that can be controlled solo or with up to three friends. This game also offers numerous DLC and a season pass.
Returnal is available exclusively on PS5.