2021 is proving to be an exciting year for the PlayStation 5, given the lineup of games releasing this year, such as Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart, Horizon Forbidden West, and many more. However, one game that is currently drawing the attention and excitement of players is Housemarque's Returnal, a third-person shooter psychological horror, which is one of the most anticipated games to release on the PS5 this year.
Although most of Returnal's story and gameplay are still shrouded in mystery, Housemarque has revealed everything it can to entice players to pick up the upcoming game. For players interested in knowing what to expect from the upcoming game, here's everything there is to know about Returnal.
Returnal Release Date and Platforms
Returnal is developed by Housemarque and will be published by Sony Interactive Entertainment as a PS5 exclusive. It is worth noting that unlike most games on the PS5, such as Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Returnal is not a cross-gen game, which means that players should expect all the bells and whistles that one could expect from a pure PS5 title. The game was originally slated to release last March but was subsequently delayed to its new release date of April 30, 2021. According to the game's official page, Returnal being a PS5 exclusive allowed the developers to take advantage of everything the new console has to offer, such as haptic feedback, adaptive triggers, and 3D audio, making it the perfect game to showcase what the PS5 has to offer.
What is Returnal About?
Returnal revolves around the story of Selene, who crash-lands on the alien planet of Atropos that is believed to house an ancient civilization. Upon arriving at the planet, Selene discovers that she is stuck in a time loop that resets after every death. As soon as Selene is resurrected, she finds herself following the same pattern of journeying across foreign environments that keeps changing and evolving while trying to survive extraterrestrial creatures.
Currently, this is the only thing Sony and Housmarque have shared about Returnal's story, and most of it is still shrouded in mystery. However, in a video released by PlayStation Access, it was revealed that Returnal would have roguelike elements. This means that while players will start over at the beginning every time they die, they'll be able to keep some of their progress intact, which will include weapons and items.
Returnal Features, Gameplay, and Combat
The latest video released by PlayStation Access also touched upon what players should know about Returnal's overall gameplay, features, and combat. It was revealed that the planet of Atropos is divided into several unique biomes. These biomes serve to split the world into level-like areas while also allowing players to explore a wide variety of areas. As far as combat goes, the video summed it up as a "translation of classic arcade shooters into 3D, third-person framework." Players should also note that the game is classified as psychological horror, so expect some psyche-shattering moments.
Lastly, Returnal's gameplay and story are heavily intertwined. Gameplay elements such as exploration, combat, and collecting powerups are key components that will help players discover and understand the story better, including the history of the alien planet, the ancient civilization that once resided there, and the truth about the time loop.
Returnal is set to release on April 30, 2021, exclusively for the PS5.