The PlayStation 5 has been out for over a month now and despite the impressive launch titles currently available, fans are hungry for more games for their quick-selling console. In fact, thePlayStation 5 sold twice as many consoles at launch as the Xbox Series Xdid.
One of the moreinteresting reveals during the PlayStation 5 marketing campaignwasReturnal, the next title from Finnish developer Housemarque. Previously known for games likeResogunandNex Machina, Housemarque’s dark sci-fi titleReturnalbrings in psychological horror and a female protagonist to the launch window of the PlayStation 5.
RELATED:Housemarque Dev Diary Gives Brief New Look at PS5 Exclusive Game Returnal
While Housemarque has been fairly secretive ofReturnalso far, a recent tweet by the developer has shown some of the intense third person action fans can expect to see in the highly anticipated title. Gameplay mechanics such as a dash for quick maneuvering as well as a grapple option to get the high ground on enemies make an appearance. All of this is accompanied by commentary from game director Harry Krueger, who gives fans some insight on the development process of a game that somefans speculate will scratch theMass Effectitchwhile they wait for the newest entry in that series as well.
Harry Krueger details how he came up with the idea ofReturnal, stating that time travel and dark sci-fi have always been a favorite genre of his and that the game itself is a bit of a dream project. The themes of trauma, psychological horror, and mystery have also been a source of inspiration during the development process. One look at the gameplay and fans can see just how much is happening during a single moment in the game with the various enemies and effects surrounding the player character.
Returnalalso promises to make good use of theDualSense controller’s many features like the haptic feedback and spacial audioin order to truly immerse the player within the world of Selene, the space pilot trapped within the alien world’s time loop. The PlayStation 5’s high processing power and solid-state drive also promise to severely reduce load times and allow a wide array of enemies and visual effects to be displayed during the game.
HearingKrueger talk passionately about his inspiration forReturnalis certainly a selling pointfor what he considers to be an unconventional protagonist. This looks to be a truly ambitious title for Housemarque and fans won’t have to wait much longer to try it out for themselves.
