Returnal made another appearance in grand fashion, this time at The Game Awards 2020 livestream event. The PS5 exclusive title developed by Housemarque got a brand new gameplay trailer during the event, showcasing some intense fast-paced action.
The trailer definitely showcases exactly what fans can expect from Returnal, both in terms of gameplay and story. Additionally, Returnal’s new gameplay trailer ended with a release date announcement of March 19, 2021 with pre-orders available now.
Alongside the myriad of other PlayStation titles to get gameplay trailers for PS5, Returnal made its reappearance after the game was announced back in June. For those who may not know, the bizarre sci-fi horror title coming to PS5 follows Astra space scout Selene who is stranded on a hostile planet deep in the outer reaches of space. On top of that, Selene is trapped in nightmarish loop of endless resurrection on this hostile planet, facing off against a plethora of terrifying alien creatures. Returnal’s recent gameplay trailer showcases some elements of the game’s rogue-like nature, as well as its bullet-hell and arcade inspirations.
One of the most impressive aspects of Returnal displayed in this new gameplay trailer is the game’s movement. Selene is able to sprint, dash, and jump around the alien creatures she fights, making for what looks to be incredibly fast and fluid combat. The bullet-hell inspiration also shines through, as the sheer amount of projectiles flying in Selene's direction appears daunting to say the least. The team has made a name for itself by making arcade titles that also felt snappy and fluid, but Housemarque’s first major AAA title looks to carry over many of the aspects that made its more arcade-y titles great.
Though Housemarque has certainly made a name for itself with some excellent titles over the years, including games like Resogun and Super Stardust HD, the developer has really only just stepped in the AAA space with Returnal. That being said, Sony Interactive Entertainment listed Returnal as one of PS5's biggest games coming to the console in 2021 through a recent "Play Has No Limits" commercial. Thanks to this recent gameplay showcase, Returnal's inclusion in that list now makes even more sense. While the main focus of the trailer was highlighting the game's frenetic gameplay, the graphical fidelity and premise also shined through.
Housemarque has taken time to give some insider looks into the development of Returnal in recent months, as well. Just last month, Housemarque presented a dev diary around Returnal, informing viewers on the status of the game's development as well as showing off some brand new footage of the game. Though Returnal is quite the jump from previous titles that the studio has developed, Housemarque's DNA can still clearly be seen throughout Returnal's beautiful and eerie presentation. It appears that though Housemarque’s stance that arcade games are dead hasn’t changed, it hasn't completely left arcade-inspired elements in the past.
Returnal will be available exclusively on PS5 on March 19, 2021.
