Although the PS5 came out in November of last year, there haven't been any major exclusive releases in 2021 yet. On April 30th, the release of Returnal will change all of that. Although fans already had a basic concept of what the game was about, a new video from PlayStation Access gives a deep dive into its mechanics, story elements, and features. Fans know more about this game now than ever before, as the folks at PlayStation Access lay out 11 things that fans should know before getting the game.
Returnal tells the story of Selene, an astronaut that crash lands on an alien planet. Once on this planet, she quickly discovers that she cannot die. More accurately, she can and does die several times, but every time it happens she simply wakes up at the point just before her ship crash landed. Players are tasked with figuring out what's going on while fighting through hostile creatures from a deadly planet.
The first of these 11 facts discusses developer Housemarque's previous endeavors. Best known for twin stick shooters like Super Stardust HD and Resogun, Housemarque is putting elements from these genres into Returnal. The next few points explain the story a bit more, but also make comments on the fact that the game will have roguelite elements. Everytime the player dies, they will start back over at the beginning, but they'll be able to keep some of their progression. These will include certain items or weapons that persist even after death.
Next, PlayStation Access explains that the world is split up into several distinct biomes. A few of these are shown in the video and some are even given names. These split up the world into level-like areas while also giving players a unique array of areas to explore. In discussing the combat, the video relates it to a "translation of classic arcade shooters into 3D, third-person framework." This much is clear from the gameplay shown in the video, as it is looking to be much more fast paced than many initially thought after watching the reveal trailer.
The last couple points tie everything together, showing how the story and gameplay tie into one another. As players explore ancient alien ruins, they'll gain access to power ups that help them on their run. They will also discover more about the history of this alien planet, gaining knowledge that may help them next time. For a full rundown of what to expect from Returnal, watch the video above.
Returnal releases on April 30th for PS5.
