One of 2021's most intriguing PlayStation 5 titles is Returnal, the upcoming roguelike shooter from Housemarque. The studio's pedigree should be enough to get people excited; it's made some of the absolute best arcade action games in recent memory. However, what's most exciting about this one is that the team is branching out into new territory. Making responsive, satisfying action games is its bread and butter, but this is its first proper attempt to tell a meaningful story.
Speaking to GamesRadar, Housemarque's narrative director Gregory Louden and game director Harry Krueger discuss the advantages of telling a tale within the confines of a roguelike. "Returnal's dark sci-fi time loop setup is so exciting narratively for us because Selene, our deep space scout repeating the crash, allows us to add lots of hidden layers narratively that are uncovered through repetition," Louden says. He explains that, as you make more progress through the procedurally generated alien world of Atropos, you'll slowly learn more and more about both the planet and the main character.
Krueger adds that the studio is aiming to "haunt the player" with a mysterious story that slowly unfurls while you deal with the cosmic horror threats of the alien landscape. He says it's important that many of the game's secrets are left for players to discover on their own, while providing just enough insight to keep you going.
We're seriously excited to explore this game for ourselves — it sounds like Housemarque is cooking up a real treat. The good news is there's not much longer to wait. Returnal touches down on PS5 on 19th March. Are you looking forward to this one? Repeat the cycle in the comments section below.
[source gamesradar.com]
Comments 21
I’m really looking forward to this game. However, I need to buy a PS5 first 😕
I hope it's sort of like Dark Souls when it comes to the secrets and unfolding the story
This sounds very cool.
As much as I'm looking forward to this, those words 'procedurally generated' give me pause.
What ever happened to the good old days when level designers were rockstars?
I am very much interested, I'd like to see a bit more gameplay but it looks fast! Similar in speed to sunset overdrive.
This sounds good, but not £70 good.
I'm excited, but I'm starting to feel like I'm hearing the same information over and over at this point. Really hoping for a state of play soon to get a deeper dive into it instead of just re-watching 5 second clips from the Housecast. Hopefully won't be waiting too long.
I expect this to be another good game for the ps5. The gameplay looks fast and frantic.
Just the ticket imo.
I always thought housemarque had the most important aspect about games design perfected, gameplay. Now if they can put it into a full game experience, they'll be on to a winner. Story and character, sound and graphics are all important but not essential to a gaming experience, gameplay is the only unique aspect you get in a game, everything else can be found in other forms of media. I think this could be well worth a purchase.
@LordSteev Yes, procedurally generated is not one of my favourite gaming terms but Housemarque is so fingers crossed.
I think their $70 is based on the replayability of the game. I hope the game is 20 hours to beat long because I have seen so many this ain't a $70 game comments. Although I would say it's more valuable than D. All stars. If it's 20 hour with a high replayability I think it offers as much content vs GoW 2018. Maybe more depending how drastically changes. Maybe you will never see a lot of types of aliens or weapons in your 1st playthrough.
@Daveuppercut Oof. I've seen people call this a mindless shooter like doom. Makes my head spin a bit. Idk what's so mindless about a high awareness and reflexes for them. I think they want a connect 4 puzzle vs an ai during fights.
@Nepp67 I´m getting that vibe. This games keeps looking better and better. With Hades proving you can have good storytelling in a roguelike provided you adapt the narrative structure I have high hopes that this will be Housemarque's long-coming but much-deserved blockbuster.
I would be interested in this but at $90 Canadian I can’t justify getting it at launch, I will wait for a sale...
Yes day one, this is my kind of game:)
Must... resist... hype... But seriously, pumped for this game, looks and sounds amazing, and the idea of being haunted only sounds more appealing lol. Bring it on Housemarque!
I'm hoping this is Housemarque's proper coming of age game, it looks really good in terms of gameplay loop. Fast, responsive third person bullet-hell shooter, I hope it delivers and proves to be worth it's asking price, I do think the hike in next-gen game isn't helping some games out on the PS5, with services like Game Pass, & with the inevitable economic downturn coming the price hike will do more harm than good.
@Absymbel
Yea, Housemarque is the reason I'm looking forward to it. But, and maybe some people will laugh at this, the only developer who I think uses procedural generation properly is Bethesda. Because when they do, they still have a live person go over it and add personal touches.
Should I ever obtain the mythical unicorn that is a PS5, this and Horizon Forbidden West will be my first two game purchases, hands down. 🦄🎮
I still regularly play Resogun and that was free. Happy to pay for this. Looks great.
Day one dont own a PS5 but im willing too support them great studio.
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