Returnal's Latest Gameplay Trailer Left Me Excited For The PS5 Exclusive

Developer Housemarque (Resogun, Matterfall) released a new gameplay trailer for Returnal and is looking to be a must-play exclusive and a good reason to pick up a PlayStation 5 sometime in March. That is, of course, it will be easier to purchase a unit by then.

Have a look at the new trailer below.

Developers of Returnal have left the side-scrolling space and is now making a third-person arcade shooter with crazy bullet-hell elements, a signature feature for Housemarque thanks to their experience with arcade shooters. You play as Selene who finds herself trapped in a time loop on a deadly planet, making this a rogue-like shooter with possibly a strong replay value set in place. A roguelike game in a third-person perspective, Housemarque is now on uncharted territory with Returnal.

But it’s looking good. When I saw the reveal trailer for Returnal back in the PS5 Games Showcase, it stood out, but it was unusual to see a game trailer that seems heavy in the narrative with a Housemarque logo seen at the start of the trailer. This is another big change as this will be the first game for the studio to have a full narrative team, according to narrative director Gregory Louden, who talked to Gamesradar about their new game.

It’s great seeing a big push to go out of their comfort zone while retaining an experience they are known for, and that’s showing in the latest footage released so far. It suggests that gameplay is still the top priority which was further reinforced in the studios’ HouseCast episodes where developers provide more insight on what they are trying to achieve with Returnal.

Returnal will be out on March 19, 2021 exclusively on the PlayStation 5.

---