With Returnal, another title comes to PC that was originally exclusive to PS5. The new trailer shows the features of the PC version. It includes a cooperative mode.
What kind of game is this? Returnal is a third-person shooter with roguelike elements, released exclusively for PS5 on April 30, 2021, and it is coming to PC on February 15, 2023, on Steam and the Epic Game Store.
As the new trailer shows, the PC version of Returnal not only comes with ray tracing and customized controls but also features the co-op mode that appeared on PS5 nearly a year after the game’s initial release.
Surviving on an alien planet with luminous enemies
What is Returnal about? In Returnal, you fight as Selene to survive on an alien planet, where you are cut off from any civilization after a crash landing.
Notably, Returnal’s implementation of roguelike elements stands out, as there is no escape for the protagonist from the threatening planet. Failure is not an option.
Every time Selene has to give in, it affects the game world. The planet changes, and so does the equipment available to you with each new attempt.
Each failure triggers a new time cycle in which you must start over and make new decisions. These decisions also affect the protagonist’s psyche throughout the story.
What makes Returnal special? One unique aspect of Returnal is the design of the alien enemies. The various creatures are inspired by bioluminescent organisms from the deep sea. These are organisms that can produce light on their own. Examples from real life include the crown jellyfish, the vampire squid, and the glowing jellyfish.
In a PlayStation blog post, Harry Krueger, the creative director from Returnal’s developer studio Housemarque, described the movements of the deep-sea creatures as “majestic and beautiful but at the same time frightening.” The studio’s goal was to imitate this combination of “chaotic beauty” and “nightmarish aggression.”
If you are interested in the PC version of the shooter, you can read details about the system requirements for Returnal on MeinMMO.
