Decker

Since we had some recent discussion about Resogun, and because we don't many PS5 exclusives coming in the next few months, I figured it was worth starting a thread on this new game from Housemarque who have made such great games as Resogun, Super Stardust HD, Alienation, Dead Nation, Outland, and Nex Machina. This will be their first game in 4 years, and a PS5 exclusive, published by Sony. They would seem to be one of the last "second-party studios".
This will be a full retail game, which is a first for them (at least in the downloadable console game era), It recently got delayed by a month :
Returnal, the PlayStation 5 exclusive from Housemarque, has been delayed from March 19, 2021 to April 30, 2021 "in order to give the team extra time to continue to polish the game to the level of quality players expect from Housemarque."


Returnal was announced at the PS5 reveal event and is the next title from the developer of such games as Resogun and Super Stardust HD.

This new game is a roguelike third-person shooter that sees you play as Astra space scout Selene as she is stuck in a constant loop of resurrection.

Housemarque has also noted that Returnal will offer fast load times, and haptic feedback that will let players "feel the natural ambience of this alien planet as the controller mimics its environmental effects.

Decker

Man this game looks cool. But HARD.

The Questyen

Yeah the difficulty is scaring me but I think I'm going to give it a shot.

Decker

Also I was surprised recently to find out that the studio's name is NOT pronounced "house-mark" but rather "house-mar-kee". I guess like a marquee billboard. I thought it was that que sound in unique and boutique.

Adam Tyner

So much about Returnal appeals to me, but I just don’t think I’m cut-out for rogue-lites.

Michael Corvin

So much about Returnal appeals to me but I'm not down for $70 games this gen.

I think I'll nab it in a few weeks when it's a bit cheaper.

mewmartigan

The director of Days Gone would like a word with you.....

Decker

Maybe if you think of it as a $50 game and you got at least $20 enjoyment out of your free copy of Resogun?

The Questyen

I feel the same way but I loved Hades so I'm willing to give this one a shot.

Obi-Wanma

The prices on Spider-Man and Demon's Souls haven't budged since the console came out in October. You'll be waiting a lot more than a few weeks for the prices of PS5 exclusives to come down.

lopper

I’ll definitely pick this up next week. I think it looks amazing, and I really enjoy rogue-lites.

But, yeah, that price...

Decker

I think it's the first next-gen-exclusive full game on consoles.

If that's really the case, then the price "makes sense". We knew that all full retail XSX and PS5 games were going to be $69.99. This just happens to be the first full one (not a remake) that doesn't also appear on the last-gen consoles.

Adam Tyner

Godfall (PS5) and The Medium (Xbox Series S/X), although those are easy to forget, and the latter wasn't $69.99 and doesn't appear to have gotten a retail release. Destruction All-Stars bypassed retail at launch but was initially listed as having a $69.99 MSRP. I would still argue that Demon's Souls counts (even if it comes with an asterisk) since it's not just a port or remaster, it wasn't available on the previous generation of consoles, and Sony priced it as a new-gen game rather than cross-gen.

Michael Corvin

Those are existing franchises with built in user bases. Returnal doesn't have that. If it's not a massive hit out of the gates, I expect a drop in a few weeks. Then again, with the dearth of true next gen games, this may hit big just because it's the only one.

I totally get that. I'm not down for $70, period. It has nothing to do with Housemarque or Returnal specifically. I'm more eager for Ratchet & Clank and that will test my resolve.

And that's basically how I've regarded it thus far. I don't mind rewarding Housemarque for the 90+ hours entertainment I've gotten out of Resogun by buying Returnal but in general I haven't seen anything to justify the extra $10 for next gen games, but that's another discussion for another thread.

Adam Tyner

Yeah, I’m not sure this is for me.

Twitter

Deftones

Yeah I don't want to be aggravated by a game to the point of giving up. No thanks.

Decker

That’s a bummer. My biggest concern was that it was going to be way too difficult for me. Didn’t occur to me that it would be too difficult for game reviewers. Yikes.

The Questyen

When I went to preorder it on Amazon the other day it said shipping in late May-early June so it must be selling well since Amazon has already sold out of their launch pre-orders.

Decker

The previews are all incredibly positive. Many are calling it the first true next gen game. I will probably just take the hit and play it as far as I am able to get, which is likely not very far.

Twitter

Gizmo

I keep debating this one. It looks good, but frustrating. Reviews drop Thursday so maybe I’ll wait before committing to a digital purchase. My backlog is massive

Groucho

Too bad on the timing on this one. I'd probably pick it up (assuming good reviews) if RE8 wasn't releasing a week later.

T-bone22

Games have been at the $60 price point for over 15 years. That $60 game in 2005 was ~$80 in today’s dollars. How long did you honestly expect games to stay at $60? This price raise has been overdue really.

Decker

Very positive reviews coming in. Currently at 86 on Metacritic with 80 reviews posted

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Adam Tyner

Aargh! Well, I guess I’m in. Hopefully I can get through NieR: Replicant in the next couple of weeks; otherwise, I think my gaming for the few months following might already be spoken for with no room to slot in Returnal.

Deftones

The game lacks the ability to save. That, alone, will prevent me from buying it.

Review here going off about it: https://kotaku.com/returnal-the-kota...iew-1846786237