Returnal PS5 Review: 9 Ups & 3 Downs

8. Dualsense Adds So Much Immersion

Part of what makes the combat special is that this is a true next-gen experience.

Much has been said about the potential of the Dualsense, but there was a worry that its best features would go under-utilised, or even worse, that they would end up like the PS3’s sixaxis. Thankfully, Returnal is proof of how much the controller can add to the experience.

On a base level, the controller gives you more - well - control over Selene. For instance, holding the left trigger halfway down allows you to zoom and aim, while pulling past that threshold activates the alt. fire mode. It might sound finicky but in the moment it’s anything but, and is so intuitive that going back to shooters without this feature feels like something’s missing.

You also get more feedback from your inputs which both increases immersion, and offers sensory combat data. The environment is reflected in the haptic feedback: rain results in a light pitter patter on the pad, melee attacks give it a punch, while even certain enemy projectiles are signposted through vibration cues.

This, combined with the subtle use of the in-built mic to add more dimension to the sound, makes for a more visceral, tactile, next-gen experience overall.

It sounds like I’ve just reeled off a bunch of marketing buzzwords and shilled the controller there but, honestly, it’s just that much of an ace in the hole. In fact, that’s kind of an issue for Sony. It adds so much functionality that you simply can’t convey in trailers.