Saros Review – A Masterful Bullet-Hell That Grips You and Won’t Let Go

What exactly is Saros?

In 2021, Housemarque stunned the world with Returnal, a title that defined a new era of PS5 exclusives. Now, five years later, their latest creation, Saros, has arrived. Although it is a brand-new IP, the handwriting of the Finnish masters is felt in every pixel. It is a frantic third-person action game that blends roguelite elements with the relentless mechanics of bullet-hell shooters.

The game casts us as Arjun Devraj (voiced by the excellent Rahul Kohli), an enforcer for the Soltari corporation. He is sent to the mysterious planet Carcosa to investigate the disappearance of a colony stationed there. What begins as a routine rescue mission quickly devolves into a fight for survival against cosmic horrors in a Lovecraftian style. Saros is proof that Housemarque knows how to take a proven formula and polish it to absolute perfection.

If you are looking for a reason to own a PlayStation 5, Saros immediately climbs to the top of the list. It is a title that fully utilizes the console’s hardware and offers an experience you simply won’t find on other platforms. It is a game about precision, fast reflexes, and constant learning from your own mistakes in an environment that won’t forgive a single second of inattention.

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Story & Atmosphere

The atmosphere of the planet Carcosa is, in a word, mesmerizing. The developers opted for visually distinct biomes that are both beautiful and deeply unsettling. The enemy design is top-notch, evoking the best of cosmic horror. A very interesting element is the eclipse mechanic, which the player must occasionally activate. This event transforms the entire planet, opening new paths and rewards while making enemies much more aggressive and dangerous.

The story itself, however, takes a bit longer to get going than its predecessor. While Arjun Devraj is a likeable protagonist, the supporting characters don’t make as strong an impression. Collectible audio logs and texts meant to deepen the lore sometimes fall a bit flat. Furthermore, character facial animations outside of main cinematic sequences aren’t quite at the top level – a character might be sobbing emotionally, but their face remains stony.

Nevertheless, it is worth sticking with the game. The narrative picks up speed in the final hours, and the finale offers a very satisfying culmination of all the sketched-out mysteries. Saros leans more toward clearer objectives and a more straightforward path forward than Returnal. While this might slightly irk hardcore fans of the previous game, it immensely helps the overall pacing and clarity of the experience.

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Gameplay & Mechanics

The core of the game is combat, which you will spend 90% of your time engaged in. Housemarque has crafted an addictive and challenging system built on projectile colors. Arjun can safely dash through blue projectiles or absorb them with his shield to fuel power weapons. Red projectiles, however, must be avoided at all costs (or later parried). The most insidious are green projectiles, which not only deplete health but permanently reduce its maximum capacity for that specific run.

The weapon arsenal is diverse – from classic handguns and shotguns to creative tools like projectiles that hang in the air before rushing toward the target. The use of the DualSense is absolutely brilliant. The controller vibrates so intensely that after long battles, your hands will tingle like they do after using a lawnmower. Adaptive triggers then control alternate fire modes: pressing L2 halfway activates a special function, while a full press unleashes the devastating power of your current weapon.

What makes Saros special is its accessibility. The game includes Carcosan Modifiers, which allow you to adjust the difficulty – for example, increasing your damage output or reducing damage taken from enemies. There is a catch, though: if you make the game too easy, you must accept penalties in the form of debuffs or restrictions on rare upgrade materials. This system is great for players who just want to reach the next boss without having to grind the same sections for dozens of hours.

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Final Verdict

Saros is an explosive ballet of relentless action that looks absolutely fantastic and runs without a single hitch. Even during the most chaotic screen-filling battles, the game maintains a stable performance without frame rate drops. Although slight repetitiveness may occur, especially when you encounter a recycled boss in the role of a regular enemy, the overall gameplay is so fun that it won’t bother you for long.

The permanent progression system ensures that no run is wasted. Using collected currency, you buy permanent upgrades for health, shields, and stats, gradually turning you into an unstoppable killing machine. While Saros might seem short – reaching the credits can be done in under 10 hours – it offers massive replayability thanks to optional rooms, hidden paths accessible only with later gear, and modifiers.

In the end, Saros is one of the best games of the year and a must-have for every PS5 owner. It is a game that isn’t afraid to be difficult but also lends a helping hand to those who want to experience its grand story and breathtaking boss fights without frustration. Housemarque has once again proven that in the realm of modern arcade shooters, they simply have no competition.

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FAQ

Q: Is Saros harder than Returnal?
A: By default, the game is very challenging, but thanks to the modifier system, you can customize it and make it much more accessible than Returnal.

Q: How long does it take to beat the game?
A: The main story takes approximately 9 to 10 hours depending on your skill and difficulty settings, but the roguelite elements give it much higher replay value.

Q: Do I need to know the story of Returnal to play Saros?
A: Not at all. Saros is a completely new IP with its own world, characters, and rules, and it is not narratively connected to Returnal.

Q: Does the game make good use of the PS5 controller?
A: Yes, it features some of the best DualSense implementation to date, utilizing haptic feedback and adaptive triggers for different firing modes.

Q: How does the character upgrade system work?
A: During gameplay, you collect currency and special items used in a central hub to permanently increase your health, shield strength, and other character stats.