Anything from Housemarque is a game worth exploring. The latest PlayStation exclusive from its stable, Saros, is no exception. What we get is a maddening, chaotic-yet-entertaining third-person shooter set in a dungeon-isque planet that tries its best to kill your flow.
Helmed by Rahul Kohli as both the character forge and the voice of the lead, Arjun Devraj, this AAA title is also a major achievement for South Asians, especially Indian-origin artists, in general.
We play as Devraj, an expeditioner for this space corporation called Soltari. He wakes up on this planet, Carcosa, where previous expeditions have gone missing. What happened to his crew, which was tasked to investigate the disappearances? And what are these biomechanical baddies sprouting out of nowhere on this ominous planet?
Something is wrong, you can feel it in the back of your neck... like something is off. And then the game starts. The first run is a crash course in the game mechanics and controls, and you quickly discover that death is part of the game. From there on, you end up mysteriously spawning on a home base, and start each new run with the topography of the planet changed.
Your aim is to progress to each level in one go. You die, you are returned to the home base with a bit of what you foraged, minus a death penalty. You level up using what you collect, and then you do the run once more. Rinse, repeat.
The game heavily borrows its DNA from Housemarque's superhit Returnal. But unlike its predecessor, it fumbles on storytelling. This is more apparent since there are many set pieces and more intrigue added in, so you expect them to be answered. What you instead get are more questions.
Of course, this usually works in favour of a game. But like the adage, "too much of anything is good for nothing", we get too bogged down by the overt mystery involved. This was a classic case of overpromising with the exposition but underdelivering.
On the gameplay bit, it is exactly the opposite. What starts off as a standard shooter-explorer quickly evolves into one crazy challenge after another. It forces you to grind, it forces you to collect your upgrade, and it forces you to be on your toes all the time. It is a true survival game—each time you die, it becomes fertile ground for you to try again, this time with more experience.
Saros does not throw you too many items. There is a limited spectrum of temporary and permanent upgrades, and that helps you focus on the actual game. Each time you reach a level boss, you are that much better at the game.
As the lead, you, as Arjun, move forward with almost limited data. You have to reach your objective, but you are also trying to make sense of these loops. Is this a nightmare? Are you dead? Are you in a time loop? What are these visions, at times, when you die and respawn? This unnerving setting becomes the crux of your character. The Skynet-esque Soltari boss computer is also a nod to the AI revolution the world is seeing now. The flawed, grey characters across the game pull you in further.
And then there are the dangers that Carcosa throw at you. Different types of enemies. Easy ones, hard ones, crazy ones, most of them firing off different colour shots. Blue ones help you charge your power if you absorb them with your shield. Red ones are to be parried, but don't even try blocking them. Yellow ones can be phased through, but it is a choice—if you get hit, they can either corrupt your max health or boost certain weaponry. Over time, you develop a strong understanding of these and how to manage them. Suddenly, they are not as chaotic. Bigger biomechanical monsters and boss fights are all about reading cues and patterns, and effectively working through them. It soon becomes squarely about skill—how good you are with your DualSense controller.
I used the Hyperpop controller I was reviewing for most of my run, and I felt the added grip it gave me provided an advantage. Yet, when I transitioned to my usual DualSense classic one, I was able to still continue the run with a similar tempo. That is, until, an eclipse hits. Then all hell breaks loose.
Many gamers, however, might feel that Saros is a bit monotonous. But that is factored into the soul of the game. Unlike many new titles that shed grinding and the act of gaming in favour of an Oscar-worthy story, Saros aims to trouble you, challenge you. It is sci-fi space fighter mashed into a bullet-hell roguelite shooting fest.
Is it worth a gameplay? Absolutely. You either find your flow and beat it or you get battered. You either love it or you hate it.
Game: Saros
Developer: Housemarque
Platform: PlayStation 5
Rating: 4 out of 5 | ★★★★☆
