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Saros | Review Thread

You people are not helping not making me want to buy it. Wasn't even interested in it, haven't played returnal but have PS5 pro sitting idle since Yotei and also have free time these days.
 
Just freaking incredible, I ended up playing 5hours straight last night and defeated the first boss. Gosh the audio design and haptics from the getgo slaps, Housemarque has delivered big time.
 
I like that they put the dash on one of the shoulder buttons but it's mildly annoying L1 is the default because I mapped it to R1 in Returnal xD
Don't know whether I should change it though, getting used to having the shield on R1 might be worth it in the end because I have a feeling the shield/melee will end up being at least as important in the long run.

I miss being able to adjust the size of the active reload bar. Now there's only the dot size, which feels a bit pointless. Kinda wierd because it was possible to adjust the whole central part of the HUD in Returnal. It was nice to be able to clearly see the bar filling up in the periphery, at least with new weapons/altered fire rate.
Would love to see that added via a patch, it made a pretty big difference in getting to grips with new weapons for me personally.

Edit: Pretty sure Returnal had a very useful opacity setting for the crosshair/reload bar as well IIRC. Might as well add that to the wishlist.

Edit2: I already feel i need an extra thumb on my right hand.
I loved the back button accessory for my DS4, wish they'd make one for the Dualsense as well. This game is probably gonna make me buy a Dualsense Edge solely for those back buttons. Well played, Sony.
 
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J3nga said:
You people are not helping not making me want to buy it. Wasn't even interested in it, haven't played returnal but have PS5 pro sitting idle since Yotei and also have free time these days.
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Do It GIF
 
How is the meta-progession in this one?

I played and beat Returnal, but felt like the progression was too slow/there weren't enough fun, rewarding unlocks that carry over between runs.

Games like Megabonk, BallXpit, and Mewgenics have fast and furious unlocks, and that's half the fun of rogue-lites to me.
 
Bought (ughh) the early access edition, played it 3 hours this morning. Although I played Returnal, I still find Saros pretty challenging. Visually on my Pro it looks and performs great, and sounds amazing with 3D audio on good headphones. Now to juggle this and Crimson Desert and Pragmata and Neverness to Everness. Yes, I can do it!

Korean Drama Yes GIF by Viki
 
I keep neglecting run modifiers, just playing at the default balance feels perfect. Huge congrats to Housemarque, they fkn did it.

The only downside I can think of is that I liked the narrative in Returnal much better. Perhaps because I know "king in yellow" and that's in no small part a spoiler
 
rkofan87 said:
if you want to hear a more middle of the road perspective here's Jeff G.

here is Jeff's written review.
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I mean, does this fat fuck like ANY game? I am having the complete opposite experience he is having. I AM wanting to continuously play this game. The weirdness and brilliant gameplay is what is keeping me hooked as I'm curious as to what is going on, and the gameplay is top notch which, in a game like this, should be ALL that matters.

If you loved Returnal like I did with all its weird and creepy vibes along with its amazing gameplay, this is basically the same thing. Yes, there are characters at your "home" area but who gives a fuck? You play the game as a solo character and it's fucking awesome!

The game looks amazing and runs so well (playing it on Pro). Support games like this that focus on gameplay over everything else.
 
Yeonhui said:
Bought (ughh) the early access edition, played it 3 hours this morning. Although I played Returnal, I still find Saros pretty challenging. Visually on my Pro it looks and performs great, and sounds amazing with 3D audio on good headphones. Now to juggle this and Crimson Desert and Pragmata and Neverness to Everness. Yes, I can do it!

Korean Drama Yes GIF by Viki
Click to expand...

I have no idea how you do it. I can only play 2 games at a time.
 
I don't want to want this, but I do want this. Not a roguelike fan but I really appreciate a great bullet hell game.
 
Unless it gets substantially easier later in the game, I think some people are exaggerating when they say this is easier than Returnal. There's no question Returnal is the harder game, but this one can be quite difficult if you can't keep up with the pace and mess up early in the run. It took me four runs to beat the first boss, and even he wasn't exactly easy. It's a pure adrenaline rush and you constantly have to stay vigilant. I'm loving every minute of it though, and the audio is incredible.
 
WoodyStare said:
Unless it gets substantially easier later in the game, I think some people are exaggerating when they say this is easier than Returnal. There's no question Returnal is the harder game, but this one can be quite difficult if you can't keep up with the pace and mess up early in the run. It took me four runs to beat the first boss, and even he wasn't exactly easy. It's a pure adrenaline rush and you constantly have to stay vigilant. I'm loving every minute of it though, and the audio is incredible.
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Are you playing with headphones?
 
I loved Returnal and its haptics implementation, second best to Astro Bot. Nice to hear it's great in Saros too. That being said gonna wait for a sale, can't justify paying 80 euros in this economy.
 
pixelation said:
Is it me or was the art direction better in Returnal? I liked the color palette more in it for starters, and the bullets looked better too, brighter... chunkier, whereas in Saros bullets look thinner and duller, that and most environments are brownish and very samey...
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It's not just you. I watched Cohh play this this morning and it looks just like Returnal with less interesting biomes and colors. I was actually shocked at how little improvement has been made in the graphics and gameplay, it looks like a Returnal DLC.
xenosys said:
Solid scores, but like Returnal, I'll be surprised if this game does more than 1-2m lifetime without a mult-plat release.

It just doesn't have the cache of a big name or IP behind it to shift more than that.
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It will sell more simply because it's supposedly easier, but at the end of the day it's Returnal through and through so it probably won't set the world on fire sales wise.
 
MacReady13 said:
I mean, does this fat fuck like ANY game? I am having the complete opposite experience he is having. I AM wanting to continuously play this game. The weirdness and brilliant gameplay is what is keeping me hooked as I'm curious as to what is going on, and the gameplay is top notch which, in a game like this, should be ALL that matters.

If you loved Returnal like I did with all its weird and creepy vibes along with its amazing gameplay, this is basically the same thing. Yes, there are characters at your "home" area but who gives a fuck? You play the game as a solo character and it's fucking awesome!

The game looks amazing and runs so well (playing it on Pro). Support games like this that focus on gameplay over everything else.
Click to expand...
dude the guy is a Legend show some respect the guy didn't like the same game you did big deal.
 
Yeonhui said:
Bought (ughh) the early access edition, played it 3 hours this morning. Although I played Returnal, I still find Saros pretty challenging. Visually on my Pro it looks and performs great, and sounds amazing with 3D audio on good headphones. Now to juggle this and Crimson Desert and Pragmata and Neverness to Everness. Yes, I can do it!

Korean Drama Yes GIF by Viki
Click to expand...
Yes, you can. No retreat, no surrender!

RCirqlCejnCId65Z.gif


zK4iO3qApiE8rhOb.gif
 
Red-Dead-Ocelot said:
Is no one making an OT for this? The game is fantastic.
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Truly baffling. I made one for invincible vs just assuming Saros and D4 expansion would be taken care of.

I'm tapped out on wanting to make one and my threads are usually just "ok" to get us by. Made on mobile in like 15 minutes fly by shit.

This game deserves a banger OT from Agent_4Seven Agent_4Seven

Shame the site only has a small handful of us who make OTs. GAF needs to step up!

——

Made it to boss one. Thought I had it then…. Well well well.
 
First boss has whipped my ass first few tries - I got straight there first time but I am really rusty and feeling the years since Returnal. I have made it to the last phase now though.

I am going to need to get used to dash on L1 - I tried moving it to R1 and Circle as my brain wants it there, but you really need it on L1 to keep dodging and shooting. The shield only makes sense on R1 as it stops you shooting anyway, so default controls are best.
 
Just had a 3 hour run from the start of the game to the end. Felt OP and my attributes were crazy high.

First time hitting that Godlike feeling from Returnal.

Saros is good shit man.

Shepherd and Priestess are the best bosses.
 
Have to pay extra to play early.
begotten said:
Just had a 3 hour run from the start of the game to the end. Felt OP and my attributes were crazy high.

First time hitting that Godlike feeling from Returnal.

Saros is good shit man.

Shepherd and Priestess are the best bosses.
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I'm confused you beat it in 3 hours? You must be OP 😎
 
The second biome is killing me right now with requiring you to do both vaults in order to get to the boss, even after completing the first objective. If you die you have to do both vaults all over again, even though the first biome had a shortcut to the boss. Done it five times now and it's becoming exhausting. Ive leveled up a lot and gotten powerful gear but I feel like it's barely making a difference.
 
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First boss down on second try. Didn't even have to use a revive and started with half HP.

If this is the hardest part then the rest will be cake?
 
So far I would say that the fear of the game being "too easy" compared to Returnal doesn't hold water. I'm only at the first boss though, so it's possible that changes further in of course.
Permanent stat upgraded are pretty heavily gated at this point and I've maxed them out.

For the time being I can't really see how I'm "coming back stronger" everytime, but I'm starting to get a sense of how to strategize the run, learn the enemy behaviour, room layouts etc.
The Carcosan modifiers are a really smart addition and I was pleasantly surpised that they become available this early.
 
Northeastmonk said:
Have to pay extra to play early.

I'm confused you beat it in 3 hours? You must be OP 😎
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I had beaten the bosses before, but never did an end to end run until now.

Tip for people: If you start from Shattered Rise (first area) after every story moment / traversal progression - the newest area will be a cakewalk because of your weapon proficiency & attributes. It's time consuming and repetitive, but you can't fail. Your power weapon being a higher level than the area you're in will rinse the boss.
 
Arsic said:
If this is the hardest part then the rest will be cake?
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I think it just shows you picked up the game faster.

I can see the first boss being the hardest part in the sense that you're fighting it at your weakest point in the game.

It also helps that in my experience, what balances that out is Biome 1 feels like it has less combat encounter rooms / traps and pitfalls compared to other places in the game.
 
begotten said:
I think it just shows you picked up the game faster.

I can see the first boss being the hardest part in the sense that you're fighting it at your weakest point in the game.

It also helps that in my experience, what balances that out is Biome 1 feels like it has less combat encounter rooms / traps and pitfalls compared to other places in the game.
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Almost had boss 2 first try but then my son started to ask me questions. :(
 
Ok, once I figured out that shielding/absorbing the corrupted projectiles was not only possible but a net positive the first boss went down in an instant. I need to read some of the tutorials because all this time I've treated them like a big negative that must be avoided at all costs. A bit hard to actually know what all these projectile colours are counted towards because my "blue = absorb, everything else = avoid" rule was pretty hard to execute due to how few and far between those blue ones are in relation to the yellow ones :P
 
Game rips. Everything except the soundtrack and the non-Giger environments is better than Returnal. 10/10.

Felt so good throwing on the Returnal armor. The Tsushima one was a nice surprise too.
 
begotten said:
Tip for people: If you start from Shattered Rise (first area) after every story moment / traversal progression - the newest area will be a cakewalk because of your weapon proficiency & attributes. It's time consuming and repetitive, but you can't fail. Your power weapon being a higher level than the area you're in will rinse the boss.
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This is a very solid tip, a quick trip back to Shattered Rise before advancing further almost made the next biome feel a bit too easy so far :P
Unlocking a few permanent stat bonuses also made going through Shattered Rise very quick and easy.

I actually think they might (possibly even should) adjust some parameters (enemy health, dmg etc) after the first clear to make it a bit harder tbh, because I feel a bit too OP to be entirely comfortable with it xD
Going into the next area using only the permanent proficiency bonus put me at 6 or something but after a quick clear of Shattered Rise I'm entering the second biome with around 25 proficiecy. Just melting everything atm.

I'll have to walk back on what I said in an earlier post, they might indeed have made the game a bit too easy, at least when using this method.
 
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