{"id":43630,"date":"2026-04-27T07:15:46","date_gmt":"2026-04-27T11:15:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/saros-roguelike-trial-week-of-play-failed-to-turn-me-into-a-fan\/"},"modified":"2026-04-27T07:15:46","modified_gmt":"2026-04-27T11:15:46","slug":"saros-roguelike-trial-week-of-play-failed-to-turn-me-into-a-fan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/saros-roguelike-trial-week-of-play-failed-to-turn-me-into-a-fan\/","title":{"rendered":"Saros roguelike trial: week of play failed to turn me into a fan"},"content":{"rendered":"

Saros arrives this week as one of PlayStation\u2019s most talked-about exclusives, and early reactions have been overwhelmingly positive. The game refines the design language established by Housemarque\u2019s Returnal, but whether that refinement will widen the audience for fast-paced roguelikes is still an open question.<\/p>\n

What Saros puts on the table<\/h2>\n

You play as Arjun Devraj, a corporate enforcer stranded on the alien world of Carcosa, investigating a missing colony. The narrative is mostly pieced together through voice logs, written notes and base-camp conversations, producing a quietly oppressive tone that nods to cosmic horror without turning the game into outright survival horror.<\/p>\n

Mechanically, Saros is a high-intensity, third-person shooter built around tight movement and a heavy emphasis on dodging and strafing. Combat is deliberately frenetic: you\u2019ll jump, dash and weave through dense patterns of enemy fire while juggling a rotating selection of guns and abilities. A notable defensive option is a temporary shield that converts absorbed enemy shots into energy for a powerful burst attack.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s new compared with Returnal<\/h2>\n

Housemarque hasn\u2019t rewritten the formula but has introduced several systems that make progress feel more tangible across runs. The most significant change is a persistent upgrade layer: currency earned during attempts can be invested in long-term improvements, from tougher armor to enhanced starting equipment. That shifts some reward away from individual runs and toward an overall sense of forward momentum.<\/p>\n

Another addition is a modifier system that lets you tailor each attempt. You can accept a beneficial effect in exchange for a penalty \u2014 more damage paired with reduced resource gain, for instance \u2014 which adds strategic choices before you even enter a zone.<\/p>\n

How it plays and looks<\/h2>\n

The worlds are procedurally assembled from a set of predesigned rooms and encounters, so levels feel both familiar and unpredictable: you recognize landmarks but still encounter new enemy placements and item layouts. This hybrid approach reduces the disorientation that pure procedural generation can cause while preserving the core replayability of the genre.<\/p>\n

On PS5 Pro the game runs smoothly and the art direction stands out. Alien vistas are often eerie and well-lit, while neon projectiles create a striking contrast during firefights. DualSense features add tactile weight to guns and abilities, although some cutscenes run at a lower framerate than the gameplay, creating a small disconnect in presentation.<\/p>\n

Who will enjoy Saros \u2014 and who might not<\/h2>\n

After about a week with the game I can say this: Saros excels at delivering precise, demanding combat and a rewarding loop for players who appreciate repeated short runs and incremental growth. But it remains unapologetically twitch-based. If you prefer methodical, slower-paced challenges \u2014 the sort found in many Soulslike titles \u2014 the relentless speed and reset-with-death structure may frustrate more than satisfy.<\/p>\n

It took me several sessions over multiple days to clear early bosses, and that feeling of incremental, sometimes slow, progress will be a dealbreaker for some. On the other hand, players who thrive on quick, high-skill bursts and enjoy refining their approach run after run will find a lot to love.<\/p>\n