Die, die, and love every second: Saros review

Saros is a third-person sci-fi action roguelike game from Housemarque. The story takes players to the golden plains of the planet Carcosa, where a high-ranking fighter named Arjun Devraj embarks on a dangerous journey in search of his lost colony and his own lost history. The game focuses on human stories of survival and redemption, combining intense combat with thematic questions about identity and the cost of power against a surreal space landscape. The gg editorial team also decided to land on the surface of Carcosa to find out what secrets are hidden here.

5 reasons to buy Saros

• One of the most loyal roguelite projects that will keep your monitor from breaking
• The "Eclipse" mechanic changes the world into "before" and "after". This prevents the adventure from getting boring
• You need endless action so that your fingers hurt when you press the buttons
• Gameplay modifiers allow you to customise your style of play and not be limited by the framework
• You could not tear yourself away from Returnal, the previous game of the studio (everything is better here x3)

2 reasons not to buy Saros

• You're not ready to put up with the fact that you have to die a couple of times and start over to kill the boss
• You like "guess the rest" stories like a cat like a cucumber

The plot: why did you have to leave Earth?

We find ourselves on the mysterious planet Karkosa in the role of Arjun Devraj, a high-ranking warrior from the Soltari Corporation. He arrives at the edge of space with his team not as a conqueror, but as a seeker. Tasked with finding out the fate of an extraterrestrial colony that has disappeared without a trace, Arjun finds himself in a surreal world where the planet seems to be obeying an ancient, ominous rhythm. Thus begins a mission to a cosmic cemetery where the remains of human ambition are buried under alien sand.

In its emotional essence, Saros is a character study imbued with the burden of regret and personal loss. Arjun also keeps in touch with the team of survivors. This reveals a complex web of relationships and the growing fear of a team struggling with the insane effects of the planet.

Central to these dynamics is Arjun's own motivation - his desperate search for someone close to him. This is often at odds with the cold, calculating logic of the Primary, the mysterious artificial intelligence that runs the colony. So is Arjun's humanity an asset or a liability in a world that demands absolute pragmatism?

However, the real secret of the planet lies in the Eclipse, a celestial phenomenon that is the main thematic milestone of the plot. When the sun disappears, Carcosa turns into a nightmare of distorted realities, where the boundaries of time and identity blur. Here, Arjun discovers ancient murals and audio recordings left behind by those who have already succumbed to the planet's madness.

As the cycle of death and rebirth plunges Arjun deeper into the mysteries, the story transforms into a reflection on what it means to "come back stronger" - not only in body but also in soul. The hero encounters an alien presence that challenges the very foundations of his memory.

Overall, the story turned out to be interesting and sometimes confusing, which is typical for games in this genre and setting. So, if you like to understand the mysteries of ancient civilisations and human relationships, Saros has something to offer you.

Gameplay: die, die, but you'll love it

Saros is a classic roguelite. It is divided into races that you start with basic equipment and characteristics. In the process, you "level up", unlock better weapons and destroy various enemies to meet the boss at the end of each biome and advance the story. Such games are always challenging, so, especially in the first hours, you will have to die often, but everything is arranged in such a way that you enjoy this process.

The game is based on the philosophy of a "ballet of bullets", which requires both surgical precision and constant risk. Unlike traditional shooters, where the main goal is evasion, Saros gives you an advantage with the Soltari Shield. It's not just a defence device that blocks projectiles - it actively absorbs them. The accumulated kinetic energy is directed into Arjun's right hand, turning it into a devastating weapon. This "absorb to attack" cycle turns enemy fire into a resource, forcing players to dance on the edge of danger. This creates a state of "flow" where defence and attack are inextricably linked.

The game cycle is divided into "before" and "after": at first, the planet seems relatively stable, but then the "Eclipse" comes, and everything changes dramatically. As the phenomenon takes hold, the environment undergoes surreal visual and gameplay transformations. The stakes are raised, with more aggressive enemies and deadly projectiles that can permanently (within the current run) lower your maximum health.

However, Eclipse is also a chance for a better result. It gives you more lucentite (the main resource of the game) and opens up "distorted" weapon options with special advantages. Navigating procedurally generated locations requires constant analysis: whether to break through the darkness for top equipment or retreat to safer areas.

Saros has a permanent progression system that ensures that every failed expedition brings Arjun closer to triumph. Players invest the resources they collect in a skill tree, unlocking permanent upgrades to their character and costume that last even after death.

How to simplify the passage

The authors decided to make sure that as many players as possible could complete the game. To do this, after killing the second boss, you get access to the modifiers on the base. They allow you to fine-tune your playstyle, balancing bonuses and penalties according to your individual tactics. You can increase the damage to enemies or make you lose less health.

However, for every advantage, you usually need to put a counterweight. For example: you become stronger, but the resources of your enemies will disappear faster. But if this doesn't help you, you can turn off the balance requirement in the settings and set the damage from weapons and other bonuses to maximum. So if you find roguelites very difficult, Saros is doing everything it can to break this tradition.

I had space fun

Interesting biome research, a wide variety of weapons (from assault rifles to crossbows), brutal enemies, challenging bosses, and permanent progression made me play until my fingers started to hurt from pressing the triggers. Yes, you die, but you've already learnt the boss's attacks, you know which weapon fits him, and you come back stronger. It is this feeling of constant learning that gives you the motivation and desire to move forward. Add to this the eternal drive on the screen, the gorgeous implementation of DualSense features - and we have a game with gameplay that does not get boring.

The technical side of Carcosa

On a basic PlayStation 5, there are almost no issues with optimisation. The game maintains a stable 60 fps all the time, and only a few times did I experience micro-drops. I didn't encounter any bugs either, but once the game crashed in the middle of a battle. It's good that the game always saves, but it was still unpleasant.

Golden visuals

Saros fascinates with its graphics, which I would call a "golden aesthetic" that makes it stand out among other projects. This warm palette gives the sci-fi world a sense of ancient grandeur, making every ruin and high-tech structure seem like a piece of cosmic history illuminated by the eternal light of the sunset. And the sophisticated armour elements or magnificent views of the world, which seems both beautiful and dangerously alive, create an atmosphere of complete immersion.

Drivingly dramatic audio experience

The soundtrack is a dramatic combination of cinematic orchestral scores and brutal, aggressive synths that pick up pace during battles or plot twists, pushing the player forward with a powerful rhythmic momentum. Each shot carries a tangible destructive force, while the transition to "Eclipse" is accompanied by an eerie dissonant sound shift that seems both alien and oppressive. Housemarque has once again proved that it can masterfully create an atmosphere that instantly absorbs the player.

How Saros will be remembered

Saros will be remembered primarily for its "ballet of bullets", which is both epic and intuitive. The game rewards an aggressive style with an energy absorption mechanic that turns every fight into a dance. Although the game is challenging, it remains accessible and roguelite-friendly by using a permanent progression system. This ensures that every failed expedition contributes to your exploration of the planet Carcosa. And with the gameplay modifiers, even a beginner can master this deadly planet. The story of Arjun's search for the meaning of life under the amber light makes you come back to the game until you get all the answers.

Five things to know about Saros

• Saros is a PS5 story exclusive and a brand new IP
• A roguelike game that punishes mistakes but remains player-friendly
• Thanks to progression and game modules, the passage can be significantly simplified
• Events take place on a mysterious planet where several colonies and an alien race have disappeared
• Saros makes full use of DualSense features and console power to show you why you paid for it

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