Eurogamer reviewed Housemarque’s latest game Saros as a fast, ambitious action title that surpasses its predecessor Returnal in moment-to-moment gameplay [1]. Saros is a procedurally generated arena shooter centered around dodging, blocking, and occasionally parrying waves of projectile-heavy enemies, delivering intense combat encounters that push player reflexes to the limit [1].
A key gameplay addition is the bubble shield mechanic, which absorbs incoming projectiles and charges special abilities, adding layers of strategy to fights [1]. The game also features "Eclipses," which increase the danger level in certain areas and can inflict Corruption status, reducing the player’s maximum health and raising the stakes further [1].
The reviewer highlighted the game's relentless pace and challenge, with moments provoking the reaction, "How the hell did I survive that?" [1]. However, while the gameplay is praised as tremendous and a clear step forward, Eurogamer found that Saros’s story and overall structure lag behind the intensity of its action sequences [1]. The narrative elements struggled to keep pace with the momentum and excitement generated by the combat.
Saros’s combination of fast arena shooter action with new mechanics aims to polish the formula Housemarque has been developing. The review positions it as a strong contender among recent action games despite some weaknesses in narrative cohesion [1].
