Saros, a new IP fromReturnaldeveloper Housemarque, could be an exciting opportunity to takeReturnal’s winning formula and improve upon it. While it’s abundantly clear this is not aReturnalsequel in any sense, the gameplay features and unique mechanics promise to give players a similar yet evolved experience as Housemarque’s debut hit. There’s no doubt thatSaroswill beevery bit as challenging asReturnal, for better or worse, though developers likely factored this in when considering the barriers to entry thatReturnalfaced.
Housemarque has laid out a few details about the differences betweenReturnalandSAROS, but what it chooses to carry over could be just as important. The strengths ofReturnal’scryptic and ominous ambiance, story, and universe certainly seem to be a highlight based on the trailer forSAROS,and it’s also likely that Housemarque has advanced its utilization of PlayStation’sDualSense adaptive triggerand haptic feedback technology. The death cycle feature will also come back in a new and improved way, and the combat promises to be every bit as dynamic asReturnal.
Why The SAROS Reveal Promises A Return(al) To Form
Death Cycles Are A Given, But Adaptive Triggers Are A Must
WhileSarospromises to be a different game in many respects, improvements to some ofReturnal’sincredible gameplay could be the most exciting aspects. One feature that obviously will return based on the trailer alone is theroguelite death cyclemechanic that restarts players at square one after they inevitably perish to challenging enemies. This was a divisive yet defining feature ofReturnaland appears to bea core part of Housemarque’s formula. The death cycle inSAROSis likely connected to the ominous eclipse occurring on Carcosa, the main planet and setting forSAROS.
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Similar toReturnal, the world of Carcosa will also change at the beginning of each cycle, a key gameplay feature that introduces a major layer of challenge and complexity as new maps completely disorient players. Despite the trailer not including any actual gameplay footage, there’s also a high likelihood that the maps inSaroswill be randomly generated “rooms” or sections that lead toward an eventual boss, with various new environments, such as desert terrain. Most importantly,Sarosneeds to integratehaptic feedback and adaptive triggersinto gameplay in a major way, improving upon the impressive integration inReturnal.
All Known Changes To Gameplay In SAROS (So Far)
SAROS Features Permanent Resources & Improved Progression
Housemarque has listed a few details about its upcoming IP and pointed to some key gameplay updates fromReturnal’sformula. This includes"permanent resources and progression, making every death valuable.“This means that, unlikeReturnal, the upgrades made to a loadout in each playthroughcarry over across each death cycle. This is a major change that might compensate for some of the barriers to entry thatReturnalfaced, where many players tapped out after dying a few times and having to start back at square one. Upgrades carrying over across cycles equates to a better sense of progress.
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WhileReturnalhad a form of suit and weapon upgrades, the process for acquiring them was challenging and was a further barrier to entry for many players.Saroswill also have upgradable weapons and suit parts, but the wording ofHousemarque’s announcement implies that players will select these upgradesat the startof each cycle:
“After every death you will face a changed world, but in SAROS you will be able to choose and permanently upgrade your loadout from an evolving set of weapons and suit parts to ‘come back stronger.'” - Housemarque
If true, this would be a big change fromReturnalthat would likely bring in a swath of new players who couldn’t get past its initial challenge. Either way, the new gameplay mechanics inSarosareprobably aimed at finding a balancebetween carrying over the beloved aspects of Returnal, while also removing some of its punishing barriers to entry.
SAROS Can Take Returnal’s Formula To The Next Level
Returnal’s Gameplay Is Ripe For Evolution
Above all,Saroshas the opportunity to be an improved and evolved version ofReturnal.The game needs to be challenging in ways that honor the original formula but also remove orreimagine the more frustrating mechanics.The most exciting aspect of SAROS is the opportunity to bring back innovative controls that utilize adaptive trigger technology, another defining feature ofReturnalthat took full advantage of the DualSense capabilities. For some reason, most PS5 games have still not managed to incorporate DualSense functionality in meaningful ways, andReturnalremains a benchmark for the technology even after all this time.
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WhileSarosis not a sequel toReturnal,it will share much of the core gameplay functionality and hopefully take things to the next level.Saroshas the potential to be one of the most impressive PS5 games yet, and removing barriers to entry seems to be high on Housemarque’s priorities based on some of the newly announced mechanics. WhenSarosreleases on PS5 and PS5 Pro in 2026, it could take the world by storm, as long as it brings back some ofReturnal’smost beloved features.
