Housemarque has built a reputation around fast-paced action and stylish chaos, and after spending time with SAROS, it feels like the studio is refining everything it does best. Set on the mysterious planet of Carcosa beneath an ominous eclipse, the game places players in the role of Arjun Devraj, played by Rahul Kohli, a Soltari Enforcer searching for answers in a constantly shifting world filled with danger.

Carcosa is packed with ancient ruins, alien technology, and hostile inhabitants, while the eclipse hanging overhead creates a constant sense of tension. SAROS establishes an unsettling atmosphere as dreamlike environments shift and change throughout the journey, making the world feel unpredictable and genuinely threatening.

Rather than simply shooting enemies from a distance, SAROS revolves around movement, timing, and precision. Dodging incoming attacks is only one part of survival, with shielding and parrying equally important during larger encounters and boss fights, so combat quickly becomes the standout feature.

Holding R1 will deploy your Soltari Shield, blocking incoming blue orbs and absorbing their power, letting you use this stored energy to redirect it back as a powerful counterattack. As Arjun progresses his way through Carcosa, enemies become stronger and faster.

Yellow projectiles deal damage while inflicting corruption by destroying parts of your Integrity, which can’t be regained. Then you have red attacks that must be dodged…at first, but as the story progresses, Arjun gains the ability to parry these red attacks.

Every fight encourages aggressive play while still demanding careful positioning and awareness. Meanwhile, the Second Chance system revives players instantly on their first death, helping maintain momentum and keep the action flowing. The result is an experience that feels closer to a fast-paced dance than a traditional third-person shooter, with each attempt feeling rewarding with a strong sense of long-term progression.

Lucenite and Halcyon collected during each of your runs can be used in the Armour Matrix skill tree for permanent upgrades. Here, you can spend these to permanently boost your three core stats: Resilience, Command and Drive. Resilience basically gives you more health, Command increases power/shield bar, and Drive allows you to gain more Lucenite drops as you play, which in turn increases your Proficiency. It’s worth noting that parts of the skill tree are locked until you defeat certain bosses, so you can only grind so far before you will need to take on additional bosses to progress.

Weapons and upgrades gathered during runs continue to strengthen players over time, even as Carcosa itself changes after death. Carcosan Modifiers, on the other hand, allow players to adjust the challenge level once they’ve been unlocked, making the experience more flexible depending on how punishing players want the game to feel.

Outside of combat, SAROS introduces psychological tension through the crew of Echelon IV and the strange effects of the eclipse. Between runs, players return to the Passage to track progression and interact with allies, though hallucinations and paranoia make it increasingly difficult to know who can truly be trusted.

SAROS leans heavily into a neon-infused sci-fi aesthetic that perfectly suits Housemarque’s signature “bullet ballet” combat. Battles erupt into waves of projectiles and particle effects, creating chaotic encounters that still feel controlled and rhythmic. Atmospheric 3D soundscapes combined with Sam Slater’s dark electronic and drone-metal score constantly reinforce the tension and mystery surrounding Carcosa.

Built specifically for the PlayStation 5 and enhanced for PS5 Pro, SAROS takes full advantage of the hardware. Environments are detailed and smooth, and packed with fast-paced action, while haptic feedback, adaptive triggers, and near-instant loading speeds further help immerse players in the action.

SAROS feels like a confident evolution of Housemarque’s gameplay-first philosophy. Between the stylish combat, rewarding progression systems, and haunting sci-fi atmosphere, the game delivers an intense and memorable experience that keeps pulling players back into the darkness of Carcosa.

Written by: MKAU Gaming