8 Ways Saros Improves On Returnal

Now that Saros has been released, players are making comparisons between Housemarque’s latest title and the critically acclaimed Returnal that released in 2021. Returnal was a game that the industry had never really seen before, featuring 3D combat in a bullet-hell fashion. The closest game to it was the latest DOOM games.

While Returnal was a phenomenal video game, it definitely was not perfect. Saros takes everything that was frustrating about Returnal and improves upon it, making it a more enjoyable experience for both veterans and casual players.

If Returnal wasn’t for you, and you are wondering if you should pick up Saros to give it a try, we have the answers for you here. Read further to learn all the ways Saros improves on Returnal, making it a better experience overall.

8 Permanent Progression

Come Back Stronger

One of the biggest complaints from fans about Returnal was the lack of permanent progression. While players would earn permanent gadgets to help with traversal, such as the Grappling Hook, there was no increase to stats throughout the game, resulting in players having to start from scratch when they died.

However, Saros changed this by adding an entirely new skill tree for players to engage with. This addition made dying much less frustrating, since every time you die, you can now allocate points into a skill tree to make your character stronger. This results in future runs becoming easier and more manageable for players who are struggling with its difficulty.

7 A Bigger Focus on Story

Discover the Story of Arjun

While Returnal had a great story, it lacked cutscenes and a deep narrative to keep players engaged. Saros does a much better job at telling a story with the addition of more cutscenes, more side characters to talk to, and a bigger plot overall. Don’t get me wrong, Returnal had a great story; it’s just a fact that Saros does a better job at telling it.

While Returnal was about grief, which it did a phenomenal job at showcasing to the player, Saros is about a lost colony that is filled with hidden meanings and secrets. There is just more to dive into this time around, through more voice logs and holograms, and story beats that have you questioning the bigger picture and the background of the main character, Arjun.

6 Quicker Runs

Less Time Consuming

The biggest issue with Returnal, especially when it first launched, was the fact that runs could take a very long time to complete due to being forced to start from the very first level. The reason this was an issue is that Returnal didn’t allow the player to save mid-run, meaning you would lose progress if you had to sign off for the day. Fortunately, Housemarque heard the complaints and later added an ability to save during a run and return to it later.

The best thing about Saros is that the game allows players to start from their current biome, instead of having to start all the way from the beginning of the game. This feature makes runs way shorter than Returnal, usually only lasting around 20 to 30 minutes. In other words, it's a much easier game to pick up and play for a quick session, instead of being forced to dedicate a lot of time.

5 The Addition of a Shield & Parry

Use Enemy Bullets to Your Advantage

Returnal had its fair share of abilities, but Saros takes it to the next level with the addition of a Shield and Parry. These two abilities make it so you don’t have to avoid bullets at all times, and can instead engage with them and use them to your advantage.

For example, the Shield allows you to absorb blue bullets instead of dodging through them, which fills up a meter that allows for an ultimate attack. On the other hand, the parry allows you to deflect red bullets back toward the enemy to deal additional damage. Having these in your arsenal allows you to take a more aggressive approach to gameplay, rather than having to dodge all the time.

4 A More Aggressive Playstyle

Play Harder, Not Smarter

Returnal did a phenomenal job in the gameplay department, including some of the best gunplay out of any PlayStation exclusive. However, it wasn’t everyone’s cup of tea as it required a more careful approach compared to Saros. The combat in Returnal had players carefully dodging through bullets and avoiding them, feeling more like a dance, rather than an all-out gun-blazing affair.

Saros takes a more aggressive approach to combat, which is shown in both the abilities you can earn and the number of bullets on screen. As previously mentioned, the Shield and Parry abilities allow you to go into bullets, rather than having to avoid them, and that, combined with the number of enemy bullets on screen, forces the player to play aggressively.

3 Multiple Save Files

Start From Scratch

One of the most frustrating aspects of Returnal was that it only allowed for one save file, even after beating the game. This alone made it impossible to start a game from scratch, making it only possible if you had a second PlayStation account. Quite honestly, it was a very strange design choice on Housemarque’s part, and I am still confused to this day as to why they made that choice.

Luckily, Housemarque went a different route and allows players to have multiple save files in Saros. In other words, once you beat the game, you can play through the entire game from scratch without upgrades, a brand-new skill tree to go through, etc. This is also great as it allows other people in your household to experience the game in full alongside you.

2 Gameplay Modifiers

Adjust the Experience to Your Liking

While it’s not something I like to engage with, the addition of gameplay modifiers in Saros is a huge improvement over Returnal. In case you didn’t know, not many players were able to finish Returnal due to the brutal difficulty of the experience. The new gameplay modifiers allow players to adjust the difficulty to their liking, through adjustments such as dealing more damage, taking less damage, etc, helping players to finish the entire game.

The greatest part of the gameplay modifiers is that it’s completely optional. This means that the hardcore players who are very skilled can keep the difficulty at its default setting, removing the chance of ruining the experience for themselves. Additionally, the really hardcore players can even increase the difficulty with the modifiers, adding a new level of challenge.

1 A Shorter Experience

Roughly 20 Hours

Another improvement Saros made over Returnal, and not everyone is going to agree with this, is the fact that it’s a shorter experience. While it's nice to have a very long game, the roguelike nature of these games can result in a game that can become repetitive. Returnal could take players 30 hours to complete, while Saros will take players around 20 hours. Of course, the length depends on skill level.

Saros being a shorter and more compact experience was the right choice by Housemarque. It prevents the game from ever becoming stale, which is very important since you will be doing the same thing over and over again due to its roguelike elements. This will also make it possible for more players to finish the game, unlike Returnal, which had players quitting about halfway through.