First gameplay trailer for Returnal follow-up Saros reveals a gentler roguelike that's no less abundant in bullets

Still nary PC merchandise date, boo

Sony and Housemarque's sci-fantasy shooter Saros got its archetypal due gameplay trailer astatine PlayStation's latest State of Play this evening. If you were hoping for much Returnal, past determination yourself a immense brimming flagon of triumph mead, for this is fundamentally Returnal positive a gruff antheral lead, a sunnier shape-shifting wasteland, and a unit shield that converts attacks into foodstuff for your biggest guns.

Do radical portion triumph mead successful the satellite of Saros? This is not a question answered by the trailer. Instead, we're treated to a bid of agile bangfights with enemies of each shapes and sizes. Some are robotic. Some are skull-themed. Some person much arms than seems strictly necessary. Some are ample capable to springiness Kratos the acold sweats. See that Sony? Did you a cheeky spot of licence cross-pollination there.

As successful Returnal - a crippled that took Housemarque's shmup pedigree and applied it to a third-person roguelike shooter - astir of these creatures are partial to spewing the astir fantastically patterned fusillades of vigor projectiles. It's arsenic though idiosyncratic had sneezed portion downing their triumph mead, and skilfully angled their lips and nostrils to nutrient a crowd-pleasing firework effect, alternatively than an excruciating faux pas. If you dislike being sneezed connected by cosmic goblins, the game's horizontal dash looks precise effectual providing you negociate its cooldown.

The trailer blurb recaps the communicative premise. In Saros you play Arjun Devraj, voiced by Rajul Kohli. He's a Soltari enforcer exploring the mislaid colony of Carcosa successful the look of an eclipse that causes the scenery to shapeshift. I don't find Devraj that compelling arsenic a quality truthful far, but he's got a chill overgarment truthful we'll telephone it adjacent Stevens. There are besides immoderate bittersweet holographic radical you tin query astir Carcosa's plight.

The cardinal differences I tin spot implicit Returnal are 1) that vigor shield, which besides comes successful useful up against laser beam traps and the like, and 2) a Second Chance revive mechanic, which sees Devraj slamming his fist into the crushed and resurrecting successful sheer petulance astatine having accidentally taken 400 bullets to the jaw. Housemarque person been keen to emphasise that this is simply a gentler roguelike than Returnal, with "permanent resources and progression making each decease valuable". See besides the tagline, "Come backmost stronger".

All we request present is simply a PC merchandise date. The happening I'd astir similar to perceive astir adjacent is the bestiary. I adored Returnal's lore writing. I thought the 3D slug hellhole worldly was bonkers, too, but mostly I'm present for knotty descriptions of exceedingly unusual fauna.

Disclosure: RPS co-founder Alec Meer wrote for Returnal and is the pb writer connected Saros.