Compare Saros vs Hollow Knight: Silksong

Reviewers praised Saros for broad accessibility and difficulty-tuning options, including modifiers, visual recoloring, remapping, and ways to soften or intensify challenge.

Accessibility is criticized as limited, with reviews noting the game is not trying to be accessible to everyone and lacks broader options.

Saros’ checkpoint-like structure and biome restart options were praised for reducing repetition and respecting time.

Checkpointing is a common concern, with long runbacks, sparse benches, paid benches, and poor placement repeatedly criticized.

Side character depth was a common weakness, with reviewers describing the supporting cast as shallow, disposable, or stock.

Side character depth receives positive evidence from a review praising Pharloom’s supporting characters as charming and motivated.

Animation comments were mostly negative, focused on stiff dialogue animation and odd or weak face animation outside stronger cinematic moments.

Animation quality has limited but strong evidence, with reviewers noting gorgeous animation within the hand-drawn presentation.

Endgame content was a limited concern, with one reviewer specifically wishing for a dedicated post-game activity.

Endgame content receives strong support from optional endings, zones, bosses, and post-credits discoveries.

Camera controls were specifically praised as quick enough for combat without becoming disorienting.

Camera and hitbox-adjacent behavior draws criticism where bosses or damage windows appear from off-screen or feel overly generous.

Navigation drew criticism from one reviewer who found objective direction poor despite liking the map.

Map and navigation design is mixed: several reviews praise map structure and direction, but others dislike incomplete map support and 100% cleanup.

Emotional impact was mixed, with some reviewers admiring ideas but others saying the narrative and characters did not fully move them.

Emotional impact is strong, ranging from adrenaline and triumph to reviewers saying they shed tears or were moved by events.

Dialogue quality was mixed to weak, with several reviewers noting stilted conversations, unnatural backlog delivery, or long quiet stretches.

Dialogue is mixed-to-positive: one review calls it shockingly good, while another says it can feel dry at times.

Tutorial quality had limited but positive evidence, with reviewers noting trial-and-error teaching and encounter design that prepares players for bosses.

Tutorial quality is criticized through comparison with Hollow Knight’s clearer early tutorial structure and more generous opening support.

Writing quality was mixed, with praise for logs and media-literate storytelling but criticism of hollow or unclear themes.

Writing quality receives strong praise where reviewers call it top-notch and tied to Hornet’s conversations and character insight.

User interface design had limited mixed evidence, with one reviewer finding it good enough but imperfect.

User interface design has limited positive evidence around attractive mission HUD illustrations and attention to detail.

Platforming precision had limited but positive evidence around precise jumping, dodging, and reduced geometry snagging.

Platforming precision is mixed: reviewers admire Hornet’s acrobatics, but several criticize the diagonal pogo or inconsistent bounce feel.

Loot drew mixed feedback: some liked risky artifacts and weapon discovery, while others disliked artifact droughts or limited replacement control.

Loot and rewards are a weaker point, with reviewers complaining about bosses or difficult paths that provide little or disappointing material payoff.

Originality was mixed, with praise for bold changes and criticism that Saros repeats Returnal-like beats with minimal variation.

Originality is praised where Silksong is seen as firmly on its own path rather than a simple copy.

Protagonist appeal was mixed: several reviewers found Arjun compelling or well-acted, while one found him unpleasant by design.

Hornet is consistently praised as an excellent, charismatic, well-rounded protagonist with stronger presence than the silent Knight.

Narrative quality was the most mixed major attribute, ranging from gripping and coherent to underdeveloped, opaque, or overambitious.

Narrative quality is praised as more focused and engaging than the original, helped by Hornet’s voice and guided exploration.

World interactivity had limited evidence, mostly around movement-reactive effects and environmental destruction.

World interactivity has limited but strong support from one review that praises evolving locations, reactive hubs, and organic backtracking.

Onboarding was mixed: some reviewers said mechanics ramped up well, while one felt the many systems were poorly communicated.

Onboarding is a weak spot for some, especially in the opening hours where resources, checkpoints, and tutorial clarity are less generous.

Grind and repetition drew mixed-to-negative comments, especially around repeated boss attempts and artifact droughts.

Grind level is criticized where resource depletion and boss attempts can push players toward needless grinding.

Resource balance drew limited but mixed evidence, with one review noting balance concerns and another criticizing excess currency gains.

The rosary and shard economy is the most repeated systems complaint, often described as stingy, grindy, or slightly misbalanced.

The core loop was usually seen as compelling and satisfying, though Polygon felt progression systems weakened the roguelike loop.

The core loop is praised as pure Metroidvania satisfaction: tough encounters, discovery, and rewarding progression through new areas.

Enemy variety was praised for diverse, escalating, and biome-changing threats that keep combat fresh.

Enemy variety is strong in scope, but evidence is mixed because flying enemies, monster rooms, and certain mobs can feel annoying.

Lore depth was praised where reviewers enjoyed logs, mysteries, and hidden material that encouraged deeper digging.

Lore depth is praised for hidden mysteries, optional heritage threads, and deeper history that rewards curiosity.

The learning curve was approachable for some but still initially demanding, with trial-and-error teaching and a tough early adjustment.

The learning curve is steep, with reviewers noting hours of mastery and occasional git-gud walls, but also rewarding skill growth.

Fast travel and biome teleporting were widely praised as major quality-of-life improvements that reduce tedium.

Fast travel is praised in one review for reducing backtracking tedium through well-marked routes.

Innovation centered on the shield, bullet-as-resource design, haptic implementation, and a more flexible challenge structure.

Innovation is positive but measured: reviewers praise new directions and system changes, while one calls it evolutionary rather than revolutionary.

Frame rate was generally strong, with most reviewers reporting near-locked or rock-solid 60fps and only occasional dips.

Frame rate stability has limited but positive evidence from a Switch 2 review calling 120fps performance perfect.

The upgrade system was praised for making attempts feel worthwhile and improving approachability.

Crests, tools, and upgrades are widely seen as flexible and creative, though a few reviews found early limitations or resource-linked tool use frustrating.

World-building was praised through Carcosa’s mysteries, logs, lore, and thematic environmental storytelling.

World-building is one of the strongest areas, with reviewers praising Pharloom as immaculate, complex, sad, and worth exploring.

The soundtrack was praised for oppressive, unnerving, and complex music that supports Carcosa’s tone.

The soundtrack is one of the clearest strengths, repeatedly described as magnificent, excellent, world-class, and emotionally fitting.

Pacing drew mixed responses, from tighter run pacing to complaints that story, repetition, or traversal could drag.

Pacing has a notable concern around long checkpoint placement that interrupts practice and repetition in challenging sequences.

Graphics quality was praised across reviews for visual flair, PS5 showcase value, and striking Unreal Engine 5 presentation.

Graphics quality is praised for a stunning hand-drawn world and a visual style that feels playful, dark, and richly realized.

Sound design and 3D audio were praised for intensity, dread, positional clarity, and haunting effects.

Sound design earns strong support from praise for surface-specific details and top-notch audio touches.

Reviewers repeatedly praised the unnerving, dread-soaked atmosphere, even when they disagreed about the story itself.

Atmosphere is a major strength, described as surreal, haunting, dreadful, beautiful, and full of wonder and horror.

Immersion was praised through tactile feedback, 3D audio, and audiovisual design that pulled reviewers into Carcosa.

Immersion is strongly supported by one review’s comment about Pharloom lingering after play.

Controls were heavily praised for responsiveness, tactile feel, and precise movement/shooting, with only rare complaints about input conflicts.

Control feel is strongly praised, with one review emphasizing complete control of Hornet and another calling the Switch 2 Pro Controller perfect.

Environmental detail was a frequent highlight, with reviewers praising Carcosa’s biomes, architecture, and alien spaces.

Environmental detail is repeatedly praised, from dense small touches to rooms and backgrounds that make Pharloom feel lived-in.

Handheld or remote play suitability had limited evidence, but one reviewer said it looked and played beautifully on PlayStation Portal.

Handheld suitability has positive evidence from Steam Deck performance and battery life comments.

Difficulty balance split reviewers: many called it tough but fair and customizable, while some felt ganks, repetition, or modifiers could undermine balance.

Difficulty is the most divisive attribute: many reviewers call it rewarding and intentional, while others find it cruel, too punishing, or unfairly frictional.

Fun factor was very high, with reviewers repeatedly describing the act of playing, replaying, and mastering Saros as joyful or addictive.

Fun factor is high overall, with reviewers repeatedly saying they had great fun, wanted to return, or found the game compelling despite pain.

Level design was strongly praised for handcrafted chunks, biome structure, combat spaces, and a balance between freshness and mastery.

Level design is strongly praised for seamless area flow, purposeful rooms, thoughtful platform placement, and dense Metroidvania structure.

Performance optimization was praised overall, especially on PS5/PS5 Pro, with only minor dips or loading-related hitches noted.

Performance is praised on lower-end hardware, Switch platforms, and 120fps contexts, with only minor visual caveats.

Art direction was a clear strength, with reviewers highlighting Carcosa’s strong, alien visual identity and memorable environmental design.

Art direction receives near-universal praise for hand-drawn beauty, color variety, style, and a distinctive visual identity.

Replay value was strong, with reviewers saying they wanted to dive back in or keep running even after credits.

Replay value trends high for completionists and build experimenters, though one reviewer said they were glad to play it only once.

Movement feel was praised as smooth, nimble, precise, and joyful across several reviews.

Hornet’s movement is one of the clearest consensus wins, with reviewers praising her speed, agility, sprinting, and dance-like traversal.

Reviewers generally felt Saros honors Housemarque and Returnal’s lineage while refining or expanding the studio’s formula.

Faithfulness to franchise is strongly supported by reviews saying it captures, continues, and improves on Hollow Knight while standing apart.

Gameplay mechanics, especially the shield, parry, eclipse, and modifier systems, were praised, though one review felt the systems could overprotect players.

Review evidence frames the broader mechanics as more complex than the original, especially through Hornet’s expanded combat and movement options.

Progression was usually praised for meaningful permanent upgrades, though one reviewer felt it overemphasized numbers over skill.

Progression is generally praised for fresh upgrades and satisfying forward motion, but one review criticizes opaque true-ending requirements.

Bosses were widely admired for spectacle, challenge, and memorability, though a few reviewers found some fights long or uneven.

Boss design is broadly praised as memorable, choreographed, varied, and exciting, though some reviews dislike spongey health pools, rewards, or runbacks.

Horror tension was supported through praise for dread, anxiety, cosmic horror, and the unsettling eclipse-driven world.

Horror tension receives limited positive support from the dream/nightmare tone described in one review.

Several reviews found the game rich in sections, weapons, collectibles, and sights, though the content variety was usually discussed through exploration and spectacle.

Content variety is praised through multiple game-like challenge types, many systems, and plentiful options, while remaining tied to high difficulty.

Optional challenge-space design was praised as brutal but rewarding.

Mission design earns positive evidence where missions give players reasons to revisit areas and make NPC discoveries feel more purposeful.

Polish was praised frequently, with reviewers calling Saros smooth, refined, and consistently excellent.

Polish is praised through meticulous design and presentation, though only one scored review directly supports the attribute.

Value for money had limited but explicit support from one reviewer who said they would pay full price.

Value for money is exceptional across reviews, especially because of the low price, large content volume, and long completion potential.

Exploration was praised for hidden paths, secrets, and optional areas that reward revisiting biomes.

Exploration is a standout, with most reviewers praising dense secrets, rewarding routes, and curiosity-driven discovery, though a few disliked sparse rewards or risk pressure.

Platform-specific support was praised through PS5 showcase features, Pro upscaling, DualSense use, and 3D audio.

Platform-specific support has positive evidence from ultrawide support that improves immersion.

Arjun’s arc drew praise where reviewers felt his development became darker, more complex, and captivating.

Character development is praised for Hornet softening through Pharloom and for character arcs that counterbalance the harsh world.

Combat was the strongest consensus point, described as thrilling, precise, tactile, and among Housemarque’s best work.

Combat is a major strength, described as fast, precise, tense, dance-like, and rewarding, though some reviews tie its highs to demanding difficulty.

Aiming was generally considered forgiving and readable thanks to auto-aim and tracking, though some no-auto-aim weapons were harder to master.

The cast received mixed reactions, with some reviews praising performances while others wanted more depth beyond Arjun.

Crafting has negative evidence where shard requirements pull the player away from action into repetitive resource hunting.

Facial animations were a repeated weakness, especially outside cutscenes where faces could not match the vocal performances.

DualSense haptics and adaptive triggers were a standout, repeatedly praised as tactile, innovative, and deeply integrated.

HUD/readability comments were positive but limited, emphasizing that the intense spectacle remained coherent and not visually confusing.

Load times had limited but strong evidence, with Digital Foundry praising nearly instant transitions.

Menu usability had limited negative evidence, focused on hidden information and unclear equipment-screen navigation.

Puzzle design receives limited but positive evidence, with one review saying Silksong makes puzzle-solving and hidden-path discovery feel effortless.

Quest design is split: some reviewers like wishes and missions as structure, while others criticize boring or grindy fetch quests.

Save/run continuation quality was praised via suspend, leave-and-return, and day-one roguelite quality-of-life comments.

Skill-tree depth was mixed, from exhaustive and satisfying to more of a limited trunk than a deep build system.

Visual effects were a major highlight, especially the particle-heavy combat fireworks and colorful VFX.

Voice acting was widely praised, especially Rahul Kohli’s performance, with the broader cast also receiving positive notes.

Weapon balance was mostly positive for variety and viability, though some weapons or no-autohit variants frustrated reviewers.