Compare Saros vs Kingdom Come: Deliverance II

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

Checkpointing was criticized for causing lost progress when autosaves appeared only at limited quest points.

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

One reviewer felt early traversal was unnecessarily taxing, especially before stronger equipment and better mobility options eased the burden.

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

A horror-leaning quest was criticized for being too short for its dread to fully develop.

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

Load times were criticized by one reviewer as long enough to worsen stealth retries and experimentation.

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

Cutscene direction and mocap were praised for selling relationships and emotional scenes convincingly.

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

Reviewers described the story as memorable and emotionally powerful, including scenes that brought strong lasting reactions.

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

The sequel was credited with giving supporting women and other groups somewhat more agency than before.

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

Dialogue was mostly praised for impact, humor, and organic choices, though one reviewer found some repeated dialogue drawn out.

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

Camera behavior was a noted issue for one reviewer, especially through finicky first-person viewpoint problems.

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

Tutorial quality was mixed, with one reviewer calling it decent while others criticized dense text screens and poor explanations.

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

Fast travel opinions were mixed: one reviewer praised dynamic events, while another found it cumbersome and interruption-prone.

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

One reviewer found the loop rewarding but volatile, with strong highs offset by repeated frustration and setbacks.

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

Writing was described as excellent, engaging, humorous, and consistently strong across main and side content.

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

Reviewers repeatedly emphasized how unusual and specific the game feels compared with modern RPGs.

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

The learning curve was repeatedly described as steep, slow, and friction-heavy, rewarding patience but likely turning some players away.

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

Facial animation feedback was mixed: one reviewer noted lifeless dialogue faces, while another praised key character animations.

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

Narrative quality was a major strength, with reviewers praising the historical saga, main quest, character arcs, and cinematic ambition.

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

Reviewers liked the depth and usefulness of perks, weapon techniques, and skill trees, especially when they enabled meaningful playstyle specialization.

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

The cast was praised for memorable personalities, humor, and a strong sense of history.

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

Weapon balance was mixed: one reviewer liked weapon choice, while another found some ranged options hard to use effectively.

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

Reviewers consistently praised the reactive crime, reputation, NPC, and quest systems that made the world feel alive and responsive.

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

The game was not seen as a pure grind, but reviewers still emphasized the effort and repetition needed to gain traction.

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

Difficulty was often called demanding and unforgiving; reviewers generally treated this as part of the appeal, though not always an easy one.

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

Combat drew broad attention for its realism, skill focus, and improvements, though several reviewers still found it harsh, clunky, or frustrating early on.

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

Visual set pieces and in-engine scenes were praised for creating striking emotional moments.

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

The historical codex and contextual detail were praised for offering extensive background on people, events, and society.

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

Ranged play was viewed as improved by some reviewers, especially archery, but another found ranged combat weightless and weak.

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

The early economy was described as restrictive, especially when selling damaged or stolen goods with limited vendor money.

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

The visual style of menus, maps, and medieval presentation received praise for matching the game’s historical tone.

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

One reviewer praised the scale of improvement as something other studios rarely achieve.

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

Progression was widely praised for turning early friction into rewarding growth through skills, perks, equipment, and player learning.

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

Reviewers praised the breadth of activities, quests, and post-launch additions, with many describing a large and varied set of things to do.

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

Reviewers repeatedly framed the systems-heavy design as a major strength, praising how mechanics connect to role-playing, dialogue, world simulation, and player expression.

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

One reviewer reported a consistent frame rate and treated that as part of the game’s stronger technical state.

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

Onboarding divided reviewers: returning and new-player recaps helped, but some found the opening overloaded or blunt.

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

Pacing opinions varied: some praised the sustained momentum, while others complained about indulgent cutscenes or late-game pacing issues.

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

Loot was criticized for early encumbrance pressure and the difficulty of carrying everything a player might want.

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

Reviewers generally agreed the sequel stays true to the original while improving its systems, scope, and accessibility.

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

Immersion was one of the clearest strengths, with reviewers repeatedly describing the world, systems, and presentation as absorbing.

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

Atmosphere was praised alongside world-building, especially in cities, music, and historically grounded locations.

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

Exploration was praised for beautiful spaces, meaningful discoveries, and a strong adventuring feel, though harsh systems made some travel demanding.

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

Environmental detail was praised for dense, specific objects, puddles, tools, farms, residences, and believable spaces.

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

Reviewers saw the sequel as much more polished than the first game, with rough edges reduced and systems better realized.

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

Henry and Hans received strong praise for their evolving relationship and character arcs, with Henry’s trauma and growth adding stakes.

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

The revised perk and upgrade system was praised for offering meaningful upside-focused choices rather than weak side-grades.

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

Graphics were broadly praised for impressive landscapes, cutscenes, lighting, and major visual improvements over the first game.

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

Several reviewers found the game highly entertaining, addictive, and rewarding once its demanding systems clicked.

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

DualSense haptics and adaptive triggers were praised for reflecting stamina, sword clashes, and sharpening interactions.

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

Handheld suitability was supported by one reviewer who described the game as scalable enough for handheld play.

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

The adaptive HUD was praised for hiding unnecessary elements and improving immersion when information was not relevant.

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

Maps were praised for medieval flair and exquisite town art, supporting the game’s historical presentation.

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

UI feedback was positive when reviewers discussed improved, adaptable, or visually polished interface presentation.

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

Main mission design was mixed: reviewers praised varied scenarios, but one criticized a required sequence for lacking an alternate path.

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

World-building was repeatedly praised as immersive, historically grounded, and central to the game’s appeal.

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

One reviewer praised the way locations were recontextualized into memorable set-pieces that rewarded planning and awareness.

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

Sound design was praised for supporting immersion and helping players identify attacks or stealth-relevant cues.

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

The save system was one of the most divisive topics, praised by one reviewer but criticized by many as stingy or punishing.

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

Value was praised because the game is both strong and very long, with some reviewers reporting enormous playtime.

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

The PS5 Pro version was praised as a graphical treat, with platform-specific technical strengths noted.

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

Replay value looked strong thanks to hardcore mode, major content additions, and reviewers wanting to return for more playthroughs.

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

One reviewer strongly disliked Hans as a long-term companion presence, creating strain on their desire to continue.

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

Menu usability was mixed to negative, with some praise for navigation but others calling the menu system dire or frustrating.

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

Voice acting was broadly praised, especially the main cast, though some reviewers noted repeated or uneven minor NPC voices.

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

Controls were described as noticeably smoother than the first game, especially in camera feel, aiming, and sword fighting responsiveness.

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

The soundtrack was one of the most consistently praised elements, with several reviewers calling it orchestral, phenomenal, or legendary.

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

Performance was generally praised across PC and console contexts, with reviewers noting strong optimization and technical improvements.

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

AI and NPC behavior were praised for believable reactions, routines, crime responses, and increased sophistication over the first game.

Bugs were present but usually minor; reviewers ranged from calling glitches common to saying issues rarely disrupted play.

The dog companion Mutt was praised as useful and worthwhile, especially for tracking and early side-quest benefits.

Crafting split reviewers: blacksmithing and alchemy could be charming and rewarding, but several found parts clunky, slow, or repetitive.

Crash stability was praised by multiple reviewers who reported no crashes, no soft locks, or no hard crashes.

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

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

Family friendliness was limited by repeated profanity, sexual content, and depictions of women that one reviewer found objectifying.

Mission variety was strongly praised, especially for quests that went beyond simple errands or bandit-clearing objectives.

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

Reviewers admired the freedom to solve problems, exploit systems, and role-play, though the sandbox sometimes clashed with scripted story demands.

Stealth was useful and sometimes satisfying, yet reviewers also called it finicky, weak, or frustrating in specific forced sections.

One reviewer warned that excessive profanity and potentially offensive material make the game unsuitable for some audiences.

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

The open world drew strong praise for its scale, density, historically grounded cities, and lived-in regions across multiple maps.

Quest design was one of the strongest points, with reviewers praising memorable side stories, branching approaches, and strong writing, despite a few disappointing payoffs.

The post-launch expansions were credited with adding a large amount of extra content to the package.

Post-launch support was described positively through free updates, fixes, and eagerly awaited features.