On October 19, developer Housemarque began rolling out the free update “SAROS: Zenith” for the bullet-hell action game *SAROS*.
According to an announcement on the PlayStation.Blog, this update is available to all players who own *SAROS*. Abebe Tinari, Design Lead for *SAROS: Zenith*, cited two main goals for this update: “improving accessibility” and “adding elements that will encourage existing players to return for more.”Features such as a Boss Rush mode, “New Game+,” new modifiers, trophies, and accessibility options have been introduced, offering content that can be enjoyed by a wide range of players—from first-time beginners to seasoned veterans who have thoroughly explored Kalkosa.
Easier gameplay with slowed-down speed and auto-fire
In terms of accessibility, a new “Game Speed Reduction” feature has been added, which gives players more time to react without reducing the number of bullets—the core of bullet-hell action. Enabling this setting slows down the overall game speed, giving players more time to recognize the signs of enemy attacks and decide on actions such as jumping, dashing, shielding, or parrying.Players can adjust the speed reduction rate themselves and choose between automatic speed reduction during combat and manual activation when the situation becomes dire.
Another new setting, “Auto-Fire,” automatically fires your weapon when you aim at an enemy. This reduces the strain of holding down a button for extended periods, making it easier to focus on other actions, such as dashing to evade attacks. However, reloading is not automated, so you’ll still need to press the button at the right moment to perform a “Perfect Reload,” just as before.In addition, you can finely customize your control scheme by combining the newly added motion sensor controls with the existing button remapping feature.
20 New Modifiers and the “Eclipse Layer” After Completion
The “Calcosa Modifier” system, which lets you adjust the difficulty to your liking, has also been significantly expanded. Ten new options have been added to each of the “Protection Modifiers”—which lower the difficulty to mitigate the impact of mistakes—and the “Trial Modifiers,” which raise the difficulty.
The new “Corruption Melee Boost” Protection Modifier transforms “Corruption”—which erodes your armor’s maximum durability when hit by certain projectiles—into a source of power.When you land a melee attack on an enemy, the accumulated Corruption is consumed and converted into additional damage, allowing you to deliver a powerful blow.
Meanwhile, the Trial Modifiers have been expanded to include “Enemy Regeneration” and other options. When “Enemy Regeneration” is enabled, even if you stun large enemies with gunfire, they will immediately regenerate and revive, requiring you to quickly close in and finish them off with melee attacks.
These modifiers are also directly tied to the “Eclipse Layer” in the new “New Game+” mode.Upon completing the main campaign of *SAROS*, a mysterious new “Node” will be added to the “Armor Matrix” located in the “Passage” base. This Node serves as the key to unlocking the gate leading to the next Eclipse Layer, where you’ll face challenging gameplay with altered rules.
Housemarque, the developer behind this update, is a game studio known for titles such as *Returnal*. This update expands the range of adjustments based on player skill while preserving the studio’s signature focus on the “sense of accomplishment when overcoming difficult challenges” and providing ample room for players to showcase their abilities.
The free update for *SAROS*, titled “SAROS: Zenith,” is now available.
