Matti Häkli
Reporting and statements that mention Matti Häkli.
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Saros Doesn’t Like Being a Roguelike, So Why Is It One?
Saros, the spiritual successor to Housemarque's roguelike hit Returnal, is criticized for shunning its predecessor's genre conventions in an effort to be more approachable. Despite technically featuring roguelike elements like randomized loot and levels, the game is seen as hollowed out due to stunted build variety and a lack of interlocking systems. This departure from its roguelike roots, while aiming for broader appeal, results in a discordant experience that undermines both its gameplay and narrative potential.
Saros is Incredible, But Housemarque Has a Lot Riding On It
Despite Saros's critical acclaim and improved accessibility compared to Returnal, concerns remain about its commercial success and Housemarque's future within Sony. The article discusses the sales figures of Returnal and the financial pressures on studios, questioning if Saros's larger scope and development costs will appease executives, especially after recent layoffs and cancellations within PlayStation Studios.
Saros Was Made More Approachable Than Returnal So More Players Could Enjoy It
Housemarque's Gregory Louden and Matti Häkli explain that Saros was designed to be more approachable than Returnal to allow more players to enjoy the experience. While Saros offers more tools and modifiers for players to experiment with, they emphasize it is not necessarily easier, but rather provides more room to learn mechanics and achieve a flow state. The goal is to introduce more players to the Housemarque experience, potentially leading them to explore the studio's previous titles.
Saros – 15 Biggest Details You Shouldn’t Ignore
Saros, a new rogue-lite bullet hell experience from Housemarque, launches on April 30th and draws comparisons to Returnal while introducing new mechanics. Key features include returning to a hub world called The Passage after clearing biomes, fast travel options, side objectives for lore, and complex bullet patterns. The game also features an 'Eclipse' mode to increase difficulty and offers permanent unlocks that can be turned off for a purist experience, along with quality-of-life features like mid-run suspension and multiple save slots. A Deluxe Edition offers 48 hours of early access.
Saros Lets You Disable Most Permanent Unlocks for Even More Challenge
Saros, the spiritual successor to Returnal, will offer players significant control over its difficulty, including the option to disable most permanent unlocks. Housemarque aims to provide players with more agency rather than simply offering standard difficulty settings. The game launches on April 30th for PlayStation 5 and features new additions like The Passage and biome teleportation.
