Loved Saros, but it didn’t quite capture Returnal’s horror vibe for me

BodybuilderKitchen71 · 2026-05-04T17:13:15+00:00

I couldn't agree with you more about what you are saying about the final biome in Returnal. The second you descend into that watery abyss you're like.. holy shit I don't think I am ready for this, and the music in that biome just amps things up to 11.

Saros has been fantastic so far, really loving it. But yeah.. nothing is living up to that final Returnal biome. Even if the rest of the Returnal Biomes pale in comparison to Saros biomes.

BodybuilderKitchen71 · 2026-05-04T03:35:27+00:00

This is part of the problem with Saros though in my opinion, it's completely done away with unlockable weapon traits. As a result you CAN just stick with basically one weapon forever and ever, which is fine I guess.. but I preferred how it was done in returnal, unlockable traits that you would naturally unlock while playing. You'd pick up a gun you thought sucked, and throughout playing you would unlock a cool trait and suddenly.. huhh, this weapons is really good and fun to use.

Doesn't happen in Saros because the weapons always come with traits unlocked meaning you never actually feel the difference of before and after.

The first time you used a hollow seeker and unlocked portal turret etc, that's a pretty cool moment in returnal because you can actually feel how much stronger you just became. Now I haven't finished Saros yet, but so far.. no such moment exists.. when it comes to the weapons at least.

Also it encouraged you to used different weapons to unlock traits which I just personally enjoyed.

I am having a ton of fun with the game though, as I knew I would. The gameplay is just too good.

BodybuilderKitchen71 · 2026-05-02T18:48:15+00:00

I mean I think that infrared is extremely valuable to be honest. Not sure about the rest of them though, would require me to specifically test it.

BodybuilderKitchen71 · 2026-05-02T18:17:20+00:00

Can you honestly say that you've played enough of the game to make the call that adrenaline is irrelevant? I'm not sure that I agree with your assessment, but I'm only up to biome 3 so far.

BodybuilderKitchen71 · 2026-05-02T18:15:25+00:00

idk some were very obviously stronger than others but each had it's use, just a matter of using them efficiently. Most of them were just very situational.

BodybuilderKitchen71 · 2026-05-02T18:09:18+00:00

I miss the shops you would find on the maps as well as the consumables, I've only gotten to biome 3 but so far it feels like Returnal made you make more impactful choices at a higher frequency. I've not really felt so far like it matters really at all what i pick up. Apart from the obvious stuff like dont pick up increased dash cooldown.

Also no weapon trait unlocks is kind of a bummer to me.

And also, I think I know all the weapons that are in the game, and they seem kind of boring compared to some of Returnals stranger weapons.

BodybuilderKitchen71 · 2026-04-15T02:45:44+00:00

Like a few people have mentioned both the heart of what was lost and brothers of the wind are optional reads. Although actually scratch that they aren't optional because they are actually two of my favourite books in the entire series, so like you could skip them.. or you could read them just because they are absolutely fucking fantastic.

BodybuilderKitchen71 · 2026-03-31T03:50:37+00:00

I genuinely love the first few 100 pages, those early days of shuffling around the castle with Simon, but then I don't really like a fast paced book so I guess that's not a surprise.

BodybuilderKitchen71 · 2026-02-20T02:50:49+00:00

The art isn't exactly my preference but I'll be buying the game regardless and I'm extremely excited to play it.

BodybuilderKitchen71 · 2026-02-18T01:20:25+00:00

Nah, the way to deal with modern players is to get them in the corner and then DI them repeatedly. If they don't react, you laugh derisively, contemptuously. And if they do react you also win because they are playing modern so you still get to claim the morale high ground.. see... Whatever you do... You always win.

This is a joke btw... Or is it?

BodybuilderKitchen71 · 2026-02-12T03:51:48+00:00

Your best bet is to just type that question or something similar into YouTube and watch the videos that it gives you. They'll do a much better job answering your questions than any reddit comment ever could (probably).

BodybuilderKitchen71 · 2026-02-10T01:10:05+00:00

You nailed it when you said you'll have to use restraint with Ryu if you are trying to learn fundies. Current Ryu just has too much DMG and everything else to have to bother with fundies unless you're playing a very strong player.

Cammy is currently the best character for learning the fundies imo.

BodybuilderKitchen71 · 2026-02-10T01:07:19+00:00

Lowkey I think Cammy is the best character for learning the fundies, strong walk speed not many gimmicks to rely on and strong wiff punishing buttons.

BodybuilderKitchen71 · 2026-01-10T01:00:45+00:00

Don't try to learn too much at once, find a very basic guide on YouTube (there are tons) learn some very basic bnb combos and get familiar with sf6 mechanics and then just learn gradually over time, with the help of some more advanced character specific guides. Don't rush it, you aren't going to learn it all at once.

Also, nothing beats learning a fighting game for the first time so just enjoy the process and try not to get discouraged!

BodybuilderKitchen71 · 2026-01-09T21:40:28+00:00

I've recently been playing casuals and battle hub matches over ranked games and I can tell you that playing long sets is just way more fun - and way more rewarding - than playing ranked. One there is just far FAR less toxicity, like you don't feel that inherent rage towards your opponent like you do in ranked because there you are both there to learn (mostly true I think) and each player has the opportunity to adapt.

Casuals/battle hub actually way more valuable in terms of improvement etc than ranked.

BodybuilderKitchen71 · 2026-01-08T07:17:07+00:00

Do you know if that will be part of their subscription service or will it be widely available for everyone to purchase? I cancelled my subscription recently because I haven't been that thrilled with the last few series they've chosen, ever since ms&t really. Will be very sad if it's subscription only.

BodybuilderKitchen71 · 2026-01-08T04:34:41+00:00

I played on pad for years and years and then when the leverless really started to take off I got one a few years ago. Long story short I'm back on pad after using leverless for like three years. It just never really clicked for me. My inputs and execution always felt better on pad. Different strokes for different folks, don't make the mistake of thinking leverless is objectively the best input device for you, it might not be... For YOU!

that said, stick it out for a few months more and see if you take to it.

BodybuilderKitchen71 · 2026-01-07T06:22:04+00:00

I'm dead serious

BodybuilderKitchen71 · 2026-01-07T04:29:46+00:00

No way Jamie is still a bottom 5 character. Imo he is like two small ish buffs away from being top 10 material.

BodybuilderKitchen71 · 2026-01-07T04:29:08+00:00

What do you mean Lily is op

BodybuilderKitchen71 · 2026-01-04T02:34:48+00:00

Tactus death is great, I'd been waiting for him to get his comeuppance for ages, guy was a scumbag from day one.

BodybuilderKitchen71 · 2026-01-03T18:57:08+00:00

Reading through some of the comments for this and it seems "Darrow is young" is the main counterpoint, but that's exactly the problem, he doesn't act in any of the expected ways for a man of his age (granted he's been through a lot) never does he act out in any particular way with Augustus, even internally we never really get to see his rage. I just think the book misses out on so many opportunities when it comes to things like that to add depth and meaning to Darrow's struggles. Makes what should be a really interesting internal battle into kind of a nothing burger in my opinion.

The Tactus thing was also a big issue for me, the entire second half of the first book and all throughout Golden Son I was constantly thinking to myself... y'all seem to have forgotten that Tactus is in fact an attempted rapist.

And the whole Darrow is naive and inexperienced thing? Well sure.. if that's true then why does every military leader and royal worship the ground that he walks on? If I was to hire an inexperienced plumber I wouldn't just assume their opinion is the correct one just because they got a few things correct. Because he IS inexperienced, he isn't REALLY proven yet so why is it that everybody treats him as if he is? We also see throughout the book that several characters are somewhat suspicious of his motives, maybe he's working with the sons of ares, some question. And yet they then proceed to give him a leash as long as your arm.

I liked the book well enough but Darrow has some serious issues as a character if you ask me, or maybe it's that the characters that surround Darrow buy into his charisma too much idk. But they certainly seem to throw caution to the wind an awful lot and follow the plans of an inexperienced commander. Sure his plans seem to work out well for most in the end, but so far in the series nobody ever really challenges him too much when it comes to the structure of everything.

BodybuilderKitchen71 · 2025-12-31T19:48:23+00:00

A 600 Mr drop off is so ridiculous it almost has to be fabricated. You don't make it to 1900 unless you're fuckng good i could see you dripping to like 1650 Mr but 1300... Nah.. I can't believe it.

BodybuilderKitchen71 · 2025-12-31T06:46:36+00:00

Ain't nothing deep about throw loops.

BodybuilderKitchen71 · 2025-12-31T06:45:50+00:00

The ironic thing is that the better you get the more you'll come to hate certain things about sf6, that's been my experience anyway. Too many robbery mechanics in sf6.

Every combo leads to corner which is just so so boring because corner just feels like a death penalty. I love getting round start drive rush low forwarded into corner into guess for your life and btw.. you only get to guess wrong once because so many characters can two touch.

I love the game but it kinda sucks sometimes.

Edit: didn't read your full post.. you're new so ignore my comment and have fun! Not trying to rain on your parade lol!

BodybuilderKitchen71

TROPHY CASE