Bonus Episode #69 of BGMania: A Video Game Music Podcast. Today on the show, Bryan reviews Saros, the latest PlayStation 5 exclusive now available from Housemarque, the Finnish studio behind Returnal. Set on the hostile, shape-shifting planet Carcosa under an ominous and ever-present eclipse, the game follows Arjun Devraj, a Soltari Enforcer sent to investigate a lost off-world colony who arrives with his own deeply personal reasons for being there.

This Musical Review covers the fast-paced combat loop and roguelite progression systems built around Carcosa's eclipse cycles, the game's striking environmental design and cinematic presentation, the multi-phase Overlord boss encounters that rank among the best the genre has to offer, and an honest look at the story's ambitious but uneven narrative and the emotional distance created by its complicated lead character. The episode also dedicates a full segment to the original score, how the dark, atmospheric, and cinematically driven music supports the tension and isolation of Carcosa at every turn, and what it contributes to moments where the writing alone doesn't quite carry the weight.

Email the show at bgmaniapodcast@gmail.com with requests for upcoming episodes, questions, feedback, comments, concerns, or any other thoughts you'd like to share! Special thanks to our Executive Producers: Jexak, Xancu, Jeff, & Mike.

EPISODE PLAYLIST AND CREDITS

Sun is Forever from Saros [Sam Slater feat. Shards, 2026]
Shattered, Rise from Saros [Sam Slater, 2026]
Prophet from Saros [Sam Slater, 2026]
Depth Charge from Saros [Sam Slater, 2026]
All That Remains is Desecrated from Saros [Sam Slater, 2026]
Architect from Saros [Sam Slater, 2026]
Shepherd from Saros [Sam Slater, 2026]
Fenestra Rosacea from Saros [Sam Slater, 2026]
Priestess from Saros [Sam Slater, 2026]
Love Ruins from Saros [Sam Slater, 2026]
King from Saros [Sam Slater, 2026]
Memori from Saros [Sam Slater, 2026]
Crowned by Collapse from Saros [Sam Slater, 2026]
Reputations from Saros [Daniel Avery, 2026]

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PODCAST NETWORK