Saros reminded me how great DualSense can be

The DualSense controller was one of Sony’s biggest selling points for the PS5. Beyond things like an impressive new design and flexible triggers, the controller’s solutions provided new gameplay. The Rumble effect had been around for years at the time, but the DualSense offered something completely different: I was still kicked by the sand under Astro’s feet in Team Asobi’s. Astro play or future hits from Housemarque’s kit Returning.

But there have been few titles since the PS5’s release that captured the same magic and showcased what made the controller so unique. This week, Housemarque launched its next theme, saroand it’s arguably the first game in a while to make DualSense relevant.

In most games, the rumble and haptics feel like an added bonus. It might help me highlight an explosion or gunfight here and there, but if I lose the sound in a game, I usually don’t miss it. But it is saroDualSense haptics are an integral part of playing the game.

Here are some examples of how haptics work. When blasting enemies with a gun, the haptics pitch acts as a warning that I’m running out. With a powerful hand-held trigger that fires three bullets at once, the DualSense pepper delivers three hits with each shot. When the bow shot is ready, the haptics create a nice knot in my hand that lets me know that I can shoot. When my shield is about to wear out because I’ve had it on for too long, the controller beeps in the same way that the shield does on the screen.

Outside of combat, DualSense haptics also make exploring the world more immersive. You will hear a short pulse as the protagonist Arjun passes through the land of Carcosa. When you use the crossbar to get past the noises, the DualSense vibrates as you approach the target area. The warden trembles as Arjun approaches a spectacular set of hands that trigger a world-changing eclipse.

Even some of Arjun’s actions and other characters use a director. In one area late in the game, when someone else’s noise filled my ears, I was surprised to hear my DualSense’s haptics hum along with them. And I loved interacting with Primary, the industrial robot at Arjun’s base, because of how DualSense jumped in sync with the machine’s terrifying voice. These moments add a new dimension to the game.

Haptics don’t just feel good; they control the situation in real ways. In the heat of the fire where I’m trying to dodge waves of bullets and hordes of enemies, it’s often easier to rely on DualSense’s tactile haptic signals instead of trying to explain something on a very busy screen.

More than five years into the PS5’s life, only a handful of studios have figured out what to do with DualSense. What was once one of the console’s biggest sales has largely been forgotten. saro it shows that there is a lot of untapped potential in the various features of DualSense – let’s hope it sparks interest in the controller.