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Although it’s been the biggest first party PS5 exclusive of the year so far, a reader is disappointed with Saros and how it compares to predecessor Returnal.

Those in the know all agree that Returnal is the best exclusive on PlayStation 5. Even though it looks like it could be a PlayStation 4 game, it’s definitely my favourite game of the generation, with amazing action and a fantastic atmosphere and story. So, obviously, I was really looking forward to Saros, which isn’t a sequel in terms of the plot but is in every other way.

Naturally, I pre-ordered it and at first it seemed as good as I hoped. The action is very similar to Returnal but that in itself I found a bit disappointing. I wouldn’t necessarily say it was better in any way. The shield is an interesting addition, but it seems a bit underused a lot of the time and I prefer the way you upgrade weapons in Returnal.

In terms of action it is good though. You could argue it’s either a little bit worse or a little bit better, but for me the rest of the game is a major step down.

The most obvious problem is the story and characters, which are far too straightforward, compared to Returnal. In Returnal you never knew if anything you were seeing or doing was real. In Saros though there’s kind of a mystery but it’s very obvious what’s happened and for most of the game you’re just playing some generic tough guy who’s looking for his wife.

Things do get more involved towards the end but it comes way too late for you to really care and most of it I’d guessed beforehand anyway. The game has the same sort of Lovecraftian influence as Returnal, but it’s all a lot more on the nose and nowhere near as interesting. There’s still an atmosphere to it but it’s not borderline survival horror like Returnal, just because it’s not much of a mystery as to what’s going on.

Another problem is that the world design doesn’t change nearly as much as you’d like between areas. Most of it is the same dull grey world and ruins everywhere and while the graphics are good, especially the underground area, it’s all just minor variations of the same thing, unlike Returnal which seemed to have a lot more variety.

To me, the overall problem seems to be that the story and setting is too literal. What’s going on is never really a question and the motivations of the characters (none of which are likeable) is also very obvious. Lovecraft is all about fear of the unknown but the mystery in Saros is not good enough as, for some reason, they try to ground things a bit too much, rather going with the more surreal approach of Reutrnal.

Saros isn’t a disaster or anything like that, but it is a disappointment. It’s worse in just about every way than Returnal, except maybe the graphics, when I hoped it was going to better and become an undisputed classic. Instead, it just got a bit overshadowed by Pragmata, which I didn’t expect, and I’m not sure a lot of people even realised it came out.

In terms of what went wrong I think part of the problem was trying to make the game more mainstream. In terms of making it slightly easier I think that all went fine, although now it seems a bit too obvious that each level is just a boss run. But I think making the story more obvious and straightforward was part of the same thing of making it more accessible.

Another problem is that the director changed, in fact he left and went to set up his own company, which I think explains a lot. The end result is that instead of potentially getting the best game of the generation we ended up with a game that is… very good. Not exactly the end of the world but I was hoping for more.

By reader Keller

The reader’s features do not necessarily represent the views of GameCentral or Metro.

You can submit your own 500 to 600-word reader feature at any time, which if used will be published in the next appropriate weekend slot.

Just contact us at gamecentral@metro.co.uk or use our Submit Stuff page and you won’t need to send an email.

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Reporters heard what sounded like possible gunfire near the North Lawn of the White House Saturday evening, prompting the U.S. Secret Service to move members of the media indoors.

Approximately 20 shots were heard just after 6 p.m. Eastern Time, appearing to originate from the side of the White House complex that contains the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, multiple local and national reporters who were at the White House at the time said.

U.S. Secret Service personnel immediately responded by ushering them inside.

Anthony Guglielmi, a spokesperson for the Secret Service, said in a statement to CBS News that the agency was investigating “reports of shots fired near 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW” and was working to corroborate the initial details with personnel on the ground.

FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed the bureau’s involvement in a social media post, stating that the FBI was on the scene and actively supporting the Secret Service.

President Donald Trump was inside the White House at the time of the incident, having been on the premises since at least 4 p.m., as reported by White House spokesperson Steven Cheung.

The security alert follows an incident nearly a month ago in which an armed individual breached a security checkpoint outside a Washington, D.C., hotel ballroom hosting the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.

Investigations into Saturday’s incident remain ongoing.

Drivers are facing delays following a crash involving two lorries

Drivers are being diverted after an overturned lorry blocked the A14 on Saturday, May 23. Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service were called at 10.34am to reports of a crash involving two lorries on the A14 Westbound between Swavesey and Ermine Street.

Cambridgeshire Police, the East of England Ambulance Service, and National Highways attended the scene. Fire crews from Huntingdon, St Ives, Cambridge, Cottenham, and the south roaming fire engine attended.

A spokesperson for Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service said: “Firefighters arrived to find a collision involving two lorries. They worked with other emergency services to make the area safe.”

The A14 westbound between Junction 24 and Junction 23 remains blocked following the crash. According to National Highways, road users are being diverted off at J24 to follow local routes around the closure.

Drivers have been warned by National Highways to expect delays of 20 minutes in an update. A spokesperson for National Highways said: “The A14 westbound in Camridgeshire between J24B and J23 remains closed due to a collision.

“The road requires inspection as there was a spillage of oil and diesel from the collision. There are delays of 20 minutes on the approach.”

Traffic monitoring site Inrix said: “A14 Westbound blocked, queueing traffic due to overturned lorry and fuel spillage from J24B (Swavesey) to J23 (Godmanchester).”

A spokesperson for National Highways added: “If this closure impacts on your planned route, please allow extra journey time. Plan ahead, you may wish to re-route or even delay your journey.”

DUP leader Gavin Robinson said John Swinney’s comments caused “genuine hurt among victims and survivors”.

The First Minister of Scotland should issue a “clear and unambiguous apology” over comments urging people to “move on” from the Troubles, the leader of the DUP has said. DUP leader Gavin Robinson said John Swinney’s comments caused “genuine hurt among victims and survivors”.

Mr Swinney was speaking to The Herald newspaper after his party’s election victory. He was asked about potential dealings with Sinn Fein as a result of the three devolved administrations of the UK having pro-independence parties in leading roles.

The leader of the SNP recognised his dealings with Sinn Fein, whose vice president Michelle O’Neill is First Minister of Northern Ireland, had caused some “media consternation”. But he added: “I really do think people have got to move on.”

He said he had “no intention” of apologising for the comments, telling the Press Association earlier this week that: “The issues that are involved in the peace process have involved people moving on, people have had to move on, that’s exactly what they’ve done, and I’m simply reflecting what’s happened.”

However, the leader of the DUP has questioned whether he would consider the same “deeply hurtful” language appropriate for the Lockerbie bombing, the attack at Glasgow Airport or Dunblane shootings. In reference to Scottish soldiers killed by the IRA, Mr Robinson said no political arrangement or coalition with those “who have never honestly confronted the IRA’s brutal campaign can ever erase the truth about what has done”.

He urged Mr Swinney to “reflect seriously on the offence” his comments caused and “apologise publicly to those victims and survivors who feel insulted”. In a letter to the Scottish First Minister, Mr Robinson said: “Whilst I appreciate your subsequent efforts to clarify those remarks, the language used has caused genuine hurt among victims and survivors, many of whom continue to live daily with the consequences of terrorism and violence.”

He added: “The passage of time does not diminish the need for sensitivity, nor does it erase the legitimate pursuit of truth, justice and accountability.”

Mr Robinson told Mr Swinney that victims of terrorism are “not an inconvenience to be brushed aside because their pain sits awkwardly alongside today’s political arrangements”. He added: “They deserve honesty, respect and the assurance that those who lead will never minimise what they endured.”

He told the First Minister that leadership requires “the courage to say difficult things plainly” rather than to “manage relationships at the expense of those who suffered most”. Mr Robinson said: “No victim should ever be told – directly or indirectly – to simply get over the murder of their loved ones.

“I urge you to reflect seriously on the offence your comments have caused and to apologise publicly to those victims and survivors who feel insulted and abandoned by your remarks.”

The Scottish Government has been contacted for comment.

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With still no official word about a new Animal Crossing game on Nintendo Switch 2, a reader has a very unconventional idea of what direction it should take.

Reflecting on the challenges of overcoming class oppression, the leader of the October (Russian) revolution, Vladimir Lenin, famously posed the question: ‘What is to be done?’ We might ask the same question of Nintendo’s Animal Crossing, especially in the wake of the arguably better Pokémon Pokopia.

The comparison to overcoming oppression may sound trite, and in a way it is, but it serves the purpose here, of answering how the series can, though likely will not (in a million years), evolve.

This relies on how the text is interpreted, specifically the character of Tom Nook. That Nook is a parody of a capitalist is not controversial. Nintendo are not exactly subtle about it.

Tom Nook appropriates the land to turn it into real estate to sell to inhabitants for money (bells). Just as in real life, acquiring property means getting into debt and paying off the mortgage through hard work, here by cultivating and gathering fruit and so forth.

The bells acquired for Nook can also be exchanged endlessly for commodities to decorate the home. Hence production (cultivation, harvesting, fishing, and so forth) is a means to generate an income to exchange for goods (consumption) owned by Nook and other traders.

As with consumerism, the desire for such products is never satiated. In fact, Nook entices the player to consume more by taking out further mortgages to buy bigger homes in which more products are required to fill them. And on it goes…

The question of what is to be done about the franchise is answered in response to the secondary question of what is to be done about Tom Nook?

My idea for the next game involves the player building solidarity with other villagers through kind acts such as gift giving, helping them out, and so forth, thereby recruiting them to the cause of overthrowing Nook and turning the island into a commune.

As happened after the October Revolution, this is complicated by nearby islands under the yoke of their own Tom Nooks being threatened by the example the now liberated commune sets. To thwart their attacks, island defences must be constructed and once the external threat is overcome the task is to liberate the other islands by clandestinely recruiting its dwellers to the cause.

While this would introduce a battle element, it would be in the same charming aesthetic and satirical tone the game is known for. Failure of worldwide revolution would lead to scenarios such as that depicted in George Orwell’s Animal Farm where, in an allegory for Stalinism, the liberators become the oppressors who also must then be overthrown, thus starting the sequence again (and again until ultimate victory).

If a critique of capitalism is indeed a subtext of Animal Crossing (it can be considered as one irrespective of whether intended), there is also a utopian subtext too, of a non-alienated society where work is play, nobody goes hungry, there is no war or violence, and everyone (aside from Tom Nook) is a potential friend.

If utopia is realised, the game continues, only now the form through which resources are gathered, managed, and distributed change. This opens new gameplay mechanics such as resource management and construction of new public institutions and infrastructure, such as railroads.

The history of popular culture is one of appropriation, corporations appropriating critiques of capitalism for monetary gain. Punk and black American rap music are obvious examples. More recently, Disney bankrolled the surprisingly subversive Rogue One television spin-off Andor, which is unashamedly and unsubtly a story about working class people under the yoke of fascist-authoritarianism becoming revolutionary agitators organising and using all means necessary to overthrow an evil Empire.

It made Disney a lot of money and helped somewhat redeem a tarnished reputation for the truly dire sequel trilogy. If audiences do not act on message by becoming revolutionaries too, Disney is untroubled. So, while it may appear strange that a corporate behemoth would sponsor such incendiary texts, if it makes them money then all well and good.

While I say not ‘in a million years’, it is not entirely inconceivable or contradictory for Nintendo to double-down on the satire by taking this logical next step. The point, however, is not for Nintendo to make a political text (it can be done more subtly than depicted here) but rather a game that builds on previous iterations in novel and engaging ways. Here is one idea for doing precisely that.

By reader Ciara

The reader’s features do not necessarily represent the views of GameCentral or Metro.

You can submit your own 500 to 600-word reader feature at any time, which if used will be published in the next appropriate weekend slot.

Just contact us at gamecentral@metro.co.uk or use our Submit Stuff page and you won’t need to send an email.

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This all depends on where you live and is based on the “normal” climate there.

Met Office heatwave criteria sets the temperature for a heatwave at 25C in Scotland, Northern Ireland, much of Wales and northern England.

For many other areas of England, as well as south-east Wales, it is 26 or 27C. In London, most of the home counties and Cambridgeshire, it is 28C.

These thresholds must be reached or exceeded on at least three consecutive days.

It is possible that many areas will officially be classed as being in a heatwave when Sunday’s temperatures are confirmed.

For some areas it is likely to turn into a prolonged heatwave.

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) — President Donald Trump said Saturday that a deal with Iran on the war, including opening the Strait of Hormuz, has been “largely negotiated” after calls with Israel and other allies in the region.

“Final aspects and details of the Deal are currently being discussed, and will be announced shortly,” Trump said on social media, with no details. He said he had spoken with leaders from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan and Bahrain, and separately with Israel.

He described it as a “Memorandum of Understanding pertaining to PEACE” that still must be finalized by the United States, Iran and the other countries that participated in the calls. It capped a week in which the U.S. weighed a new round of attacks on the Islamic Republic that would break a fragile ceasefire.

There was no mention of Iran’s nuclear program and highly enriched uranium, which Iran has sought to discuss later. There was no immediate comment from Iran or Israel. Trump said speaking with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who had pressed the U.S. to go to war, went “very well.”

There had been growing optimism among officials

Earlier on Saturday, a regional official with direct knowledge of the Pakistan-led mediation efforts said the U.S. and Iran were closing in on a deal to end the war.

The official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss closed-door deliberations, cautioned that “last-minute disputes” could blow up the efforts. This is not the first time in recent weeks that a deal has been described as close.

The official said the deal would include an official declaration of the war’s end, with two-month negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program. The Strait of Hormuz would be reopened and the U.S. would end its blockade of Iran’s ports.

Iran, meanwhile, had signaled “narrowing differences” in negotiations after Pakistani army chief Asim Munir held more talks in Tehran.

Twelve weeks have passed since the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran on Feb. 28, killing top Iranian officials including its supreme leader and interrupting nuclear talks between the U.S. and Iran for the second time in less than a year. Iran fired at Israel and at neighbors hosting U.S. forces, shaking Gulf nations that had considered themselves safe havens in a tough region.

A ceasefire has held since April 7. But Iran’s decision to effectively close the Strait of Hormuz for ships carrying regional oil, natural gas and other critical supplies has been a focal point of global concern and economic pain.

Iran described it as a ‘framework agreement’ for more talks

Iran state TV earlier quoted Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei as describing the draft as a “framework agreement” and adding: “We want this to include the main issues required for ending the imposed war and other issues of essential importance to us. Then, over a reasonable time span, between 30 to 60 days, details are discussed and ultimately a final agreement is reached.”

He said the Strait of Hormuz is among the topics discussed.

But Baghaei told Iran’s official IRNA news agency that nuclear issues are not part of current negotiations.

“Our focus at this stage is on ending the war on all fronts, including Lebanon,” he said, adding that lifting sanctions on Tehran “has explicitly been included in the text and remains our fixed position.”

The Iranian-backed Hezbollah’s Al-Manar TV reported that the Lebanese militant group’s leader received a letter from Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi saying Tehran will not abandon its allies. There is a fragile, U.S.-brokered ceasefire in the Israel-Hezbollah war in Lebanon, a conflict that began two days after the Iran war started.

Trump had said ‘serious negotiations’ were underway

Trump earlier said he was holding off on a military strike against Iran because “serious negotiations” were underway, and at the request of allies in the Middle East. Trump has repeatedly set deadlines for Tehran and then backed off.

Iran’s parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, the lead negotiator in historic face-to-face talks with the U.S. last month in Islamabad, said Saturday that Iran has rebuilt its military assets and if Trump resumed attacks, the result would be “more crushing and more bitter” than at the start of the war.

State TV said he spoke after meeting with Pakistan’s army chief Asim Munir, who also met with Araghchi, President Masoud Pezeshkian and other senior officials. Qatar sent a senior official to Tehran to support Pakistan’s efforts.

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Bookmakers have placed the Tees Valley town second only to Wrexham, which currently leads the odds at 4/6, giving it a 60 per cent implied chance of winning the title.

Middlesbrough follows closely with odds of 5/4 and a 44.4 per cent probability.

Jake Ashton, current affairs editor at OLBG.com, said: “Wrexham at 4/6 is compelling and the narrative behind their bid is unlike anything this competition has previously seen.

“The global profile generated by Welcome to Wrexham, the runner-up finish in 2025 and the organisational infrastructure already in place from the previous campaign all point to a formidable bid.”

Bradford currently holds the title for 2025.

Middlesbrough’s candidacy has drawn attention for its strong narrative of cultural regeneration, rooted in Tees Valley’s industrial heritage and an emerging creative sector.

Other cities in the running include Blackpool and Sheffield (both 6/4), Milton Keynes (2/1), Swindon (3/1), Inverness-Highland (4/1), Portsmouth (6/1) and Ipswich (6/1).

Experts believe Middlesbrough offers exactly the kind of transformation story that has impressed City of Culture judges in previous years.

It is currently unclear where the gunshots have originated from and what the security incident is in relation to

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Secret Service personnel have launched an urgent response after multiple gunshots were reportedly heard near the White House.

According to one journalist, ‘approximately 20-30’ shots rang out in Washington before Secret Service agents swiftly moved reporters indoors.

Julie Trskin, a correspondent for NBC News, posted on X: “GUNSHOTS heard outside of the White House Approximately 20-30 Secret service told those of us gathered on the north lawn to run inside the press briefing room.”

FOX News’ Chad Pergram reports that Secret Service has taken down the shooter.

The journalist subsequently shared an image of an armed officer stationed outside the entrance, writing: “Outside the press briefing doors right now…USSS officers, gun drawn, told us to run inside. White House now on lockdown.”

Images circulating on social media appear to show snipers positioned on the building’s rooftop, with another armed officer walking across the White House lawn.

The incident follows President Donald Trump’s announcement on Saturday that an agreement with Iran regarding the conflict, including the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, has been “largely negotiated” following discussions with Israel and other regional allies.

“Final aspects and details of the Deal are currently being discussed, and will be announced shortly,” Trump posted on social media, without providing further specifics. He revealed he had held conversations with leaders from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan and Bahrain, as well as a separate discussion with Israel.

There were no immediate reports of injuries or information about the circumstances.

On X, the Secret Service said it was “aware of reports of shots fired near 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW” — one block from the White House — and was “working to corroborate the information with personnel on the ground.” It said it will have an update shortly.

In a social media post, FBI Director Kash Patel said officers were responding to shots fired and said he would “update the public as we’re able.”

President Donald Trump was inside the White House at the time.