After a long journey into Early Access, Hades is finally available on PC and Switch, introducing Supergiant Games' approach to the roguelite genre. The creators of Bastion, Transistor and Pyre, this time traveled to the underworld of Greek mythology, conjuring up a rich history made possible by the game's well thought out structure.
Zagreus, son of Hades, is the protagonist of this adventure, and he is tired of living in hell reigned by his father. Zagreus, however, is not a lost soul like ordinary mortals, as he is physically fit, has exceptional abilities and lives in a palace full of luxuries. However, it is Zagreus' desire to reach the surface and leave hell behind, even against his father's will. Fulfilling this wish, however, is not an easy task, as you will need to go through countless rooms full of enemies.
Fortunately Zagreus will have the support of many other gods and characters from Greek mythology, including Poseidon, Athena, Aphrodite, Ares and even Zeus himself. These gods cannot directly help Zagreus, as their power is limited in the realm of Hades, but they can grant him special abilities and effects. The protagonist will also be able to interact with different characters of the palace of Hades, such as the three-headed dog Cerberus, the witch Nyx and the mocking Hypnos.
Despite being a roguelite game, Hades has a strong narrative component, which, in Supergiant Games style, is enriched with excellent dialogue and fantastic interpretations by the actors. To unravel the whole story you will have to get out of hell several times, but we won't reveal it anymore, otherwise we would enter spoiler territory.
It is impossible to hide the fact that Hades is a game from Supergiant Games, as it includes many of the features already seen in their games. The very bold and colorful 2D art style, the isometric perspective, the optimized gameplay and the lively soundtrack are elements common to almost every game in the studio and Hades is no exception.
This is, however, the first roguelite in the studio, which in other words means it has permanent death and a random generation of the levels. These elements are however very well connected to the story and work in a way that is not frustrating to the player as in other roguelites, as the sense of progression - even with permanent death - is fabulous.
When Zagreus dies he resurrects in the pool of blood in the palace of Hades, always ready to try again, but these deaths are also recognized by the story and the characters, who comment on his progress and the events that may have occurred during his last attempt - how to defeat a boss. Zagreus also keeps a number of items he can use in the palace, which will help you get stronger for your next attempt.
Darkness is an item that you will collect during your adventure, which allows you to unlock attributes that are very useful for survival, such as the ability to respawn once when you die, or to gain some health every time you change rooms. Keys are another type of item, which can be used to unlock additional darkness attributes or to gain access to different types of weapons. There is also a whole section of buildings that you can visit, to unlock special areas in hell and the palace, furnish Zagreus's room, and even change color schemes.
What is not retained with every attempt are the powers of the gods, which must be regained each time a new passage through hell begins. Coins are another item that disappears upon death, but which can be used during any attempt to acquire items or skills from the merchant Charon.
As for the gameplay, Hades works like a typical action game. Each weapon has a primary and a special attack, but you'll also have access to a sprint and ranged attack. This long range attack is used via a special crystal, but after throwing the crystal, you need to retrieve it to use it again. If you hit an enemy, the crystal will be "trapped" in its target and can only be recovered after eliminating it.
These four actions are at the core of Hades' gameplay, but they can be changed in a number of ways. The most obvious are the weapons - the sword is ideal for hand-to-hand combat, while the bow is ideal for ranged attacks, for example - but the offerings to the gods also grant many effects that can change slightly the gameplay. You can increase direct damage from attacks or add damage effects over time. You can even upgrade or modify special attacks. You can also add a reflective effect to the dodge or add damage to it and the long range attack can also be reinforced or modified completely.
Each offering of the gods comes in three options and it is up to the player to choose which one he prefers for his style of play. You can choose to be more offensive or defensive, choose frontal or rear attacks, and even become more agile or resilient. There are many possibilities and there will be many opportunities to explore as you repeat your journey down hell.
This is perhaps Hades' biggest problem: the repetition inherent in the roguelite genre. Although the rooms change, the fact that the gameplay is so focused on combat ends up making the experience a little repetitive. We think some variety in gameplay would have helped make the experience less repetitive, like an occasional puzzle, secrets, or even platforming sections, but the game is all about combat.
Fortunately, it is a great combat system, with very refined gameplay, different types of enemies and an exquisite scenery. If you like the roguelite genre, Hades is a great proposition and, of course, if you are a fan of Supergiant Games, it is a mandatory game, as long as you are prepared for such a repetitive structure.
Vote 9/10
Comments