Hades: The Greatest Game I Almost Never Played

For those of you who don't always keep up on what games are popular at the moment, a little indie action-roguelike called Hades has been getting heaped with critical praise recently. I've seen this praise going around for awhile now, even from critics that I really like and trust, but for some reason I just had no interest in trying the game. It wasn't until about four or five of my close friends recommended it to me that I finally picked it up during the Steam Winter Sale last week, and oooooooooooooh man, if a game has ever lived up to its media hype, it's Hades. Frankly, I'm mad at myself for not picking it up sooner.

I would love to just say "this game is AWESOME", tell you to play it, and leave it at that, but...you're here to know what makes it great right? That said, yeah, the short version is: Please play this game. If not just for yourself, to support developers that make games this good (and that aren't bogged down in the cynicism and money-grubbing of the rest of the mainline game industry).

Hades tells the story of Zagreus, son the of the titular Hades, and his attempts to escape from the Greek underworld (for reasons that become clear as you play). That's the nice, simple setup. Along the way, he meets and interacts with a colorful cast of characters made up of unique takes on all of our favorite figures from Greek mythology including, but not limited to: The Pantheon of Greek Gods, the Furies, Achilles, Sisyphus, Medusa, and even Death himself. With the story as simple as it is, it's the interactions with these characters that really sell the narrative of the game. Every character is brimming with personality, brought to life with striking visuals and truly excellent voice acting (seriously, the voice acting in this game is so much better than it needs to be for a game like this) which really helps to get the player invested in the universe.

It's easy to become attached or otherwise form strong opinions of the characters as you play the game, as their personalities are all so distinct and well-realized. The God's of Olympus are all helpful and friendly (until you scorn one of them and they temporarily reveal their pettiness and anger). Hades is an overbearing father, struggling with truth's he cannot tell his son. Achilles, Eurydice, and Orpheus are polite and loving, but forlorn souls who reveal more of themselves as you progress your friendships with them (oh yes, there's even a relationship system in this game). Dusa, the bodiless, always nervous, snake-haired maid of Hades house, is a constant source of charm and laughs. Every character has something different to say, something new to offer your character (sometimes literally), and I found myself enjoying the downtime between escape attempts just walking around the starting area and chatting with them. Oh, and you can pet Cerberus.

In terms of gameplay, Hades isn't TOO different from other action rogue-likes we've seen before (for those not in the know, a Rogue-like is a style of game typified by perma-deaths and slow, steady progress towards the end of the game after every restart), with its fast paced combat, perks that carry through deaths, and big, epic boss fights. What sets this game apart from games such as Dead Cells (another terrific rogue-like) is the inclusion of massively powerful, game changing boons from the Gods of Olympus. Unlike the relatively minor upgrades I've found in other rogue-like experiences, these boons can drastically change the way you play through an escape attempt, and their randomization requires you to think on your feet and adjust as you go. Between the multitude of unique boons offered from each God and the surprisingly complex system of weapons (of which there are 6 base weapons with multiple forms each, unlocked through various methods), there are practically endless ways to approach every escape attempt. After many hours of play, I've yet to have two runs be exactly the same, and I still find new ways to play every time.

Combat is fast and satisfying, with every weapon providing all sorts of unique ways to take out the hordes of opponents you'll encounter on your trek through hades. Enemy types vary wildly and require you to think on your feet, especially as you progress into the higher levels of hell, making the end-game fights real edge-of-your-seat experiences as you try to keep track of the dozen or so enemies all trying to send you back to the start. This isn't to say the game is unfair or overly difficult, however. Quite the contrary, I've actually found Hades to be one of the more accessible rogue-likes I've played, with a "God mode" for those who want an easier experience, and a Diablo-style stacking difficulty multiplier for players who want a more hard-core challenge.

I really don't have a lot more to go into here (I'd speak more to the story but it's something you should experience organically, it's quite good). I truly have nothing negative to say about this game. Not that it's perfect, it just does so much right that any minor issues don't even phase me. The top-tier hack and slash combat, seemingly endless build variation and replay-ability, gorgeous art style, stellar soundtrack, and loveable cast of characters all coalesce into one hell of a game. After dozens of hours of play, I finally hit the actual credits the night before finishing this review, and I STILL find myself going back for more, I just can't put this thing down. A truly great indie experience that shouldn't be missed (especially at a $25 price tag).

13/10, don't sleep on this one