For this week’s game, we played Hades. Hades is a dungeon-crawler / rogue-like action game developed by Supergiant Games, and is available on platforms such as Windows, macOS, Nintendo Switch, and most recently, on the iPad. I have heard of this game through a few friends beforehand when it was really popular, but I never got into it for some reason. Luckily, with the release of Hades 2, the first version of Hades was on sale for a great discount, and I was able to purchase it on Steam.
For context, the game Hades follows a character named Zagreus, the immortal prince of the Underworld and son of Hades, as he attempts to escape from the House of Hades and the Underworld after finding out about his lineage. Along his way, other Olympian gods offer him boons to boost his abilities and help him escape, while Hades tries to stop him from leaving the Underworld.
Personally, I loved this game. The art and design of the game is one of the best I have played in a dungeon crawler (or in any game), and the sound effects and background music really add to the environment and the pace of the game. At first, I was taken aback by the isometric view the game is portrayed in since I was playing on my laptop and WASD just feels strange in this perspective, but I got used to it and I think it really adds to the dungeon crawling nature of the game. When I first booted up the game, I was also just taking in how smooth the movement felt and how fast paced yet natural all the combat was, as well as how well the characters were drawn and how dynamic they were.
The storytelling is great as well. I don’t really know too much about Greek mythology but from the basics (basically from Percy Jackson, not even sure if that is historically accurate), but it was really cool to see the introduction of “smaller” gods as well, such as Nyx and Hypnos. Overall, throughout the game I was able to learn about Greek mythology in general and what each Greek god was worshiped for. The voice lines were a nice touch as well, since most other rogue-like games do not include voices in their dialogue, but Hades just takes things one step further than most other games.
The game mechanics themselves were also wonderful. Personally, I usually play games that are action-based only so picking up Hades felt really natural to me, even without a tutorial. I also enjoyed how they left it up to us to figure out the flow of the game, from picking up random items that we didn’t know what it did, to understanding that dying is natural part of the game process. An interesting part of this game is how dying often does not feel like you are failing (maybe a little after dying to trap accidentally), but it is also a way to boost your stats and abilities, and to swap out to a new weapon for the next run.
Overall, Hades is one of my favorite games I have played so far, so I will rate it a solid 10/10. I find the art style really hooks you into playing it for the first time and the game mechanics keep you playing for hours on end. I hope to one day hit 100% completion with all of the weapons and maybe give nectar to all of the gods along the way.
Hi Jenny! I am glad that you enjoyed Hades so much; I also found it interesting that death was such a natural part of the game, and that you could keep playing for hours without getting super frustrated and rage-quitting. I can’t think of another game where that is, but I would be interested in exploring more games with this theme! I wish you the best of luck on finishing Hades and hitting all the milestones….
Thanks for leaving such a detailed and thoughtful review, I enjoyed reading it :3
It’s fantastic to read about your experience with Hades, Jenny! Your enthusiasm for the game really shines through in your detailed review. Hades has certainly captivated many players with its stunning art and design, and it’s great to hear that it made such a strong impression on you. The isometric view and smooth combat mechanics add a unique touch, making the dungeon-crawling experience both challenging and enjoyable.
Your insights into the storytelling aspect highlight one of the game’s standout features. The integration of Greek mythology, combined with well-developed characters and engaging voice lines, adds depth to the gameplay. It’s wonderful that Hades not only entertains but also educates players about mythology in a fun and immersive way.
The game mechanics, especially the natural feel of action-based combat and the innovative approach to dying, make Hades a refreshing experience in the rogue-like genre. The idea that dying isn’t a failure but a part of the progression is a brilliant design choice that keeps players motivated.
Your excitement about aiming for 100% completion and exploring all the game’s content is infectious. It’s clear that Hades has left a lasting impression on you, and your review will surely encourage others to give it a try. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, and happy gaming!
Hi Jenny,
I also really enjoyed playing Hades. I thought that the isometric view was a little trippy in the beginning as well. I think Hades does a good job of using real life narratives to its advantage – Greek mythology is a strong one. Hades really motivates you to explore which I like, although I feel like after awhile I don’t have it in me to keep going. I wish you the best of luck!
Hi Jenny! I appreciate your pointing out the initial strangeness of using WASD in an isometric view– it threw me off at first too, and took awhile to get use to…I’m used to it now, but still have some trouble controlling my Dash. I also agree with your praise of the lack of a tutorial! Normally, I find myself a bit nervous starting games which toss you blind into the deep end, but the low stakes of each run made the sense of discovery much more fun without the stress (knowing that even if I made a grave mistake blindly choosing an unfamiliar item at the wrong time, losing isn’t the end of the world, and then I’d know for next time).