RWP (2024) – Hades

We played Hades this quarter for RWP!

I went into this game pretty blind as I have heard raves about it but have not had the chance to look into the game myself. I was pretty excited to play it because it was on my radar for quite some time now. For those who aren’t familiar with the game, Hades is a critically acclaimed action roguelike game developed and published by Supergiant Games. In Hades, players assume the role of Zagreus, the rebellious son of Hades, the god of the underworld. The game blends fast-paced hack-and-slash combat with a deep narrative structure that unfolds through repeated escape attempts.

From my first run, I was struck by the game’s beautiful hand-drawn art and vibrant color palette, which bring the Greek mythological setting to life. The character designs are particularly impressive, each deity and hero bursting with personality and flair. The voice acting is top-notch. This high level of polish extends to the game’s soundtrack and it got me in the mood when I was doing the dungeon crawl. Despite Hades rogue-like genre, it excels in storytelling. Each time Zagreus dies and is resurrected, he returns to the House of Hades where new conversations and story developments occur. This cyclical nature of death and rebirth not only fits the mythological theme but also ensures that the narrative progresses organically with each playthrough. The characters’ evolving relationships and the slowly unfolding lore kept me eager to push further on each subsequent run. The game also breathes new life into ancient myths, presenting the gods and heroes with modern sensibilities while retaining their iconic traits. Characters like Nyx, Achilles, and even Hades himself are depicted with depth and complexity, making the world feel rich and immersive. I think that the Boons also contribute to this, as I get to build relationships with each God/Goddess and give them nectar. It gets even more stressful when I have to choose between two Gods/Goddesses. In my playthough, I had to choose between Poseidon and Aphrodite. I chose Poseidon since he buffs strength more directly. This caused Aphrodite to be angry at me, which was sad.

The gameplay in Hades is fun. Combat is fast-paced and highly customizable, with Zagreus wielding various weapons and gaining powerful abilities called Boons from the Olympian gods. These Boons offer different enhancements and abilities, allowing for diverse playstyles and strategies. I found myself constantly experimenting with different combinations, from chaining lightning attacks with Zeus’s Boon to summoning Athena’s protective shields. Each run feels fresh and exciting due to the endless variety of potential builds and the procedural nature of the dungeon layout. One of the game’s most compelling features is its balance of challenge and reward. Hades is undeniably tough, but it never feels unfair. Each death is a learning experience, offering insights into enemy patterns, weapon effectiveness, and strategic planning. The sense of progression is persistent, with permanent upgrades and unlocks that carry over between runs, ensuring that every attempt feels meaningful and contributes to Zagreus’s ultimate goal of escaping the Underworld.

Overall, I am addicted to this game and can see myself playing it for an extended period of time!

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Comments

  1. Hi Phuc!

    I just wanted to say that I completely agree when you say that even as a rogue-like game, it still excels at its narrative. Its sort of like Ace Attorney, where the narrative itself is embedded in the gameplay, and you have more powerups and incentive to interact with all the gods/goddesses around you. Nice blog post!

  2. I’m glad to see more deserved attention on the beautiful narrative and art in Hades! Your thoughts on the new breath into old (and if we’re honest, done over and over again!) myths ring true to me; the boons and interaction from relationships over the course of the game is really rich and satisfying. Hades overall feels like a refreshing take on the lore and genre.

  3. I entirely agree on the beautiful art aspect. I mean, the game itself is just so visually stimulating that it’s really easy to overlook any aspects of frustration or difficulty. Working through some of your other RWP posts, I think you have a really good eye for visual/audio analysis of these games and I really appreciate your posts!

  4. Hi Phuc,

    Your deep dive into Hades really captures what makes the game so captivating. I completely agree about the stunning hand-drawn art and the immersive Greek mythological setting. The way the narrative unfolds through each death and resurrection adds a unique twist to the roguelike genre.

    I also love how the Boons allow for diverse playstyles and strategies. The dilemma of choosing between gods like Poseidon and Aphrodite adds an interesting layer of decision-making. It’s great to hear that you’re enjoying the balance of challenge and reward in the game.

    Overall, your enthusiasm for Hades is infectious! Happy dungeon crawling!

  5. I totally agree with your comments about every attempt feeling meaningful! I wasn’t sure I could like the roguelike genre at first because I hated the idea of constantly losing my progress by design and feeling like I’d wasted time, but the permanent upgrades and story progression in between runs made it feel like every run counted. I would sometimes even go into runs expecting to fail quickly just for the sake of gathering a few more resources! I think the game’s lighthearted treatment of each loss is a big part of what makes it easy to get engaged and stay engaged.

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