Supergiant Games never disappoints in terms of rich narratives and sophisticated themes, and this title isn’t any different. Game developers and publishers, Supergiant Games, have tapped into the richest and most robust mythology in the world to give us a very ambitious roguelike, action RPG, dungeon brawler. Hades story is just as important as the combat. The combat draws relevance from the plot; thus, making the game most engaging.

Greek Mythological Plot 

Hades is a video game that draws inspiration from the former King of Ephyra’s ancient tale, Sisyphus. The gods curse Sisyphus for rolling up an enchanted boulder up a hill. However, by Hades, the boulder is condemned to roll back to the round once it’s near the top. You get to play as the Zagreus – the rebellious son and prince of the underworld. Zagreus keeps trying to escape the underworld to the surface, searching for his birth mother and original queen of the underworld, Persephone. Zag is assisted by his foster mother, Nyx, and a host of other Olympian and demigods allies, including Achilles, who serves as Zag’s mentor. Hades, the underworld, throws everything within his disposal to frustrate Zag’s quest.

The gameplay is wrapped around repetitive runs, one thing is sure in the underworld, and that is death. But unlike other roguelike games, you need to fear death because you are the god of rebirth and the prince of the undead. Each death sees you back at home at the House of Hades. Thankfully, all your upgrades don’t vanish at death, so you are technically stronger after each death. The game’s central theme has to be dead because, unlike most other action-RPGs, the narrative continues after a victory; here, the plot is advanced at death. In those moments preceding death, you engage in conversations with Hades and other prospective allies and seldom gain gifts. The irony is enticing. You play to live but look forward to dying typical Greek heroic myths.

Converse First, Fight Later

One thing Hades does amazingly well is the art of utilizing conversations. The game understands perfectly how to make repetitive play less tedious by giving you a new dialogue every run. The personality of each character’s personality is captured in the conversations and tone of the voice used. For instance, I find a fondness between Hades and his rebel son; sometimes, they even share mild jokes. 

Even though it means going back to face your father in shame, sometimes facing mockery from him; yet death presents an opportunity to interact with other characters. These characters, especially your Olympian relatives, show so much affection that you soon become endeared to them, and you just might be looking forward to meeting them in your next run.

Hades is all about your attempt to escape. To escape, you have to find your way out of the randomly selected dungeons which the game would throw at you. Each dungeon comes with a pack of enemies – monsters, giants, titans, demigods, and more – stored up in different rooms. As you clear up each room, you not only advance to the next, but the combat makes you stronger, equipping you with upgrades. Some of which are temporary, like the boons from the gods, and others come in the form of coins with which you can purchase permanent upgrades. With each dungeon you clear out, you get closer to the surface, except that you never make it out. You see, the game is designed to come up with ways to keep you grinding it out; the higher you go, the hotter it becomes. 

Hash Slasher Combat

The combat mechanics in Hades is designed to be simple and adaptive to different play styles. Zag, the hellish warrior prince, is equipped with six weapons in twenty-four variations. The guns, also called infernal arms, present the player with diverse playstyle options. For a brawler, you have the Stygian sword, the bow of Artemis for the long-range fighters, and many more. Regardless of your primary weapon, the game gives each player a special move, the ability to dash through enemies dealing them fast-paced and deadly attacks, and a long-ranged magical Cast at enemies. 

Combat in the underworld depends on your ability to sidestep and zoom out of the way in a breath. But mobility is useful for more than just averting hit by the over telegraphed attacks of monsters. The game requires that you find a rhythmic combination of movements. You build a synergy between running away from an attack, dashing back to set a variety of moves, setting a trap and bringing down columns, and doing it all again in the next room.

Probably as an incentive to do more battle, after each room, the game presents you with what you stand to gain in the next room you are about to play. The sight of the next set of rewards that awaits me only makes me even more bloodthirsty than I was at the start of the run. The camera in Hades is positioned to give you a bird view perspective of the arena. Thanks to the beautifully colored environs, watching the fighting would have been an absolute bore for these. After all the hot depiction of Zag in the cut scenes, he is nothing more than a red flash of light dashing around the screen during combat. 

Speaking of hotness, I have to mention how much detail is put into ensuring that every character in the game oozes a sensual aura. Every male character, especially Zagreus, has elaborate well-developed musculature like one of those ancient Greek sculpting. 

Final Verdict

I have spoken so much about the game mechanics, its combat, plot development, and more. The in-game currencies and reward systems, and there are many of them, are also worthy of mention. It ranges from coins placed on the eye on the dead to titan blood, diamonds, and lots more. However, the game depends mostly on its plot and repetitive play. It keeps you fighting the same demons in the same room but somehow without getting bored. The combination of engaging plot development, smooth combat, aesthetic environs, and graphics makes an exciting rogue-lite game that keeps you coming back to hell.