Hades has emerged as a defining title in the roguelike genre, a category that has seen significant growth and is characterized by randomly generated levels and, often, penalties for death. These penalties frequently involve re-acquiring items or progress, a mechanic familiar from games like Dark Souls and Hollow Knight. Developed by Supergiant Games, the studio behind critically acclaimed isometric indie titles such as Bastion and Transistor, Hades, previously available on PC and Switch since 2018, is now available on current and last-generation consoles from Sony and Microsoft (PS4 and Xbox One). Senses is pleased to offer one of the first reviews available online. The key question: Does Hades live up to its reputation?
Hades combines dungeon crawler elements (reminiscent of Diablo) with roguelike features. Players assume the role of Zagreus, son of Hades, who seeks to escape the underworld and join the gods on Olympus. This journey is fraught with peril, as the underworld’s inhabitants attempt to impede Zagreus’ progress. Along the way, players must defeat a series of bosses drawn from Greek mythology. The narrative unfolds as players delve deeper into Zagreus’ familial relationships and uncover secrets through interactions with the underworld’s denizens.
The confluence of gameplay and concept in Hades is remarkably well-executed. From its inception, Hades demonstrates excellence across multiple facets. The anime-inspired visual style and aesthetic are compelling, complemented by an atmospheric soundtrack (an original blend of rock and lute influences) and commendable voice acting. Players familiar with the Diablo series or similar titles will find the core gameplay loop intuitive, with the distinguishing factor being the procedural generation of environments upon each death. This means that each attempt presents a new arrangement of rooms and enemy encounters. A key element of Hades’s design is its progressive difficulty curve: the game subtly becomes more manageable over time. This is achieved both through player skill acquisition and the retention of certain upgrades earned during previous runs. This contrasts with titles like Returnal, where cycle resets eliminate all accumulated bonuses, and even minor errors against bosses can lead to significant setbacks. Furthermore, the continuous shuffling of rooms and available paths ensures a sense of discovery and novelty throughout the dungeon-crawling experience.
Character progression involves the acquisition of Darkness (a form of dark matter), currency, and Cthonic keys, which unlock new weapons and abilities. Hades features four primary weapons, and players can freely experiment with different armaments between runs to determine their preferred playstyle or optimal loadout for specific encounters. While the game is completable with any weapon, adapting one’s approach to suit the particular challenge can significantly improve the odds of success.
Hades showcases remarkable balance in its action gameplay. It offers a significant challenge without feeling inherently unfair or overly punishing. The game encourages iterative play and repetition, a process that remains engaging due to the tangible sense of progression and the captivating nature of the gameplay loop. The developers have also implemented a “God mode,” granting players an initial 20% damage resistance. This resistance increases by 2% with each subsequent death, up to a maximum of 80%. This bonus is not retroactive but can be toggled on or off, preserving the player’s highest achieved bonus level. This system provides a well-considered approach to making the game accessible to a wider audience or offering assistance during particularly challenging boss encounters.
From a technical standpoint, Hades is highly polished. The base game launched three years ago, and the PlayStation 5 version, which was tested for this review, renders in 4K resolution and maintains a consistent 60fps. Minor frame rate dips were observed during periods of intense on-screen action involving numerous enemies and projectiles. It is possible that the increased processing power of the Xbox Series X mitigates this issue. Subscribers to Game Pass can evaluate Hades before purchasing, as it was available on the service from launch day (August 13). Players who purchase the game on PS4 or Xbox One (running at 1080p and 60fps) are eligible for a free upgrade to the PS5 or Xbox Series X/S version upon transitioning to the newer consoles, a welcome and consumer-friendly practice.
A common drawback of the dungeon crawler genre is the potential for repetitive gameplay. Hades is not entirely immune to this issue. Repeatedly traversing the same levels, particularly the boss encounters, can become somewhat monotonous. Each death necessitates a complete restart from the beginning. While this process becomes less difficult over time, it can still feel tedious and repetitive, especially after significant progress has been made. However, it is evident that Supergiant Games has strived to maintain a fresh, varied, and challenging experience through procedurally generated levels and the introduction of new bonuses to discover and experiment with during each playthrough, with the aim of incrementally progressing further with each attempt.
Hades is a simple, stylish, addictive, and surprisingly deep title that delivers exceptional value, especially considering its indie development and reasonable price point. For those who have yet to experience it, the current generation consoles offer an optimal platform. Dim the lights and dedicate an evening to escaping the underworld. It’s a journey well worth undertaking, and repeating, multiple times.
Footnote: Hades is available both digitally and physically as of August 13. The digital version offers a slightly lower price point, while the physical edition includes a download code for the soundtrack and a 32-page art book.
