While roguelikes are known for their punishing game design, Hades defies convention to be something truly special. Combining long-term progression with short-term frustration, fans of the genre can enjoy the trial-and-error format, while also inviting new players to enjoy the experience through each run as well, no matter how successful. also, to make it feel like a real achievement. All of this relies on a combat system that’s diverse in its approach, offering a litany of enemies that all deal damage in unique ways, and a well-balanced difficulty setting. The Supergiant-developed game is leaving Xbox Game Pass on August 31, but there are so many things it does well that it’s still worth buying on other hardware.
unlike Dead cells or The Binding of Isaac who have vague stories, Hades handles a detailed narrative of a boy’s scant triumphs in a plethora of failures. Along the way, Zagreus encounters figures from Greek myth, be it the brave and optimistic Sisyphus or the insufferable Theseus who never tire of ridiculing Zagreus’ multitude of escape attempts. While these encounters are always a joy, it’s the gods of Olympus who steal the show, popping in at regular intervals to offer some wisdom and much-needed help.
The Flawed Gods of Olympus
The stories of their exploits are known by so many around the world, but Hades approaches the gods of Olympus with a layer of realism and honesty. While they provide valuable assistance on every run, and some like Artemis are friends everywhere, the gods presented always seem to be a little less than perfect. Despite all his might, Zeus comes across as arrogant, selfish and inexplicable for his actions. The help he offers through Boons as Electric Shot is welcome, as it makes the run easier, but when he gets it from a man who never seems like a real hero, the story feels all the more gripping.
Hermes, the messenger god who offers speed-based upgrades, offers huge gameplay advantages. However, any interaction with him feels way too fleeting, and the speed with which he talks makes it seem like he’s not really sympathetic to Zagreus’ efforts. The gods presented in Hades always feel detached from what really happens when they sit on their respective thrones. Compared to the likes of Hypnos, Thanatos, Sisyphus, and Achilles, the gods of Olympus don’t really offer any kind of true friendship. This is far from what they are in games like Immortals Phenyx Rising or Kid Icarus: Rebellionto make Hades’ the characters take on all the fresher and more exciting.
Boons Montage of Olympus
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unlike god of war which has mythological gods as secondary characters to serve the plot, Hades Olympus has not only got to take its story forward, but also to help immensely in the gameplay department. Zagreus may start each new run with nothing, but he soon finds ways to carry the power of the gods with him as he desperately tries to leave his home. The shocking power of Zeus or the playful but dangerous and drunken abilities of Dionysus are with Zagreus until he succeeds or fails, and although their characters are absent during combat, their presence is felt in buckets.
Duo Boons of a pair of gods would do well to make their impact felt together. Ares and Aphrodite may have limited dialogue with each other, but the Duo Boon, Curse of Longing combines the two characters’ abilities to create something much more destructive, while also making it feel like Ares and Aphrodite make a good team. Boons give the feeling that the gods of Olympus are getting enough character development, even when Zagreus is in the thick of the battle. It’s not just side characters that further flesh out the story, but they’re really useful when they’re not there.
Hades’ celestial character models
While visuals are usually not an important factor in character development, Hades uses an art style that makes each feel unique and true to the Greek myth from which they originated. Hermes’ youthful energy in Hades is shown not only through dialogue, but also in his character demeanor and clothing. Something as simple as looking away from the camera when he speaks makes him feel uninterested in Zagreus’ efforts. Ares’ colossal battle armor and Persephone’s cropped blond hair with lavender on her ears and a basket full of ripe fruit all do a good job of capturing the essence of their respective characters. HadesAesthetic style is eccentric enough to feel really different, but doesn’t go overboard with its artistic license.
For all his great moments, god of war‘s take on Zeus, Hercules and even Hades feels bland compared to what Supergiant has accomplished. They’re certainly not bad, but they look exactly as players would expect. The same can be said of games like To beat and Immortals Phenyx Rising. No one has an art style that comes close to Hades‘ visuals, and the latter is clearly made better by the characters that people around the world have become accustomed to.
While there are other games that take advantage of some mythologies, Hades takes on the mighty task of faithfully recreating the gods of Olympus, but given that it was heavily relied upon in other media, it was certainly an almost impossible feat to make them feel fresh again. There’s always more room to use Greek mythology in gaming, but Hades sets the bar so high that it will be hard for any developer, both indie and AAA, to really stand out.
Hades is available on PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
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