Hades was completed in over 20 hours (plus, I once spent a whole day without internet, unsure if it counted towards gameplay hours or not), but I'm confident that dedicated players could extract 30-50 hours of content from it. For a rogue-like, this marks the first time I've played a game where the story and characters take precedence over the gameplay loop.
Some insights from my playthrough:
+ The story starts with a metal vibe but ultimately delves into family drama, which I found quite compelling.
+ The action is swift-paced and visually satisfying.
+ The array of weapons and boons ensures that each loop feels distinct, akin to typical rogue-like games. If I were to draw a comparison, it's reminiscent of Wizard of Legend.
+ Upon defeating Hades for the first time, the Pact of Punishment introduces additional challenges and gameplay variations. Extreme Measure, in particular, alters boss encounters, adding depth to the experience.
+ Every loop, regardless of victory or defeat, presents intriguing dialogues from each character, offering insights into their lives and struggles. Sometimes, I found myself playing solely to witness the fate of characters like Orpheus and Eurydice or to observe the romance between the main character and Megaera.
+ The game is rich in detail, from character reactions to carried items to subtle arena elements during boss fights, which enrich the overall experience.
+ The music is exceptional, with tracks like "In The Blood," "Lament of Orpheus," and "Good Riddance" standing out. Supergiant Games consistently delivers in the music department.
= For those seeking a more narrative-focused experience, the game offers God Mode (a discovery I made towards the end), significantly reducing enemy damage without compromising the challenge.
= Additionally, there's an option to "give up," automatically recovering any losses incurred during a run. Although I personally never utilized this feature, it could be beneficial for those facing particularly challenging runs.
- While initially engaging, the game can become frustrating if its charm fails to resonate. Repetitive encounters with familiar enemies and areas can lead to boredom, despite the Pact of Punishment's attempt to inject excitement.
- After defeating Hades multiple times, I found myself growing weary of experimentation. Certain weapon and boon combinations became exploitable, and boss patterns became predictable. Increasing Extreme Measure's difficulty could mitigate this, injecting fresh challenges into boss encounters.
- Events in the game can feel somewhat reliant on RNG. Encountering characters like Eurydice or obtaining secret weapons is not guaranteed, and even accessing the epilogue post-True Ending is subject to RNG.
Objectively evaluating Hades as a rogue-like game, it excels in all aspects, boasting polished gameplay, detailed world-building, outstanding music, and compelling storytelling. However, despite its many strengths, the magic of each loop gradually waned for me, culminating in a somewhat exhausting experience upon completing Hades with level 3 extreme measure. At that point, I even contemplated taking a break from the genre, but eventually, the game's allure proved too strong to resist.
My Score: 75/100.
Some insights from my playthrough:
+ The story starts with a metal vibe but ultimately delves into family drama, which I found quite compelling.
+ The action is swift-paced and visually satisfying.
+ The array of weapons and boons ensures that each loop feels distinct, akin to typical rogue-like games. If I were to draw a comparison, it's reminiscent of Wizard of Legend.
+ Upon defeating Hades for the first time, the Pact of Punishment introduces additional challenges and gameplay variations. Extreme Measure, in particular, alters boss encounters, adding depth to the experience.
+ Every loop, regardless of victory or defeat, presents intriguing dialogues from each character, offering insights into their lives and struggles. Sometimes, I found myself playing solely to witness the fate of characters like Orpheus and Eurydice or to observe the romance between the main character and Megaera.
+ The game is rich in detail, from character reactions to carried items to subtle arena elements during boss fights, which enrich the overall experience.
+ The music is exceptional, with tracks like "In The Blood," "Lament of Orpheus," and "Good Riddance" standing out. Supergiant Games consistently delivers in the music department.
= For those seeking a more narrative-focused experience, the game offers God Mode (a discovery I made towards the end), significantly reducing enemy damage without compromising the challenge.
= Additionally, there's an option to "give up," automatically recovering any losses incurred during a run. Although I personally never utilized this feature, it could be beneficial for those facing particularly challenging runs.
- While initially engaging, the game can become frustrating if its charm fails to resonate. Repetitive encounters with familiar enemies and areas can lead to boredom, despite the Pact of Punishment's attempt to inject excitement.
- After defeating Hades multiple times, I found myself growing weary of experimentation. Certain weapon and boon combinations became exploitable, and boss patterns became predictable. Increasing Extreme Measure's difficulty could mitigate this, injecting fresh challenges into boss encounters.
- Events in the game can feel somewhat reliant on RNG. Encountering characters like Eurydice or obtaining secret weapons is not guaranteed, and even accessing the epilogue post-True Ending is subject to RNG.
Objectively evaluating Hades as a rogue-like game, it excels in all aspects, boasting polished gameplay, detailed world-building, outstanding music, and compelling storytelling. However, despite its many strengths, the magic of each loop gradually waned for me, culminating in a somewhat exhausting experience upon completing Hades with level 3 extreme measure. At that point, I even contemplated taking a break from the genre, but eventually, the game's allure proved too strong to resist.
My Score: 75/100.