This Week I Have Been Mostly Playing…
Hades on Nintendo Switch
Let me throw my cards down right away. Or should I say card. This is one of the best games to come out in 2020. Yes I know it has spent two years in early access on PC but the end product is simply sublime. Usually I try to shun spoilers but that is impossible if I want to explain what makes this title so good. For those already interested in purchasing, stop reading and go buy it now. It has brilliant combat, exquisite hand drawn art and the best portrayal of Greek gods in any game. Easily my shortest review, go!
For those that remain let me draw you back into the roguelike world, where most runs end in death and hopefully some additional knowledge. The premise is simple. You play as Zagreus, the son of Hades who wants to escape this hell he resides in. The game is broken up into four levels, with multiple areas where you have to defeat a bunch of enemies intent on killing you. Make it to the end of the level and face a boss fight. Kill all these and earn your freedom.
Along the way players you pick up random boons, basically upgrades from the gods to help you in your fight. Zeus gives you lightning, Poseidon gives you flood water and Athena deflect. The early runs will have random drops and you will eventually learn which ones complement your play style. Each time there are three options, giving the play better chance to hone there load out. But without ever knowing what could be next it makes the first few runs tricky. Along the way there is gold and other items to collect, with most being saved once you die.
Back in the starting area, these can be used to upgrade your skills, unlock new weapons or expand the hub world. For most players unlocking these upgrades is a must to help you beat the game. Each run brings out new gods each with a complicated back story with Zagreus to unpick. I regret not paying too much attention to begin with as these relationships really suck you in. This is how the story unfolds and its brilliantly written.
Combat is glorious and I’ve been trying to pin down what makes it so good compared to something like Dead Cells. I think it's the fluidity that makes it work so well with a normal attack, heavy, range and a dash that is actively encouraged to spam. There's far more positional sense in each area. Fighting it frenetic, the screen can fill with enemies so quickly, you must dart around as quick as you can to survive. Fortunately the Flood boon can be a huge help here. For all its simplicity I never got bored of the combat.
Of course the art style is what truly sings, impeccable hand drawn art. I love it, particularly the character models which just ooze character. Each area is just so unique, blending hazards with Athenian beauty. It’s quite an achievement. Super Giant Games is known for this in previous titles Bastion, Transistor and Pyre but by far this is their best looking game. It's a joy to keep exploring each level again and again, I am always spotting some new touch I missed in previous runs.
The permadeath and endless loops could put some people off but this is one of the most forgiving roguelikes I have ever played. Its been built with accessibility in mind, several upgrades really help once you get to them but the best is the God Mode. This reduces the damage you take from enemies and will continue to rise by 2% for each run you fail. A sound way to ensure everyone has a chance of finding out how the story ends.
Did I beat it? Of course I fucking did! I must have been about 12 hours into playing it and found a loadout that worked for me. It took a bit of luck but I had been honing down my skills. I was still on the starting sword and can’t wait to try out some of the other weapons on future runs which I have heard mix the game up nicely. This game deserves a multi platform release and would be right at home on next gen. I don't usually gush so much about a game but the hype around it is correct. This is an all time classic and well worth your time.
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