Rogue-Likes Without Gatekeeping

Many of us will find extremely difficult games as natural gatekeepers which prevent casual video game players from diving into them. Moreover, Rogue-Likes as a genre have a built in filter, weeding out those not willing to invest time and effort getting proficient at a game that kills you A LOT. Being forced to start from the beginning is not the most fun experience and fun is key to encouraging participation. Why bother even trying? Well what if I told you that HADES as a game has 'solved' this major barrier to entry. This single game has not only redefined what a Rogue-Like can be but has transcended the genre entirely. Supergiant Games took the basic formula of a Rogue-Like, best known for their high difficulty, unforgiving play patterns and infinite replay-ability then added a unique twist. A story centered around the player being rewarded with each death. Creating an experience where the death isn't a sour spot, but something to look forward to. By my second death in this game I was already jazzed to see what was in store for me afterwards and that's the exact moment I knew that HADES was something special.

The Meat and Potatoes of HADES

Zagreus is the main character of this game and his motivation is simple, escape the underworld because he's an angsty teenager with an asshole Father. That's the driving force behind the game, but the actual gameplay loop is as follows: fight your way through a dungeon filled with various enemy types, get your ass handed to you, emerge back at the start of the underworld and go talk to characters about your journey. Then use your knowledge and accrued resources to level up and try again. Then die. A Lot. Over and over. Slowly making steady progress in both the dungeon and the game's storyline while achieving growth as a character. It sound simple, but due to early access of the game, the developers ensured it was a very clean and polished end product. No glitches, no bugs, no frustrations over the game engine itself. The core gameplay loop as well as the brilliant mechanics, fully fleshed out characters and brilliant art direction equate to an experience unlike any other.

How This Game Appeals To Deck Builders

In HADES, the Greek Pantheon appears in a limited number of Gods ranging from Zeus to Hermes to Athena and so on. Each of these Gods grants boons to the player character, which in-game serve as buffs/upgrades to health, armor, movement, attack, etc. They can really change the nature of a run through the main dungeon and allow each play through of the game to feel unique. Where it gets really interesting is how each of these boons pair together. More unique effects can be discovered by pairing two boons together yielding abilities only seen in specific circumstances. Already being buffed by Ares? How about combining that with an Athena buff to become even stronger and completely change how your character attacks enemies. Just like in a deck building game, a player will start seeking out certain gods in hopes of creating synergies in their upgrades. A weak run through the dungeon can suddenly have real potential because the groundwork laid early on is rewarded when it all comes together with on duo boon.

The Characters... OH MY!

This game has hundreds of THOUSANDS of lines of dialogue. Players have been jamming this game since it came out and they are still getting new dialogue after 100+ hours. Supergiant Games really made sure that there was never a situation where the player had heard all there was to hear from their favorite character. They even included a romance mechanic in a rogue-like. How the fu... And its not just for show either. There are tangible rewards for talking to characters you meet after each run of the main dungeon. Lasting upgrades, slowly building relationships and hidden motivations to discover for each fully fleshed out character. There is a slow trickle of serotonin when a character opens up a little bit more with each run. New secrets, new items, new insights. Each god really brings their Olympic mythos to life. Every single time I interact with a god, it brings me right back to late nights of diving into Greek Mythology books as a kid. It's all so well handled to keep the wheel turning. I had a deep melancholy when I had to say goodbye to these characters after I switched to a new game. The voice actors and writing team did an exceptional job and I look forward to more from them in the future.

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A Rarity in Gaming

The studio behind this game did everything right. They focused on good gameplay, excellent characters, an engaging story and most importantly they listened to players. Supergiant Games released HADES in early access not because they were a greedy studio looking to make a quick buck on an unfinished game, they wanted feedback and transparency. With players encouraged to play the game and help them work out the kinks, the results speak for themselves. It shows that Supergiant really cared about the end product and wanted it to be as perfect as possible. They took feedback to heart and even learned from their previous games like Bastion and Pyre to produce something that was derivative of their other works, but built upon the lessons they had learned. I refuse to call this game their Magnum Opus simply because everything within this game indicated that each subsequent game will compound upon the success of HADES and yield something even better.

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I will avoid spoilers as I have with this entire discussion of HADES, but I finally put down the game after playing for 43+ hours and "beating" the game. Is it 100% completed? Not my a mile. I romanced who I wanted to, completed the main storyline and savored every moment of it. I am surprised I got so many hours out of this game. On the surface it is exceedingly simple and the more you play the more layers are peeled back to reveal a nuanced masterpiece.

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I could pick this game back up and jam out a few more runs if I wanted to, yet I have several other games on my list to finish. So for now, HADES is at rest until its sequel graces my PC in 2023. You still have time before the next game though. Time to die a few times and discover the magic that is HADES.