Roguelike games are just getting more and more popular. I've never really been a fan but the more of them I play, I'm starting to understand the appeal better. Hades isn't particularly easy game but it does do a few things to help the player. Getting to earn in game currency and xp allows you to upgrade your character and weapons gradually so while you start each attempt in stage 1, Zagreus is still getting stronger. This system more or less ensures that if you're patient enough, you'll beat the game in time. The satisfying nature of the combat also makes the repeated failure more palatable. You get to wield one of 6 different weapons (your choice which one) and you wield varying powers dependent on which of your family decides to help you (more on that later). It's not strategy based but depending on how you use your abilities, things can get easier. I enjoyed cutting through enemy after enemy in room after room despite the fact I had to do it again and again... and again...... and again.
Our protagonist while battling through the underworld is Hades' son Zagreus. He has recently learned that the Night Goddess Nyx is not his real mother. Couple this with his father's reluctance to talk about his real mother Persephone and their general animosity for each other, Zagreus resolves to journey to the surface world and meet her in person. This angers his father and he forbids it, so Zagreus must fight his way out through his father's goons (various different shades and agents with different offensive capabilities). Word reaches his relatives on Olympus and they're supportive of his efforts. They lend him their power as he tries to battle his way out. It's a simple story but what helps sell it and make it more interesting is the characters. Zagreus' extended family are all interesting and entertaining. The game also presents unique challenges based on which God is helping on that given run. The game is helped further by the fact that Zagreus is easy to like. He's very sarcastic and self-depreciating but he's highly motivated and pretty affable. You want to see him succeed and it makes his inevitable victory all the more satisfying when a chorus of Gods have been cheering him on the entire time. The characters are presented in a really unique manner (at least for Greek mythology, which has been done how many times now?) and while the premise isn't ironclad strong, its elevated by how it's paired with the characters and the world.
Hades is a product of Supergiant, an indie darling of the game industry. One of their consistent strengths are their mastery of visual and audio components in each of their games. Hades is no exception, the animation is way better than required for the roguelike genre and gives the game a sense style that keeps you engaged. The soundtrack is also fantastic, the game relies on an instrumental score but just like their previous work Pyre, its got a ton of depth and range. When you're heading into a tough room and the music shifts, it adds to the stakes and sharpens your focus. It's just one more area where they weren't satisfied to just give you good enough and I appreciated the effort.
Hades is a testament to Supergiant games and their enduring excellence. Pyre was/is amazing but it was admittedly more of a niche game (it still deserved a bigger following, check out my review for that game as well). Supergiant went more mainstream with Hades by choosing a more popular genre and they nailed it thoroughly. Supergiant not only delivered on a satisfying combat system that provides all the fun and enjoyable frustration of an elite roguelike game but they add on some gorgeous animation, a fantastic soundtrack, likeable characters and a decent story. This game is a polished gem and while it can be frustrating (I don't want to admit how many attempts it took to beat the game the first time), I loved it throughout. Hades requires some patience but if you've played similar games in the genre, you're going to recognize that's part of the appeal and how special this game is when compared against the average. I'd absolutely recommend this to any interested parties.
