In the world where there are more and more roguelike games, Hades is still the strongest one you can play on the surface.
There's no need to introduce what a roguelike game is, I believe everyone understands. It is generally known for its randomly generated levels, permadeath, and random skills.
Although roguelike games are great, why can't we continue playing many masterpieces? It's often because of their high learning curve and intense frustration, making us feel unworthy of playing them.
As a representative of the clumsy players, I know very well that playing most games that require skill is quite challenging for me. However, Hades has managed to keep me engaged for over a hundred hours... What kind of magic lies behind this time disappearing?
Limited randomness, infinite combinations.
Let's talk about the game's build (BD) combinations in terms of gacha games. Each room you enter is like a weekly update pool, where you can see which characters are up and which ones you can draw. We can also know whose blessing we will receive in the next room. This limited randomness brings completely different experiences. Just like how we can choose not to draw unwanted characters and blessings, we can also choose to take different paths.
Players always have choices, but these choices are limited. This design perfectly controls the strength of game characters, avoiding excessively random combinations that go beyond the design. At the same time, players can still enjoy the core feature of a roguelike game - BD combinations.
It's worth mentioning that the skills designed to complement each god's blessing in the game are quite impressive. They not only provide the traditional speed and power boosts but also bring additional benefits from different dimensions. Only those who have played the game would know that each weapon has its own unique surprises when combined with different skills.
Death penalty, dying and dying again.
God Mode and Casual Mode are great features, and I recommend them. Hades has considerately introduced a permanent buff for death to accommodate clumsy players. Each death brings damage reduction. Even with this mode enabled, the game still offers a certain level of difficulty... but it's just the right amount to give you a sense of achievement and enjoyable challenge. It's hard not to suspect that the designer intentionally designed it this way.
In the regular mode, Hades also offers many permanent buffs, including dozens of character enhancements, tokens, summons, and six unique weapons. The replayability is off the charts. Even if you clear all the levels, the Pact of Punishment brings even more replayability.
All of these elements keep you addicted to dying in the underworld.
Story, said but not really said.
Hades won the 2021 Hugo Award for "Best Video Game" and the 55th Nebula Award for "Best Game Script." Needless to say, the story is top-notch. What's even more impressive is how Hades incorporates randomness and death into the narrative, giving every ordinary action in the game a story basis, making it more reasonable. Every action you take has clear story feedback. You can make your poor old father lament or create more "fatherly love and filial piety" moments.
Not to mention, when the gods offer their blessings, they also casually gossip with you. The complex relationships among the gods of Olympus and their diverse personalities are deconstructed and reconstructed in a large amount of text, ultimately creating a wonderful experience where Hades doesn't explicitly tell the story but is filled with it everywhere.
Art style, visuals, and impact.
No need to say much about the art style, it's fantastic!
The visuals are stunning, no need to say more!
What's even more commendable is that Hades has excellent impact in its combat. Even its combat system is unique, relying on dash-based skill combos and different weapon mechanics. Combos stack damage, and the combat feel in Hades is so satisfying that you can even play it as a stress-relieving game during work breaks.
In conclusion, even after over a hundred hours of playing, I still experience new content in this game, including the story, voice acting, and text... If I could only bring one game to a deserted island for survival, I think it would be this one.