his roguelike action game dropped for Microsoft Windows, macOS and Nintendo Switch on 17 September last year. Prior to that, it was launched in Early Access in December 2018.
Players control Zagreus, the son of Hades, as he attempts to escape from the Underworld to reach Mount Olympus. To do so, he’ll have help from other gods like Zeus, Poseidon and Artemis.
The game falls into the rougelite or roguelike category, so each attempt to escape will be challenged by numerous enemies and rooms with perks and rewards given at random.
To advance in each game, Zagreus has access to all sorts of weapons, from swords and shields to bows and cannons. A wide variety to make each escape attempt a unique experience.
But all these weapons isn’t all, you also have Dash and Cast abilities, which can be enhanced with the random Boons you get with each attempt.
As is common in this type of games, dying is just part of the mechanics. So, until you get some of the first permanent enhancements, it will be really hard to reach the end of the game.
One of the best things about the game, beyond its fast-paced action and satisfactory playability, is the huge backstory the developer decided to include in a genre that doesn’t normally stand out for this.
One of the most striking statistics for this game is the massive 21,020 voice lines for 30 fully dubbed characters, which gives you an idea how much Supergiant worked on the story.
So, just as the mechanics will suck you in, so will Zagreus’ journey and relationship with the Gods of Olympus and other characters that inhabit the Underworld, such as Orpheus, Medusa and Hades himself.
Your relationship with the Gods of Olympus will be particularly important, as they not only share their secrets but also give you Boons that you can use for your unique builds for each game.
Between escape attempts, the more curious players can explore the area around the Underworld and deepen their relationship with the characters, some of whom are open to a bit of romance with Zagreus.
However, if you’re looking for a solid roguelike game for countless hours of action, this game has a well-crafted endgame that will keep you glued to the controller even after completing the main story.
This launch for the main consoles is the next step in a brilliant career for Supergiant Games, which already got the attention of gamers and analysts alike with games like Bastion, Transistor and Pyre.
No doubt, Hades is the studio’s biggest success. It has been named Game of the Year in several publications and received awards like The Game Award for Best Independent Game in 2020.
Hades will keep sucking players in all over the world from 13 August on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5, for the initial price of €29.99 in Spain.
