Hades | Nintendo Switch Review

This review would have been out sooner, if only I could’ve stopped playing Hades. It is a gift that keeps on giving. Everytime I turn it on to play through a quick run, I end up playing for hours. It’s seriously affecting my life, but I can’t stop. There’s always something else right around the corner to discover.

Hades is a roguelike, like so many other games in the current generation. You play as Zagreus, son of Hades, hellbent on escaping his Father’s domain. Because he is an immortal deity, Zagreus is reborn in the pits of Tartarus upon death, no more worse for the wear.

No Escape

This is a small sampling of what I love about Hades. The story factors into everything. Your upgrades in every run are boons bestowed upon you by the Gods of Olympus, your weapons are Infernal Arms kept under watch by the House of Hades, and every character is aware of Zag’s life/death cycle. Not only do they comment on seeing you again or any recent narrative developments, but they are hyper specific about it. One character may make mention of the enemy type that killed you, or a boss might notice you’re using a different weapon this time. The variety in dialogue responses is astounding, and in 40 or so hours of play I’ve never heard a repeat.

Fight for the Truth

The main story is good enough, focusing on rebellious young Zagreus seeking answers his Dad refuses to provide, but it’s the characters that make the game come to life. It sneaks up on you, too. In any given run, you may only get 2-3 lines of dialogue from a character, but over time the bond builds. Because you’re there every step of the way, it makes you feel involved in the growth of these relationships. As Zagreus comes to forge connections with an enemy over their shared rivalry, it feels much more involved because you’re the reason they talk. You have to earn these relationships over repeated runs.

I’m not a roguelike fan because I am a very story-focused gamer, and this genre is focused on minute-to-minute action. With Hades, Supergiant Games has made a title for people like me. It’s one thing to feel stronger or better with every run, but it’s something else entirely to be pulled further into a world. And because the combat loop is also fulfilling, you end up in a cycle where putting the game down seems impossible.

War and Peace

Combat in Hades is a simple affair. You have an attack, a special, a magical cast, and a super attack referred to as a “call.” Your job is to clear the screen of enemies, of which there is a large variety. The fun comes in the brisk length of combat, as well as your build that run. Battles rarely last longer than a minute or two, making for furious pace. Enemies deal decent damage, so you have to be constantly aware of your surroundings. It makes for an engaging experience that keeps you on your toes. Boss battles last longer and bring your focus more singular, but they also never teeter over even five minutes. The game is meant to be played quick, and you’ll learn to keep up with it.

Speaking to builds, there are several weapons to choose from. Each one has its own upgrade paths, and several boons associated with it. Each God of Olympus has their focuses when it comes to their respective boons. Athena tends to have defensive abilities, for example. Each God gives you three options of their many boons each time you come across them, so you may get lucky or you may not. That’s the gamble, and the fun, of every run. You have to make the best with whatever comes your way. I’m sure this is old news to roguelike fans, but for me the genre finally clicked. It helps that each God has some new dialogue everytime you encounter them, so you get to learn more of their personalities over time.

Always a Lesson to Be Learned

After you die, you can spend the permanent currencies on upgrades that last between rounds. These can utterly transform the experience, such as giving you extra lives per run. This is the key to success in Hades. There’s even a currency for increasing bonds with characters, some of which can turn romantic. There is always something in which to invest, upgrade, or investigate. Never have I died and felt like nothing new was awaiting me. Even once you defeat the end boss, new narrative beats and upgrades await you! I’m not convinced it’s even possible to see all the game has to offer.

Shocking no one, the art in Hades is beautiful. Every title from Supergiant Games has benefitted from incredible art, and nothing is different here. Of particular note are the designs for the Gods, with some having a lot of artistic fun with their representations. Hades is also a surprisingly horny game, and many of these designs reflect that for every gender.

A Great Odyssey

The soundtrack by Darren Korb is yet another knockout. True to Bastion, Transistor, and Pyre before it, Hades has a soundtrack you’ll be listening to for years to come. It’s more action-oriented this time around, but it retains that flair for which the composer is known. The lyrical songs will absolutely be stuck in your head for a long while.

Supergiant Games only seems capable of creating masterpieces. Every single time the studio puts out a game, it feels as if the industry stops to take notice. This many hours in, with a genre I’ve been known to detest, I can’t put Hades down. I’m thinking about it when I’m not playing it, always curious about what new stories will await me upon my return. Speaking of which, I think it’s just about time to escape the Underworld once again.

This review is based on a purchased copy of Hades on Nintendo Switch. It is also available on Steam.ades

Hades

$24.99

10

The Final Verdict

10.0/10

Pros

• Quick, Engaging Combat
• Every Character is Full of Life
• An Unbelievable Amount of Content
• Surprises Around Every Corner
• Beautiful Art and Music

Cons

• None

Buy Hades on the Nintendo eShop Here