The hades analysis It is something that I was waiting to be able to do, because on the one hand I am deeply passionate about the universe where it is set, the Greek mythology that also develops excellently, and on the other, it is the promise of a playable experience full of satisfaction. The truth is that at the time of this analysis, Supergiant Games has very little to prove with Hades in its console version, beyond its performance and optimization.
It’s not just that it was nominated for Game of the Year. It is that this game in its version of Switch, the first console with which it was released, managed to massively captivate critics and the public alike. The formula you use seems simple. Hades is a rougelike whose basic premise is that you are Zagreo, son of the god of the Underworld, and your desire is to leave this place to be free. At the beginning of the game they don’t tell you more than this, apart from a couple of conversations.
But that is precisely the most interesting thing about Hades, how it evolves in every way: both playable and narratively, it is a game that gets richer as you play it. It is not simply that I have procedurally created scenarios, is that the game knows how to renew itself. Which is decisive in Hades’ proposal, since you will basically be starting the game over and over again. The version of the game that was analyzed is the one optimized for Xbox Series X.
Hades will run at 4K and 60FPS on Xbox Series S
Hades analysis
Hades is the fourth game to deliver Supergiant, and it is without a doubt the best of all. They have experimented enough, offering deep narratives, well crafted art, and a lot of originality as a hallmark. However, a criticism that their previous games have received is that their combat is not satisfactory, many times due to the experimentation of the study. Hades, on the other hand, makes combat one of his best sections.
The game with which Supergiant debuted within the Indie market was Bastion, and it was also with this that he achieved recognition for his talent and capabilities. With Hades the studio has come up with its best proposal, consolidating the best of all its previous style, and adding everything that was lacking in the previous ones. And that is perhaps the most interesting thing, that Supergiant has known how to put as the best section of the game, its main flaw in the previous ones, without neglecting the rest.
Hades is also the first Supergiant game to hit Xbox so soon, and it does so through the big door by coming straight to Xbox Game Pass. In addition to Hades, of the other three games that the studio has only Bastion is available on Xbox. As this is a Rougelike that has permanent death, it is then a game in which you will die many times before achieving your goal. Dying for Zagreo is not dying, because you are an immortal god. But you must be reborn from the blood of hell. And start over.
Hades universe
The Greek world has been visited many times. And the reason for this is clear: it has a lot to offer, especially when it comes to its mythology. The Greek gods have something you can’t find elsewhere, in addition to a basic immortality, they each have their powers at their disposal and are intertwined in stories full of jealousy, envy, hidden interests and alliances. With the Greek gods you have to stick to a relationship of interest, where if they are not happy it will not go well for you.
Hades explores just this with a story that never ceased to amaze me. The more you advance, and the more you interact with the different gods, the more they have you to tell and say. Every time you talk to one of the gods, there is something else that they will tell you, always in accordance with the god. So that Artemis or Zeus say very different things and in different ways, each with their own personality. You also meet heroes like Achilles, the Erinyes, and the eternally punished like Sisyphus.
Sisyphus is, for example, the one who most clearly reflects your situation, punished forever to climb a rock that is destined to fall. And then it must start over. But the story is not only told through the characters. Also in its silences, its spaces and in small elements with which you can interact and they have comments to expand the universe. Something interesting is that this game does not fall into one of the errors that some of its previous installments had of a narrator who was constantly talking.
Combat
Hades combat is frenzied, active, and the center of the game. All other mechanics are focused on enriching your combat experience. In each room you will have a new challenge. And this not to mention the boss battles yet. You start in the palace of Hades where in addition to interacting with the NPCs, you can go to the rooms to improve your passive skills, which you must buy with one of the in-game currencies. And then you have the weapons room.
In this room, you can choose only one of the legendary weapons, which are 6 in total. But you will not have these weapons from the beginning all, but you will have to unlock them with keys that you can find in each of your attempts to leave the underworld. After choosing the weapons to use, you can enter the underworld. As for weapons, the most important thing must be said: each weapon is unique and will mean a unique game mode also to which you will have to adapt.
With the sword you have speed, with the spear you have medium distance, with the bow you have long distance, with the shield you have versatility between distance, melee and blocking. There’s also the Adamant Rail, which is a pistol with a grenade launcher (a bit out of place, but cool just the same). In addition to these weapons, you have a ranged attack where you throw a crystal and an ultimate ability granted by any god with whom you have earned their favors.
To this you must add the acceleration that is combined with your two types of attack, standard and special, to form a new attack. With these basic mechanics you will have a lot to explore and experiment with, but the game doesn’t stop there. Mobility is essential, not only to avoid attacks, but also to prepare to hit the wall for extra damage, activate traps, and get out of the blast zone.
Skills and Blessings
Throughout each of your attempts to exit, the gods will give you blessings or you can also activate passive abilities by purchasing them. Since you start your attempt to get out, you will advance by the three kingdoms of the underworld, made up of random chambers in which a certain number of enemies appear, defeat them, collect a reward and enter the next chamber. The rewards can be any of the in-game currencies that have different functions.
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You should always choose crystals, gems, blood, nectar, keys, and gold, which differ in use and duration. Gold, for example, will only serve you during each one of your lives, and you can buy blessings or blood, or abilities. These blessings will range from improvements to your attacks, to structural changes in the way you should attack. For example, you may have a boon that rewards hitting from behind with a high percentage of more damage.
Each god may also grant you blessings of different characteristics, levels and importance, this has a lot to do with how much you favor him in your choices. It can also happen that if you have two gods very happy with your choices, you can have dual blessings that will be much better. While the blessings only last for one of your lives, with the crystals you can improve other types of passive skills permanently. With the gems you will be able to aesthetically and strategically improve the rooms and kingdoms of the underworld.
Conclution
I cannot close this Analysis of Hades without saying a few more things about the game, leaving many out. But it is that Hades although at first glance it seems a very simple game, it is full of mechanics that enrich it so much that I could stay writing for much longer. In particular I want to refer to two more aspects, bosses and level design. Well, although the combat of Hades in general is something that fills you with satisfaction, bosses are something that goes further.
Not only are they brutally designed, but they’re unlike anything else in the game, and they’ll be challenging, especially the last two. I think what else I liked about these boss battles was the fact that you have a special challenge with each one, which you must learn to solve. But it doesn’t stop there. It can even change throughout your attempts. As in fact the whole game does. And it is that when it comes to the levels, despite being procedural, the design of these is quite special.
Last updated on 2021-03-14. Prices and availability may differ from those published. SomosXbox could receive a commission for your purchases. More information.
The spaces are used in an excellent way and everything has a participation. In addition, of course, the artistic work that is behind and which you are going to enjoy from the first moment. And that’s without taking into account that the sound design between music, effects and voice performances is undoubtedly masterful. Hades is, in my view, one of those games that you are going to want to play and you won’t be disappointed. Whether you’re a fan of rougelike or not, Hades has a lot to bring to your gamer experience.