The game Hades is a rogue-like action role-playing game that became a quick fan-favorite. Ever since the full version was released across multiple platforms, it’s really taken off. The game has been quite a success and fans have fallen in love with the action as well as the world-building and characters.
If there’s one thing fans can agree on, it’s that Hades is ridiculously playable. While some games take a while to get into and others can get boring really fast, Hades captures attention despite having some fairly unique and strange characteristics. Fans can't get enough of Zagreus and the various relationships he builds. Still, there's always room for improvement.
Improved: Introduce more characters and options
While the idea of a story based around Greek gods and goddesses might not seem new or exciting, Hades handles these classic myths with a modern twist that fans adore.
However, while there are many characters from these legends including gods of the Pantheon and other characters like Achilles, there’s still room for even more down the line with possible expansion packs of DLCs.
Perfect: It’s nearly impossible to put down
On the one hand, this could almost be seen as a negative. This game is so addicting to play it can almost be hazardous for health. It’s also fast-paced which means a lot of quick button-pushing especially if fans are playing on the Nintendo Switch.
However, as long they pace themselves, there are few things more enjoyable than a game that players keep coming back to.
Improved: The ending could use some adjustment
After working hard to overcome the different chambers and beat each boss, players eventually “beat” the game by battling out of “hell” and conquering Hades himself. However, this isn’t the end of the game at all.
Players then have to battle through the game multiple more times and beat Hades repeatedly as the conditions get more difficult. While a lot of this is surprisingly fun, the final ending that happens after beating Hades ten times can feel anti-climatic.
Perfect: The combat system is so smooth
There are many different action games around in various styles. While some, take Call of Duty, are in first person and others rely on a huge open-world filled with side quests, such as Skyrim, Hades has a fast-paced, rouge game style.
While it can get exhausting on eyes and hands to keep up with such quick combat, it’s also exciting and interesting. Everything runs so smoothly and naturally that the combat goes hand in hand with all the other elements of the game design. Speaking of which, the game's graphics and soundtrack are also wonderful.
Improved: There are moments it can feel too taxing
Hades is a game that your average player is going to need to step away from occasionally. While more advanced and hardcore gamers can beat the main storyline in around 20 hours, less experienced players are going to need more time than this.
Also, to complete other quests and discover more about characters, you’ll need even longer. This can occasionally feel super taxing.
Perfect: Playing over and over rarely gets old
On the flip side of this, if players pace themselves and give themselves a break here and there, the game doesn’t get old. This is quite the feat given how the entire nature of the game is repetitive.
Fans will meet similar monsters and chambers with the same layouts over and over again. While it would be nice to have a little more variety at times, the way the plot and character development is revealed slowly over time keeps the intrigue up. Also, there are so many different ways to combine boons and skills that each playthrough feels new.
Improved: Beating Hades multiple times can feel redundant
After fans beats daddy Hades the first time, they’ll feel pretty proud of themselves and excited. However, as stated earlier, you’ll have to do this at least another nine times. Things get harder though as Hades places a Pact of Punishment that makes players hinder different aspects of their skills for each consecutive time they beat this character again.
But, while this Pact makes the game more difficult, it’s not as hard as one would think to beat him again once it's been done once or twice. So, after the main side quests are completed, players might start to feel a tiny bit bored.
Perfect: The characters are unique, well-written, and engaging
The combat system of the game is definitely a huge plus and the playability is also great. However, another reason so many fans adore this game is the characters. Playing as Hades and Persephone’s son is exciting in and of itself, and you also get to meet some iconic figures like Achilles and Patroclus and give them a new chapter to their story.
Another positive of this game is the romance options. It’s a queer-friendly game where the character can romance another man, a woman, or both at the same time. All of these romance options are interesting, and the polyamorous aspect is a great thing that isn't seen very often.
Improved: More relationship dialogue and/or cut scenes
On the other hand, fans often are left wanting even more. If they know what to do, it’s not long before they can max out the romance options or relationship options for non-romanceable players.
Fans could get to this point and still have a ways to go before completing the game. It would be nice if there was more content this way to propel people to play even more.
Perfect: The way it embraces death is entirely one of a kind
The biggest thing about Hades that everyone is talking about is the way it incorporates death into the game. While dying in games is usually something frustrating or annoying, in Hades, dying is just part of the game.
In fact, dying can be a good thing. Players learn to embrace death because being sent back to the beginning allows new interactions to take place. This makes for a game unlike most others out there.