Why I Was Wrong About Hades

A Herculean House And Its Groovy Guests

The home of the underworld's ruler is littered with thoroughly entertaining, interesting characters and lavish décor. Zagreus leaves his mark on the house through currency attained in game, allowing the player to (albeit slightly) tailor their experience to their own liking.

Furthermore, conversations with Achilles, Nyx and the like truly make each escape feel like a collaborative effort. The gods on Olympus want you to succeed, and though father dearest will mock any failed attempt, others in and around the area will offer guidance, assistance and support through the journeys.

However, the pleasantries don't simply stop at mere chatter, as each character often brings real help in the heat of battle. The decision to acquire upgrades from the gods (or Boons, as they're called here) through a single run and lose them upon returning to the House of Hades is a stroke of genius. It's far from a revolutionary idea, but the potluck aspect of progression makes each run feel like a pragmatic, carefully though out quest using a hearty dose of self-inflicted improvisation.

Your approach to each chamber of the underworld can drastically alter with the addition of a new upgrade. Receiving a boon from Hermes can improve movement speed, and an assist from Athena can allow your dash to deflect enemy projectiles. The god of wine Dionysus can fix you with a perk that inflicts hangover on your opponents, and the king of the gods himself, Zeus, can bolt some electricity onto your special move.

Boons make you stronger, and as you collect them through a single attempt it feels like you have the power of the gods on your side. To feel so powerful in a roguelike title is an absolute luxury, and though the game's perfect difficulty will humble you when needed, it's a delight to not feel like you're always on your way to a disappointing death. In fact, intertwining the end with the beginning of the next means seeing 'There Is No Escape' when your health bar depletes just feels like a loading screen into the next run.

Each of Zagreus' infinite lives are so often short lived, so the ones that do succeed stand out as some of gaming's most satisfying achievements.