Hades (PC and Switch)

johnny_ultimate

Finally hit 1.0 (plus a Switch release) so time for a dedicated thread.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mD8x5xLHRho

I played a good chunk of this during the first few stages of its early access release, and it was masterful from the get go. Looking forward to properly diving into the finished product - have only played a bit of the later updates so much to discover.

This is another rogue lite, but it flows like a dream - the weapons are delightful to play with, and the dizzying amount of upgrades and powers really do give you lots of room to build a character that suits you (while still facing the frequent dilemmas of choosing between multiple worthwhile options).

Add to that the peerless writing, music, performances and visual design of a Supergiant game, and you have something that is unsurprisingly receiving rave reviews.

I'd go as far as saying Supergiant have just gotten better and better with each subsequent game - from Transistor to Pyre to this. One of the absolute best studios working today. This seems to have been a massive hit on PC, so couldn't be happier for them.

This is good enough that I'm really considering double-dipping on Switch once the cross-save is enabled.

nix

Colour me intrigued.. Does it play like Diablo? Multiplayer?

johnny_ultimate

nix wrote: »

Colour me intrigued.. Does it play like Diablo? Multiplayer?

No multiplayer.

A little like Diablo in terms of isometric dungeon crawling, but also not :pac: Basically you enter a room, fight some enemies, get a reward... and then you choose which room you want to go to next out of a few options. So you could choose the room with an upgrade (you get a choice of three usually), or the room with money, for example. As a run continues, your upgrades stack and you can mix up all sorts of crazy combos. But there are loads of complications and nuances and systems to get to grips with, and you can also build your character across runs with permanent health upgrades etc...

It's hard to describe, but the main thing is it feels properly great to play

Dcully

Amazing game and a unique take of the arpg,rgue-lite genre from a really special dev team.
You havent experienced proper snappy controls and gameplay until you played this.

Kiith

Getting great reviews as well, so downloading it at the moment.

Feels like a cross between Bastion and Dead Cells so far. Seems good so far. Only done three runs but felt I got quite far in the third; beat a boss. Do you always go back to start when you die? I disliked Dead Cells for that

Zapp Brannigan

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Feels like a cross between Bastion and Dead Cells so far. Seems good so far. Only done three runs but felt I got quite far in the third; beat a boss. Do you always go back to start when you die? I disliked Dead Cells for that

I imagine so. That’s the point of rogue like games.

Managed to get to the first boss and she annihilated me. Going to play more tonight.

This feels very polished and exactly what I’d expect from the developer!

johnny_ultimate

The second boss is an all-timer - wrecked me first few times, now just really enjoy how intense it is. Think I made it to the final boss (or at least what was the final boss) once but got promptly annihilated - difficulty really ramps up after a while.

Worth taking on the optional

Charon shopkeeper boss at least once for a decent upgrade.

Zapp Brannigan

Tried the bow out. Beat the boss that was giving me trouble previously on the first try!

Mr E

This game is great! Played a few hours on Switch this morning.

Watched a few tips videos on YouTube... There are some things in the game that they don't explain very well.

Sephiroth_dude

Nice looking game and all but can't even get to the first boss haha I suddenly remember why I don't play these kinds of games but I will persevere with it.

Mr.Fantastic

Got this for a tenner on the SA store , as I had some sweet sweet gold coins to use.

Excited to get stuck into it loved bastion and transistor .

Zapp Brannigan

This is addictive. Managed to get to Elysium once so far.

pixelburp

Picked it up on the Switch as well; I knew of it as it was from SuperGiant but was holding out til the final release. You can really tell by playing the developer and the time given to polish it up 'cos it plays like an absolute dream.

Elysium was curiously "easy", as I beat its boss on the second go but everything else has been kicking my ass, in a good way. The main gameplay loop is perfect.

I'd love to know how much audio they recorded because it feels like nearly every death, combination of God buffs or general choice has some dialogue response from various characters. And it's the characters that make me want to stick around as they're rather brilliantly written. Even the lead is charismatic as honestly, I was expecting him to be a bit dour.

Would love if Pyre made it to Switch

Mr E

Played a good game at lunchtime. I can beat Meg in most games without taking damage now.

The soundtrack is on Spotify too (Hades Game Original Soundtrack by Darren Korb)

Soundtrack reminds me of early doom games. There's a god mode setting that buffs you the more you die apparently. Think I'll give that a go. I'm already starting to get fed up going back to the start. Can't beat the minotaur in Elysium.

Mr E

I can beat the minotaur (just about), but not when he

has help...

pixelburp

A reviewer mentioned in passing that the game is something of a stealth Visual Novel, and yeah ... I can see it. The conversations, gift mechanics etc. does give the sense of a rudimentary VN snuck into a roguelike.

The constant deaths don't frustrate to the extent of - say - Dead Cells 'cos returning to chat with the various characters is an enjoyable tonic.

Mr E

pixelburp wrote: »

The constant deaths don't frustrate to the extent of - say - Dead Cells 'cos returning to chat with the various characters is an enjoyable tonic.

Yep there is nearly always something to do back in the hub. Stuff to upgrade, visit the broker, people to talk to ....

Favourite weapon? I haven't unlocked them all but I like the bow and lance. Fists are fun, but bloody hard to get good at.

pixelburp

TBH I stick with the bow because its spread shot is cheesy and convenient when powered up by the Gods. I can keep distance from the more nippier enemies and plug away at them. Ditto the shield to a lesser extent, which has to have been inspired by Captain America in its feel.

In total I've probably put about 10 hours in so far, and what amazes me is how expertly SuperGiant deal with the randomisation; it's the most "curated" roguelike experience I've played. I wonder how many intervanl values & stats they have keeping track of your overall runs, successes etc. because it's crazy the combinations they can account for.

I had just settled into a pattern of

kicking Maegara's(sic) backside then boom - her sisters turn up

. I might have already spotted one or two "generic" conversation responses but some effort was made to make even those feel characterful.

johnny_ultimate

The bow is definitely the easiest to get to grips with, and some of the spread shot combos you can build are absolutely devastating for pretty much every enemy until the final boss. I have gotten some absolutely lethal gun builds going as well, but perhaps requires a little bit more luck than the bow.

Dcully

Just a heads up for anyone wanting to buy this for PC.
As a result of some previous offer or promotion of epic launcher you may have a €10 voucher for epic store.
If you do the game is only €6.79 after using the voucher.
I used it there on my sons epic launcher account.

Mr.Fantastic

Playing this a bit more now, one word addictive !

The story is done nicely aswell, also love the setting never though my classics degree would help me enjoy a game more

TheRepentent

Get it:D

It's a great game. Have had since early access and enjoyed every minute of it.

Zapp Brannigan

Still haven’t beaten it, but that hasn’t decreased my fun at all.

Back to using the Stygian sword now.

super_furry

I'm all about the spear at the moment. Was a whisker away from getting out of the third stage just there but that's a tough final boss fight there.

KilOit

Well proud of myself, I killed Meg on the 6th attempt and on that same attempt 1 shot the second and almost the 3rd boss

Mr.Fantastic

super_furry wrote: »

I'm all about the spear at the moment. Was a whisker away from getting out of the third stage just there but that's a tough final boss fight there.

Thought the same blitzed me

johnny_ultimate

So I’ve gone through runs with all the weapons other than the shield (most teaching the final boss, who I haven’t cleared just yet) and I’m definitely coming down on the side of the fists as the best weapon. Obviously it’s the luck of the boons, but the default magnetic pull upgrade is super handy for some of the annoying late game enemies such as the poison spitters. Also can make mince meat of the Elysium bosses. Needs a good status effect like hangover, but they’re fairly common. Nearly defeated

Hades phase two

, but had been a bit careless with my first two death defies so wasted health I shouldn’t have.

The gun is fine but really hobbled by the special - you really need a good boon to take advantage of that. The spread shot is great if you get it, but a little tricky to use correctly.

Bow is probably my second favourite. The super is just great from the off.

Spear and sword are both solid. Only issue with the sword is you really have to keep close to the enemies, which is a pain when dealing with the poison lads at the end. Need a good knock back power to counteract that.

Does anyone else find themselves plowing all your upgrades into one attack if possible? I barely use the attack that uses the red diamond at all. My regular attacks outclass it fairly quickly and I don't have to reload my regular attacks.

johnny_ultimate

All depends on the roll. I tend to do better when I have an equally balanced build, as your standard attack and special can complement each other pretty well. I don’t tend to use cast much until I get a decent upgrade, but I think a strong call is a fantastic upgrade to have later in a run.

I have had builds where you can focus on just one attack - like just keep bumping up your bow special. But generally would aim to have at least two really strong upgrades for both the standard and special. And think seeing a hammer door is definitely the most exciting upgrade

Dcully

I changed from controller to mouse & kb and its so much better.

pixelburp

Oh lordy do I hate those mini chariots. About the closest thing to the joy being sucked out of a chamber.

johnny_ultimate

Finished my first complete run there (well, first complete run since the game ended before Elysium) and what a thrill it was.

To call it a perfect run would be underestimating the insanity of the boons that started flowing. Actually started off very strangely with a legendary boon in the very first corridor... only thing was it was the boon that increases the chance of a fishing spot :pac: Suffice to say plenty of fish were caught on the ascent.

First couple of chambers were just standard darkness and coin chambers - to the point when I was starting to wonder if the run would be a write-off. But I then got a hammer which transformed my special into a powerful charge attack (I was using the fists). At the same time I got a Chaos chamber which gave me a super powerful boost on the special as well... just meant it was out of action first for four encounters (which turned out to be the entirety of the first floor). Luckily then got a boon which powered up my attack and added chill as well, so it was an easy enough push through the Fury.

From there it was a straight run to the top. The RNG was extremely kind - got a whole bunch of boons that powered up every aspect of Zagreus - a laser cast, a powerful rare call etc... But it was just the special that kept on building - got to the point where special kills were healing Zagreus and got an insane legendary boon that powered up the special by 190% (!) + inflicted chill. By this stage chill was creating a bunch of random blasts as it stacked and causing lasting damage to any character inflicted. All that plus a boon that shot out a whole bunch of homing missiles when I landed any kind of damage

There was a Thanatos contest near the end that I won by something like 25 to 4 (achievement popped because of it). Pummeled my way through all the optional chambers on the last floor just because the risk was so low, even though I found the exit item in the second chamber.

Hades still hit hard

, but got there with a death defy to spare. There's actually a

really cool, sweet ending after it all

.

But yeah, that was 45 of the most thrilling minutes of gaming I can recall. Just every system in the game coming together in perfect harmony. Can't say enough good things about the game on the whole, TBH - it's the rare rogue-lite where the act of playing is sufficient enough to justify a run. It doesn't matter if it ends early or RNG isn't in your favour - just the flow of the combat is up there with the absolute very best the medium has had to offer. Hell, it's up there with the best Nintendo games or something like Bayonetta: games that simply have been polished to perfection.

Mr.Fantastic

Got through my first proper run there , with the rail of all things, got super lucky with the boons. Melted the last boss. Doesn't seem like the

end though , seems like have to do a few runs to get the full story

Dcully

I have to say this is one of the best games ive ever played.
Like johnny_ultimate i cant say enough good things about the game.
Its rare to find magical gameplay but this definitely falls into that category.

pixelburp

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Does anyone else find themselves plowing all your upgrades into one attack if possible? I barely use the attack that uses the red diamond at all. My regular attacks outclass it fairly quickly and I don't have to reload my regular attacks.

I don't think I've ever used them TBH. The upgrades seem better used on the main weapons and when I have dabbled just left me with a feeling of meh.

johnny_ultimate

I’ve maxed out the cast mirror abilities, and still find it the least useful of the abilities. But I do like the ones that fire a laser.

I’ve finished four runs now, and find the interesting balance to be trying to find a build that’s powerful against bosses *and* normal enemies. Have had some that mow through normal ones, and then hit a wall with the Minotaur. Starting to think the abilities that push through armour, while powerful, are fairly limited when you get to the tough bosses.

Finished with a spear build yesterday that struck the perfect balance - managed to finish without any death defies used (had literally one hp left at the end :pac:) as it was great against bosses.

Gonzovision

Made it to the final boss 3 times so far, but struggling to do much damage....
What starting trinket would you recommend?

I've been either going Zeus and the switching to the tooth before the second or third stage, or Athena for a deflect boon at the start.

Dcully

Gonzovision wrote: »

Made it to the final boss 3 times so far, but struggling to do much damage....
What starting trinket would you recommend?

I've been either going Zeus and the switching to the tooth before the second or third stage, or Athena for a deflect boon at the start.

I like the Eternal Rose one for Aphrodite, makes curses and weakness really potent.

pixelburp

Is there any benefit to maxing out the hearts from giving the nectar to one specific character? I know of the trinkets you get for the first giving, but what about after and the maximum?

SK1979

Gotta say I'm loving this. Only picked it up when it released on the switch Sui still early days. Think I've gotten about 10 runs only and haven't killed Meg yet.

Are there any general tips that you should do? I'm a bit scattergun with power ups and gifts etc. So far finding the sword and shield the best weapons. About to unlock the spear so will give that a chance.

johnny_ultimate

A few general tips based on the last couple of posts:

All the weapons are formidable, but I’d recommend fists (second form particularly if you can unlock it) and spear as the ones most likely to give you a powerful build quickly.

You should ALWAYS go to a chamber which has a hammer upgrade or the one with the exclamation mark stone (there is a bit of RNG when it comes to the latter, but still usually worth it).

If there’s an early Chaos gate, take the hit. The upgrade is likely worth it.

The trinket which gives you extra life is incredibly useful. I don’t really use any of the others. Means you can focus on boons instead of constantly chasing hearts (you’ll still need a few, of course).

Consider flipping the passive health mirror upgrade (the one where you heal three hearts per chamber) to the one that gives you healing per darkness pick up. This is particularly key if you’re using a weapon where you’ve already received most of the one-time rewards - you instead pick up darkness after bosses, which is effectively a second health boost on top of the fountain.

Death defy is essential. Should be a top focus for mirror upgrades.

There are notable late game uses for levelling up friendships beyond the initial trinket. But I’m only getting to the point where it’s significant.

Dash deflect skills are immensely useful. Obviously needs to stack on top of strong weapon upgrades, but means you can dash around causing absolute havoc

Artemis’ call is ludicrously powerful if you can get it - can shave a quarter of the health off the final boss in a second (greater call version, that is). If you can match it with a passive god gauge building boon, even better. Support fire is also a great skill, that fires homing arrows any time you deal damage.

Dionysus‘s hangover skills are great. Anything that inflicts doom is also great.

For the final boss:

slow and steady. You’ll need to take down the skulls before they explode, or else be on the other side of the map. The twirl attack is devastating so focus on avoiding that. For the second phase, make sure to hide behind pillars for the laser attack. Use greater call liberally.

Mr.Fantastic

Dcully wrote: »

I have to say this is one of the best games ive ever played.
Like johnny_ultimate i cant say enough good things about the game.
Its rare to find magical gameplay but this definitely falls into that category.

Yeah I agree the combat is so satisfying and the loop is addictive.

Dcully

Jawless Paul on youtube puts out great content , build ideas,weapon and boon tier lists etc, he is well worth a look.

pixelburp

Poison and confined spaces is an evil mix, it's the one aspect to the game I'm quite antagonistic towards. Everything else feels balanced, whereas the above feels arbitrary as to whether I get whalloped or not.

Gonzovision

Almost beat the final boss last night! I had used one life on the feckin poison rats, think I would have got there otherwise.

Stone Deaf 4evr

Got this on friday making use of a free 10€ credit I got on epic store, simply for downloading (for free!) rocket league.

anyway, loving it so far, definitely a dead cells meets diablo. meg kicked my arse the first 3 times I got to her, but after unlocking the spear and making use of its charged attack, it was onwards and upwards, met my end at the next boss though, but it was a close run thing. Looking forward to giving another run later.

johnny_ultimate

Phew. Have finally seen the end credits - there's a fair old chunk of game left after you first clear it! What a game

Might dig into some of the post-game stuff, but going to take a break from now. Perilously addictive game - just the right length to pop in for another run or two when you have an hour free (which often turns into two or three hours).

Mr.Fantastic

johnny_ultimate wrote: »

Phew. Have finally seen the end credits - there's a fair old chunk of game left after you first clear it! What a game

Might dig into some of the post-game stuff, but going to take a break from now. Perilously addictive game - just the right length to pop in for another run or two when you have an hour free (which often turns into two or three hours).

Johnny how many times did you have to clear it until you got the end credits?

Cleared it 3 times myself now.

johnny_ultimate

Mr.Fantastic wrote: »

Johnny how many times did you have to clear it until you got the end credits?

Cleared it 3 times myself now.

Ten times I believe - enough to clear it at least once with every weapon and then some!