Hades. Heavenly combat for a game about Hell.

I have played a fair few rogue likes and rogue lights in my time in gaming, and have always been drawn to them. I am also a fan of Greek mythology and of Super Giant Games after playing Pyre on the PS4. But nothing prepared me for how much I love this game.

From the high octane combat to the splendid dialogue to the beautiful art on display, Hades draws you in and holds you in the moment of greatness. The combat is difficult to master but feels oh so rewarding. The characters and writing is both deep and hilarious. And the art style and direction is top tier when it comes to other games in the genre.

For those who don't know, you play as Zagreus. Zagreus is the son of Hades who is (pardon the pun) hell-bent on escaping Hell and making it to the surface. To assist you on this journey the gods of Mount Olympus give you boons to allow you to grow in strength. The combat loop is addicting and staggering, with a variety of weapons and abilities giving runs a good variety all the time. Though I would say a critique is that after a certain point you learn not only the best combos, but the best ways to force those combos each run. And while that will certainly assist you in your goal of escaping Hell, it does make some runs feel a little repetitive if you are going specifically for fast and consistent.

Oh, and did I mention the music? Super Giant Games have never been a studio to skimp on the music, and Hades is by no means an exception. Each track sets the mood perfectly, from relaxed music in the House of Hades to the head banging awesomeness you get during the hardest boss fight possible. If you are ever looking for a great song to rock out to, totally check out "The Unseen Ones".

In all, Hades is a game that holds a special place in my heart and deserves all the praise it has received. The only "flaws" (and I use that term loosely here) I see are with end game systems that only matter if you're like me and want to eventually get the final title.

But I cannot stress enough the beauty of this game, and how much I would recommend it to anyone. Whether you like this variety of games normally or not, I'd still give it a try and least. I can almost promise you, you won't be disappointed.