![image.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/holoz0r/23xoz6KAdvGELEysmtCoE8DAtx7WpVhTWZ4hHyeN4mb8fvd1rxnfKhQ7vLLdrjujxT3iK.png)


Many of my friends have told me about the wonders of <em>Hades</em> and its addictive gameplay. It is spoken of with a certain sense of reverence by gamers, journalists, and probably even those that have never played it. 

Up until recently, I was one of those people, reading about the game, learning about its fresh ideas, but importantly, getting intimate with the fact that the execution of a rogue like, with a deep setting (I mean, the very depths of the Athenian underworld couldn’t possibly be a deeper setting) and enough of a narrative weave to get you hooked. 


![image.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/holoz0r/Eos2EHcD6bdDovxecnkhmYmAaWhfzNo65Enji6sKuu1qhzB1THGMK5c8B6ScMvwuJ8Q.png)


I won’t pretend to understand every mechanic present in <em>Hades</em>. I probably haven’t played it for close to enough hours as what is probably required in order to gain a mastery or … concept of what my choices actually mean in the grand scheme of all the things. 

The gameplay loop is pretty simple to understand. You spawn in the House of Hades. You wander through, talking to the Pantheon of greek gods and goddesses, perhaps do some trading, try to gain the favour of various individuals, then choose a weapon, and try to escape from Tartarus into the world above.


![image.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/holoz0r/EoK4RXxUNQJmFAJTVo6jcY322CkuzjjX9pSsivHg7QHzpDCW3peFTFnScsRDQiyVZLh.png)
 

You will die. You will die again. Then, perhaps, you’ll die again in a different way. This is a rogue like, but with each death, you gain more darkness, which translates into abilities that help you on your next run. Along the way, you may find nectar, which gives you the ability to bribe individuals so that they may help you on your next run up through the tangled mess of demons, darkness and blood. 

Each run feels fresh, with chambers appearing to be somewhat randomly generated in terms of their monster load, treasures, and importantly, the skills you are able to choose from. 


![image.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/holoz0r/EoK3xMDWWXhGPqmCLVF3f62VzNXnUnzFGcdqRTjqxwFtop5rDWKSoykgw7rAtdPGqKT.png)


Once you get to a certain point you can tempt fate, by selecting a boon from one of the individuals where you’ve obtained favour. This allows you to refine your builds and get more reliable results than what you would get if you had just had the random number generator govern where you end up at the point of death. 

Hades is a masterful game in that it keeps you coming back for more and more. It is casual enough to let small, short gameplay sessions be viable, but its gameplay and combat mechanics are deep enough to ensure that no matter what cards you are dealt in this world of death, with enough skill and delicate button mashing, you’ll be able to get your way out of it. 


![image.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/holoz0r/EoK5NurdSjkytgCTwqAuKw7PpXT6Ceo81ncd8KfhoTRpaBXWtWnrcSscN8NpttGoMd1.png)


Or, perhaps you will not, and you will die, and that means that you will be stronger on the next attempt to escape the world of Hades. 

This is a metaphor that kind of runs through the very game itself. There is no escape. This is because every time you die, you’re right back in the House of Hades, with nothing else to do but than to be driven onward to another attempt to escape. 

This also means that I found it very difficult to put the game down, much like my recent play time with <em>Slay the Spire</em>; <em>Hades</em> made me mad that I did not have infinite physical stamina to ensure long term gameplay sessions longer than my requirements for sleep. 

This is going to be a fun game to play while cycling on the stationary bike, because it means that I will have something to distract me from the fact that my lungs will be burning, my legs will be burning, and the stench of sulphur will linger in the air as I make attempt after attempt to escape from the underworld. 

On the Switch, the game runs at an acceptable frame rate, has good loading times; and great controls in portable mode, which is the only way in which I’ve played it so far. <em>Hades</em> lends itself well to these sort of pick up and play gaming sessions, which is perfect for the purposes I want at this point from this sort of game. 



![image.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/holoz0r/EogG7FwmkwZsTy3i73fL4xxDW8PiZ9WpZjoAfPaMJmLZ6HKSeZtW3aGqN9wGTG9X4iU.png)


I’m looking forward to delving into a deeper and darker world, all the while learning more and more about mythological figures and gods and goddesses in the world of Hades. 

If it isn’t exceedingly obvious at this point, go and get Hades. You’ll be treated to a hack and slash dungeon crawler that does the loot-em-up rogue like formula better than anything else in its field; and understand that this is truly a masterclass of gameplay, game design, and production. 

I want more games like this to be released out into the wild. It will be a good day when new releases are always this good; even if I am very late to the party on Hades. 

I’m not angry about that fact; but it holds up now as one of my current obsessions. (Of which, some would argue, there are far too many.) 

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<center><h4>Want more content from me?</h4></center>

<a href="https://peakd.com/ccc/holoz0r/holoz0rs-a-z-of-steam-a-complete-archive-to-date">Witness my futile efforts to play my Steam Game collection in alphabetical order</a>.

Are you aware that I love photography? <a href="https://peakd.com/ccc/holoz0r/photographic-works-and-ramblings-of-holoz0r">Check out my work in a collection.</a>



<hr>
<div class="pull-right">https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/holoz0r/AK2BjKGGLBFTBPhtsWKMnsmFFJDQrhXbbM35f6dRxoT4fEqqegsPLWdwizYRNxw.png</div><a href="https://splinterlands.com?ref=holoz0r">If you haven't started playing Splinterlands, you should do that immediately. It's very good fun.</a><br/><br/>

If you want to see my Splinterlands antics and rants live, Find me on <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/holoz0r">Twitch</a><br/>

If you prefer sleeping in your designated time zone, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuupHoy5KyWOjRbqIY5F4HA">go watch replays on YouTube</a>.

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<center>Thanks as always for your time!</center>