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Might as well add a real review now, which I at first refrained from, because there is WAY TOO MUCH to say about this game. 125+ hours in, 49/49 achievements unlocked, and I can hands down say that Hades is the best independent game I have ever played, the greatest rogue-lite game and definitely in the top spots of all games I've played, without any doubt or exaggeration. Supergiant Games went all out, and it shows. Hades is definitely their Magnum Opus. While I'm on the topic of Supergiant Games, I can HIGHLY recommend watching the Hades - Developing Hell Documentation by Noclip. I've watched it twice already and it gives great insight into Supergiant Games' team and their process of developing Hades. They are proving yet again that they are the small team with the biggest guns. Hades winning over 100 awards for numerous independent and action genre achievements, dozens of Game of the Year awards from major publishers, currently sitting at 117,600 reviews with 98% being positive, and being the 2nd Highest Rated Game of all time on Steam[steamdb.info], is really showing that their efforts didn't go to waste.

I absolutely, utterly enjoy every single aspect of Hades. I don't even know where to begin. This game just makes you crave for more. Just one more run. Just one more run and I'll go to sleep.
The immaculate, isometric art and animations are gorgeous, with everything being hand-drawn to perfection, it strikes a perfect balance between visual flair and precise clarity needed to execute complex combos. Everywhere you look, everything you see is just so damn gorgeous and so pleasing for eyes. The art style is a perfect match with the Greek mythology theme, and each character just screams with their respective personalities. All of the visual effects, although sometimes overbearing, really establish a great identity that will vary in each run and makes the game so aesthetically pleasing.

Lore and narrative backdrop being driven by the gameplay itself, and evolving more upon dying, was incorporated very cleverly. You just get hooked, every run you learn more and more about why all of this takes place, it's just satisfying. All of this is so expertly drenched in myths and gravitas of the Greek mythology, where you can feel that it was meticulously researched, that it creates a very rich and immersive experience for the player.

HOURS of beautifully performed dialogue, which is very well written; it brilliantly incorporates humor, introspection, sternness, playfulness, etc. There are more than 20,000 lines of dialogue in this game, and quite some bigger AAA studios can definitely learn a thing or two from the completeness of Hades' dialogue. It's all just so fun to listen to, the protagonist Zagreus alone bears a classic dry, sardonic wit of late youth that breaks on occasion when his trespasses don’t go entirely according to plan. The progression and the development of characters and their relationships to Zagreus is perhaps the best I've ever seen in this particular genre, hell, even in bigger titles. They all range from wise and level-headed to boisterous and silly, and the Greek pantheon in particular has some wonderfully clever takes on the classic deities. More than anything, though, is how relatable all of them come off as. This isn’t some grim epic or intense drama, it’s a guy trying to get out from under his dad’s thumb and running into all their mutuals along the way. Some want to help him, some want to kill him, and some just think the whole thing is too damn funny. It’s a very human cast, and they’re an absolute delight to behold.

The gameplay is tight, sharp and well built. It just 𝕗𝕖𝕖𝕝𝕤 𝕘𝕠𝕠𝕕. "Addicting" does not even remotely describe it. It is so seamless, yet so effective, without talking down to you and holding your hand. You're given a fine selection of weapons and attacks and an incredibly versatile dash by default. Each one can be upgraded/altered with different boons the gods will grant you. Boons can modify your attacks or provide dramatic passive effects to bolster different aspects of your strategy; Zeus' lightning emitting from your attacks, Dionysus' wine hangover hurting foes for a prolonged time, Athena giving you the ability to deflect, Hermes providing you with extra dashes and so many more. Zagreus can be an absolute blur on the battlefield, constantly dashing, slashing, and bashing foes while weaving in and out of danger, and for my part the game does a fantastic job of keeping this high-speed mayhem manageable. It almost reminds of DOOM in a way, how the incredible speed and versatility of your character is balanced against huge numbers of enemies that will absolutely kill you if you make the mistake of standing still.

Each death, each time you go back to start, you're given the opportunity to acquire meaningful permanent upgrades which change the way you play and subsequently make things easier. When you finally master Hades or have enough upgrades to give that edge in escaping, you may set the difficulty higher to go back to sweating bullets and getting new rewards. I really didn't expect to keep unlocking both gameplay-related items and story events 90+ hours into the game, and yet that's exactly what happened.

Yada yada yada, all the stuff mentioned above is already top notch. But my absolute. favorite. aspect. about Hades wasn't even mentioned yet. It was one of the first things that already sold me, and instantly captured me, starting in the home menu already.

It's the Soundtrack.

The eccentric soundtrack of Hades is an absolute feast for the ears. I mean, it's kinda expected, Supergiant Games' soundtracks always deliver. This mixture of heavy/progressive metal, Mediterranean folk, experimental electronics, lush, mournful falsettos and more absolutely blew my entire mind. There's not even the slightest chance that the soundtrack does not get your blood pumping. People who completed a run on Extreme Measures 4 definitely know that. It's executed so damn masterfully, moistcr1tikal encapsulated that feeling quite well in his review of Hades. It's not all one big adrenaline rush though, the slower, more thoughtful pieces are pretty damn soothing. The OST album can definitely stand on it's own, while providing the perfect audio companion to the gameplay. Darren Korb can have every single one of my future babies. This man cannot be stopped. Composing one of the most captivating scores I've ever witnessed in a video game, in addition to voicing the protagonist (+more), is there anything this man can't do?

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Hades is ultimately the result of when every aspect of a game comes together to form one fun and cohesive experience, and it's a testament to what Supergiant Games can do. Hades went above and beyond in it's design, it's safe to say that this game is a masterpiece. All of this for just 20 bucks? Insane. ∞/10. Will buy again, Switch physical edition inbound.


Buy this game. What else can I say.
Oh right, YOU CAN PET CERBERUS!!!

Joyfully giving this game a positive review.
I can definitely not deny that I had a terrific time in The Outer Worlds.


Certainly enjoyed the burlesque of a political narrative, where nobody wants to work but everybody wants luxury.
Stunning visuals existing in desolate abandoned towns overrun by marauders and outer space creatures matched with the mystifying soundtrack has a very rich and deep feel to it.
When you really take your time listening to what's going on in Halcyon by not rushing the quests, reading the books and terminals etc. you can get totally immersed and lost in the world.
Gun play is intuitive and doesn't feel tedious, plus combat can be quite a challenge if you are not prepared. Companions may be a tad too good in fights, given that they are merely bullet sponges, but you can skill/tweak them to your desires.
Multiple endings really make you question your choices.
It's considerably shorter and smaller than some other RPGs, but replayability is established in multiple playthroughs with different character builds.

I'm happy that The Outer Worlds finally hit Steam, achievement hunting galore. TOW is not a revolution but a great open world RPG you can sink many hours into. Beyond doubt a perfect game, my rating stands as 8.5/10.
It's not the best choice, it's Spacer's Choice!

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After I was quite contented with the main game, I proceeded to pick up the Expansion Pass.
The Expansion pass contains 2 additional story lines based in the Halcyon universe. Currently only one is available, with the next one launching in 2021.

The Ones Who Walk Away from Gorgon
I started finalizing this review after I finished the first DLC story, which is Peril on Gorgon.
f*cking hell, Peril on Gorgon blows the main game out of the water completely. Won't even write too much about it, but this was one hell of a ride. Indulging story, diving into some predicaments and conflicts unaccounted for in the main game.
The additional planets and general locations are even more pretty and pleasing to the eyes and ears, although the overall overtone is petrifying at times.
Very happy with PoG (nice), patiently awaiting the next DLC story, 2021 can come.

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