Audiences got a meaty look at the Nacon-publishedHell is Usduring PlayStation’s recent State of Play event, which showcased the game’s haunting atmosphere and visceral melee combat. Although it’s hard to ascertain its level of quality so early on,Hell is Uspromises to be a solidSouls-inspired title, though its influences may go much deeper than FromSoftware’s winning formula.
Melee-focused action games have always been popular, but their identity, broadly speaking, has shifted in the past decade or so. Unsurprisingly, these sorts of games tend to draw heavily from the soulslike sub-genre, a style of game christened by 2009’sDemon’s Soulsand honed in subsequent FromSoftware entries. There are positives and negatives to this overarching trend: soulslike foundations are strong enough to build an interesting game around, but far too many titles shy away from the innovation that characterize their obvious influences. This can lead to underwhelming outings likeEnotria: The Last Songas much as it leads to landmark releases likeLies of P. Hopefully,Hell is Usfalls into the latter category.
How Hell is Us Blends Genre and Stylistic Conventions
Upon first glance,Hell is Usdoesn’t seem particularly special.It’s developer Rogue Factor’s first original IP, but the basic premise of a mysterious calamity that has befallen the world, infesting it with strange and incomprehensible monsters, doesn’t exactly sound Earth-shattering. It’s not until one looks at its dramatic aesthetic and gameplay chops that it becomes clear just how much the game is doing to differentiate itself from the competition, ironically via homage and the melding of assorted influences, which should give it a singular flair and identity.
Hell is Us' Gameplay Is a Mix of Contemporary Action Games
Hell is Usincorporates elements of the ever-ubiquitous soulslike genre, focusing on slower melee combat with strafing and single-enemy targeting influenced by the classic 3DZeldagames that spawned the likes ofDemon’s Souls. The game’s Steam page boasts that it will include “a wide range of weapons,” suggesting build-crafting and RRG aspects, which could feed into a broader sense of flexibility and player freedom. At the same time,Hell is Usappears to have a few tricks up its sleeve, with added mobility via an in-game drone, special attacks, and classic puzzles that could make for more dynamic gameplay.
Hell is Uswill also feature a semi-open world, which is another clear link to the Soulslike genre, and it’s a concept with enough wiggle room for innovation.
The Setting and Aesthetic of Hell is Us
The first reveal trailer forHell is Us, with its strong and stylized imagery, is highly reminiscent of recent Remedy games likeControl, as is its ostensible narrative about monsters that “live inside” the minds of regular people. There’s also the game’s mix of current-day, medieval, and science fiction motifs, which hearkens back to the likes ofmanyFinal Fantasygames, and even more surreal titles likeDeath Stranding, which use apocalyptic elements to create a fluid and unsettling game world. The player’s gear is described as being “from a different age,” further suggesting a degree of anachronistic worldbuilding that is present in so many other releases.
Many games—arguably too many—use a mysterious blight upon the world as a crutch for storytelling, relying on the inherent emotional weight of widespread catastrophe to evoke emotions from players. But the way thatHell is Usleverages themes of warand creature design that seem straight out ofThe Evil Withingives it a lot of potential to be something special, or at least memorable and creatively distinct. Here’s hoping that its many influences come together to make it exceptional.
Hell Is Us
WHERE TO PLAY
Hell is Us is a 3rd-person action-adventure game that combines intense melee combat with the thrill of exploration. Explore a semi-open world to find answers to your questions and face mysterious creatures all along your journey.A HOSTILE WORLDAs well as the civil war dividing the country, the region is suffering from a mysterious calamity, which has given rise to supernatural creatures that no modern weapon can defeat. Your drone and sword from a different age are your faithful allies as you cut a path through lands infested with terrifying chimeras and attempt to unravel the mystery of their appearance.A UNIQUE EXPLORATION SYSTEMNo map, no compass, no quest markers: following your instincts is part of the adventure. Enjoy a unique experience that uses innovative writing and level design to let you make your own decisions and follow your instincts as you explore. Your discoveries are yours alone.COMBAT AGAINST ORIGINAL CREATURESSwords, spears and axes: a wide range of weapons forged specially for fighting these supernatural creatures is available. You will need to learn how to fight these monsters and use your drone wisely to stay alive.
