Why Hell is Us Will Change Action Adventure Games Forever!
0Embark on an intriguing journey with Hell is Us, a sci-fi action-adventure that distinguishes itself with a focus on exploration, investigation, and tense melee combat. In this preview, Simon Cardy takes you on a two-hour hands-on experience with the game that offers an unusual mix of medieval and futuristic aesthetics, set against the haunting backdrop of a 1990s European civil war.
Hell is Us sets itself apart by steering away from soulslike and open-world conventions, instead immersing players in an environment that rewards curiosity and exploration. Without the usual map markers, waypoints, or modern technology, you’re pushed to discover every clue on your own. This emphasis on investigation is reflected in the opening scenes, where you find yourself navigating a bleak European nation called Hadea, torn by civil war and locked off from the rest of the world. In this harsh landscape, the protagonist Rémi, who fled as a child, returns to search for his parents and the truth behind his family’s past.
The game’s atmosphere is incredibly intense—environments are filled with chilling sights, from muddy marshes dotted with mass graves to somber villagers surviving amidst chaos. The visual design draws on influences like Annihilation, evoking feelings of otherworldliness and unease. The creatures you encounter—milky humanoids and bladed monstrosities—are something out of your worst sci-fi horror nightmare, each seemingly inspired by Dead Space and the eerie aesthetic of Annihilation.
Yet, where Hell is Us brings something fresh is in how you face these horrors. Forget guns and gadgets—instead, wield glowing medieval swords and twin axes to combat these bizarre foes. Each encounter is a delicate dance of dodging, blocking, and slicing, with the game's "healing pulse" system encouraging players to stay on the offensive to recover health. Combat is unforgiving yet fair, reminiscent of the strategic battles in games like Control and Doom Eternal, where timing and precision are key.
Exploration is just as rewarding as combat in Hell is Us. The game encourages thorough investigation; every conversation, note, and hidden clue could lead you to new locations, weapons, or secrets. Whether you’re solving puzzles in ancient tombs or unlocking a hulking polearm by collecting medallions, the experience is a refreshing change from the usual “follow the waypoint” approach many modern games take.
The setting—a 1990s conflict-torn nation—is both an immersive story element and a gameplay choice that strips players of modern conveniences like smartphones. It makes every interaction meaningful and every discovery a genuine achievement. The visual style, overseen by Jonathan Jacques-Belletête (known for his work on Deus Ex: Human Revolution and Mankind Divided), helps maintain an arresting, gothic aesthetic throughout, which makes Hell is Us a striking and memorable experience.
With its willingness to embrace the strange and unexplained, Hell is Us feels like a callback to a time when games were designed to let you get lost in their worlds. This preview captures the promise of a unique journey, filled with mystery, tension, and an unforgettable mix of medieval fantasy and sci-fi horror. Join the adventure, and let Hell is Us take you on a journey where the unknown waits at every corner.
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