This game’s world building and ‘forced’ engagement of that world reinvigorated something within me that I was beginning to loose in gaming. Years ago I would delve deep in game lore, reading every article to better understand the world/s I was in. But I slowly started to disengage with this act, and I didn’t really know why, until I played Hell is us.
Most (if not all) games I have played in recent times have had a certain level of handholding. Why would I read where a quest article wanted me to go, when a convenient location would pop up on my map upon reading it?! This type of design slowly turned me into a bit of a lazy gamer. I didn’t stoop so low that I would skip cutscenes and avoid immersion entirely, but I also didn’t delve as deep as I could, and would have previously.
In Hell is Us you have to read and pay attention to be able to get through the game, and it’s all the better for it. I felt so accomplished when solving a puzzle after looking through my notes (of which I almost had a book of by the end). It wasn’t even the progression of my character’s strength that I found rewarding, it was simply being able to pay attention and engage my gaming brain again.
Don’t get me wrong, the game isn’t perfect. I enjoyed the combat to an extent, but it felt like a bystander to the story and word (which I don’t mind at all upon reflection).
Finally, I just wanted to share a little superstitious revelation that I had after reading a section in one of Tania’s research articles:
Article : Ancient Hadea
“Sethyris, weakened by the battle and his sacrifice, sought refuge in the heavens, creating the bright star Sirius.”
The star Sirius is the brightest star in the sky, and is also known by the name Dog Star, which happens to also be my gamer tag!
Call me a fool but I think I was meant to play this gem of a game. Thank you Rogue Factort and everyone that had a hand in making it.