Hades - Escaping Hell - first video game to win a Hugo Award!

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Saint of Killers
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PostRe: Hades - Escaping Hell - v1.0 now live
by Saint of Killers » Fri Jun 18, 2021 5:06 am

Captain Kinopio wrote:So I picked this up finally and am dying a lot. I’ve never really played roguelikes so not sure if there’s fundamental stuff I’m missing. I just made it to the first boss for the first time so I’m progressing a bit, just not sure what I should be focus’s on or how some of the abilities work.


Not played it in ages and my memory is awful, but...

I was in the same boat as you in as much that I didn't know how powers, upgrades, etc worked. Died a lot, too. I enjoyed the game despite the dying, so I figured it out naturally. I just found a weapon/attack I enjoyed (the spear/trident attack) and used upgrades which increased its power (the hammer icon), range, speed and attack spread. Don't be afraid to mix and match boons - you don't have to stay loyal to one god.

Daedalus hammer increases weapon power.
Hearts give you extra health for the run.
Pom of power gives your boons a boost.
Keys unlock permanent upgrades at the mirror and new weapons.
Boons are upgrades for your current run.
Ambrosia is used to deepen bonds with characters and improve companions.

That's the most important stuff. I think.

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PostRe: Hades - Escaping Hell - Coming to PS & Xbox Gamepass - 13/08
by Captain Kinopio » Fri Jun 18, 2021 7:36 am

Thanks. Just wasnt sure if there was something I was missing. I keep getting stuff for a Zr attack (curse maybe) but whenever I press it nothing happens.

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PostRe: Hades - Escaping Hell - Coming to PS & Xbox Gamepass - 13/08
by Saint of Killers » Fri Jun 18, 2021 8:20 am

Captain Kinopio wrote:Thanks. Just wasnt sure if there was something I was missing. I keep getting stuff for a Zr attack (curse maybe) but whenever I press it nothing happens.


Can you post a screenshot of it or something?

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PostRe: Hades - Escaping Hell - v1.0 now live
by Saint of Killers » Fri Jun 18, 2021 8:24 am

Parksey wrote:How does this run on Switch? Is it a game that's really well suited to handheld play?

It's something I earmarked for a future purchase, and it's £15 in the sale, but also now it's been announced on Gamepass, I can get it "for free" in a few months. Not sure if it's a game that's something I'd play more of in portable mode than on the TV, though I imagine the Xbox version is going to be smoother.


Pretty sure there are people in this thread who played and enjoyed it on Switch. It will likely play a bit better on Xbox, but I don't think you're going to be getting a v poor version on Switch. But yeah, now that it hitting other consoles, and especially as a GP title on Xbox, waiting it out for that version is a understandable option. I enjoyed it so much on PC that I'll be double dipping on it on PS.

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PostRe: Hades - Escaping Hell - Coming to PS & Xbox Gamepass - 13/08
by Knoyleo » Fri Jun 18, 2021 9:24 am

Captain Kinopio wrote:Thanks. Just wasnt sure if there was something I was missing. I keep getting stuff for a Zr attack (curse maybe) but whenever I press it nothing happens.

Had a quick search and I think the default switch mapping has Zr mapped as the button for a Call special. This is acquired as a boon from any of the gods, and is a special move where you can call for that god's assistance in battle. You need to fill up a meter in the bottom of the screen, by taking and receiving damage, and there are 5 levels in the meter, meaning you get a more powerful or longer call assistance the higher you get the level. You can also get boons that will allow your call metre to fill faster, or start chambers part filled.

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PostRe: Hades - Escaping Hell - v1.0 now live
by OrangeRKN » Fri Jun 18, 2021 10:02 am

Parksey wrote:How does this run on Switch? Is it a game that's really well suited to handheld play?


It's great on the Switch and I couldn't imagine playing it not on a handheld, but that's more a me thing

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PostRe: Hades - Escaping Hell - v1.0 now live
by Parksey » Sat Jun 19, 2021 5:00 am

OrangeRKN wrote:
Parksey wrote:How does this run on Switch? Is it a game that's really well suited to handheld play?


It's great on the Switch and I couldn't imagine playing it not on a handheld, but that's more a me thing


Well that's definitely how I feel on the game - seems like it'll be suited to handheld play, like Binding of Isaac was, like Sperlunky was and like Darkest Dungeon was, I'm playing The Messenger now on Gamepass as it's leaving soon and even then I'm thinking that it's currently £8 in the Switch sale and maybe a good handheld title. I think the indie stuff is well suited to portability.

Just Gamepass has thrown a spanner in the works as it means a lot of them are free on there (Celeste, Dead Cells, Hollow Knight are all titles I was going to pick up on Switch). They probably load slightly faster and maybe go from 30fps to 60fps too, though not sure if that makes much of a difference. It would cost me a tenner for each as opposed to free on Gamepass, so it's the Sophie's Choice of free but on the TV, or a tenner and in my hands.

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PostRe: Hades - Escaping Hell - v1.0 now live
by more heat than light » Sat Jun 19, 2021 8:20 am

Parksey wrote:It would cost me a tenner for each as opposed to free on Gamepass, so it's the Sophie's Choice of free but on the TV, or a tenner and in my hands.


Is mobile streaming not an option for you Parksey? I can't remember if you're still in Japan or not, but surely the connection speeds would be decent there? Some games are definitely more suited to that setup.

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PostRe: Hades - Escaping Hell - v1.0 now live
by Parksey » Sat Jun 19, 2021 8:30 am

more heat than light wrote:
Parksey wrote:It would cost me a tenner for each as opposed to free on Gamepass, so it's the Sophie's Choice of free but on the TV, or a tenner and in my hands.


Is mobile streaming not an option for you Parksey? I can't remember if you're still in Japan or not, but surely the connection speeds would be decent there? Some games are definitely more suited to that setup.


Last time I check (around the time I got my Series S) streaming to a tablet wasn't a thing here in Japan yet. I could get it to work.

I'm probably moving back to the UK towards the end of the summer though, and will likely pick up either a new tablet or PC around then, so it could be a possibility in the future. Would go some way to negating my dilemma of portability versus big screen fidelity. Though I do quite like indie games and the like for long plane/train journeys.

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PostRe: Hades - Escaping Hell - Coming to PS & Xbox Gamepass - 13/08
by Captain Kinopio » Sat Jun 19, 2021 9:49 am

Knoyleo wrote:
Captain Kinopio wrote:Thanks. Just wasnt sure if there was something I was missing. I keep getting stuff for a Zr attack (curse maybe) but whenever I press it nothing happens.

Had a quick search and I think the default switch mapping has Zr mapped as the button for a Call special. This is acquired as a boon from any of the gods, and is a special move where you can call for that god's assistance in battle. You need to fill up a meter in the bottom of the screen, by taking and receiving damage, and there are 5 levels in the meter, meaning you get a more powerful or longer call assistance the higher you get the level. You can also get boons that will allow your call metre to fill faster, or start chambers part filled.


Thanks. Is there something you need to do before you get it because I never seem to have it available

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PostRe: Hades - Escaping Hell - Coming to PS & Xbox Gamepass - 13/08
by Knoyleo » Sat Jun 19, 2021 9:55 am

Captain Kinopio wrote:
Knoyleo wrote:
Captain Kinopio wrote:Thanks. Just wasnt sure if there was something I was missing. I keep getting stuff for a Zr attack (curse maybe) but whenever I press it nothing happens.

Had a quick search and I think the default switch mapping has Zr mapped as the button for a Call special. This is acquired as a boon from any of the gods, and is a special move where you can call for that god's assistance in battle. You need to fill up a meter in the bottom of the screen, by taking and receiving damage, and there are 5 levels in the meter, meaning you get a more powerful or longer call assistance the higher you get the level. You can also get boons that will allow your call metre to fill faster, or start chambers part filled.


Thanks. Is there something you need to do before you get it because I never seem to have it available

There's only a chance of getting it as one of the 3 boons from one of the Olympians, so it's not always available. I found I was usually able to pick it up by the second or third zone in a run, it often wouldn't appear until after Tartarus, but not sure if the game modifies the appearance rates of you're still early on. The first appearance of it is definitely scripted to introduce you to it.

pjbetman wrote:That's the stupidest thing ive ever read on here i think.
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PostRe: Hades - Escaping Hell - Coming to PS & Xbox Gamepass - 13/08
by Captain Kinopio » Sat Jun 19, 2021 11:22 am

Finally beaten Meg. That took me way too long, I may be gooseberry fool at this.

Lots of stuff seems to have opened up though so plenty to mess around with.

Really enjoying it so far.

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PostRe: Hades - Escaping Hell - Coming to PS & Xbox Gamepass - 13/08
by Knoyleo » Sat Jun 19, 2021 11:53 am

Captain Kinopio wrote:Finally beaten Meg. That took me way too long, I may be gooseberry fool at this.

Lots of stuff seems to have opened up though so plenty to mess around with.

Really enjoying it so far.

It took me ages to get past Meg too, but you're constantly unlocking new stuff early on, so you can keep playing around until you find weapon styles and mirror unlocks that work for you. Don't forget to check the mirror for alternate upgrade paths once Nyx unlocks them, as it isn't super obvious that anything has changed when she does.

There's also god mode, if you find yourself getting frustrated with a lack of progress. It adds a base 20% damage reduction, then an additional 2% each time you die

pjbetman wrote:That's the stupidest thing ive ever read on here i think.
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PostRe: Hades - Escaping Hell - Coming to PS & Xbox Gamepass - 13/08
by Captain Kinopio » Sat Jun 19, 2021 1:10 pm

Even after having done it once, making it past Meg is still a roadblock.

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PostRe: Hades - Escaping Hell - Coming to PS & Xbox Gamepass - 13/08
by Fade » Mon Jun 21, 2021 9:50 pm

I was considering getting this on PS4 but saves don't carry over so there's absolutely no way I'm doing all the grinding again.

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PostRe: Hades - Escaping Hell - Coming to PS & Xbox Gamepass - 13/08
by Saint of Killers » Mon Jun 21, 2021 10:19 pm

Fade wrote:I was considering getting this on PS4 but saves don't carry over so there's absolutely no way I'm doing all the grinding again.


You'd breeze through it, though.

I started playing on the PC version again but this time with the DualSense. It was kind of a glitchy experience (the analogue stick, along with moving Zag, also activated one of the er, assistance powers you get for making connections with people) but despite that wee annoyance, it slaked my thirst. And I beat the run.

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PostRe: Hades - Escaping Hell - Coming to PS & Xbox Gamepass - 13/08
by deathofcows » Mon Jun 21, 2021 10:43 pm

Captain Kinopio wrote:Even after having done it once, making it past Meg is still a roadblock.


It becomes less and less so as you upgrade, until it becomes routine - trust in the process! Remember dashing is invulnerable and goes through walls/enemies etc too.

If you see a hammer - go for it! Very strong upgrades.

If you see a Chaos Gate - (nearly-always) go for it!

Each god has very different boons, but they do all have (e.g.) a dodge-upgrade, a Cast-upgrade, a Greater Call (I.e. a Super move) as well as their more specific ones. The first two will often be offered early on (and certainly for the first one of the run) whereas Call tends to come a little later in worlds 2/3 as previously mentioned. I would usually ensure I had a dodge and cast upgrade within Tartarus (and usually within the first few rooms, depending on the choices I was offered) and would nearly always choose to get a Call when offered and if I hadn't one already (certainly when I was still getting to grips with things), as it gives you a whole extra type of attack and some are very strong - experiment with them to see what suits your playstyle!

You'll soon start to have your preferred boons for each base skill (dodge, cast, call) and preferred flavor of boons outside of these, too. And you start to choose your route depending on the boons to try and achieve a certain build. Certainly for dodge I found the Athena one disproportionately useful with its reflect function - and when given the option later would start with her for most runs just to ensure it - but others people's playstyles will vary I'm sure. But even late game there's lots of fun in stumbling across combos you hadn't previously tried - just getting stuck in is the key! Between the boons and the weapon choices it drastically alters the rhythm and flow with which you play the game - but in the early days just experiment and have fun. My friend told me early on when I was playing that I'd start to get a feel for what Gods' Boons worked well for each weapon/situation and this felt unlikely at first because of the overwhelming and unceasing newness early on - but it does happen!

Anyway I found the game got better and better as things opened up and I got more and more familiar with it, so hope you enjoy :D

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PostRe: Hades - Escaping Hell - Coming to PS & Xbox Gamepass - 13/08
by Saint of Killers » Mon Jun 21, 2021 10:58 pm

I only went for Chaos Gates due to Nyx's storyline. Avoided it otherwise. What would you select from it? And yes, Athena's deflect is OP. As is the - rarer - Demetar + Artemis beam combo which tracks enemies at a faster rate.

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PostRe: Hades - Escaping Hell - Coming to PS & Xbox Gamepass - 13/08
by deathofcows » Tue Jun 22, 2021 9:27 am

Saint of Killers wrote:I only went for Chaos Gates due to Nyx's storyline. Avoided it otherwise. What would you select from it? And yes, Athena's deflect is OP. As is the - rarer - Demetar + Artemis beam combo which tracks enemies at a faster rate.


I think I just like things like Flourish (increased Special) or Grasp (increased cast ammo) and even the ones that boost the percentage for money or whatever - I feel they are all strong and boost your 'base' game, independent of more specific boon stuff on top. I often play Cast-heavy and the Cast damage increase for example is great.

And I never really worry about the life penalty (unless very low) because I feel its small enough to earn back.

And yeah I love the Demeter turrets!

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PostRe: Hades - Escaping Hell - Coming to PS & Xbox Gamepass - 13/08
by Captain Kinopio » Sat Jun 26, 2021 3:57 pm

Getting a bit weary of this now. I’ve made it into Elysium a couple of times but with the difficulty spiking again I’m not sure I have the enthusiasm to continue. My problem is basically the fundamental aspect of it being a rogue like, I don’t get any enjoyment out of repeating the same gooseberry fool ad nauseum and when it feels like my progress is locked behind random chances of getting decent just all the more frustrating to die.

I’m probably just gooseberry fool at it and the genre isn’t for me but this wouldnt be nowhere near my GOTY candidates from last year and I didn’t even think last year was particularly good for games.

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