Set in a hauntingly atmospheric world, HellIsUs presents an intriguing yet fading experience in the competitive action RPG landscape. The game thrusts players into the role of Remi, who returns to his war-stricken homeland of Hadea, a fictional place fraught with civil conflict and supernatural disturbances.
The game opens with a powerful narrative hook as Remi finds himself bound and questioned, laying the groundwork for an immersive entry. Minimalist in its user interface, HellIsUs encourages players to dive deep into its rich environmental storytelling, unfolding through free-form exploration and enigmatic quests that initially knit together the threads of a compelling story.
Combat and Atmosphere further draw players in, introducing adversaries in the form of featureless mannequins, birthed from an in-game event referred to as the Calamity. The action borrows mechanics from popular soulslike titles, featuring elements such as parrying and dodging, enveloped within a stamina management system. Despite these nods, the combat lacks the visceral impact found in renowned contemporaries, presenting engagements as repetitive and less rewarding after considerable playtime.
Integral to its identity, HellIsUs leans heavily on its eerie soundtrack and ambient sound design to evoke and sustain tension throughout gameplay. Combined with the oppressive landscapes and unsettling depictions of human strife, these components aim to cement the game’s unique position — yet the allure lessens as the game progresses.
Game Progression and Mechanics
The narrative journey, rich with potential, gradually gives way to a repetitive loop centered around necessary item collection. Initial tasks such as convoy tracking or locating key NPCs, including crucial interactions with a blacksmith character, appear engaging and organically tied to the world. However, the game's progression soon defaults to the consistent collection of keys, medallions, and sigils, which consumes much of the journey's later segments.
Puzzles intersperse this item-centric monotony, occasionally reintroducing a burst of curiosity and wonder within the player. Despite these moments, the prevailing sense of repetitiveness prevails, overshadowing the game’s initial promise and minimizing the impact and memorability of Remi’s odyssey.
HellIsUs stands as a testament to ambitious game design intent on crafting a gripping atmosphere and narrative within a detailed, immersive environment. Nonetheless, the developer's efforts fall short of sustaining engagement due to the repetitive mechanics and less impactful combat, ultimately rendering the game a missed opportunity in a genre brimming with innovation and depth.
