Hell is Us Review

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A scene of destruction, broken homes, fear, animosity, and pain: this is the backdrop of a war-ravaged world known as Hell is Us. As the title implies, Rogue Factor’s third-person adventure game does not offer a cheerful tale, and its protagonist isn’t an imaginary antagonist. Instead, it unfolds in Hadea, yet could represent any nation on our planet, where humans are often the true beasts of conflict.

In this game, players assume the character of Remi, an outsider who secretly enters a secluded area torn apart by civil war. Sadly, he arrives late into the conflict, after both sides have perpetrated such inhumane acts that they ignited a bizarre occurrence known as the Calamity. The embodiment of four powerful human emotions – sorrow, fear, joy, and anger – now roam freely among the people.

In the unveiling of “Hell is Us”, these enigmatic entities known as The Hollow Walkers stood out with a disconcerting appearance that immediately caught one’s eye. With a semblance of humanity, yet a void for a face shrouded in darkness, they appear to be tormented by intense emotions. Upon being agitated, they emit a belligerent manifestation of their overpowering feelings called a Haze, which is tethered to them by a sort of lifeline. Their cries of agony and growls of anger echo as they relentlessly try to obliterate Remi.

The War-Torn Landscape of Hell is Us: A Troubling Story

The world crafted by Rogue Factor invites examination, albeit large portions are obstructed by debris or foliage. Nonetheless, reachable sections brim with detail and unfold a poignant narrative: deserted shacks, lifeless civilians sprawled behind ineffective fortifications, a canine companion resting outside a child’s hiding spot. Despite tackling mature subjects, it never crosses the line into sensationalism. The objective of the developer is to portray the authenticities of civil conflict and the potential for human brutality, yet also underscore the power of love and kinship.

As a devoted fan, I’d like to share an insight I picked up while playing “Hell is Us.” Rogue Factor emphasized the importance of breaking free from the vicious cycle of human cruelty. Consequently, the only adversaries Remi engages in combat are Hollow Walkers and their surrounding Haze. The characters I encounter throughout the game are unfortunate souls who require rescue, either from their dire situations or their own selves.

Hell is Us Gives Nothing on a Silver Platter

Contrary to assumptions, “Hell is Us” doesn’t fall under the Soulslike category. Instead, it exhibits a structure reminiscent of Metroidvania games, where finding keys, codes, and emblems allows access to previously unexplored zones. This often involves revisiting locations and trying to recall the location of secret passages. Unlike many games, there’s no mini-map, HUD, or quest log to aid navigation. Instead, the game relies on “player-plattering,” a term coined by Rogue Factor. Players must rely on their intuition, memory, curiosity, and extensive note-taking to progress through the game, rather than being spoon-fed answers.

This decision, though daring and potentially controversial, reveals some significant shortcomings. While you soon grow accustomed to the absence of a HUD, the sheer amount of details to remember can be overwhelming just as quickly. Consequently, it’s likely that a Word document and screenshots will become essential, which highlights the absence of user-friendly features such as mapping, progress tracking, and marking crucial locations and items within the story.

This revised version maintains the original message while using simpler language and more natural phrasing to make it easier for readers to understand.

In simpler terms, the game seems illogical due to some missing features. Remi’s vehicle, drone, and data pad should help him keep track of important items or locations, but he doesn’t seem to use them for that purpose. For instance, he overlooks the location of a locked door or an item requested by an NPC. The “quest log” is particularly problematic because it doesn’t provide useful information such as names or locations of quest-givers. This makes it difficult to know which people to talk to and when to revisit certain areas, leading to missed opportunities like entire zones necessary for progression. These design choices make the game unnecessarily tedious and frustrating.

Hell is Us: Too Little and Too Much

The game provides three modes of play, each with its own unique features:

1. The simplest mode primarily focuses on discovering new locations.
2. The standard mode keeps acquired loot even after death, tracks progress by saving markers within an area, and regenerates enemies only when transitioning to a different zone.
3. For players seeking a greater challenge, there’s an option to enable “Death Penalty,” which revives hostile creatures and clears all XP and items earned since the last save upon character death.

In the game titled “Hell is Us“, the gameplay consists almost equally of attacking enemies and moving around. This rhythm generally holds up well, with exploration rarely becoming monotonous, but the combat encounters falter in certain aspects. Primarily, it feels rather simple or underdeveloped. On normal difficulty, as weapons automatically level up and the healing system is mastered, a basic strategy and occasional blocking are usually enough. Dodging or parrying seldom prove necessary. Instead, one can rely on button mashing, using weapon abilities, and strategically deploying the drone. The game provides adjustable settings for enemy health, damage, and aggression, but these only partially resolve the issue, and it’s puzzling that the game feels too easy by default.

Furthermore, aside from missing maps and logs, the primary issue with the game lies in the limited variety of Hollow Walkers. There are merely five distinct types of enemies, which become more challenging by minor alterations, and even the bosses follow a repetitive pattern of behavior that can be easily predicted.

The selection of weapons is restricted to swords, dual axes, polearms, and greatswords. These can be attuned to emotions like ecstasy, grief, terror, or rage, and adapted with modules. This setup initially appears intriguing for customization purposes. However, there’s little distinction between using a grief sword versus a rage sword of the same level. Combining this with repetitive battles, lack of diverse enemies, and the sameness of weapons leads to a combat experience that quickly becomes monotonous and unengaging.

At one extreme, this game frequently provides an abundance of weapon modules, health kits, resistance items, and consumables to stock your inventory. However, many of these items are seldom needed. On the standard difficulty setting, you can typically complete the entire game without using any of them. For most players, adjusting enemy stats will be necessary to make the search for loot feel significant.

Hell is Us Also Offers Just Enough

As a seasoned gamer, I’ve got to say that Hell is Us really outdoes itself when it comes to exploration. The game’s atmosphere, setting, and attention to detail are nothing short of breathtaking, with certain environmental storytelling moments making me pause and reflect. From a smoldering town to an eerily quiet abbey, each area is unique and stays with you long after you’ve left it.

Delving into the lore, encountering survivors in various emotional states, searching for crucial items, and poking around every hidden corner keeps me hooked. And let’s not forget about the dungeons – they are a treasure trove for any adventurer, offering a chance to explore mysterious ruins and uncover hidden treasures.

The grim tale and eerie ambiance of “Hell is Us” outshines many flaws, as Rogue Factor delivers a strong message through their work. While the game may annoy due to its lack of hand-holding, it also fosters an exceptional feeling of immersion and exploration. “Hell is Us ” is designed to unsettle and stimulate thought rather than merely entertain, and although it falters in certain aspects, it excels in others. For players who are willing to forgive a lack of diversity and conveniences, and who prioritize atmosphere over polished aesthetics, “Hell is Us ” provides an engaging journey worth embarking on.

On September 5, 2025, the game “Hell is Us” will be available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. For this review, we received a Steam code from Game Rant.

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2025-09-01 22:36