Hell Is Us Review – Brains Over Brawn

Hell is Us: A Deep Dive into Rogue Factor’s Enigmatic Masterpiece

Unraveling the Mystery: Gameplay and Puzzle Design

Hell is Us, released on September 4th, 2025, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC, boldly eschews traditional game design conventions. Published by Nacon and developed by Rogue Factor, this Mature-rated title throws players into the heart of Hadea, a war-torn nation besieged by otherworldly creatures. Forget hand-holding quest logs and map markers; Hell is Us embraces a challenging, investigation-driven approach, demanding players actively participate in unraveling the mysteries surrounding Remi, the protagonist’s, past and Hadea’s unsettling present.

A World of Intrigue: Exploration and Discovery

The game’s strength lies in its meticulous level and puzzle design. Hadea, while not a sprawling open world, is a series of interconnected hubs bursting with hidden secrets. Each area is richly detailed, encouraging thorough exploration. Players uncover clues through environmental storytelling, interacting with distressed citizens, deciphering cryptic notes, and examining ancient relics. This immersive approach transforms problem-solving into a rewarding experience, where seemingly insignificant discoveries often become pivotal pieces of the puzzle.

The Intricacy of Puzzles

The puzzle variety is remarkable. Some puzzles involve navigational challenges, utilizing the in-game compass and landmarks. Others are reminiscent of classic Zelda-style dungeon puzzles, requiring precise sequences of actions. The game cleverly integrates these diverse puzzle types, ensuring a constant sense of novelty. Few puzzle mechanics repeat, and even those that do offer fresh contexts, avoiding repetition. The satisfying interplay between smaller, individual puzzles and the larger overarching narrative creates a compelling sense of momentum. Solving smaller puzzles often reveals clues to more substantial mysteries, rewarding players with a feeling of progress and satisfaction.

A Balancing Act: Difficulty and Accessibility

While the game deliberately avoids hand-holding, it provides subtle assistance. Flowcharts track primary story objectives, listing key figures and objects without revealing specific solutions. This smart approach guides players without stifling discovery. However, side quests lack this level of integration, demanding stronger memory or note-taking skills. Despite this, Hell is Us manages to strike a delicate balance. The game never feels frustratingly opaque or excessively difficult; the challenge is engaging, fostering a sense of accomplishment upon solving each riddle.

Combat and Weaponry: A Mixed Bag

While the game’s investigative elements excel, the combat system falls short. Though functional, the combat is repetitive, relying heavily on a simple, one-button combo. The addition of Remi’s drone offers some tactical variety, providing crowd control options like distraction and stunning. A unique health regeneration mechanic, similar to an active reload, adds a layer of intensity. However, enemy variety dwindles in the latter half of the game, resulting in monotonous battles.

Weapons and Abilities: Underutilized Potential

The game features four weapon types, but only the axes prove consistently enjoyable. Although players can equip two weapons simultaneously, the game doesn’t encourage experimentation with different loadouts. This is a significant missed opportunity, especially considering the thematically rich emotion-based weapon abilities. These abilities—Crimson rage for damage, Grief-based blue abilities for debilitating effects—offer potential for strategic combat, but this potential remains largely unexplored.

Story and Characters: A Tale of Two Halves

Hell is Us begins with a captivating introductory act, skillfully establishing its intriguing setting and mysterious premise. The second act maintains this momentum, showcasing the game’s strengths. However, the third act feels rushed and underwhelming, disproportionately focusing on the less engaging combat elements. This imbalance leads to a somewhat anticlimactic conclusion that fails to fully deliver on the promise of the earlier acts.

Remi and His World: A Character Study

Remi, the protagonist, is a relatively bland character. While his emotionally detached personality is established early on, this trait is not consistently leveraged for narrative depth. His relationship with a fellow journalist also lacks significant development. The true nature of the primary antagonist remains ambiguously portrayed, diminishing their impact and leaving a lingering sense of incompletion.

Immersive World-Building: A Triumph of Atmosphere

Despite the narrative shortcomings, Hell is Us demonstrates exceptional world-building. The game creates a richly detailed setting with a compelling history rooted in cultural and religious conflict. The lore is meticulously crafted and expertly integrated into the gameplay experience. Even seemingly minor discoveries yield fascinating insights into Hadea’s past, enriching the overall narrative.

A Rich Tapestry of Lore: Uncovering Hadea’s Secrets

Discovering and piecing together the fragmented lore feels rewarding and genuinely enhances the gameplay experience. The game avoids simply delivering exposition dumps, instead weaving the information seamlessly into the exploration and puzzle-solving aspects. This subtle approach to storytelling enhances the sense of immersion and creates a deeper connection to the world. The intricate details of Hadea’s history further emphasize the game’s ambition and success in crafting a believable and engaging setting.

Overall Assessment: A Bold and Ambitious Game

Hell is Us is a unique and ambitious game, blending investigation-driven gameplay with a compelling, if uneven, narrative. While the combat could benefit from improvements, the game’s strengths lie in its intricate puzzles, immersive world-building, and the satisfying sense of discovery it provides. It is a bold step in a direction not often taken by mainstream titles, one that offers a refreshing and unique gaming experience. Though imperfect, its innovative design and commitment to challenging the player make it a worthy addition to any gamer’s collection. Its imaginative creatures, memorable puzzles and intriguing narrative make it a must play for those seeking a challenge.

Technical Specifications and Platform Availability

Conclusion: A Rewarding, If Flawed, Experience

Hell is Us is not a perfect game. Its combat feels somewhat repetitive and the narrative, while intriguing at times, stumbles in its final act. However, these flaws are overshadowed by the game’s remarkable puzzle design, atmospheric world-building, and the sheer sense of accomplishment that comes from unraveling Hadea’s many secrets. It is a game that demands patience and attention to detail, rewarding players who are willing to fully immerse themselves in its enigmatic world. For those seeking a departure from the norm, a game that prioritizes brains over brawn, Hell is Us is a compelling and ultimately rewarding experience. The exceptional level of detail, the intriguing story, and the satisfying complexity of the puzzles make this title stand out from the crowd. While not perfect, its unique gameplay and captivating setting make it a memorable adventure worth experiencing.

You also may like 〣〣