Is the game/genre too hard for casual players?

[covertgravy]

I've played Bastion and Transistor and thoroughly enjoyed both. Super fan of Supergiant Games. I remember TotalBiscuit getting emotional while reviewing Pyre (if I remember correctly, May his soul Rest in Peace).

I got a bit sidetracked there.. Anyway I just bought Hades because I figured the studio has made yet another masterpiece. I have found this genre hard historically. But in recent times I've played games that I think are from this genre (Tunic, Moonlighter) and have gotten used to it a bit that I am willing to give Hades a try.

[Storm]

It is, at first. I'm a casual gamer and it took me a good 80 hours before I got my first actual win. But once you do win (at least once), it'll get easier. I almost gave up on the game. Seriously. I never lost a game after my first win. Well, unless it was intentional.

As a newbie in Hades, I suggest you prioritize boons/abilities that can Deflect and Knock Away enemies. These are the types of abilities that made me win for the first time. Others say it's too hard no matter how many guides and tips they try.

For me, you just really gotta spam that spacebar and dash for your life.

[Sleepy]

I'm bad at this kind of fast pacing hack and slash games and I managed to beat the boss for the first time in my 30th attempt :D I would say certain weapon (rocket launcher) with certain upgrades would turn this game into easy mode, you just need to try it out yourself. Also even if you die you still get the resources to upgrade your passive ability/buff, the more you play the easier it would get.

[Nathan Pascal]

Hades is the rogue-lite game for people who don't like rogue-lites, or something along those lines the saying goes. It has quite a few powerful upgrade mechanics, so even when losing you will eventually grow much stronger, and losing a run doesn't even feel that bad in the first place, because you are rewarded with more story snippets after and during each new try (that is, if you enjoy story.)

There is enough new story to make... about the first 60 hours feel fresh? After about 90 hours I haven't seen all of it, but probably most.

Overall, the game feels very fairly balanced, I needed more tries for some Soulsborne bosses than to beat a complete run in Hades, make of that what you will.

And if you really struggle, there is a so called God Mode, making you much stronger initially and ever more stronger with each new try, if you are mostly interested in the story and feel you are getting stuck and losing interest.

[Spawnling]

The progress system makes the game harder at the beginning, but as you play you unlock permanent stat boosts, which make the game much easier.

[Virgil]

My first campaign took me 28 runs before I was able to kill Hades on Normal difficulty. On my most recent campaign (separate save), also Normal, it took me six. There is obviously the meta progression that happens after every run; Zagreus has quite a few ways to develop including the Mirror, weapon upgrades, cthonic companions, keepsakes, etc. whether you succeed or die.

More importantly, there is also the factor of player skill - eventually you will learn how every enemy operates, what their patterns are, what types of challenges you'll face in each room, and so on. Whether you realize it or not, you the player will get better on average every time you play.

I used to wonder how the hell I was ever going to defeat Megaera. Now I can often make it to the Bone Hydra on Zagreus' first run of a save. Some players can go well beyond that I'm sure, though I'm still a ways away from that level of skill.

[Sir Prometeus]

I don't consider myself a pro-gamer, and it took me 22h or 20 runs to finish the game for first time

I must admit that it was hard, though

Something I noticed was the bosses started to become more mundane the more times I reached them. Once you have a valid strategy, you almost can beat them the same way over and over.

Focus on getting the resurrection upgrades in the mirror. Especially that one that refills after every chamber.

Having more health at the beginning doesn't hurt either. It saves you from being forced to collect centaur hearts instead of by choice.

Try to collect as many boons as you can in every run, and at least one or two upgrades for your weapon.

After you get enough upgrades to make more money during your runs, Charon starts to become a good option to avoid a fight and get some boons. But try not to visit him if you have less than 150 coins, although the more the better

[thefollowingcharacters]

There's a option you can pick called "God Mode" that makes the game easy. It is a challenging game when you start, and it takes a while to build up both stat and skill wise to beat the game. But once you do, it just gets easier and easier until you're blowing through the game beating it every time.

Its also a lot of fun, and death isn't very discouraging. One of the best rogue-likes you'll ever play!

[snugginz]

I think its too hard.

I'm an old gamer with not terrible reflexes. Ex-CS fanatic.
And I wish there was a difficulty setting besides 'God Mode' which is obvious cheeze.

Also I'm disappointed that when I finally find a build that actually works for me I die and will probably never see that build again. Which makes it near impossible to actually practice any given play style while progressing. Sure they say you can 'give up' over and over to keep your build. But that isn't progression.

Glad to see someone else is struggling. And not everyone is a 'well I'm terrible at these games but I finished it in 20 hours' annoyance.

Seriously how could a comment like that be helpful for anything but narcissism.

Anyway, I feel ya.
Hope there are mods soon for us over 12.

[Virgil]

Originally posted by snugginz:

I think its too hard.

I'm an old gamer with not terrible reflexes. Ex-CS fanatic.
And I wish there was a difficulty setting besides 'God Mode' which is obvious cheeze.

Also I'm disappointed that when I finally find a build that actually works for me I die and will probably never see that build again. Which makes it near impossible to actually practice any given play style while progressing. Sure they say you can 'give up' over and over to keep your build. But that isn't progression.

Glad to see someone else is struggling. And not everyone is a 'well I'm terrible at these games but I finished it in 20 hours' annoyance.

Seriously how could a comment like that be helpful for anything but narcissism.

Anyway, I feel ya.
Hope there are mods soon for us over 12.

Well that was needlessly passive aggressive. I'm rapidly closing in on 40, so not a young man by any means, and all I meant to illustrate with my example was the fact that no matter how much the player struggles they will continue to advance. Dying is literally part of the storyline and not something to be ashamed or frustrated by.

I agree, I hope there's mods for people like you. I'd much rather that than the company end up hotfixing the game and making it any easier than it already is. People above gave good and practical advice. I'm sorry you felt threatened by that.

[covertgravy]

Guys, I gave it a try and even though I am not even close to doing any damage to Meg.. I am starting to enjoy the runs.. As I expected it is hard for me but you know what the hardest part is.. Hades mocking me after every death. lol

[Virgil]

Originally posted by covertgravy:

Guys, I gave it a try and even though I am not even close to doing any damage to Meg.. I am starting to enjoy the runs.. As I expected it is hard for me but you know what the hardest part is.. Hades mocking me after every death. lol

Keep going. I can't count how many times she killed me before I finally overcame her. Let Hades' taunts serve as fuel for motivation. You got this, I promise.

If you have any specific questions as you keep going, don't be afraid to ask. There are guides on Steam as well that can be quite helpful. Don't worry, the game is designed to be brutally hard for newer players and will gradually open its secrets to you as you keep trying.

I almost gave up multiple times before things seemed to "click", and even then, the game can definitely throw you for a loop. If you wish, keep us updated on your progress. We are rooting for you and we've all been where you are now. I promise that things become more enjoyable as you figure out the lay of the land as well.

Good luck!

[admiral1018]

The game gets much easier as you unlock upgrades from the mirror.

Once you have the weapons and a good set of abilities, a no heat run in this game is on the easier side for this genre. I'd say it's on par with a 1 BC run in Dead Cells. The game doesn't really get "rouge-like" difficult until 20+ heat or so.

[C4RNIVOR3]

Originally posted by snugginz:

And not everyone is a 'well I'm terrible at these games but I finished it in 20 hours' annoyance.

Originally posted by snugginz:

Hope there are mods soon for us over 12.

You can express your frustration with the difficulty compared to your own decaying reflexes without talking down to the rest of us like children. Most of us here are entire adults with jobs. Most of the people in this community are also more than happy to give advice to those that are struggling. Your comments make you sound like a very bitter and unpleasant person.

Originally posted by thefollowingcharacters:

There's a option you can pick called "God Mode" that makes the game easy.

I want to point out that God Mode is essentially the equivalent of picking up a boon in your run and upgrading it with Poms (when the % goes up each death) that's permanent until turned off, as to actually being an "easy mode" because it's kinda not. You're still playing the same difficulty, just with a small damage reduction % that steadily increases.

[covertgravy]

Originally posted by admiral1018:

Once you have the weapons and a good set of abilities, a no heat run in this game is on the easier side for this genre.

What's a no heat run?

[Sir Prometeus]

Originally posted by covertgravy:

Originally posted by admiral1018:

Once you have the weapons and a good set of abilities, a no heat run in this game is on the easier side for this genre.

What's a no heat run?

Another mode that increases difficulty, and gives rewards in return

(In retrospective, I've been trying to kill the last boss again, and I had no luck. I think that my first completion was mainly facilitated by a boon that regenerated life over time once I had no more resurrections)