Why there are still so many players online?

[Casper]

No offense

I’m just surprised by the number of the in-game players. Why people still play it?

I achieved platinum two years ago in less than 50 hours. So there is nothing left to do after that. The replay value is not really big as there weren’t any updates since the release, the heat system is unbalanced, there are only 6 weapons with some aspects. All in all, despite the fact that I really enjoyed it, there is not a lot of content for a roguelike game.

For example Dead Cells still gets regular updates with new content, but current number of in-game players is less than Hades.

I just don’t understand it. What am I missing?

[DeathWantsMore]

Did you beat game @60 heat tho?

[Casper]

Originally posted by DeathWantsMore:

Did you beat game @60 heat tho?

As I mentioned in the first message, the Heat system is unbalanced. Yes, it has some really cool settings (for example functionality to completely change the behaviour of the bosses) but most of them are broken that just don’t give fair challenge and fun, and is not rewarding at all. It even doesn’t have any achievements for succeeding.

For example, look at boss cells in Dead Cells: it gives you new biomes, new weapons, new enemies, new bosses.

So yes, I do understand that the Heat system is the main core of the replay value of Hades, but it just doesn’t work (for me)

[DeathWantsMore]

I don't feel like it's unbalanced, it's just gives you almost endless replayability. If you don't wanna get better at the game then you just don't want to play it and it's fine.

[Local Jerk]

It is unbalanced, butt II wouldn't say DC is better. Not by a long shot. And the fact that there is downtime and story in between runs makes a huge difference.

[Nibbie]

I feel like your main confusion seems to be the heavy emphasis you put on achievements. If all you did was "platinum" the game, you've likely still missed a lot of character dialogue, even some entire character stories, let alone the tangible things like completing bounties and upgrading aspects, mirror talents, and companions. The achievements were designed to be reasonably achieved for a lot of players, not encompass everything the game has. I have over 100 hours in the game and still haven't completed everything tangible, let alone do very high heat runs or actually 100% the game, which would take much longer.

[Quyzbuk]

You must lead a really empty life if achievements nobody will check are all a game is to you.

You get almost absurd levels of customization to find out what your absolute limit is difficulty wise and you're on the forums going: "Oh I got all the achievements, that means you don't play no more"

I think my neighbors heard my facepalm when I read that.

[Casper]

Originally posted by Nibbie:

I feel like your main confusion seems to be the heavy emphasis you put on achievements. If all you did was "platinum" the game, you've likely still missed a lot of character dialogue, even some entire character stories, let alone the tangible things like completing bounties and upgrading aspects, mirror talents, and companions. The achievements were designed to be reasonably achieved for a lot of players, not encompass everything the game has. I have over 100 hours in the game and still haven't completed everything tangible, let alone do very high heat runs or actually 100% the game, which would take much longer.

Originally posted by Quyzbuk:

You must lead a really empty life if achievements nobody will check are all a game is to you.

You get almost absurd levels of customization to find out what your absolute limit is difficulty wise and you're on the forums going: "Oh I got all the achievements, that means you don't play no more"

I think my neighbors heard my facepalm when I read that.

Don't get me wrong. I mentioned achievements only as one of the reasons to keep on playing, not the only one. I mentioned my platinum only to show my right to discuss the topic.

In my first message I was reasoning about what motivates people to play Hades after so much time after the release. So I got these points for now:
- Increase heat level to create a challenge
- Complete bounties
- Metaprogression (mirror companions, interior)
- Read dialogs

Unfortunately, neither of these arguments can motivate me to play more, as I feel lack of gameplay variety which is necessary condition for rogue-like genre.

I'm not a judge for players, that keep on playing, but I just think that most of these people haven't tried other roguelikes that have insane replay value compared to Hades (Dead Cells, Enter the Gungeon, Noita).

[C4RNIVOR3]

A lot of people do heat runs for fun, try to collect bounties from all heat levels, try to collect all contractor items, try to speedrun under varying conditions. Achievements are not remotely the only reason people play this game, and in fact there were a bunch of speedrunners for this game before achievements were ever added, who continued to play the game through its two years of early access. If continuing to play isnt for you, then it isnt for you. But iunno, it's kind of silly to wonder why people keep playing. They play because they still have fun with it, is that not enough?

[dynatierchen]

maybe... just maybe...

not everybody already bought the game 2 years ago ?

[Casper]

Originally posted by C4RNIVOR3:

A lot of people do heat runs for fun, try to collect bounties from all heat levels, try to collect all contractor items, try to speedrun under varying conditions. Achievements are not remotely the only reason people play this game, and in fact there were a bunch of speedrunners for this game before achievements were ever added, who continued to play the game through its two years of early access. If continuing to play isnt for you, then it isnt for you. But iunno, it's kind of silly to wonder why people keep playing. They play because they still have fun with it, is that not enough?

I really wish I could also keep having fun from this game for so long, but I can't. I was just looking for more reasons to keep playing it as there are not a lot of good action-roguelikes out there.

Originally posted by dynatierchen:

maybe... just maybe...

not everybody already bought the game 2 years ago ?

Maybe you right, but the number of active players is too big. I think the most of active players are the core fans of the game.

[dynatierchen]

Originally posted by Casper:

Originally posted by C4RNIVOR3:

A lot of people do heat runs for fun, try to collect bounties from all heat levels, try to collect all contractor items, try to speedrun under varying conditions. Achievements are not remotely the only reason people play this game, and in fact there were a bunch of speedrunners for this game before achievements were ever added, who continued to play the game through its two years of early access. If continuing to play isnt for you, then it isnt for you. But iunno, it's kind of silly to wonder why people keep playing. They play because they still have fun with it, is that not enough?

I really wish I could also keep having fun from this game for so long, but I can't. I was just looking for more reasons to keep playing it as there are not a lot of good action-roguelikes out there.

Originally posted by dynatierchen:

maybe... just maybe...

not everybody already bought the game 2 years ago ?

Maybe you right, but the number of active players is too big. I think the most of active players are the core fans of the game.

so i guess u have some info about the numbers of hades copies sold by supergiant games in the past year ?!

[Casper]

Originally posted by dynatierchen:

so i guess u have some info about the numbers of hades copies sold by supergiant games in the past year ?!

Not really. I'm just comparing this game to other roguelikes (exactly comparing to Dead Cells as the closest analog) where the number of active players is much lower. The difference is that Hades is more casual and more popular, so I think you probably right about mentioning sold copies.

[Local Jerk]

Originally posted by Casper:

Don't get me wrong. I mentioned achievements only as one of the reasons to keep on playing, not the only one. I mentioned my platinum only to show my right to discuss the topic.

If achievements are in any way a reason to keep playing, you are an incredibly sad human being.

[Casper]

Originally posted by Local Jerk:

Originally posted by Casper:

Don't get me wrong. I mentioned achievements only as one of the reasons to keep on playing, not the only one. I mentioned my platinum only to show my right to discuss the topic.

If achievements are in any way a reason to keep playing, you are an incredibly sad human being.

Please read closely what I have written earlier. Getting achievements was never the main reason to play for me.

[Local Jerk]

Originally posted by Casper:

Originally posted by Local Jerk:

If achievements are in any way a reason to keep playing, you are an incredibly sad human being.

Please read closely what I have written earlier. Getting achievements was never the main reason to play for me.

Please read what I said. It shouldn't be any sort of reason whatsoever. Also, harping on Hades for not having repliability value, despite the large variety in builds, is absurd.