‘Soulslike’ Hell is Us is turning players off
While some of you are impressed by Hell is Us, others are bored by the idea of another 'generic' soulslike.
25th Sep 2024 11:39
Images via Rogue Factor
‘Soulslike’ Hell is Us is turning players off
While some of you are impressed by Hell is Us, others are bored by the idea of another 'generic' soulslike.
25th Sep 2024 11:39
Images via Rogue Factor
There was a lot to discuss from Sony's September 24 State of Play, but away from Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered, Palworld coming to PS5, and Ghost of Yotei, we got a closer look at Hell is Us. Rogue Factor showed off a suitably glossy gameplay trailer, but not everyone was sold on the idea.
For those who've kept their ears close to the ground, you might remember that Hell is Us was originally announced by Deus Ex: Human Revolution Art Director Jonathan Jacques-Belletete in 2022 and was supposed to release in 2023. That never happened, and after two years of silence, Hell is Us is back.
Not everyone is sold on Hell is Us
Looking like a cocktail of titles, including Dark Souls and Death Stranding, Hell is Us seems primed for the PlayStation 5 Pro. The story follows your player character as you take on nightmarish creatures without the use of modern weapons. With no map, compass, or quest markers, it sounds like a gruelling ordeal.
It's important to note that Rogue Factor isn't officially referred to as a soulslike, instead dubbed a "3rd-person action-adventure game that combines intense melee combat with the thrill of exploration." Still, the soulslike comparisons are being thrown about - much to Hell is Us' detriment.
There's a clear feeling that some are bored of this kind of 'glum' game, with one disappointed gamer writing, "Another soulslike and big map without any reason.. gonna skip this one bruh...👎." Another complained, "Why is every game just this now?" and a third concluded, "You guys'll really do anything BUT update, remake, or remaster Bloodborne, huh?"
Trekking around an apocalyptic backdrop while dressed in a raincoat conjures up a Death Stranding aesthetic, which is also being called out as 'lazy.' Some called for more multiplayer games instead of another single-player action-adventure, while others remained optimistic that Hell is Us could be big.
Although there are elements of the classic soulslike, Rogue Factor will likely want to do what Game Science did with Black Myth: Wukong and distance itself from these ties. In a post-Elden Ring world, we've seen a boom of soulslikes that have struggled to get out of its shadow, with Lies of P perhaps the biggest winner of the lot.
The other thing you might've not noticed is that Hell is Us isn't just coming to PlayStation. Alongside the likes of Soul Reaver 1 & 2 Remastered and Blumhouse's Fear the Spotlight, Hell is Us is also landing on Xbox Series X|S in 2025. With the jury out on Hell is Us, we'll have to wait and see whether it's the next big thing or just another pale imitation.
About The Author
Tom Chapman
Tom is Trending News Editor at GGRecon, with an NCTJ qualification in Broadcast Journalism and over seven years of experience writing about film, gaming, and television. With bylines at IGN, Digital Spy, Den of Geek, and more, Tom’s love of horror means he's well-versed in all things Resident Evil, with aspirations to be the next Chris Redfield.
