Although I bought and played this game at the dawn of the year 2021, 6 months later, 53 hours of playtime, and a semester gone by, it's still my strongest contender for game of the year.

I've always had an affinity for indie, rogue-like games; there's a grind and growth that's always been more satisfying than the typical e-sports title. Grinding through long arduous 40 minute matches, only to get f*cking screwed over by one bad team fight, has never been rewarding - I'd probably still hit that play button again (not like it was my fault, honestly). Hades will make you hit that play button again, and it'll reward you every. single. time.

Pick your loadout, spend your points, and die. You'll die from a stupid trap or some stray arrow you forgot to dodge, but I know for an absolute fact that when you materialize back from the pits of hell, you'll pick your loadout, spend your points, to go and die again.

But this time, this time! The story progresses, new abilities and weapons unlock, and you spend the points from the last run to become stronger. This time, your character deals more damage, has more health, and you'll watch your footwork.

There's a certain virtue for life to be learned from Hades. You'll fall and die so many times before you ever reach the next level, but from each stumble, you'll learn, grow, and get right back up to fight through (literal) hell.

I've felt like I'd never beat it; even with 53 hours, I haven't reached the true ending. But I know I will eventually; it just takes a little time, and when you read this, I'd have scratched a few more hours into this game, and you'll know it's because I rose from the Pits of Tartarus and got back up every time.

- I, 18th June 2021

very nice