Who’s The Real Monster In A Civil War?
HIGH Absolutely breathtaking vistas and art style.
LOW The amount of backtracking.
WTF Jesus Christ that’s a LOT of blood.
Every videogame teased in 2025 with a sword-wielding protagonist, believe it or not, is actually Dark Souls. To call the third-person action-adventure subgenre overplayed is an understatement – and few recent titles do enough to differentiate themselves from their medium-defining forefathers.
Hell is Us is the first time I’ve played a new title that takes notes from the soulslike genre, but instead of lurking under its shadow, walks in a different direction proudly.Â
The player assumes the role of Remi, a career soldier who was shipped away from the civil-war-ridden country of Hadea as a young boy. Now, his personal mission is to get back into Hadea, find his family, and uncover the mystery of a society-altering calamity that sent demon-like creatures to prey on Hadeans on both sides of their civil war.
These creatures are the single plot device that keeps the story moving forward and leave the player asking all kinds of questions – what are they? Why do these beings move so weirdly? Why are they all white with a gaping hole where a face should be? The player must untangle this puzzle by talking to Hadean residents, picking up clues, and solving puzzles that take Remi across the country.Â
Instead of going the typical soulslike route and focusing on combat, Hell is Us lives and dies by committing to the soulslike form of quest design. This means other than the opening dialogue sequce and talking to characters about what they need, it’s up to Remi and the player’s intuition alone to find quest items or the way forward. Puzzles require a little extra brainpower, whether it’s for a main quest, side content called “good deeds” to help civilians around Hadea, or when solving puzzles to get items.Â
I can understand that this type of quest design may not work for everyone. Sometimes I’d go for entire hours of gameplay before I’d find an item and try to think “Who does this go to? Was it that person asking for ID cards? But I’m also not sure this is the right item?” It can feel like a mental balancing act at times. But other than a few sections prone to lots of backtracking as I got used to the quest design, like the beginning Acasa Marsha area and the hills where Remi learns more about his father, Hell is Us sold me with less handholding.
It’s established early on that everything in Hell is Us’ map pulls on mystical and religious lore to set the backdrop for the country’s conflict — entire towns were set ablaze, gigantic temples worshipping false gods were constructed, and civilians were ruled by hatred. The world of Hadea is broken beyond repair, and it’s easy to see why Remi was sent away by his parents.
Easily the strongest point of Rogue Factor’s design philosophy was putting the carnage of Hadea’s civil war on full display. Corpses line the streets of towns, blood runs through buildings, countless bodies hang limp from the little remaining vegetation that was left between bombings and flamethrower attacks.Â
Among all of these depictions of carnage are smaller, more intimate moments — things like a vista looking across a mountain lake next to a field of azure flowers, or a massive statue of a creature and its gaping maw where a mouth should be. A burning town in the distance creating a nearly perfect sunset was haunting.Â
Among the civilians, soldiers, and religious iconographies shrouded in smoke are the bright contrasts of Hadea — the creatures. Violently thrashing about like drunkenly-controlled marionettes painted white, they are so inhuman in nearly every way, and fighting these creatures highlights Hell is Us’ inspired combat system. I’m not leaving it for last because of any quality knock. It can easily stand on its own and is a treat to engage with in its own right.
Like a typical soulslike, there’s a strike, dodge, and block button, but every encounter has an added wrinkle. Every time Remi deals damage to an enemy, he can heal some of that damage back if the player times a button press correctly. Other dimensions include a drone that allows Remi to attack from above or spin in a whirlwind of blows, and “elemental” imbued attacks from enhanced weapons make combat encounters more engaging than a simple hack-and-slash.Â
The mystical enemies come in all shapes and sizes. Some shoot projectiles, some disable Remi’s drone, some spawn enemies attached to them via an umbilical cord of sorts, making the player prioritize them before killing their host.
A note I will make on Hell is Us’ combat — if players experienced with soulslikes want to get the most out of the mechanics and consumables, play it on Hard Mode. While many combat encounters inspired me to think creatively, by the end of Hell is Us, I felt like I was mowing down enemies easily on Normal Mode while filling up a bag of consumables I never used once.Â
Ultimately, the thing about Hell is Us that ties it all together is the title. The combat and exploration are merely a distraction from the real conflict happening in front of the player’s eyes — humans on both sides of the civil war (and those manipulating the war from behind the scenes) have committed far worse atrocities than the creatures ever have.Â
Score: 8 out of 10
Buy Hell is Us – PC – XB – PS
Disclosures: This game is developed by Rogue Factor and published by Nacon. It is currently available on PC, XBX/S, and PS5. This copy of the game was obtained via publisher and was reviewed on PC. Approximately 19 hours of play were devoted to the single-player mode, and the game was completed. There are no multiplayer modes.
Parents: This game is rated M for Strong Language, Violence, Blood, Drug References, and Suggestive Themes. It is a very visceral depiction of a civil war with modern technology, so this game is not meant for kids whatsoever, including bodies hanging from trees, staircases lined with blood and human remains, and a colossal pile of human skeletons.
Colorblind Modes: There are colorblind modes available, including a setting to toggle color deficiency type and a slider with color deficiency compensation.
Deaf & Hard of Hearing Gamers: This game’s story has subtitles which can be resized. Some puzzles do have audio cues to make it easier for players to find quests, but Hell is Us compensates with visual directional audio cues. The game is fully accessible.
Remappable Controls: The game’s controls are fully remappable.
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This review offers an interesting perspective on “Hell Is Us,” highlighting both its stunning visuals and some gameplay drawbacks. It’s always fascinating to see how new titles attempt to carve out their own identity in a crowded genre.
You make a great point about the challenge of standing out in such a saturated market. It’s also worth noting how the narrative choices in “Hell Is Us” might influence player engagement beyond the typical gameplay mechanics.
Absolutely, the narrative choices can really elevate the experience and create a deeper connection with the characters. It’ll be interesting to see how players respond to those elements amidst the familiar gameplay tropes.
I agree, the narrative depth is crucial in standing out from similar games. It’ll be fascinating to see if the emotional weight of the story can counterbalance the repetitive gameplay elements that often come with this genre.
see how the game explores the moral complexities of its characters. The choice of setting during a civil war really adds an extra layer to the story, allowing for rich character development.
Absolutely, the moral dilemmas are indeed fascinating! It’s interesting how the game uses the backdrop of a civil war to amplify these complexities, making the characters’ decisions even more impactful. The art style really enhances the emotional weight of those choices as well.
I completely agree! The way the game weaves its moral dilemmas into the narrative really adds depth. It’s also intriguing how the environment reflects the characters’ struggles, enhancing the overall experience.
Absolutely, the moral complexities really make you reflect on your choices. It’s interesting how the stunning visuals contrast with the heavy themes, creating a unique experience that stays with you long after playing.
game challenges players to confront their own values in such intense situations. It’s fascinating how the stunning visuals contrast with the dark themes, making the experience even more thought-provoking.
Absolutely, it really pushes players to think critically about their choices. The moral dilemmas presented make each decision feel weighty, adding depth to the gameplay. It’s a powerful way to explore the theme of humanity in conflict.
I completely agree! The game’s ability to challenge players with complex moral decisions really adds depth. It’s interesting how the stunning visuals contrast with the dark themes, making those choices even more impactful.
to the overall experience. It’s interesting how those choices reflect the nuances of human nature, making us question what truly defines a monster. The stunning visuals really enhance that emotional depth, too!
You make a great point about the choices reflecting human nature! The way characters navigate moral dilemmas really adds depth to the story, showing that sometimes the real monsters are within us. It’s fascinating how the game uses its stunning visuals to enhance these themes.
Thank you! It’s fascinating how the game uses those moral dilemmas to mirror real-life conflicts. The stunning art style really enhances the emotional weight of those choices, making each decision feel even more impactful.
You’re welcome! It really does highlight how choices can shape our understanding of right and wrong. The way the game presents its characters adds depth, making us question who the real monster is in each situation. It’s intriguing how these themes resonate beyond the game itself.
Absolutely! It’s interesting how the game forces players to confront moral dilemmas, blurring the lines between hero and villain. This aspect really enhances the emotional depth of the story.
I completely agree! The way the game challenges players to navigate moral ambiguity really adds depth to the experience. It’s intriguing how the choices we make can reflect our own values in such a chaotic setting.
Absolutely, that moral ambiguity truly makes each choice feel significant. It’s interesting how the breathtaking visuals contrast with the darker themes, enhancing the overall experience. It really makes you think about the nature of humanity in conflict.
characters reflect the complexities of human nature. The game really does challenge our perceptions of good and evil, doesn’t it? It’s fascinating to see how the setting influences the characters’ decisions and moral dilemmas.