Hell is Us Review

Announced in 2023, Rogue Factor and Nacon’s Hell Is Us is kicking off the busy gaming season with hell on Earth. See whether players should brave its hostile world and follow their instincts with our review.

Hell is Us Review

Hell Is Us begins in wartime, with players heading back home to find one’s parents and sneaking through the woods to avoid danger.

Making their way back, things are quite what they seem; a Calamity has happened, opening up Time Loops that spawn forth nasty monsters. Said monsters can’t be killed by normal means, needing special Lymbic Weapons to be taken down.

Meeting up with one’s father, the player joins forces with The Vigils: A group that protects the people and is setting out to close these Time Loops. With the world in the middle of a civil war, Hell is Us will have players setting out to find a way to close all the Time Loops and send these creatures back where they came from.

Unfortunately, as the last able-bodied Vigil member, one will have to do this solo.

Facing Hell is Us’ creatures on one’s own isn’t that bad, since one’s weapons can actually kill them. Players can choose between a one-handed sword, a greatsword, dual axes, or a polearm.

Hell is Us’ many weapons can be upgraded, with one adding abilities to them. For instance, the Rage axes launched a sort of blood fireball, also tethering enemies to bring them closer. Hell is Us’ weapon system is pretty intuitive in due time.

The biggest thing to worry about during Hell is Us’ combat is the restore ability – think Nioh.

After beating an enemy up, players get a white ring under your character. If one times their R1 press with the pulse, one will restore your HP and stamina.

Hell is Us is very generous with the amount healed, but is very strict with the timing of hitting R1. We enjoyed this mechanic, as it always kept us in the fight – even with very low HP.

When one isn’t fighting in Hell is Us, one is out exploring its world.

Those who like mysteries and hidden secrets will love Hell is Us: Side quests, hidden chests, puzzles, and plenty of lore are scattered all over the world.

Since The Vigil rewards players for helping people out, exploring is borderline mandatory if you want to stay ahead of the combat curve.

That being said, there are two major issues with the exploration…

First off, there’s no map – which always hurts – and one can’t jump. When players hit a three-foot fence, one will need to find a way around instead of simply hopping over.

However, there is one skill in Hell is Us that lets you jump into the air: Death From Above. However, it has a huge cooldown and rarely helps get over obstacles.

That skill comes from your Drone, and has its own abilities for players to unlock. While one’s weapons are almost magic-type skills, the Drone skills are more physical and control-based.

Players will have a spin to win, charge, stun, shields, and other skills to help. Even with only being able to equip four at a time, customization in Hell is Us is excellent. Combining a charge attack, mini fireball, and the spin to win was always satisfying.

The other advantage of exploring in Hell is Us is meeting people.

The country is in the middle of a war – and it shows. One of the towns players visit was invaded, now having intercoms playing 24/7 that talk about how citizens are lower than dogs.

Players will then visit the village to find most missing limbs from a bomb that exploded in the market. Reading deeper, players discover it was actually a deep state operation to make the village go to war, so the other guys have a reason to invade.

Actual thought went into every area of Hell is Us – and it shows.

Of course, players can’t have good exploration without good loot.

Hell is Us definitely falls on the side of quality over quantity as far as equipment goes, but that’s a good thing.

Most weapons are crafted, but the armor piece needs to be found. Each one has some sort of buff, like less stamina used for attacks or strikes or restoring HP.

This, in turn, really lets players experiment with different builds.

Players can also find new skills for the Drone and one’s weapons; it’s always worth checking behind a waterfall or down a well.

Do note that Hell is Us has fall damage that’s a bit too high, but players admittedly heal so easily that it doesn’t matter. While there were a few bugs – mostly with enemies halfway in the wall – we did not experience any crashes.

While we don’t envy it going up against Hollow Knight: Silksong, Hell Is Us is one of the best games we’ve played this year.

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