Hell is Us Delivers Chilling, Must-See Horror
▼ Summary
– Hell is Us is a game set in a war-torn fictional country, Hadea, where the protagonist, Remi, searches for his parents amid civil war devastation.
– The demo features eerie environments, unsettling music, and a creepy enemy encounter, with Remi acquiring a sword and drone from a mysterious woman.
– Combat is melee-focused with stamina management and a unique healing mechanic involving floating particles, though timing the heal can be challenging.
– Unlike Soulslikes, the game is less punishing, with enemies not respawning after saves, encouraging exploration without maps or quest markers.
– The demo highlights player-driven exploration, including optional “Good Deeds” like returning a gold watch to a grieving farmer, with rewards hinted for the full game.
Hell is Us delivers a haunting experience that lingers long after you put down the controller. The game thrusts players into the war-ravaged nation of Hadea, where protagonist Remi searches for his missing parents amid chaos and despair. From the moment the demo begins, the atmosphere grips you with its eerie soundtrack and bleak, immersive world.
The opening sequence sets the tone perfectly. Remi navigates a dense forest, the unsettling score reminiscent of Returnal, before stumbling upon ancient ruins hiding dark secrets. Here, players encounter their first true horror, a nightmarish enemy resembling a twisted marionette with a featureless face. The encounter escalates when a mysterious masked woman intervenes, sacrificing herself to save Remi. Without hesitation, he takes up her weapon, a glowing sword (BGS), and her drone, hinting at deeper mysteries to unravel.
Combat in Hell is Us strikes a balance between accessibility and challenge. While it shares some DNA with Soulslikes, parrying, stamina management, it avoids the punishing difficulty often associated with the genre. Enemies don’t respawn after saving, encouraging thorough exploration rather than repetitive grinding. The healing system introduces an inventive twist: attacking generates floating particles that, when aligned, allow Remi to trigger a restorative pulse. It’s a clever idea, though executing it mid-combat can feel awkward as you juggle offense and timing.
Where the game truly shines is its emphasis on organic discovery. There’s no map, compass, or quest markers, just a world begging to be explored. Early on, a grieving farmer mentions his three fallen sons. Later, in a trench littered with wartime relics, players might stumble upon a soldier’s note boasting about killing “three brothers in a farmhouse.” Returning a stolen watch to the farmer completes a “Good Deed,” hinting at a deeper, reward-driven narrative system. These unscripted moments make the world feel alive and reactive.
The demo leaves a strong impression, blending atmospheric horror with rewarding exploration. While minor quirks like the healing mechanic’s clunkiness exist, the overall experience is compelling. Hell is Us launches on September 4 for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X, with the demo available on Steam until June 16. For fans of immersive, story-driven horror, this is one to watch.
The haunting visuals and eerie sound design work in tandem to create an unforgettable mood. Whether facing grotesque enemies or uncovering tragic wartime secrets, Hell is Us promises a chilling journey through its broken world.
(Source: POLYGON)
