Did you know you can pet the dog in Hades? You can give Cerberus a lovely rub for being such a good, three-headed boy. We presume you might not have known, because according to Steam stats, very few players are doing it regularly.
The revelation comes from the Can You Pet The Dog? Twitter account. From statistics on Steam achievements, 12.1% of players have earned the trophy for petting Cerberus ten times, and frankly, we have questions. Is it because he's so large that some of you are intimidated? Are you just too consumed on obtaining victory in the action-adventure game that you don't think of giving him a wee pat? He might be guarding the Temple of Styx, but earlier he's always there in the House, quietly cheering you on, y'know.
Hades came out of Early Access after nearly two years earlier this month. We gave it a strong review, to say the least, Diego Arguello writing that the RPG game is "perhaps the first roguelike I'd recommend to everyone, regardless of their experience in the genre". It's the latest hit indie game from developer Supergiant Games, who also made Bastion, Transistor, and Pyre.
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Hades review - a roguelike to remember
How streaming revolutionised indies like Hades and Slay the Spire
Epic's first timed exclusives hit Steam
Roguelikes aren't exactly known for their linearity. Their procedurally generated nature makes for a different experience each time you boot one up, meaning you shouldn't expect a traditional story. That Supergiant Games would explore this genre for Hades when its previous three releases were somewhat more traditional was a bold choice. But after almost two years in early access, the studio has set a new precedent - both for itself and for roguelikes as a whole.
You play as Zagreus, the son of the eponymous god of the underworld who has grown so tired of his father that he decides to attempt the impossible: escape, wreaking havoc throughout hell as he goes. Inspired by Greek mythology, known Olympian figures such as Zeus, Aphrodite, and Poseidon provide aid to their nephew as you cut through dozens of enemies across Tartarus and beyond.
The core loop is simple: you begin at the very bottom and need to get all the way to the surface. It's an odyssey that will take you through four different regions, each containing several rooms, and as is customary in the genre, elements like layout, rewards, and enemy placement are ever changing. As straightforward as it sounds, it's far from an easy task, and you'll be sent back to dad by a lethal strike soon enough. That's when I witness the first of many moments that set Hades apart: hearing Zagreus say "you again?" as I stumble upon the enemy that had just killed him.
RELATED LINKS:
How streaming revolutionised indies like Hades and Slay the Spire
Epic's first timed exclusives hit Steam
The first Epic Games store exclusive, Hades, hits Steam in December