Hell is Us: A Dance with Darkness and Drones

When exploration meets existential dread

Launch Day Larry

In the shadowy corridors of “Hell is Us,” players are invited to embark on a journey that feels like a fever dream concocted by a team of horror aficionados and RPG enthusiasts. This game is a cocktail of atmospheric storytelling, exploration, and combat that will have you questioning your sanity—and your controller settings.

Gameplay: A Symphony of Story and Strategy

“Hell is Us” is a game that wears its narrative heart on its sleeve, drawing players into a world where exploration is both a joy and a challenge. The gameplay is a rich tapestry of storytelling and atmospheric immersion, with combat serving as a well-crafted, albeit secondary, element. The game is designed to pull you into its world, encouraging you to explore its mysteries and lore.

The controls, however, might make you feel like you’re piloting a shopping cart on a bumpy road. Optimized for controllers, the game requires mouse and keyboard users to perform a digital dance of settings adjustments to achieve a smoother experience. Character movement can feel stiff and overly sensitive, but for those willing to tweak and persevere, the reward is a deeply engaging exploration experience.

Combat, while not the main focus, is a delightful nod to souls-like mechanics, requiring patience and strategic thinking. The variety of weapons and the ability to upgrade and customize them add depth, though the combat camera sometimes seems to have a mind of its own, especially during kill streak animations. The inclusion of a drone in combat adds a tactical layer, making you feel like a futuristic knight with a robotic squire.

Exploration is where “Hell is Us” truly shines, offering a Stalker-like scenario with elements reminiscent of Zelda. The world is designed to be explored without hand-holding, lacking a dedicated map and requiring players to take manual notes. This design choice adds to the immersion and mystery, though it might leave some players feeling like they’re navigating a maze without a breadcrumb trail.

Graphics: A Visual Feast with a Side of GPU Burn

The graphics in “Hell is Us” are nothing short of stunning, earning accolades for their quality and contribution to the overall experience. The environments are beautifully crafted, with stylish character designs that make you want to pause and admire the scenery—assuming your hardware can handle the load. The game is demanding on systems, with high GPU usage noted by players, but the ability to tweak settings like NVIDIA DLSS helps mitigate performance issues.

Despite some minor criticisms, such as AI-generated visuals in in-game paintings and lip-sync issues in cutscenes, the graphics are consistently described as beautiful and integral to the immersive experience. The dark and gritty world design enhances the storytelling, drawing favorable comparisons to AAA titles.

Story: A Dystopian Dreamscape

The narrative of “Hell is Us” is a compelling and original tale set in a modern dystopian world amidst a war. The game crafts a unique universe filled with its own religions, lore, and fantasy elements, creating a suspenseful and thriller-like experience akin to early Silent Hill games. The story challenges players to engage critically, piecing together the narrative through environmental cues, logs, and letters.

While the storytelling approach is polarizing, with some players finding it disorienting, the depth and originality of the narrative are undeniable. The excellent voice acting and world-building elevate the experience, though the lack of NPC guidance and quest markers may leave some players feeling like they’re wandering through a foggy dreamscape.

The atmosphere is frequently compared to Silent Hill, with a grim tone that effectively sets the mood. The world design is highly detailed, with beautiful environments and stylish character designs contributing to the immersive storytelling. Audio elements, including a stunning soundtrack and audio logs, further enhance the narrative experience.

Final Verdict

“Hell is Us” is a game that will appeal to hardcore fans of the genre who appreciate challenging combat, atmospheric settings, and exploration without hand-holding. While the controls and performance issues are noted drawbacks, the game’s strengths in atmosphere, storytelling, and combat mechanics make it a solid choice for the target audience. Despite some design choices that may frustrate completionists, the game offers a promising narrative and immersive experience.

Score: 8.3/10