Now that it's available on PlayStation and Xbox consoles, hack 'n' slash roguelike Hades has seen a second wind of popularity as all those who were unable to play it before are giving it a try. The title received countless Game of the Year nominations and awards in 2020 and now that it's available on all consoles, plenty of people are now trying their hands at escaping the lord of the dead, Hades himself.
When starting up a new save file in Hades, players have the option to turn on "Hell Mode" which has left many newcomers scratching their heads as the similarly named "God Mode" received plenty of praise when the game first launched on PC and Switch. Some fans may be confusing the two and as a result, having a much more challenging time with the game.
Hades' Hell Mode Explained
As it says right at the start of the game when players decide which save slot to use, Hell Mode is not for the faint of heart, and Hades veterans are more likely to get enjoyment out of it rather than newcomers. It's important to note that when a save file is started with Hell Mode enabled, it cannot be disabled, so those who started a game with it and want to turn it off, simply need to start a new game in a different file.
At its core, Hell Mode exists to make Hades harder by requiring the Pact of Punishment to be used right at the start of the game instead of after the player has completed their first run. The Pact of Punishment requires Zagreus to chose from a variety of different conditions that make each run harder in exchange for better loot. With Hell Mode enabled, the Heat level, which translates to difficulty, is expanded from 20 to 25 as 5 heat is required during all runs in with Hell Mode enabled. As the text when choosing a save file says, Hell Mode disables the ability for players to turn on God Mode which gradually makes things easier with each subsequent run.
Is Hell Mode Worth It?
It's hard to say if Hell Mode is "worth it" as the parameters of something being "worth it" are different for each player and what they're desiring to get out of Hades as an experience. Hell Mode will certainly make the game more challenging which may be appealing to those who like harder games, but it might be a little too challenging for those without any hack 'n' slash experience. For those who can't make up their minds, Hades is a run-based game with good stopping points, so it might not be a bad idea to try it out for a few runs and decide if it's too hard after experiencing how punishing the game can be with the mode enabled. If it is, simply start a new save file without Hell Mode turned on.
Hades is available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S.