Summary
Hades, a game that many consider to be Supergiant Games’s magnum opus, is set to get a sequel (in early access) sometime next year. Ahead of the release of the nextHadesgame will be the launch ofCall of Sentinels, an indie title that looks to share more than a few similarities with the now-iconic Grecian roguelike.
Despite dropping in the midst of a roguelike boom,Hadesmanaged to differentiate itself from its competition in a number of ways.Hadeshas a unique progression system, one that rewards sticking with the game and completing multiple runs, thus keeping the experience from being frustrating; there’s a great deal of engaging, well-written narrative content in the game, with a story that manages to balance epic godly conflicts with intimate, human moments; although there are only six weapons in the game, the combat is intense, satisfying, and complex in all the right ways. These are only a handful of the elements that makeHadesspecial. Needless to say, it’s a game that is sure to inspire roguelikes for years to come, while also being one that’s hard to live up to.
How Call of Sentinels Is Like Hades
The otherworldly,mythological world ofHadesis presented in a striking, hand-animated art style, which is one of the game’s biggest strengths. One look atCall of Sentinelsmakes it clear that its developer, A17 Games, is fond of this approach to graphics, as the game features crisp 2D visuals and stylish character designs that would fit in nicely with something from Supergiant Games.
Looking beyond the aesthetic parallels,Call of Sentinelsshares several gameplay similarities withHadesas well. Per the game’s own marketing, it’s a roguelike, ostensibly trying to capture the sense of satisfying repetition that games likeHadesmanage to make enjoyable. The game looks to be adopting a similar in-run progression system as well, with players regularly being faced with a choice between three separate upgrades. Basic game structure is another area whereCall of Sentinelslooks to be taking some cues fromHades, with runs having a focus on arena battles packed with enemies and peppered with dialog-focused NPC interactions.
Call of Sentinels Should Be More than a Hades Clone
At first glance,Call of Sentinelsmight seem to be taking a little too much fromHades. The visuals of both games are remarkably similar, down to small details like the upgrade select screen and the way that dialog is presented alongside a detailed model of the speaking character. Several elements of the combat appear very familiar as well, and whileCall of Sentinelsisn’t explicitly based on Greek myth, it seems to draw at least some inspiration from it, with the character models and environmental designs being reminiscent of typical Greek archetypes and styles. Even the name of the in-game kingdom, Hevalos, sounds like a Greek proper noun.
With all that said, there’s a good chance thatCall of Sentinelswill set itself apart fromHadesin key areas. For one thing, the game will have a multiplayer component and alternate game modes, huge features that weren’t included inHades;the moment-to-moment gameplay, while undeniably similar toHades, differentiates itself by featuring unique objectives, greater enemy density, the ability to swap between weapons on the fly, and more; and, while no cast of characters could capture the singular charm of the villains andheroes ofHades, the fact thatCall of Sentinelsis unbound by Greek myth could work in its favor, allowing for a more unique cast and narrative.Hadesis a one-of-a-kind game, so hopefullyCall of Sentinelscan recapture at least some of its magic.
Hades
WHERE TO PLAY
Defy the god of the dead as you hack and slash out of the Underworld in this rogue-like dungeon crawler from the creators of Bastion, Transistor, and Pyre.BATTLE OUT OF HELLAs the immortal Prince of the Underworld, you’ll wield the powers and mythic weapons of Olympus to break free from the clutches of the god of the dead himself, while growing stronger and unraveling more of the story with each unique escape attempt.UNLEASH THE FURY OF OLYMPUSThe Olympians have your back! Meet Zeus, Athena, Poseidon, and many more, and choose from their dozens of powerful Boons that enhance your abilities. There are thousands of viable character builds to discover as you go.BEFRIEND GODS, GHOSTS, AND MONSTERSA fully-voiced cast of colorful, larger-than-life characters is waiting to meet you! Grow your relationships with them, and experience thousands of unique story events as you learn about what’s really at stake for this big, dysfunctional family.BUILT FOR REPLAYABILITYNew surprises await each time you delve into the ever-shifting Underworld, whose guardian bosses will remember you. Use the powerful Mirror of Night to grow permanently stronger, and give yourself a leg up the next time you run away from home.NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLEPermanent upgrades mean you don’t have to be a god yourself to experience the exciting combat and gripping story. Though, if you happen to be one, crank up the challenge and get ready for some white-knuckle action that will put your well-practiced skills to the test.SIGNATURE SUPERGIANT STYLEThe rich, atmospheric presentation and unique melding of gameplay and narrative that’s been core to Supergiant’s games is here in full force: spectacular hand-painted environments and a blood-pumping original score bring the Underworld to life.
