Developer: Rogue Factor
Publisher: Nacon
Platform: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch 2
Tested on: Switch 2
Hell is Us (Switch 2) – Review
We’re continuing our stint into the spooky season with the Switch 2 release of Hell is Us. Like Tormented Souls II, this one is a horror game that arrives on Nintendo’s hybrid handheld roughly a year after it did on other platforms, though that is where the similarities end. One of our fellow reviewers already took a look at the PS5 version of the same game last year and gave it a glowing recommendation. The question at hand isn’t whether or not Hell is Us is a good game then, but just how well it survives the jump to the Switch 2.
Story
Set in an alternate version of the 1990s, Hell is Us takes us to the fictional war-torn country of Hadea. The nation is gripped by a deeply destructive and dystopian civil war between the Palomists and Sadineans, whose decades of propaganda and hatred have led to horrific man-made atrocities, including mass lynchings, execution sites, and mutilated citizens. As if this human tragedy isn’t enough, a supernatural phenomenon known as the Calamity has unleashed ghoulish monochrome monsters called Hollow Walkers that terrorise citizens and soldiers alike. It’s against this backdrop that we meet Rémi, a former peacekeeper who deserted his post and returned to his homeland to search for his parents and uncover the truth behind the Calamity. The story is told through a series of flashbacks as Rémi is interrogated and forced to recount his experiences. As his journey progresses, the plot expands into a hunt for four Keystones representing volatile emotions, alongside a journalist named Tania, unlocking deep centuries-old lore about the region’s history, vaults of forbidden knowledge, and secret protectors.
Graphics
The art direction of Hell is Us blends a grounded, war-torn civil war aesthetic with surreal, mystical and supernatural horror. Environments feature branching paths, enclosed hubs, and maze-like dungeons. There is a surprising amount of different environments, ranging from swampy marshes to ancient ruins and underground laboratories. Characters and monster designs, particularly the skeletal, white Hollow Walkers, are generally detailed and impressive, though the game could have done with a bit more variety when it comes to enemy models. The Switch 2 port in particular does feel underoptimised. Character faces suffer from a slight uncanny valley appearance, and unflattering texture pop-in is common. Visual performance isn’t quite up to snuff either, with regular frame drops and slowdown.
Sound
When it comes to the soundscape, Hell is Us opts for a well-suited “less is more” approach. The soundtrack probably isn’t something that’ll make it to your playlist, but within the game’s bleak setting, the atmospheric music is appropriate. The game’s ambient sound design effectively enhances the grim, immersive atmosphere of Hadea’s war-torn zones, with combat sound effects providing strong audio feedback, giving genuine weight and impact to weapon attacks. Voice acting is a bit of a mixed bag, on the other hand. While many NPCs feature quality voice acting, our protagonist Rémi’s delivery is monotone. Combined with the weak dialogue, this makes his performance fall flat.
Gameplay
The main focus of Hell is Us’ gameplay is Soulslike-style combat, though the game also implements classic point-and-click adventure elements and Metroidvania-style exploration. A core pillar of the game is a deliberate lack of handholding. There are no mini-maps, quest markers or directional guides. You’ll have to rely on environmental observations, an in-game compass, and NPC dialogue to navigate the world. Exploring Hadea involves investigating side quests, known as Good Deeds, and solving environmental puzzles by piecing together clues from conversations, datapads, and historical texts. While this adds both realism and depth to how you experience your surroundings, the downside is that backtracking inevitably becomes tedious.
The main attraction is combat, of course, and Hell is Us certainly doesn’t disappoint in this regard. The foundation of combat will feel instantly familiar to Soulslike aficionados, with light and heavy attacks, blocks, parries, and a stamina system. Where the game starts to differentiate itself from other Soulslikes is through an aggressive health-regeneration mechanic, where timing your button presses after a combo lets you claw back health from landed hits. Additionally, you have access to a utility drone that acts as a distraction and can assist you in battle. In a way, this mirrors the game’s linked enemy system, where physical Hollow Walkers are shielded by tethered “Hazes” that must be defeated first. Like any good Soulslike, Hell is Us’ combat is brutally difficult, with boss fights relying on pattern recognition. Combat offers adjustable difficulty modes, though exploration difficulty cannot be adjusted.
Unfortunately, the Switch 2 port of Hell is Us isn’t entirely bug-free. During our time with the game, we experienced several instances where the game crashed to the home screen and there were also times where we got stuck in the environment, forcing a restart. Here’s hoping these will be patched out over time. Depending on how adept you are at solving puzzles and mastering the combat system, Hell is Us is going to eat up 19 to 25 hours of your time, which is on the short side for the game’s €59.99 RRP. The game’s branching paths offer some replay value, but we’re still going to recommend you wait for a sale for this one. At the time of writing, it’s discounted to €11.99 on the PlayStation Store and €14.99 on Steam, which is the ballpark we’d put this one in.
Conclusion
The Switch 2 port of Hell is Us offers a competent port, but it is far from the definitive version of the game. Visuals have been noticeably downgraded, but not to an extent that the game performs flawlessly on the system. If you can look past the rough edges of this specific port, then you’ll find a great Soulslike here, though you’re probably best off either waiting for a sale or picking it up on another platform.
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