After a two-year absence, Hell is Us made a surprise appearance during Sony’s State of Play event, surprising everyone. The game, directed by Jonathan Jacques-Belletete, art director of Deus Ex: Human Revolution, was initially presented in 2022, with a planned release for 2023. However, the project remained silent during that time due to its ambitious but low-budget game concept, and now, with a new target release for 2025, it has returned with a stunning gameplay trailer.
At one point during the PlayStation event, many of us thought that what we were seeing, due to its strange images, was an action RPG from the creators of Remnant, perfect now that its second installment has met its content goal. However, Hell is Us is something different and ambitious. The new game by Jacques-Belletete is presented as a mix of horror and third-person action RPG, set in a near future that has been devastated by a civil war and a mysterious supernatural calamity.
In this post-apocalyptic universe, players will have to face supernatural creatures that cannot be harmed with conventional weapons. The key to survival will be a drone that accompanies the protagonist and an ancient sword, the only resource to fight against these entities. “The central theme of Hell is Us is that human violence is a perpetual cycle fueled by human emotions and passions,” quotes Jonathan Jacques-Belletete to explain what his project is about.
An RPG where you will be “alone” in this world
What sets Hell is Us apart from other similar titles is its focus on free exploration and the elimination of traditional aids in modern video games. There will be no map, compass, or mission markers. According to Jacques-Belletete, the intention is for players to “follow their instincts” and discover the world for themselves. This decision seeks to offer a more immersive gaming experience, where each discovery is the result of the player’s cognitive effort and curiosity.
The game design is not only based on the elimination of visual aids, but also requires active player participation to solve mysteries and advance the story. Instead of relying on obvious clues or constant reminders, Hell is Us will challenge players to explore, analyze and creatively solve problems. This approach, as its creator adds, is inspired by games from the 90s, when players had to find their own solutions without external guides, as explained by the project director.
Although there is still a long way to go until its release in 2025, Hell is Us promises to be a unique experience that will challenge a crowded market of action RPGs. Either way, anticipation is high, and players will have to wait to see if the title manages to fulfill its lofty ambitions.
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