The trailer announcement for Hell is Us has gotten a lot of attention, appearing to be the next AAA title in the soulslike subgenre. However, some have noted that it looks very similar to the world of Hideo Kojima's Death Stranding, hinting at a more in-depth attempt to change up the soulslike formula.
Developer Rogue Factor and publisher Nacon seem to have taken some inspiration from Death Stranding's already immersive atmosphere when designing Hell is Us. Recurring themes, eerie visuals, and similar enemy concepts are just a few things hinting at the stylistic genre shift in the teaser trailer for Hell is Us, which is a strong creative foundation for a brand new soulslike theme.
Immersion is Key for the Hell is Us Trailer
Hell is Us seems to be employing "less is more" when presenting story and gameplay concepts, much like the cryptic dialogue and imagery in the Death Stranding trailers. As an example, the theme of revenge is told over visuals of mass graves, with 50% of bodies being white husks appearing before a hooded protagonist with a robotic backpack companion. Otherworldly beings evoke similar designs to the BT enemies seen throughout Death Stranding, particularly the white variations that frequently attempt to grab the protagonist, Sam, during conflict.
While Death Stranding isn't a game for everyone, the creative vision helmed by director Hideo Kojima pushed gaming boundaries by attempting to do things differently. The traditional open-world formula was rewritten by making the terrain a conceptual obstacle in itself, along with the updated gameplay tools added to the Director's Cut release. Hell is Us also looks to take a sizable departure from the usual tropes borrowed of the Souls games, being set in the 1990s as opposed to an alternate steampunk/historical setting.
Hell is Us also straddles the line between 1990s Cold War realism and supernatural creatures plaguing the world, which serves as a parallel to the unity in Death Stranding. The focus on "instinctive" exploration in Hell is Us is also being tackled with a wide range of weaponry to take on supernatural beings. The glowing energy sword hints at more soulslike combat elements, with the dramatic shot of an amorphous creature lurking nearby ready for an intense battle.
A Death Stranding and Soulslike Hybrid
To set it apart from typical soulslike visuals, Hell is Us proudly declares its lack of map, compass, and quest markers, instead focusing on a captivating natural setting with non-linear storytelling, tailored for exploration. This contrasts heavily to Death Stranding's more expansive and quiet overworld, which utilizes a more paced story spread between hours of wandering the lonely wilderness, but means enemy encounters are more infrequent than other open-world games. Hell is Us already looks to understand this necessary balance; having a limited interface combined with a sparse overworld means players will need to rely on punctuated story beats.
Death Stranding's goal of rebuilding America turns monotonous walking into an immersive experience, attempting to be more original with immersive gameplay elements to help push ideas about loneliness. The versatility of Hell is Us implies a varied weapon arsenal, depending on whether the player prefers stealth-based gameplay or action. With a minimalist HUD and Death Stranding-esque environment, Hell is Us looks likely to catch players off guard with sudden tense battles and becoming a memorable gameplay encounter.
Additionally, the long line of soulslike releases are sometimes considered easier than the difficult Dark Souls series proper, so anything that restricts gamers to a more difficult experience needs to promote a strong replay value. This demonstrates the gameplay is not just functional, but also intricate and suitable for the soulslike vibes Nacon are attempting to emulate, without an over-reliance on difficulty.
While little has been told about Hell is Us, the mystique and awe generated in the trailer looks to be the best of soulslike games sprawled out over Death Stranding's immersive landscape. By following Death Stranding's potential trend of unconventional gaming features, Hell is Us can garner lots of attention from eager soulslike fans. If Nacon makes good on concepts promised in the trailer, such as the political undertones and realistic superpowers, Hell is Us will definitely stand out on release.
Hell Is Us is currently in development, with a 2023 release window.
