Is Hell Is Us A Souls-Like? Not really, But There's Similarities

Hell is Us isn't a traditional Souls-like, but it borrows elements. Discover its 'midcore' combat, unique Lymbic Pulse healing, and optional punishing death mechanics.

Hey there! So, you're wondering if Hell is Us fits into that whole Souls-like category, right? It's a fair question, and the short answer is: not really, but there are definitely some familiar vibes.

The game's own creative director, Jonathan Jacques-Belletête, describes the combat as 'midcore'. Think of it as accessible action combat that's challenging but not unfairly punishing. You'll be blocking, parrying, and stringing together combos, but you won't be expected to perfectly parry every single enemy attack like in some other games. There's a forgiving roll dodge, blocking feels pretty solid, and the game even gives you a visual cue – a little effect – to help you identify which moves are actually parryable. That's a nice touch!

One of the coolest unique systems is the Lymbic Pulse. As you attack enemies, you'll build up a meter. Once it's full – you'll see a white halo around your character – you can use it to heal yourself up to a certain point. The catch? Getting hit cancels the buildup. This means learning to use the combat effectively is your primary way to heal mid-fight, which is a neat twist compared to constantly searching for medkits or relying on a traditional Souls-like healing item.

Now, for the stuff that really screams 'Souls-like' – well, you won't find it here in the core design. There are no Bonfires to rest at, and no Estus Flask equivalent. However, the game does have preset save points scattered around the map, which do give you that familiar feeling of finding a safe spot.

But, if you're really craving that classic Souls-like punishment, there's an option in the difficulty settings! You can actually turn on mechanics where dying means losing your accumulated XP, any shards you've collected, and enemies will respawn. So, if you want that nail-biting experience, you've got it.

Ultimately, while Hell is Us shares some DNA with the Souls-like genre, its main focus is on its deep combat system, but more importantly, on its core mechanics of exploration and investigation. It's a blend that aims to be challenging and engaging without necessarily adhering to every single Souls-like trope.