1Upsmanship 1Upsmanship: Hades (Feat. Kevin Anderson)
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Jun 1, 2022 Kevin Anderson joins Michael and Adam to discuss the indie game Hades, exploring rogue-likes, game loops, and player satisfaction. They dive into weapon choices, strategic gameplay, and the unexpected narrative depth of Hades. The conversation also touches on completing a game, game design craftsmanship, and managing Nintendo Switch storage space.
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Story + Loop Reduces Roguelike Fatigue
- Hades blends fast-paced roguelike loops with a long, evolving narrative to reduce grind fatigue and increase emotional engagement.
- Supergiant uses story progression between runs to make repeated play feel meaningful rather than empty repetition.
Play Roguelikes With Meta-Progression
- If you dislike hardcore permadeath, play a roguelike with meta-progression to avoid feeling like runs are pointless.
- Choose games that slowly increase baseline power so failed runs still feel valuable.
Short Bursts Turned Into Dozens Of Runs
- Kevin Anderson played Hades in short work-from-home bursts and kept returning, hitting roughly 75–80 runs.
- He beat the credits yet still picked it up for more runs on Switch.