Hell is Us just finished hosting a limited-time demo, giving curious gamers a sneak peek of what to expect when the game fully launches in just a few months. The world of Hell is Us is promising a dark and gloomy story filled with action and exploration, and some of its gameplay definitely feels reminiscent of the Soulslike genre.
Of course, it’s important to note that Hell is Us isn’t inherently a Soulslike game. Although there are some similarities shared, Hell is Us is aiming to stand on its own as an action adventure experience. However, there is one particular mechanic confirmed for Hell is Us that feels like it was directly inspired by Bloodborne, and that’s the game’s health surge that happens during combat.
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Hell is Us Reveals PC System Requirements
With a few months remaining for launch, Hell is Us shares the PC specifications players will need to run the game on their preferred preset.
Hell is Us’ Healing Pulse May Prove to Be an Exciting Mechanic for Fans of Bloodborne’s Rally System
What is Bloodborne’s Rally?
For those who haven’t played Bloodborne, the rally mechanic slightly boosts a player’s health without the use of buffs or consumables. Once hit, players can damage enemies and regain a little bit of health back in return. Even if the enemy has been defeated, players can still manage to get in a few swipes seconds after their death and still get some extra juice added to their character’s health bar. Bloodborne stands out in the Soulslike genre for a variety of reasons, but especially when it comes to its more fast-paced combat.
Rally is by no means a replacement for restoring health with consumables, but it encourages more aggressive combat encounters. Bloodborne‘s rally incentivizes going head-to-head with enemies instead of being overly cautious, and it can make combat a real thrill for players who prefer aggression to playing it safe. This mechanic has already inspired other Soulslikes that aren’t made by FromSoftware. Lies of P has its own unique take on the rally system, and Hell is Us seems to have also seen the benefit in including such a mechanic.
Hell is Us‘ story takes place in the middle of a civil war, while the people of Earth are also dealing with the appearance of supernatural monsters.
Hell is Us’ Healing Pulse Requires Good Timing
When landing multiple hits on an enemy, players will begin to see clusters of particles form around protagonist Remi. A well-timed button press will use these particles to heal. This isn’t a full-proof system, though. If Remi is hit by an enemy or the timing is off, this health surge doesn’t work, leaving one’s efforts without reward. Hell is Us‘ gameplay aims to put a fresh, inventive spin on a lot of staple action adventure mechanics, and the Healing Pulse definitely seems to be an intriguing rework of systems like Bloodborne‘s rally.
Hell is Us features no map, quest markers, or compass, putting challenging exploration front and center.
The Wait for Hell is Us is Almost Over
- Hell is Us is slated to launch on September 1.
- The game will be available for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
There are only a few more months left until Hell is Us will be able to be experienced in full. Hell is Us seems to have many inspirations, and this eclectic blend could help set the game apart in a year that is packed with major releases. There are aspects that are reminiscent of Death Stranding, Control, and, of course, Soulslike games, which promise an interesting crossover, gameplay-wise.
Only time will tell if Hell is Us shakes up the year’s gaming landscape, but after the recent demo, it’s definitely intriguing. The game’s sci-fi-heavy apocalyptic world looks beautifully bleak, so Hell is Us can hopefully stick the landing once it launches in the fall.
Hell Is Us
- Released
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September 4, 2025
- ESRB
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Mature 17+ // Blood, Intense Violence, Partial Nudity, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Use of Drugs
- Developer(s)
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Rogue Factor
- Engine
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Unreal Engine 5
- Number of Players
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Single-player
- Steam Deck Compatibility
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Unknown