Hell Clock
" Relentless action RPG with smooth combat and unique setting but frustrating enemy health spikes "
Hell Clock Review
Hell Clock is a roguelike ARPG blending elements from games like Hades, Path of Exile, and Last Epoch, set against a unique Brazilian War of Canudos backdrop. Players praise its fast-paced, satisfying combat, smooth gameplay, and engaging build diversity, with many appreciating the game's fresh take on the genre and the emotional voice acting in Portuguese. The game offers a solid core experience with a decent amount of content, especially in the campaign, and has responsive developers actively engaging with community feedback.
However, the game suffers from significant pacing and balance issues, particularly in later acts where enemy health spikes dramatically, forcing repetitive grinding that some find tedious. The endgame system involving ascensions and meta progression is divisive, with many players frustrated by forced resets and limited build experimentation. Performance issues, lack of inventory management features, and limited skill variety further temper the experience. Overall, Hell Clock presents a strong foundation but feels unfinished and in need of polish and content expansion to fully realize its potential.
Highlights
Players highly praise Hell Clock's fluid and engaging combat mechanics, which combine ARPG and roguelike elements effectively. The build diversity and itemization system allows for creative character customization, appealing to fans of complex gameplay. The art style and voice acting, especially the Brazilian Portuguese localization, add emotional depth and uniqueness. Many appreciate the game's fresh setting and the developers' responsiveness to community feedback, enhancing the overall experience.
Criticisms
Common criticisms focus on the uneven difficulty curve and pacing, with sharp spikes in enemy health causing frustrating grinding loops. The endgame ascension system forces players to reset progress, which many find punishing and unrewarding, limiting build experimentation. Performance issues such as FPS drops and long loading times are noted, alongside a lack of quality-of-life features like inventory search and item filters. Additionally, the limited skill variety and repetitive level design diminish long-term engagement. Some players feel the game is unfinished and would benefit from further balancing and content updates.
Pros
- • Smooth and satisfying combat mechanics keep gameplay engaging and fun.
- • Build diversity allows for creative and varied playstyles.
- • Unique Brazilian War of Canudos setting adds fresh narrative flavor.
- • High-quality Portuguese voice acting enhances emotional immersion.
- • Developers actively engage and respond to community feedback.
- • Campaign offers a solid amount of content with a compelling story.
- • Game runs well on multiple platforms including Steam Deck.
Cons
- • Enemy health spikes cause frustrating and repetitive grinding loops.
- • Endgame ascension system punishes players with forced resets.
- • Limited skill variety restricts build experimentation and depth.
- • Performance issues include FPS drops and long loading times.
- • Inventory management lacks search and filtering features.
- • Repetitive level design and enemy behaviors reduce variety.
- • Some relic and item interactions feel shallow and uninspired.
Rating Criteria
Forge powerful builds with endless loot in this relentless combination of Roguelike and ARPG. Blast through dungeons and unleash inhuman powers in a dark fantasy twist on Brazil’s War of Canudos.