Hellscreen exits Steam early access two episodes short of plan

Hellscreen has left Steam early access two episodes short of its original plan, but its standout mechanic — a built-in rear-view mirror — still defines the experience. Reviewer Ted Litchfield wrote three years ago: "You have a mini, lower-res screen in the upper quadrant of your view at all times, and can blow it up and shrink it back down with the shift key.

Left click fires forward, while right click fires backwards and does quadruple damage while you're in motion." The game showed strong promise at launch, then fell quiet; Hellscreen's last Steam update appeared more than two years ago. What remains of the title, however, bristles with inventive ideas and unusual combat encounters.

The rearview mirror reveals hidden enemies and messages, forcing players to watch what’s happening behind them. Progress combines light metroidvania-style exploration with collecting Soul Orbs, which can be plugged into portals in a central hub world.

hellscreen, steam, early access, rearview mirror, ted litchfield, soul orbs, metroidvania, hub world, portals, combat encounters