Hellmode ~A Hardcore Gamer Becomes Peerless in Another World with Retro Game Settings~

Kenichi Yamada was a 35-year-old salaryman. As a hardcore game enthusiast, he was saddened by the modern trend towards casual games. So, when a site claimed to be “for people who like to do things the hard way,” he just couldn’t resist. Thus, he was reincarnated into another world as Allen, playing on Hell Mode. This is fantasy light novel about Allen’s journey as a summoner. Reincarnated as a serf, he starts from nothing. His journey begins with absolutely no knowledge of the world around him, just like those games he played 10, 20 years ago.

Original Publisher

earth star novel

English Publisher

j-novel club

Original Language

japanese

Type

Web Novel

## My Thoughts on Hellmode ~A Hardcore Gamer Becomes Peerless in Another World with Retro Game Settings~ I jumped into *Hellmode* expecting a brutal, edge-of-my-seat experience, given the title. What I found was… something else entirely. While it wasn't the adrenaline-pumping thrill ride I anticipated, there are elements to appreciate, even if the overall experience is a bit of a mixed bag. ### First Impressions Initially, I was intrigued by the concept: a hardcore gamer reincarnated into a world where everything is cranked up to "hell" difficulty. The premise of someone having to grind significantly harder than everyone else to achieve the same results had promise. I was ready for a story of perseverance against overwhelming odds. The early chapters set the stage well enough. ### What Works Well The world-building is surprisingly detailed. The story explores continents for humans, dwarves, elfs, demi-humans, and mermaids and gives each its own culture. The strategic choices made by the main character, Allen, also add a layer of depth. Unlike some isekai protagonists, he's not an edgy teenager seeking world domination, but rather a reasonably minded individual. The summoner class that Allen uses also has a lot of utilities and makes fighting interesting. ### Areas of Concern However, the pacing is glacial. The initial promise of "speedrun" is misleading. Instead, expect a very slow burn, with large time skips that make it hard to connect with characters outside of Allen. I found the focus on grinding levels and skills repetitive, even with the occasional war arc to break things up. The main character's single-minded focus on grinding, sometimes at the expense of relationships, can also be a turn-off. The "hell mode" difficulty doesn't feel as impactful as it should. It mostly translates to needing excessive grinding for the same results, which some might find boring. ### ⚠️ Spoiler Warning Some readers have pointed out that the war arc, in particular, suffers from plot holes and a lack of logistical detail. The demon side story is also underdeveloped, with the villains being cardboard cutouts. The power levels of the living beings make no sense. ### Final Verdict *Hellmode* is a decent time-waster if you're looking for a generic "game" slice-of-life novel and have the patience for a slow-burn story with a heavy emphasis on grinding. However, if you're expecting a truly challenging and engaging "hell mode" experience, you might be disappointed. It's not terrible, but it's not particularly unique or memorable either. I'd recommend it with reservations, primarily for readers who enjoy slow-paced progression and don't mind repetitive gameplay elements.