Hades’ masterpiece, Supergiant Games, is a popular game among roguelike fans and, for many, synonymous with the genre and the heights it can reach. For many, the requests for DLC or sequels pile up once the credits roll. For Supergiant, after delivering such a great game, the only question is where do they go from here? As it turns out, the answer is down.
I mean, literally, this time we’re not ascending Hades, but we’re descending from the forgotten fields of Erebus, back into the depths of the underworld, continuing role of the titan Kronos time the kingdom of Hades again launched a war against Mount Olympus.
The bloody, majestic and vicious House of Hades is gone, along with most of the characters we loved from the first game. Shameless Zagreus is currently MIA, leaving his sister Melinoë, the Dark Princess, in charge of taking down the Titans. Instead of rebellious young men like the first Hades, who disobeyed in pursuit of our mother but never betrayed our father, in Hades II we are forced into a war that threatens on Heaven itself the front line. It’s a huge change in terms of stakes, and in less capable hands it could have felt overwhelming.
Here’s a hint:
There is a disconnect between “Hades” and its sequel, but it always felt intentional. From the humble atmosphere of Camp Crossroads to new images of gods and goddesses preparing for war. As a longtime fan of the first game, I can’t help but feel a little nostalgic, longing for the quiet, joyous feel of the first game. Supergiant does a great job here, making new environments feel different without feeling alien. Like its predecessor, Hades II immediately transports you and immerses you in a strange, dangerous place that is still so beautiful and full of deep, interesting characters that you can’t help but want to spend time there.
Forgive me for documenting the narrative and setting, but this is the most important change in Hades II. When it comes to gameplay, Supergiant’s pure golden formula shines once again. The fast-paced combat, which revolves around slashing, slashing and running, is just as fluid and fun as it was in the original Hades. Your regular attacks, special abilities, and spells are all supported by numerous upgrades, most of which come from the gods of Olympus. Hestia, Selene, and Apollo are just some of the new faces this time around, known for their gorgeous new hand-drawn designs.
These bonuses and new weapons change Melinoe’s combat compared to Zagreus’ fighting style, but the biggest changes you’ll notice during combat are the more powerful special and regular attacks you use to get resources to help. As a witch and goddess, Melinoe has many skills, so her options are even more diverse. Melinoe’s spell isn’t just a projectile that sticks to enemies and then pops out, if you hold down the button she can trap enemies in a wide area of effect and then explode for great damage.
Here’s a hint:
There are a few other small tweaks, such as the fact that you can pick up silk armor, which gives you an extra boost to your health when needed, as well as giving you an extra effect for the duration of the armor. Outside of combat, Hades II ups the game in terms of resource gathering. Not only does Melinoe take your fishing rod with you to the depths of Hell every time, but you can also equip yourself with a pickaxe for my money (usually used for weapons ), a table that brings floating shadows back to camp (Provides upgrade resources ), a shovel for digging flowers, and of course, your trusty fishing rod.
In the Witch’s Cross in front of Hekate at the Crossroads, you can upgrade your camp, add extra resources to your quests, and advance the story using the resources you get from each item you prepare. The only catch is that you can only take out one item at a time, so if you find some money and only have your trusty shovel, you’re out of luck.
What I’m saying so far is that it’s hard for me to say whether Hades II offers more or less of a challenge than the first game. In a sense, it is more difficult. For example, you only get one Death Defiance (or two, if a type of Memento is equipped). Your health starts much lower, and the way to restore it is largely weakened by the looks of things. On the other hand, what Melinoe himself gets in the foundation feels a little better than what Zagreus does. The ability to trap enemies is very powerful and can easily get you out of trouble. It also feels like it takes more time to fill out your upgrade branches properly, because unlike the first game’s Lost Mirror, you can’t always go straight to the skill you want. Some cards are hidden until you upgrade nearby cards, and you’ll soon need to save ash from multiple runs just to upgrade one.
For an audio-visual experience, Hades II is a spectacular feast for the eyes and ears. The second area has a song that quickly finds its way into my regular listening playlist when it’s available, otherwise it’s the general music you hear while smashing enemies also mostly good. Their characters and designs are again full of personality. Some are exactly what I think Greek mythology is, and others go in a different direction but are still visually pleasing. Of course, few of these characters would exist without the excellent voice acting that Supergiant is known for at this point.
Hades II, unlike its predecessor, was released under incredible pressure even in Early Access. Four years after the release of the first game, where most people expected a very complete experience from the beginning, I have to say that Supergiant did an impressive job in launching a game still has a ways to go, but doesn’t feel like a disservice to the original. You will find that something is missing. Character portraits, for example, aren’t everything, but on the other hand, a lot of work has been done to bring in an experience that still exudes excellence.
What Melinoë was to Zagreus, Hades II is a worthy successor to the original game so far. The plot takes a big step forward, and while some may criticize the game’s formula for being largely similar to its predecessors, it’s best not to get away from it when you are a winner. Even though it’s not finished yet, Hades II is a great way to kill time.
