Hades, Supergiant Games’ magnum opus, is a game so loved by fans of roguelikes that for many it is synonymous with the genre and the heights it can reach. The demands for DLC or a sequel pile up as soon as the scrolling text is over for many. The only question for Supergiant, after delivering such a massive game, was where do they go from here? It turns out the answer is down.
I mean that literally, because instead of climbing up and out of Hades, this time we fight our way from the forgotten fields of Erebus all the way down and back to the depths of the underworld, where we follow the Time Titan Chronos as he takes on Hades’ kingdom and makes war on Olympus again.
Gone is the gory, grand, and oddly inviting Hades house, along with most of the characters we held dear from the first game. The cheeky hunk Zagreus is currently missing, so it’s up to his sister, the dark princess Melinoë, to bring down the titan. Instead of acting like the rebellious youth we were in the first Hades, where we disobeyed but never really betrayed our father in pursuit of our mother, in Hades II we are thrust into the front lines of a war that threatens Heaven itself. It’s a massive change from what’s at stake, and in less skilled hands it could have felt incredibly jarring.
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There is a separation between Hades and the sequel, but it feels intentional all the time. From the simple atmosphere of your camp at the crossroads to the new depictions of the gods and goddesses as they prepare for war. As a long-time fan of the first game, I couldn’t help but feel a little discouraged, longing for the peaceful, jovial atmosphere of the first game. Supergiant has done a good job of making the new setting feel different without it feeling alien. Like its predecessor, Hades II instantly transports you to and immerses you in a strange, dangerous place, yet so beautiful and full of deep, interesting characters that you can’t help but want to spend time there.
Forgive me for talking so much about the narrative and the setting, but this is where the most notable changes are in Hades II. Gameplay-wise, Supergiant’s solid gold formula shines once again. Fast-paced combat involving hacking, slashing and dashing is just as fluid and fun to play as in the original Hades. Your regular attacks, special attacks and throws can all be enhanced with various upgrades, the vast majority of which come from the gods up on Mount Olympus. Hestia, Selene and Apollo are just a few of the new faces making their mark this time around, complete with new and gorgeous hand-drawn designs.
These new boons and the new weapons you can use give Melinoë’s fighting style a boost over Zagreus’ fighting styles, but the biggest change you’ll notice in combat is a secondary resource that you can use for stronger special attacks and normal attack. As both witch and goddess, Melinoë has many tricks up her sleeve, and thus her options are a bit more varied. Instead of her throw being just a projectile that pokes in and then bounces out of enemies, Melinoë can trap enemies in a large area of effect before blasting them for massive damage if you hold down the button.
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There are also some other, smaller adjustments, such as silk armor you can pick up, which gives your health an extra boost when needed, as well as an extra effect for the duration of the armor. Outside of combat, Hades II has stepped up in terms of resource gathering. Instead of just going out with the fishing rod into the depths of hell every time, Melinoë can equip herself with a pickaxe to mine silver (which is often used for weapons), a tablet that can bring stray shadows back to camp (which gives an upgrade resource) , a spade to dig for flowers, and of course the trusty fishing rod too.
At the large witch’s cauldron in front of Hekate at the crossroads, you can upgrade your camp, adding extra resources along the way and progressing the story using the resources you pick up with each item you equip. The only problem is that you’re only allowed to take one item with you per turn, so if you spot silver and only have your trusty shovel with you, you’re out of luck.
So far I have a hard time saying if Hades II offers more or less of a challenge than the first game. In some ways it is more difficult. For example, you only get one Death Defiance (or two, if you equip a certain memento). Your health is much lower at the start, and it seems that your chances of recovering it have been greatly reduced. On the other hand, Melinoë herself feels a bit stronger than Zagreus in what she gets in her basic set. The ability to trap enemies is very strong, and can get you out of tight spots quite easily. It also feels like it’s going to take more time to fill out your upgrade branches, because unlike in Mirror of Loss from the first game, you can’t always go straight to the skill you want. Some are hidden until you upgrade the adjacent cards, and you’ll soon find yourself saving up ashes from multiple races just for one upgrade.
As for the audio and visual experience, Hades II is an incredible feast for the eyes and ears. There’s a song in the second zone that’s quickly going to be on my regular playlist when it becomes available, and otherwise the general music you hear while smashing through enemies is pretty great as well. The characters and their designs are once again packed with personality. Some are exactly how I imagined their Greek mythic counterpart, while others have gone in a different but still visually appealing direction. And of course these characters would be little without the amazing voice acting Supergiant is known for at this point.
Hades III unlike its predecessor, Supergiant has an incredible amount of pressure at launch, even in early access. Four years after the first game was released, most people are hoping for a fairly complete experience right out of the gate, and I have to say that Supergiant has done an impressive job of putting out a game that still has some way to go, but which in no way feels like a disservice to the original. There are certain things you will find missing. Character portraits, for example, are not all there, but on the other hand, a great deal of work has been done to create an experience that still exudes excellence.
As Melinoë is to Zagreus, Hades II is a worthy successor to the original game so far. The action has taken huge leaps forward, and while some may criticize the gameplay formula for being largely similar to what came before, it’s perhaps best not to deviate from it when you’re on the trail of a winner. Although not yet finished, Hades II is an excellent way to pass the time.
