Summary
Whenever you return to Melinoe’s quarters inHades 2after an unsuccessful run, you are greeted by Dora, a mischievous shade who loves to act like she’s actually a super violent poltergeist instead of a listless sweetheart who loves a good prank. No matter how many times you fall in battle, she is there to greet the Princess of the Underworld on her return. You also have an adorable little froggy friend you can pet.
Supergiant’s long-awaited sequel is filled with comfortable hallmarks like this, most of which build on the original masterpiece in innovative ways. The hub world is once again filled with characters who offer new lines of dialogue as you progress, steadfast in their individual aims yet also willing to change as you draw closer and closer to your goal. Much like Zag, this is a place that matters to Melinoe, even if her life will soon force her to leave it behind.
I love howHades 2 is already addressing the lack of body diversity found in the first game. We now have fat, buff, slim, and so many other different body types. They’re all so gorgeous, too.
I tend to spend several minutes walking around before going after Chronos again, knowing that there are friends, merchants, and uneasy allies about the place who will vanish before reappearing in-between runs, often with new quests and observations to offer. It’s a loving sanctuary for our heroine, and one that, unlike Zagreus, she doesn’t want to escape.
A Welcoming Return Home
Melinoe has far more respect than Zagreus for her origins. The player is given an option to salute and greet spirits, shades, and other characters dotted around the place before chatting to them. Zagreus would acknowledge their existence, but often passed them by or failed to accept how his selfish desire to leave his home behind upset friends he’d had his entire life.
As his sister, Melinoe has a very different perspective on life, and this is clear in not just her words, but her body language and the way she treats the place she calls home.
Supergiant has made a deliberate effort to differentiate the vibe of this sequel from the first game, but it still feels warm and welcoming. I cracked a smile after a new rendition of the classic theme kicked in, melodic bass encouraging my curiosity as I creeped through the first set of rooms. I didn’t yet know what Melinoe’s actual goal was, but I was already on board.
When I summoned my first god to receive a new boon, their new design only served to make my grin even wider. They look familiar, but enough time has passed that they’re far more weathered, wearing the joys and hardships of their individual experiences on their own person. All of them are still incredibly hot too, which is a given because this is still Hades, after all.
While much will remain the same, I recommend interacting with every character and little thing you come across in Hades 2. Supergiant’s attention to detail is quite something.
The More Things Change, The More They Stay The Same
This familiarity carries over to the gameplay, but there are just enough new additions that it also feels transformative. Melinoe has far more spells and abilities at her disposal, and the boon system has also been expanded so you can mix and match different combos way more than before. Various currencies and gauges dictate how you use and upgrade spells, many of which I’m yet to figure out properly.
But I’m already working out strategies for certain foes, picking favourite gods I will always opt for on every run either to make use of their abilities or further stories I just know I’ll fall in love with. Melinoe reacts to the gods differently too. She is not trying to leave her life behind, but bring back two of the people who mean everything to her. Thus she isn’t viewing it with disdain, or lauding Olympus as a perfect paradise. Melinoe is level-headed, which sets her apart from Zagreus. And that matters.
Given this is only the technical test, and early access is on the horizon, Hades 2 is only set to evolve further from here. Characters will receive more dialogue, the narrative will keep on progressing, and the comforting warmth I’m responding to right now could give way to something much more ambitious. There is no way to know right now, and that’s so exciting.
I’ll have to delve deeper into the hub world soon with its own article, but Hades 2 is already making me feel right at home, like I’m meeting up with an old friend after years apart but we haven’t missed a beat. While appreciating everything I love about them, I’m also noticing small improvements they’ve made to be daring, different, and better than they’ve ever been.
Hades 2
WHERE TO PLAY
Hades 2 is the sequel to Supergiant Games' smash-hit roguelike dungeon crawler. This time you’ll play as Melinoë, Princess of the Underworld and Zagreus' sister, as she takes on the forces of the Titan of Time.
