Just like the first game, Hades 2 was launched for the first time in early access, allowing the developer Supergiant Games to fine-tune and delicately balance the gameplay, as well as add new content before its full release. However, Hades 2 looks like a complete product at the moment. With satisfying actions that have much more depth than her predecessor has ever managed, she raises the question: What still needs to be refined? It is also significantly larger than the first game, with more areas to explore, different routes and a much larger story to tell. If it weren’t for the (currently) not found ending and a few placeholders here and there, Hades 2 could already be categorically declared as the brilliant successor to one of the greatest Rougelites. Hades 2 improves on its predecessor in all respects, making it a masterfully designed sequel.
Instead of playing as Zagreus again, you play as his sister Melinoe, who was born after the events of the first game. His family was lost in the underworld after the Titan Chronos usurped the throne and took control of the domain of Hades. Melinoe, saved from the not known fate of her family, was raised to achieve a simple goal: expired for Chronos. With the help of his mentor, fellow Titan Hecate, and a cast of new and recurring gods, shadows, and everyone in in the middle of, Hades 2 launches from the start with a story that will take place in the middle of races.With all its improvements, Hades 2 doesn’t look or feel that different at first. Melinoe moves with the same speed and grace as his brother, although with some minor modifications. Unlike Zagreus, Melinoe is much less happy with a longer cooldown in the middle of each of his evasive speed strikes, which are difficult to get used to at first. This is offset by a greater emphasis on maintaining speed through sprinting, which you activate by holding down the Dash catch right after execution. This Sprint offers the same level of damage avoidance, but also transafters into additional rude options. And some enemies are specifically designed to punish confidence for falling just to encourage a change in mindset. This Sprint can also be enhanced in the same way as your standard actions with blessings, allowing your Sprint to surprise opponents with the lighting of Zeus or to repel entire groups of them with the powerful waves of Poseidon. This tangible change is a taste of how Hades 2 evolves a strong and established formula by making small, sometimes experimental changes that have a profound impact on the way you approach the Gameplay.
Nowhere is this more evident than in the extension of Melinoe’s rude repertoire. She retains the three options that her brother had with Standard, special and magic actions; standard and special actions are determined by his weapon choices before the races. It’s already deliciously varied, with the beginner witch staff offering a good balance in the middle of safe strikes from a distance, while others, such as the sister Blades, require a bolder approach because their limited range forces you to really face the enemies before getting to safety. Melinoe’s casting is also much more involved than Zagreus’s clumsy red diamond projectile. In accordance with her abilities as a witch, Melinoe can take down a circular ring that traps enemies inside for a short time, making her an effective option for crowd control at her standard level. However, the blessings of the gods can radically evolve it, allowing you to transform The defensive sling into a more rude area of effect that will decimate large groups of enemies or inflict harmful curses on them. These can also be combined with other blessings you have to upgrade your standard weapons to create a deadly mix of abilities. in the middle of the five weapons currently available and this new Standard Casting ability, Hades II already allows you to radically differentiate your guns depending on the equipment you choose before launch.
Where weapons were the only differentiator of action in Hades, its continuation is based on a completely new system to be considered as well. A brand new Omega action is available for Melinoe, available in addition to her three action abilities to further delve into the complexity of the entire action system. These are powerful abilities that differ from weapon to weapon and usually require a short window of time to channel them before releasing them. They are also very varied; the witch staff allows you to fire a wave of damage in front of and behind you when you channel her default action, while the sister blades instead give you the ability to teleport to a distant enemy when you perform an Omega action by pressing the same catch. Each of these Omega abilities is powered by Magic, a new Resource that you must manage carefully to get the most out of your build. The Magic is replenished in the middle of each room you travel in, so you are encouraged to maximize its use for the upcoming action rather than forcing yourself to give up a Boss after. Omega actions can be triggered frequently, and the new blessing abilities feel more and more powerful as you also exploit the Resource. Magic has a strong influence on the way Hades 2 unfolds, radically changing the way the game plays and feels, which makes its predecessor quite simple in comparison.
Melinoe offers an additional variety of action thanks to all the gifts she received from the various gods of Olympus. There are familiar faces like Aphrodite and Hermes, but also completely new ones. Hestia, for example, offers her flame damage blessings to introduce damage strategies over time into Melinoe’s repertoire, while Hera’s tricky hitch curse allows you to deal damage to those you have already scored at the same time. Each blessing gives you certain elemental abilities to play with, so you can create a combination that plays on everyone’s strengths to get the most out of a race. With more blessings in the mix, as well as more ways to take advantage of existing themes through the multitude of new rude options, the versions of Hades 2 have greater depth, which makes each race viable and exciting. It is quite possible to have a race where the randomness of the blessings leads to a doomed enterprise, but due to its extensive action options and ways to improve them, I am convinced that this happens much less than in the first game.
This additional action depth is kept fun thanks to a completely new List of enemies you have to action with, many of which require a quick understanding of the new action opportunities available to you and how best to use them. Simple, slow-moving beasts may be commonplace in the first experiences of a race, but they are quickly replaced by seemingly endless waves of deadly small swimming fish or heavily armored soldiers who need quick reflexes to stay out of their long-range close action. However, the Boss experiences are the real highlights, ranging from an interesting list of intermediate bosses that you will experience frequently to the breathtaking skirmishes that await you at the end of each biome. These are great climatic actions against the most difficult enemies Of Hades 2, each with its own fascinating theme. Scylla and the Sirens stands out, where you face three enemies with different abilities in a music-laden action that reaches overwhelming limits from the first times you take it on. It is a multi-level action that challenges you to abilityfully balance which of the Three you are going to focus on at a given moment to eliminate their respective action from the equation. This action is an experience highlighted by the exceptional soundtrack of Hades 2, composed again by Darren Korb. The music merges a booming double bbody and a roaring electric guitar with the soft voice of Ashley Barret, who surpasses herself with each new game in which you play.