surprise! Hades 2 is finally here playable. Supergiant’s hack-and-slash, god-playing roguelike is a short technical test away from its Steam Early Access debut. I thoroughly beat the first area and first boss, but now I need more. It’s clearly in an unfinished state, but that’s okay. like, very good.
Part of me was a little hesitant to see Supergiant make its first direct sequel. Every game since 2011’s Bastion has taken us to a completely different world with a new approach to combat. I wasn’t a big fan of his Pyre either, but I respect games like NBA Jam that have the courage to combine elements of strategic action and sports games. Bastion was my favorite until Hades grabbed the torch and brought it into the realm of roguelike action games wrapped in stories about a family of Greek gods and goddesses.
After playing Hades 2 for a few hours, that little part of me was proven wrong. The world absolutely needs another Hades, and Supergiant is already pushing the first game’s satisfying loop further than before.
Zagreus and the rest of his family passed away. In Hades 2, you play as Melinoe, his faithful sister who descends into the underworld in search of Kronos, the Titan of Time. Melinoe is just as angry as Zagreus, but while she can press buttons and think things through every time she runs, she has much more command when it comes to combat to begin with.
Her basic moves mirror Zagreus (plus a sprint ability), but new magical resources can be used to modify her attacks for different effects. When she equips the Witch’s Staff, if she holds down the special attack button, her bolt of energy turns into a large bubble that explodes on impact. The risk, of course, is the time it takes to charge. Her casting ability usually causes her to drop a circle on the floor, pinning the enemy in place, but if she holds it down, it deals a ton of damage when it expires.
Hades 2 Technical Exam”
My brain, obsessed with building action RPGs, is already starting to connect the dots.
You can’t play Melinoe exactly like Zagreus. Because the creatures you face are more troublesome than the ones I remember from the first area of Hades. The stage will be filled with ghosts that will spit out projectiles or pump their fists at a moment’s notice. The only way to manage everything is to prioritize the most dangerous ones. It’s easy enough to fly between enemies in the early sections using her dodge (leaving a trail of receding stars to visually convey the short cooldown). However, once the enemy gains armor in addition to health, you will need to carefully look for openings in their concentrated attacks.
Boone is back and can change each tier of Melinoe’s abilities just like he did with Zagreus. Poseidon still has the energy of an extreme old man, but don’t worry. I turned my sprint into a tsunami, crushing enemies as I encountered them for a small magical cost. I didn’t get Apollo’s benefit of restoring magic while standing in a ring of traps during the same run, but my construction-obsessed brain is already starting to connect the dots. My splash-like sprint synergized with a second boon that moved my circle with me and trapped enemies in my path.
Just like in the original game, you’ll die a lot. But don’t worry. This is your ticket to the other half of the Hades experience. This is your chance to converse with and maybe even romance some incredibly hot gods. Each time you die, you’re sent to The Crossroads, an outdoor hub with characters who can help you figure out what happened in the time between Hades 2 and the original Hades.
By the way, Hecate, voiced by Baldur’s Gate 3’s Amelia Tyler, has already won my #1 spot as Best New Character. She’s a tall, wicked witch with her chiseled abs on full display. After the run, we were able to peek beneath her shell in a flashback scene where she teases a young Melinoe playing hide-and-seek. That Hecate is gone, and she seems to have been replaced by a mentor figure who needs to see her students succeed where they have failed. That’s why I imagine she steps in as the first boss of the game to make sure you’re ready for what’s to come. True, placing high expectations on her adopted child will not have any consequences in the future. surely.
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The Crossroads also has a large cauldron for crafting spells using the materials you find each time you run. There are metals that can be picked and mined, which are used to unlock new weapons, equip passive bonuses with each run, and invite new NPCs to the Crossroads. I made my own mining pickaxe, started a small garden to grow plant materials, and revealed arcana cards that healed me every time I entered a new stage. While you should be chasing Kronos, we recommend spending a few runs collecting materials for upgrades that will make your life a little easier. Oh, and if you want to gain damage resistance every time you die to focus on watching the story, God Mode is back.
It’s all here. Supergiant, like with the first Hades, has honed its ability to immediately draw you into the story and dangle an exciting reason to start running again. Waiting until the early access period ends is going to be very difficult.
I felt a strong urge to try again just to see if I could combine other kinds of powers.
As I switched from my cane to Melinoe’s dual blades, I felt Hades 2 have a firm grip on me. From long-range jabs to quick swipes to a special long-press attack that teleports you behind an enemy, it was like playing a new class in an RPG, exactly like the original game’s arsenal. Hestia’s boon imbued them with flames, and while I was on the other side of the screen, all of the enemies I attacked suddenly melted with powerful damage. That run didn’t go particularly well, but I felt a strong pull to do it all again, just to see if I could combine other kinds of powers. In other words, it’s over for me.
You can sign up for the Hades 2 technical test today on our Steam page. Supergiant says early access is coming soon.
