Hades 2 is Supergiant Video games‘ first sequel.
A contemporary gem of a studio, the staff behind Bastion, Transistor, Pyre and Hades is understood for all the time leaving its followers guessing relating to what’s subsequent.
That’s why it got here as such a shock when it was introduced that Hades, Supergiant’s breakout hit from 2020, was to obtain a follow-up.
The sequel – which, like the primary sport, will debut in Early Entry – follows Melinoe. The sister of the primary sport’s protagonist Zagreus, she’s a Greek goddess and princess of the underworld.
This time, as an alternative of searching down your dad, you’re pursuing Chronos, the titan of time.
Roguelikes don’t typically really feel well-suited for sequels, primarily as a result of it’s all too straightforward for the unique video games to change into stale by the point you’ve completed them.
Even with the perfect within the style – like Hades, in fact – there are solely so many instances you need to use the identical powers to fly via the identical rooms and take down the identical bosses.
To date, nonetheless, Hades 2 has managed to shake that feeling virtually immediately. For a begin, the sport’s coloration palette may be very totally different, shaking the nice and cozy reds for chilly greens. Melinoe, or Mel, can also be a really totally different character from Zagreus.
On the coronary heart of Hades are the gods who’re bestowing Mel along with her powers. Whereas favorites from the primary sport return, resembling Poseidon, new gods additionally make their debut, naturally including new powers to the sport within the course of.
We’ve performed Hades to loss of life, and know our most popular load-outs just like the again of our hand, so it was a pleasant change of tempo having to discern precisely what would work within the sport’s opening two areas.
As within the first sport, you may befriend these gods to unlock new dialogue, and the identical goes for the massive forged of characters which are featured on the Crossroads, this sport’s staring space and a location you’re going to change into very conversant in.
Hades 2 is not any mechanical do-over of the primary sport – in actual fact, in some ways Hades appears like an Early Entry trial for Hades 2. Doubling down on the issues individuals beloved in regards to the first, the beginning space is now a lot deeper, with sidequests and minigames that tie into your fundamental runs.
There’s additionally a a lot larger emphasis on objects discovered whereas out on a run being introduced again to The Crossroads with a purpose to alternate them for objects, weapons, and extra.
The important thing critique of the roguelike style is how unhealthy random era could make a run really feel meaningless, however of all of our runs to date, we’ve by no means had one which felt utterly pointless, and these facet actions actually assist that.
The primary space of the sport continues to vary even after you’ve progressed all the best way to the boss of the second space, so we’ve but to hit the purpose the place the primary space of every run appears like a drained obligation.
That’s helped by the truth that the sport may be very difficult. Whereas no enemy is simply too laborious to take down by itself, Hades 2 is crafty in its combos of monsters, making even the only room a possible stumbling block when you’re not cautious.
“Essentially the most thrilling factor about Hades 2 to date is its scale.”
Essentially the most thrilling factor about Hades 2 to date is its scale. There’s a lot within the Early Entry construct that hints at what is going to come sooner or later, so many characters that aren’t totally explored but, we’re already dying for one more replace.
There’s all the time the argument to be made about ready till rather more of a sport, or the complete sport is out earlier than supporting it, however within the case of Hades 2, we don’t understand how rather more convincing you may want.
Supergiant Video games hasn’t misplaced a step and this is among the most assured Early Entry releases ever. Even with simply two areas and a small choice of the content material that shall be within the remaining sport, it’s higher than virtually all of its friends.