Six years after the release of the now legendary first game, Hades returns to consoles with Hades 2. Is the underworld as good as its first iteration? Or are you left longing for memories of old?
Back To The Underworld
I can recall as clear as day the first time I fell in love with a roguelite game. My friend had waxed lyrical about Hades and when it finally arrived on console, it blew me away. Supergiant games classic wowed me with an awe inspiring and emotionally complex story, telling the tale of Zagreus. Coupled with an addictive gameplay, the original Hades is now amongst my all time favourite games. Therefore, you can imagine my excitement at the announcement of a sequel, Hades 2. However, I also feared that Supergiant might tarnish their legacy with a weak follow up. Thank the gods, I was mistaken. Hades 2 is one of the greatest games ever created; it firmly cements this development team as true masters of their craft.
This time you assume the role of Melinoë, another child of the Lord of the Underworld, Hades and Zagreus’s sister. Chronos, the fabled Titan of time has broken out of his prison created by the gods, seeking revenge on them. As a young child, Melinoë is taken away by Hecate as Chronos enslaves and captures Zagreus and the rest of her family. Having been raised above the Underworld, Melinoë sets out to save her family and restore what is rightfully theirs. Thus the story of the game is set in motion.
Invest In The Series
First, it’s important to mention that playing through the original narrative will vastly enrich your experience in Hades 2. If you are jumping into this title blind, the connected stories and threads from the first game may go over your head. It also helps if you have a basic knowledge of Greek mythology. However, this isn’t vital as Supergiant have done a superb job in enriching new players and reminding returning players of the narrative threads and overlapping stories on show in Hades 2.
For Family
Sometimes in roguelite games, the narrative can take a backseat in order for the gameplay to shine. Not so in Hades 2; Supergiant games have perfected their storytelling craft. Every run you partake in has the opportunity to grant you narrative threads and knowledge. These further develop the character of Melinoë and the story itself. As for Melinoë, she is a superbly written protagonist, as are all the characters that you converse with throughout your journey. I relished every chance to talk and interact with the many gods and characters in the game and learn more about them. This is just as the first game did brilliantly.
The original Hades had a consistent theme of trying to love and understand those who consistently hurt and disappoint. Hades 2 takes a different route showing how Melinoë continues to live when all else around her has failed. She has, quite literally, lost everything. However, with her courage and determination, she is much like the players in a roguelite game; they just keep going. I am astounded at the level of complexity and nuance in the narrative. This is a title that most people might play simply for the gameplay, but I felt rewarded with rich lore every time I played. Supergiant games are the real gods.
Polished Perfection
I couldn’t fathom how difficult the task of improving a perfect gameplay loop might be. Nevertheless, Supergiant have achieved the impossible. Once again you play from a fixed isometric view in each area of the Underworld; above you traverse. Combat is fast, brutal, difficult, yet extremely rewarding when you get your head around it. Speed is your ultimate ally in this game and the fact the input delay is a complete non factor is a wonderful joy. Dashing around the different environments felt magnificent. It made me feel like I truly was a god with Melinoë’s different abilities and weapons to play with. The sheer amount of enemy variety is utterly staggering; content is in abundance in Hades 2.
The boon system once again plays a major role in combat and gameplay. Whilst going into different rooms and arenas, you are rewarded with different abilities that you must choose from different gods. Each of the gods has their own unique powers and stats. The developers have clearly made a real effort to make each boon feel useful. This gave me the chance to constantly experiment and tweak what I thought to be my ultimate build. The RNG involved in boon selection is always a thought provoking experience, making you really plot your next choice as if your life depended on it. The boons have been upgraded with a new system known as the Gifts Of The Moon; they act as an ultimate ability for that specific run and are great in their variety and effectiveness. Rest assured, gameplay remains king in Hades 2.
The Rewards Of Persistence
If you are unfamiliar with the first Hades, the crux of the gameplay loop is designed as a rogue lite experience. This means whenever you die, you go right back to the home base or hub and the start of the adventure. Every time you die in Hades 2 feels like a true lesson. This time, the hub takes the form of the Crossroads. This area allows Melinoë to upgrade items, speak to different characters and accept quests. These can be completed during each run you take in your effort to stop Chronos. It’s a wonderful area, filled with interesting and unforgettable moments, where the chaos takes a backseat in order for the narrative to shine.
Speaking of upgrades, the first Hades is notoriously hard and was frustrating for some players with its unforgivable style. This time, the developers have attempted to make some minor changes to help struggling players. Upgradeable boons return from the first game, but now, a new feature called Arcana cards accompany them. There are only a certain amount of these cards which you can activate but they can give you huge boosts to your weapons and abilities. There is also the introduction of Animal Familiars which give you more powerful buffs in your quest through the Underworld. Make no mistake though, this is still a vastly difficult adventure that will have you dying many, many times. If you can harness your frustation and continue the journey, the rewards of a wonderful narrative and addictive gameplay await you. Superb!
An Explosion Of Colour
Let’s cut to the chase: Hades 2 is one of the most aesthetically astounding games of all time in visual presentation. Every single area of the Underworld and above is dripping in glorious animated complexity. Every area feels like a beautiful collage of pure art. The different colours and explosions during combat mesmerised me. Melinoë and the other characters look equally as impressive; each hand drawn character is as beautiful as the next. It felt like I was gliding through a collection of magnificent mosaics. The performance of the game is also incredible; during all the madness not a single time did I experience frame rate issues. Animations look sleek and flow perfectly with all the action and combat that takes place. This is a masterpiece in visual presentation.
Similarly, the sound design is at the top of its game. Each hack and slash sounds deliciously violent, whilst abilities sound powerful and monstrous. Everything in sound design only elevates the combat and complements it perfectly. The same can be said for the excellent voice acting on display from a wonderful diverse cast. Special mention must go to Judy Alice Lee as Melinoë; the emotions in her voice perfectly encapsulate the characters’ plight and her desperation to save her family. Finally, an excellent soundtrack awaits you from Audio Director Darren Korb. This epic score stays peaceful and calm during exploration areas yet roars magnificently into a Greek rock ballad when combat begins. A colossal effort in presentation.
Verdict
To try and put into words what Supergiant Games have achieved with Hades 2 is no easy matter. This is an astonishing sequel which continues the wonderful narrative from the first game with an equally explosive and emotional tale. Improving and polishing an already perfect combat roguelite system is something I thought impossible. Gorgeous visuals and a thrilling soundtrack round this off as a truly legendary game. This is the quintessential roguelite experience in video games! It’s about time Supergiant games are called what they are, gods of the video gaming space. Bravo!
