Summary

• Hades 2 is an evolution of the first game.
• Hades is as much a game about forming relationships as it is chaining boons.
• War is a stronger theme in this sequel, which could lead to more tragic, narrative-rich match-ups.

More Hades is never a bad thing. I’m really 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:enjoying my time with Hades 2, the exciting sequel from 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Supergiant Games, precisely becau💧se it’s an evolution of the first game. Both mechanically and narratively, it iterates and expands on its predecessor while nailing that moreish ‘one more run’ feeling that Zagreus’ plight locked onto.

Hades 2 isn’t reinventing the wheel. The mana pool is a nice addition that gives combat some fresh depth, but a lot of the new additions are just reskins and reworks of things in the last game. The Cauldron is like the House Contractor, the Tarot system works very simi🌸larly to the mirror, you get the picture.

What’s most fun about the Hades 2 Technical T♔est is noticing all the differences it has from a narrative perspective. Protagonist Melinoe’s relationship with the members of the Pantheon is vastly different from her brother Zagreus’ – some, like Artemis, she greets like old besties, whereas others she is clearly meeting for the first time. Her mission, too, is different. Instead of trying to escape Hades, as was Zagreus’ prerogative, she’s trying to get down to the underworld in order to save her family and get revenge on the Titan Chronos who has them in his thrall.

It’s this very wording, however, that suggests Melinoe may be fighting he🦹r dear brother during the events of Hades 2. The Technical Test only offers the first biome, Erebus, but there will inevitably be more bosses to come. This is the first game with a new look, remember? Of course we’ll be taking♈ on tons of gods before this is over.

The word “thrall” always brings vampiric connotations to mind. Any kid who grew up reading Draculaဣ will tell you that. Vampires don’t kill everyone they suck blood from, you see, they keep some around as thralls who do their bidding. Most often these are depicted as zom༒bie-like creatures, but there are plenty of different depictions out there.

If Zagreus, Hades, and Persephone are Chronos’ thralls, there’s a good chance that we’ll be fight⛎ing them in Hades 2. Zagreus strikes me as a mid-game boss, and it would be really cool to see him cycle thrꦑough the Infernal Arms on each run to keep you on your toes. Hades and Persephone could be a duo-boss, like Theseus and Asterius in the first game. See, more parallels.

These boss battles would be really interesting mechanically, as you’d need to defend against the very🤪 attacks you brutalised Megaera with years ago. But they’d be even more interesting narratively, as Melinoe has to come to terms with fighting the very loved ones she’s trying to save. On future runs, we could even start to see Chronos’ power weaken, and your family&r🌊squo;s personalities begin to shine through the cracks in the Titan’s magic.

Hades 2 is a game about war. The Gods and Goddesses are portrayed in more aggressive stances, shouldering weapons with two feet planted firmly on the floor. Your 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:home hub area is an army encampment where you prepare to take on the brutal Titans with your allies. It's also emphasised that time has passed. People look older, wearier. Zagreus, Hades, and Persephone will have all changed, even before they were taken under the Titan’s spell.

Add in the fact that Melinoe has never known her family – they were taken soon after she was born – and you’ve got a narrative hook that reels you in as fast as the first game. Sprinkle in some inter-family fighting and the mechanics that come with those battles, and you’🅠ve got S-tier bosses.

Sometimes I worry that Hades 2 is recycling too many ideas from the first game. Supergiant is known for constantly innovating, for creati👍ng games unlike anything they’ve made before. There are plenty of times when I wish Hades 2 would push further away from its predecessor, but bringing back the family for a series of emotional boss battles would be the right decision; a way to use that fami🧸liarity as a weapon more powerful than any Infernal Arms.