If there were bets on the most anticipated game of 2024, of course Hades 2 would sneak into the top positions. The franchise of Supergiant Games It has not won the public’s affection for free, but thanks to a wonderful roguelike that in 2020 was nominated for best video game of the year. A marvel, an ode to the roguelike that was showered with praise… but that I never tasted.
Among the numerous sins that would send me straight to the Underworld, is not having tasted the honey of Zagreus and his entire family of deities. A very clear pending account in my history, so the arrival of Early Access became an opportunity to redeem myself. Now, with a couple of dozen hours behind me, I still haven’t come out of my astonishment.
It can’t be that it’s not finished
The sheet of Hades 2 on Steam remember that we are talking about a game that is not ready to be released definitively and the version number that can be seen on the screen during games are the only reminders of Early Access. And thank goodness they are there as signs of the current state of the title, because in any other way I wouldn’t believe that we are facing a video game that doesn’t need anything else.
What more does Melinoe’s adventure need? I haven’t even managed to enjoy all the content, but in 20 hours I haven’t come across any errors, errors in balance or studio approaches that clash with the whole. Hades 2 is so compacted and polished that it’s only missing one bow to give to the lucky one who immerses himself in his world. Even for someone like me, who has no idea what happened in the first title.
Here it is time to control the immortal Princess of the Underworld in her firm purpose to defeat the forces of the Titan of Time, but she will do so with the help of the gods that make up Olympus. Poseidon, Demeter, Zeus, Apollo, Hephaestus, Hermes, Aphrodite and a host of characters will lend their powers to the girl who is training to be able to fight Cronus on equal terms.
Even with the handicap of ignorance of the plot, the truth is that Hades 2 hooks you through narrative from the beginning. Each god has interesting lines of dialogue, very defined personalities, and they provide abilities clearly related to their idiosyncrasies. Not only them, but other secondary characters with great relevance such as Odysseus, Eris or Hecate are also present to constantly nourish the game universe with details and references.
In this way, a context is generated that is equally attractive for newcomers as yours truly and for those who have come to learn about the continuation of the plot. However, and without a doubt, what has amazed me the most is that I have never seen anyone repeat a line of dialogue. There have been more than 25 runs in Hades 2 and there has never been a situation in which a character runs out of options to comment on the new weapon I carry, the power I have obtained, or the influences of both on Melinoe.
I don’t want to imagine the weight of the Word file with all the conversations, but there is a tremendous amount of work on the part of Supergiant Games to ensure that no exchange of words feels like a waste of time. Furthermore, they can also be interpreted as opportunities to dazzle with the magnificent designs of the gods. Since the arrival of Hades 2 I have read many comments on social networks warning that, please, do not share images of divine forces and now I understand why.
A spectacle worthy of the gods
Hestia, Cerberus, Nemesis, Artemis and all the cacophony of beings that accompany the text boxes are fabulous. Recognizable from miles away, with unique aspects that visually enhance why they are gods linked to nature, love or the most absolute beauty. Another enormous job by the developer, which is also accompanied by a wonderful demonstration of acting by all the voice actors. As if that were not enough, the rest of the scenarios follow the same line.
With an aesthetic reminiscent of vignettes, Hades 2 has a scandalous visual palette, which is complex due to the pure artistic execution and complementing it with the combats. Erebus, Tartarus or the Fields of Pain are beautiful places, ornate to the extreme in any frame and with a multitude of details arranged everywhere. And yet it is perfectly possible to discern what happens during battles, even during veritable infernos of bombs, projectiles and enemies everywhere. Bravo.
But is fun Hades 2? The answer is obvious, since there is a very sincere embrace of the roguelike genre. Although there are similarities between the games, There are so many options before starting that none of them will be exactly the same.. We can make use of the Weapons of the Night such as the Witch’s Rod, the Sharp Sisters, the Shadow Flames or the Silver Skull, to give some examples. Each one is designed so that every player feels comfortable during the runs, but Supergiant Games has encouraged the rotation of elements.
From time to time, some are imbued with an aura that gives them special characteristics, so it is advisable to vary the proposal before jumping onto the battlefield. In addition, it is necessary to choose which tool we want to collect resources such as silver, psyche or seeds to plant in our base. The rings given to us by the gods are very specific power-ups to put on us, while creatures like Phrynos throw a leg in the middle of battles. Tools and more tools.
Every attempt counts
Time is never wasted Hades 2, because meeting Demeter can be the perfect opportunity to give her nectar and improve your relationship with Melinoe’s grandmother. Getting to the next room full of enemies may hold a surprise or script twists, which tend to be more than frequent. It should not be surprising that a secondary character like Nemesis appears proposing an unexpected challenge, that Artemis chats for a while with the protagonist or that a passage opens to the domains of Chaos, after payment in the form of blood.
We are even assaulted by memories of Hades, Cronos’ mid-course plots, and optional challenges in the form of mini-bosses. You get to bond with everyone you meet, while at the same time worrying about becoming a real badass. There has not been a single occasion in which I have been uncomfortable with the build achieved, since you can take advantage of all of them. Every skill, penalty and path taken is valid for the future, so the feeling that chance plays a determining role evaporates.
The feeling of progress is ideal, climbing little by little while you improve Melinoe with recipes for the enormous cauldron that Hecate guards or at the Altar of the Arcana with more powers. You know there will be reward when you cross the threshold into the unknown in Hades 2, since that mena, that talk with a deity or the unexpected scene serve for the future. That’s why it feels great to know that Much of the success of the run depends on the skill you have at the controls., learning the attack patterns of each enemy. And they are not exactly few, since the video game bestiary is filled with beings of all conditions and circumstances, reaching such a point where it will be really difficult to survive.
So the first encounters against the bosses will result in immediate death, but little by little their pulse is taken so that they become another obstacle; more complex than casual encounters, but an affordable challenge. The excellent soundtrack deserves a separate note, which imposes itself strongly at specific moments; special mention for the fight against Scylla and the sirensbecause the great song they perform during the fight is simply fantastic.
There are a lot of secrets hidden in Hades 2, which do not need to be debated here, but which add points in the evaluation of a game that exudes affection. There is no end yet, so what awaits us in the coming years is extremely promising. The work could remain as it is until the end of time and it would continue to be a well-rounded title, but the contributions of the community will surely contribute even more. Whatever the case, we will be there to see it first-hand.
Hades 2 file
- Platforms: PC
- Multiplayer: No
- Developer: Supergiant Games
- Company: Supergiant Games
- Launch: May 6, 2024 in Early Access
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