There has been one game I’ve been looking forward to all year with a mixture of hope and fear. A sequel to one of my favorite non-FromSoft games that has been in Early Access since May of 2024, and I have been studiously ignoring its existence because I did not want to know anything about it until I played it. It’s Hades II (Supergiant Games), and it’s finally out.
I did not play the first game when it was in Early Access, either. I didn’t really pay attention to it until it officially released, and then I decided to give it a go to scratch the Binding of Isaac (Edmund McMillen) itch. I will admit that I did not gel with the game at first. It didn’t feel quite right, and I almost gave up on it at some point. The controls were not what I expected or wanted them to be (RB to interact is not my jam), and I really thought it was not the game for me.
At some point, though, I gave up and gave in. I was addicted to the game, even though I didn’t think I would ever beat the big boss. In fact, I was considering turning on God Mode which decreased the damage you took each time you died, up to an 80% decrease. I thought it was an elegant solution to the question of difficulty without putting in different modes. You can turn God Mode on and off whenever you want.
I did not put on God Mode in the first game, and I did, indeed, beat the final boss. But, as the kids say, that was when the real journey began. One of the most incredible things about that game was that after a hundred hours of playing the game, I still heard a new line of dialogue (whilst going for the hundo chievo). And the game is programmed so that the enemies remember what happened on your last run (or, more accurately, are programmed to comment on it). So if you die to, say the first boss of the first floor, she will say something about it the next time you meet her.
I really like it because it makes it seem like the game is interactive. I know it’s just coding, but still. To get new dialogue based on something I did in the game was really cool. They have over 20,000 lines of dialogues, which, for a roguelite-like game that is mostly action is amazing. It meant that every time I had a conversation with someone, whether it was back in the House of Hades or on the field of battle, it was more likely to be unique than not.
Also, while, yes the relationships were transactional, I still felt affectionate for some of the characters. More for some than the other. And I got a scene in the game that I have never heard/read anyone else talking about, so I wonder how many people got it. It was pretty far into the game, and you had to do a lot to get there. It was so worth it, though.
When Supergiant Games announced they were doing a sequel to Hades, I was so excited–and fearful. Supergiant Games were known for doing eclectic games with none of them like the other. I did not gel with any of their three previous games, even though I tried each of them. They were known for doing something innovative and fresh with each new game, so many people were curious as to what Hades II would be like. And as I said, I was wary/fearful about the sequel because I did not want it to be a reskin of the first game with a slap of polish on it.
I did not play it in Early Access for more than one reason. The first was that I did not want to get sick of it by the time the actual game came out. The second was that I knew that the best version of it would be the final version. They did the same thing with the first game, and I did not play it until it officially launched. The third reason was that I did not want to have to redo what I’d already done (and I knew that was a distinct possibility).
Because I knew I was going to play the game, I avoided any mention of it. I did not watch any trailers besides the announcement one, and I did not watch anyone playing it. I skimmed a review or two when the game finally released (9/25), but I kept it very light. When I know I’m going to play a game, I want to go in as unspoiled as possible. This is especially true with FromSoft games because they spoil so much in their trailers. The biggest secret in Elden Ring is in the announcement trailer, but if you don’t know what you’re looking for, it’s nearly impossible to find.
I went into this game with my heart in my mouth. I had heard that it was even better than the first game, but I was not better than when the first game came out. In fact, I was markedly worse. My reflexes were, anyway. And they were never good in the first place. I recently tried a rhythm game, and I could not even register where the flashing lights were by the time the next ones showed up.
Also, I had a really hard time with the first game, so much so, I almost quit several times. I’m glad I didn’t, and I eventually went on to 100% it. I was pleasantly surprised that the plat wasn’t that hard. Most of it was doable within the game, and the two that I thought would be the hardest–weren’t. That’s not to say it was easy–it wasn’t. Just that it wasn’t a tedious grind the way SOME plats (looking at you, FromSoft, for the pain that was the Dark Souls trilogy plats), and I was happy to do it.
Side note: I really wish that more plats were focused on the game, meaning that you could get the achivements as you played the game. Even in some cozy games that you would think would be easy to get the plat, they put in a ridiculously difficult achievements that make it a pain in the ass to get 100%.
I like the protagonist of the second game as much if not better than the protag of the first game. She’s his sister, and she’s more serious than he is. Zagreus is his name, and Melinoë is hers. As you can probably tell by the name, both of the games are loosely based on Greek mythology. In the first one, Zagreus was trying to get out of hell. In this one, well, it’s a whole different scene. I don’t want to get into it, but I’m very curious to see where it goes.
I would say in all sincerity that this is a more polished, tighter version of the first game. Just in terms of gameplay and feel, I mean. And structure. Many of the old gods came back, but with glow-ups. And there are new ones, too. It’s really interesting which ones don’t return (yet) and who the new ones are. Also, in the trailer I included above, there is one god in it whom I have yet to meet. I’m early in the game, so I’m sure I have not met all the NPCs yet.
By the way. I have already met the best NPC–the one I most want to bone. I have progressed our relationship as far as I can for now. If we’re following the same path we did in the first game, well, I’ll be waiting quite a bit to progress it further.
I have more to say, but that’s it for today. I will write more on the game tomorrow.