I’m back to talk more about my game awards for 2025. In the last post in which I wrote about this topic, I was musing about Hades II (Supergiant Games). I have written several posts about this game because it’s been the most frustrating game I’ve played this year by far. I know many people were blown away by it and think it’s unequivocably better than the first game in all aspects. Those people, not coincidentally, aren’t playing the game for the story or the relationships. I don’t understand that mentality when it comes to this game, but I accept it’s true.
For anyone who is into it for the latter reasons, though, there are plenty of reasons to be dissatisfied with the sequel. The relationships in the first game took time to develop (arguably, too much time) and I felt I earned each deepening step. It felt organic (well, as organic as it can be in a video game), and by the end, I was truly touched by how close I felt to two of the NPCs.
The same writer wrote the dialogue for both games. Something must have happened to him between the two games because the way he wrote the women in the sequel was atrocious. I’m just going to put it in plain words. Or, something may not have happened, but he didn’t have the chops to write a female protag, and he relayed way too heavily on aping the charactars from the first game.
One of my favorite NPCS in the sequel (Moros) was very similar to one of my favorite characters in the first game (Thanatos). Except whereas Thanatos was pragmatic about being the god of death, Moros was more conflicted as to his role, especially in relation to his sisters (the Three Fates). He comes off very much as naive and earnest, which is not what you expect from Doom. I like him for it, but I would not have minded a streak of something darker in him.
On the other hand, *sigh* Nemesis. She’s based on Megaera, who is one of my top three favorite NPCs from the first game. Megaera was also the first boss, which made for an interesting dynamic. Plus, her fraught relationship with her two sisters made things complicated and interesting as well. I loved everything about her, and I would have done anything for her.
When we started an intimate relationship, it meant something. In this game, it happened so easily, I was astonished. I was able to give, ah, nectar? I think? And then aphrodisiac? Whatever it was, I was able to give the presents liberally and often. Then, I was able to bed a few NPCs before I even beat the last boss of the downward path.
That astonished me, and it made the conquests hollow. I’m not going to lie and say that I didn’t enjoy my time with certain NPCs, I did. I just did not think it should have been so effortless.
One of my absolute favorite NPCs in the game was Icrarus, voiced by Asa Butterfield. I mention the name because he’s a famous actor, and it’s cool that he wanted to be part of the game.
Not only does he have a great voice, and I like the buffs he gives me on the battlefield, his backstory is heartrending and engaging. That’s probably because he’s human and not a god, but for whatever reason, I related better to him. When he started going to The Crossroads, I’d save him for last or second to last to talk to if there was any new dialogue.
I did not mind doing the side quest in order to make it so we could have sexy times. It’s revealed that he’s the reason for my robot arm (sort of), and he’s really the most fleshed-out NPC in the game. Plus, he’s a real cutie. he’s also earnest, but there’s an edge to him. Living a hard life has taken its toll on him, which I can appreciate. He felt like a genuine person whereas the rest…not so much.
The combat is as smooth and flowing as usual. None of the weapons really appealed to me, though, and I settled on the staff being my main. It’s not flashy, and it does not do the most damage, but it’s steady and always reliable. Plus, with Circe’s aspect, there’s a (literal) connection to my pet–which was a cat.
The pets were a great addition to the game. Probably my favorite, if I’m going to be quite honest. There were companions in the first game, but they were only summonable once a level I think? Whereas the pets can be there with you throughout the whole game. At least, Toula the cat can. Some people don’t like her because you have to prod her to attack. When she’s fully upgraded, she will attack five or six times and then fall asleep. Then you have to wake her up again. Also, she gives you one Death Defy, which is nice, too.
Later in the game, you get to dress her up (any of the pets, really), and there’s one outfit that has a really big hat. If it were black (it’s white), it would be my favorite by far. As it is, it’s in a close race with the Nightmarish outfit, which is black.
I only used the rest enoug hto get the achievements, but she was my main. Not only was she a wild cat, but she gave me an extra life! You can’t really beat that.
It’s really hard for me to articulate why the sequel fell just shy of the original when it improved the experience in so many ways. The combat was more seamless, but it just didn’t feel as good. I can’t tell you why, but maybe because there wasn’t an automatic double dash? At least that’s what I’ve read about the combat.
I did not like the weapons as much, and I certainly did not like the NPCs nearly as much on a whole. The stories felt contrived or did not make sense, and I really wondered what happened between the first game and the second.
You will note that I’m not talking about the true ending because I have written many posts about it before. They did eventually fix the ending in a satisfactory fashion, but there’s still a bitter taste in my mouth that they released the game with an absolutely appalling true ending.
In the end, I did hundo chievo the game, but with God Mode on. Once I was done with the game, though, it completely left my mind. When I was playing the original, I thought about it well past the point when I put it down. I was enthralled with it, and I was deep into the stories. This time, I uninstalled it once I reached 100%, and then promptly forgot about it. I only reinstalled it when they patched in the added context to make the true ending better.
It was a much better true ending, but I did not like having to play more of the game to get the context. I was done with the game once I 100%ed it, and I did not want to go back.
In the end, I’m glad I played it and hundo chievoed it, but I’m hoping that there isn’t a third game. I know if there is, I will play it, but I will not be happy about it.