Hades II: Early Access Preview

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I’ll admit to being a really big fan of Supergiant’s Hades. I gave it quite the glowing review back in 2020, even calling it my personal choice for Game of the Year. It had a strength in gameplay, story, and sound that even most fancy AAA games lack, and it truly blew me away. So, I was definitely excited when Hades II was announced, and even more excited to have the opportunity to play the game in Early Access and see it grow.

And oh boy, has it grown a lot in the short few months it’s been out. I love to see it. I hope you’ll keep this in mind as you read this “review”, which is really more of an extended preview. The game still isn’t finished but is getting better every day, and I hope to update this review when we have a complete game.

via YouTube

Hades II retains the rogue-like dungeon crawler gameplay of its predecessor, and is a direct sequel that follows Melinoë, sister to Zagreus, as she tries to defeat the Titan of Time. With dark magic and godly blessings on her side, Melinoë will fight her way through the Underworld – and in time, the surface – to restore the House of Hades to its former glory and regain the family the Titan of Time stole from her.

The game is incredibly combat-centric, and because the boons and abilities you get and the weapons and artifacts you use may change with each run, you’ll have to constantly adapt your play style and figure out what works for you. You have five weapons that are unlocked as you gather materials, and I recommend trying each for a few runs to see if you prefer melee or ranged combat. I found that the Sister Blades worked well for me because I’m a bit on the impatient side and like to run right into the madness, and I actually hated them at first. Weapons also have Omega attacks and specials, which use a little magic to make the attack more powerful. It’s great to have when you’re backed into a corner, but each weapon is a little different. I recommend taking the time to try out weapons on Schelemeus in the Crossroads as you get them as well to prepare for your runs.

In addition to your weapon, casts are easily the biggest gameplay glow-up for Hades II. Hades had a ranged cast that was often pretty useless, and you had to collect your gems after use to keep using that ability. Hades II’s cast mechanism allows you to drop a circle to bind enemies, and you can cast it again as soon as the previous one expires (usually a few seconds). There’s also an Omega option for the cast, which allows you to charge it so it lasts longer and adds damage, and the game adds many boons that make the cast more effective. Omega casts cost magic, which is replenished between each room during runs, so don’t think you can just spam it in boss battles. It’s a rather well-balanced feature, and I found it to be a fun addition.

And, of course, every night you’ll run across a number of gods and goddesses eager to provide you boons to help you along your way. You’ll get to select from three each time, and boons can do anything from making enemies in the range of your casts get struck by lightning to giving your attack the ability to inflict scorch or chill. Effects like weak, daze, and chill are typically only offered by specific deities, and some deities may not offer many boons to boost your attack power, but offer ones that lessen the magic needed for your Omega moves or make your movements faster. These may not seem all that special (or good), but give them a try. Boons offered change each night, so you’ll have plenty of opportunities to discover your favorite ones, so don’t feel down when one doesn’t work out.

Another big change from the previous title is there are now two areas to explore: the Underworld and the surface. The two areas have different enemies and layouts, and different goals. Currently, the surface is unfinished, so once you complete the second boss battle, you’ll return to the Crossroads instead of moving forward. However, you can collect materials you need for spells from the surface that will help you later on. Having the option to move between areas is nice; Hades sometimes grew frustrating sometimes because you kept exploring the same landscapes over and over, but Hades II gives you the ability to take a break while still continuing to play, and opened up the opportunity to introduce more characters.

Hades II has a good story, and as a direct sequel we get to encounter some characters from the first game, though it’s naturally more focused on the new cast. Our new mythical hero is Odysseus, our new Tsundere rival is Nemesis (a daughter of Nyx), and Melinoë is under the guidance of Hecate, and are the first characters we meet in the Crossroads, the area where you prepare for your nightly runs.

New characters come to the Crossroads rather often, and you can build places to interact with them, such as the hot springs, to increase your relationship with them. Talking to them helps to reveal Melinoë’s feelings about wanting to reunite with a family she never really knew, and provides insight as to what happened during the Titan of Time’s takeover of the House of Hades.

Admittedly, Hades II doesn’t have the same charm as its predecessor when it comes to its characters, at least not yet. It took me quite a while – nearly 60 runs – to really invest in the characters of the Crossroads, and I still find Nemesis to be tedious to talk to at times and dread meeting her on runs. I considered not speaking to Dora when arriving at Melinoë’s room after each run because she never really had anything to say that mattered, and when she did, it was few and far between. I can’t see an exclamation point above a character without talking to them, though, so I endured.

I honestly enjoyed listening in on characters talking to each other versus talking to them directly. I think this could be something that is being worked on as the game develops, so I’m looking forward to seeing how the characters grow, but be aware that you may not have a lightning fast connection with some of the main characters.

This is a beautiful game visually. It has that Supergiant style, with distinct character design and fantastic environments. I really loved the variety of locations in the game and how each one of them felt so unique, especially the Rift of Thessaly and the Fields of Mourning. I also loved the new and updated designs for the characters, especially deities. Hephaestus has a stellar design, one that I feel is incredibly inspired, and I loved that the designs felt a little muted compared to the previous game to reflect the more somber tone that Hades II has.

The soundtrack is by Darren Korb and it’s fantastic, which shouldn’t come as a surprise. I’m eagerly awaiting the release of the full soundtrack so I can listen to Song of the Siren on repeat, because it’s a total banger. I am consistently impressed by Korb’s skill with music, and Hades II is no exception.

via YouTube

Hades II may be in Early Access, but it’s already an amazing game, and only getting better with each update. It’s fixed a few of the issues from the first game by creating a better cast mechanic and providing a second area to explore, but it stumbles a bit with its characters, who often feel flat. Its story, though, is a strong point, as is the art and soundtrack, which work together to create a more serious, brooding vibe. I’m definitely excited to see how this game looks when complete; it’s shaping up to be a wonderful sequel to modern classic.