I’m a big fan of when developers stun the world by shadow-dropping an upcoming game on the horizon, and this week, one of the most highly anticipated games of the last few years is available to play in early access and let me tell you, it feels more like a finished product than 99% of things you’ll play in Steam Early Access.
Hades II is here, and has launched to huge fanfare as roguelike fans have flocked to the new installment of the Greek Mythology-based smash hit, but you may be asking yourself, what’s new about this one when compared to Zagreus’ romp in the underworld.
Well, allow me to break it down for you. Having jumped into the action myself, here is Indie Game Culture’s list breaking down What’s New In Hades 2!
Omega Attacks
First up, we have the change that which will register with returning players pretty early on, and I for one am in favor of this change.
Hades II swaps out the Cast Gem system used by Zagreus in the original and allows your new lead, Melinoe, to use casts governed by a Magick Bar. This bar allows you to cast charged attacks, which offer an enhanced attack, ranged attack, and AOE attack.
This is a great system that gives the player more control over their most powerful attacks, but also, due to your protagonist’s time-based abilities, you can also slow down time as you cast each attack, giving you a split second within a huge melee to execute devastating attacks with ease.
It’s a system that offers a sense of risk and reward, as you will need to conserve Magick for rooms that require special attacks more than others, so don’t go spending it all in one place, but Hades 2 gives you ample ability to experiment with your most potent moves, and it’s a killer addition to this new installment.
In-World Resources and Incantations
Another big change is that, when out in the big bad world, the environment will play more of a role than it did previously. You will now be able to collect resources out in the wild, such as flowers, ore, and a variety of other useful oddities. This is a fun addition as now rooms feel like more than compact arenas, but also areas you’ll need to explore and scour for loot.
These items are then used to perform incantations that provide upgrades to your home base, The Crossroads, along with some other permanent upgrades and story-based tasks. It’s basically the House Contractor from the Original Hades, but with a fun little twist. So when you’re out and about, be sure to grab some goodies as you go.
Ash and Arcana, and Grasp
A major change that feels a little like how Tarot Cards worked in Cult of the Lamb, is the addition of Ash and Arcana to Hades 2. Ash is a resource collected in the wild or from the Broker in The Crossroads, and with this, players can use the Ash Altar to equip and unlock new abilities.
Again, this isn’t a new addition as much as it is a tweak to an old system, and this is essentially the Mirror of Night from the original Hades. However, this new and intuitive UI allows you to plot a progression path that feels more unique to your tastes, rather than mindlessly pouring resources into anything that’s available.
Players will be able to unlock Arcana Cards, and these will offer a variety of benefits throughout their run. However, along with ash, players will need to collect Psyche, as this resource will improve your Grasp, which, in turn, will allow you to equip more Arcana Cards at one time.
In short, it’s a new upgrade tree that puts you in the driving seat more than ever before, but just a hint for newbies, focus on Ash before Grasp, trust me!
New Gods and Boons
With a new setting, new characters, and a fresh storyline, you would expect there to be new gods and boons to mess around with, and if you thought that, then congrats, you’re absolutely right.
Hades 2 features a cast of returning Gods of Olympus, alongside some new and interesting additions with new powers to bend to your will. These will slowly trickle into play as you begin your Hades 2 adventure, with Hestia, the God of Fire, being the earliest new god to show themselves.
However, before long, you’ll have met a handful more. The new boons take a little getting used to, and there is a new meta in play here, but the early stages when experimentation is needed is always the most fun part. So enjoy getting to know the newest members of your extended family.
Planting and Harvesting
Hey, remember those goodies you can find out in the wild that we mentioned a minute ago. Yeah, I bet you’re thinking about the RNG-fuelled frustration you’ll endure as you go out on runs to farm those items. Well, fear not because Supergiant has thought of everything.
In Hades 2, you’ll be able to plant, farm, and harvest items when back at The Crossroads, and you’ll be able to consistently get your hands on the items needed to progress the story, get upgrades, and make The Crossroads feel more homely.
These items will passively grow while you are out on runs, so there is no need to go all Stardew Valley and start building sprinklers. Just get out there, kill some baddies and when you inevitably die, the fruits of your labor will be waiting for you. It ain’t much, but it’s honest work.
Tools
Not to keep harping on about resources in the wild, but have you considered how you’re going to get your hands on them. After all, not everything in the underworld will be as easy to harvest as a Moly Flower. This is why the game allows you to pick a secondary weapon of sorts at the Silver Pool, and these are tools.
These tools give you access to certain items in the wild that will otherwise elude you. For example, early in the game you are given a Mining Tool, and this can be used to harvest ore like Silver. But if you don’t have this on hand, then you’ll need to walk on by and leave that precious metal for next time.
It means that you’ll need to think ahead about the resources you need most before heading out and plan accordingly to make each run as fruitful as it possibly can be.
Terrain Kills
Another new addition to the combat of Hades 2 is the ability to use the environment to your advantage. In the Original Hades, the environment was a factor too, but mostly because as you got deeper into the Underworld, the terrain would become more and more hostile. However, in Hades 2, the terrain is both an enemy and an ally.
Provided you can lure enemies into areas of the arena where harmful terrain occurs, you’ll be able to use that to your advantage to deal bonus effects and damage, like, say, a fallen tree in the early stages of the game.
It’s a small change, but one that literally levels the playing field and makes each area of Hades 2 feel richer and more dynamic.
Arachne’s Armor
In the words of Ron Weasley, Bloody Spiders…
Hades has employed a new system in the sequel that asks players to take the rough with the smooth if they want to strike a deal with Arachne, the new spider acquaintance in the underworld.
This Spider quite literally spins yarns and makes some lovely scarves that act as Armor for Melinoe as she takes on the Underworld’s trials and tribulations. The armor acts exactly as you would expect, adding a temporary pot of health for players, and when it’s depleted, the armor is gone for good.
But what makes this an issue, is that the Armor also comes with a helpful ability, and as time rolls on, you may come to rely on this ability to get you through each room. So basically, you lose the armor, and suddenly, you’ve taken a step back.
The temporary boost of health and power can be used to great effect, but remember, it won’t last forever!
Help From The Sidelines
The original Hades wasn’t one for offering you a lot of aid when you went about your escape, but occasionally, you would encounter an NPC like Sispyphus, Euridice, or Patroclus that would lend a hand, and Hades 2 is no different. What is different, though, are the NPCs that will lend a hand and what they offer.
You’ll encounter characters like Icarus that will not only aid you in battle but will also offer some excellent power-ups. You’ll meet Selene, who will offer you the chance to equip the Powers of the Moon, but only if you have expended a certain amount of Magick, meaning only those who use a lot of Casts will relish her encounters.
Or you may come across Echo, who will allow you to test your luck and use repeat boons, rewards and more from previous runs.
Essentially, Hades 2 leans into encounters a lot more than the first game does, meaning more randomness, more options, and more fun overall.
Death To Chronos!
So there you have it, guys, a list of all the major changes seen in Hades 2 when compared to its predecessor. By and large, all of these changes are very welcome ones that tweak and expand upon existing systems, which makes Hades 2 a wonderful sequel to Hades, even if it’s only in early access right now.
I hope this filled you in, and has encouraged you to jump into Hades 2 right now. As always, thanks for reading Indie Game Culture!
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