What to Expect from Hades 2

What to Expect from Hades 2

The Game Awards is always a fun spectacle. Not only does it reward the fantastic developers who create the games we love, but it also showcases many World Premieres for upcoming games. The Game Awards 2022 was no different, and by far my favorite announcement of the show was Hades 2!

As soon as I saw the Supergiant Games logo pop up on the screen, I was instantly excited. Then, the excitement kept on growing as I watched the phenomenal trailer, barely allowing myself to hope that it could possibly be what I thought it was. But sure enough, the trailer ended by proudly displaying the title ‘Hades 2‘.

But what might be involved in this upcoming title, and when might it be released? Let’s take a look at what to expect from Hades 2!

What We Know About Hades 2

The sequel to Hades will follow a woman named Melinoë, the Princess of the Underworld, and presumably the sister of Zagreus. The events will occur after the timeline of the first game, but Supergiant have confirmed that no prior knowledge is required and it works as a standalone. It seems that it will still be a roguelite dungeon-crawler, and the real-time combat seems to share similar gameplay mechanics to its predecessor.

Dissecting the Trailer

The trailer kicks off with an epic fight scene between two characters shrouded in darkness. Over the top, the iconic Hades soundtrack chimes intensely. The art style is immediately reminiscent of the first game, and I got goosebumps as I wondered whether this was a new game with a similar style, or whether we really were getting a sequel. When the protagonist stepped out of the shadows and was revealed to be wearing a leaf crown similar to Zagreus’, I knew that we were in for a treat.

However, what had looked like an epic showdown is soon revealed to be a sparring match. We get our first good look at the protagonist, and she has one red eye, just like Zagreus, further confirming that she’s likely to be his sister. Her opponent appears to be a teacher, who encourages Melinoë to keep learning. Witchy symbolism is abound, and suggests that this game will focus on magic. Their conversation ends with an ominous “Death to Kronos”.

We then get to see some incredible gameplay, and to say I had chills would be an understatement. The new moves and abilities look set to be phenomenal, such as a spinning magical circle full of symbols, that reminds me of the spells that Dr Strange wields in the MCU movies. We also see an impressive ability that shoots magic in a line in front of and behind Melinoë, taking out all the enemies in her path.

We’re introduced to a few new characters from Greek mythology, such as Moros (Doom Incarnate), and Apollo, who was noticeably missing from the first game. There are also other characters veiled in mystery, and it suggests that the plot will be just as strong as in Hades. It also seems to continue the theme of having very talented voice actors, and I can’t wait to get to know all of the new faces.

The trailer draws to a close with a voiceover from Hades, saying “He is no mere Titan, he is time itself. And time cannot be stopped”. The Titans are a part of Greek mythology, and are mentioned in the Codex in Hades, as the Infernal Arms are what ended their reign in the first place. Their strength rivals the gods, and it’s going to be very exciting to see how this story plays out.

The final line of the trailer is of Melinoë confidently stating “Wait for me, father, I’ll do this”. Although she’s technically speaking to the audience, so we can’t confirm who she’s talking to, it seems likely that the father she refers to is indeed Hades. It’s going to be interesting to watch that dynamic play out throughout the game, in particular where it differs from the relationship between Hades and Zagreus.

Similarities to Hades

The general gameplay style of Hades 2 seems to be directly building on what we already experienced in Hades. The dashing around whilst fighting multiple enemies is clearly still there, as well as the fast-paced attacks and abilities. The gameplay was incredibly smooth in Hades, so I’m glad that Supergiant Games seem to have kept it the same for the most part. Even though the specific moves and abilities are new to the player, they should be easy to pick up by using your muscle memory from the first game.

We’re also still getting dramatic dialogue, which is excellent to see. One of the aspects of the original that fans loved was how deep the storytelling and lore were, and the way this was achieved was primarily through dialogue. It’s clear from the trailer that the voice actors in Hades 2 are just as passionate about bringing the characters to life (or should I say, to death). The range of personalities is evident, and I took an immediate liking to Moros, whose voice is earnest and encouraging. It’s going to be interesting to see if any of the original gods return for this game, such as Zagreus’ adopted brother Thanatos.

Thanatos

Another thing that’s back is the iconic soundtrack. I absolutely adore the music choices of Hades, and hearing it in the trailer instantly made me feel all the emotions I associate with the game. Hades is such a complete experience, and the music is a huge part of that. It’ll be interesting to see whether Hades 2 uses an identical soundtrack, or simply builds on the same style to create new numbers. I also hope we get more original songs, such as Eurydice’s beautiful ‘Good Riddance’.

Finally, although we only see it once, the trailer shows us a rewards screen. Once again, there appear to be three boon options upon successful completion of an encounter. Building your loadout is the most rewarding part of Hades, and it’s fantastic to know that we’re having that same element in Hades 2. I wonder whether we’ll also have access to a Mirror where we can spend Darkness or something similar on upgrades.

Possible Plot Theories

So, whilst the trailer gave us plenty of insight into the gameplay, it was intriguingly vague on the story content. There were several hints, but nothing overly concrete. Of course, the excitement of that is that there’s plenty of room for inventing theories. Hopefully, that can keep fans entertained whilst we wait for the release. So, what are some possible plots that Hades 2 could be exploring?

Now, an interesting line in the trailer comes from Apollo. He says “Least I can do is light your way down”. A seemingly innocuous comment, it gives some insight into how this will play out, as he chooses the word ‘down’ rather than ‘out’. This suggests that Hades 2 takes an opposite approach to the original. Whereas Zagreus is attempting to escape the underworld, could it be that Melinoë is trying to get back down there? It would certainly make for an original concept. Whilst we know that Kronos is probably going to be the main villain in this game, we don’t know the premise for it. Perhaps he’s down in the underworld wreaking havoc and Melinoë has to stop him?

Now, speaking of Kronos, it’ll be interesting to see what he wants. In mythology, he is the King of the Titans as well as the god of time. He’s known to be a very destructive being that devours all in his path. In mythology, Kronos was defeated in the same war as the other Titans, a war we know has already happened in the original Hades storyline. So, it’ll be interesting to see whether Kronos simply wasn’t defeated that first time, or whether he’s somehow returned. If he was defeated before, then it’s likely that he’ll be seeking vengeance against the gods. That could be a strong potential motive for him, and we’ll have to see whether there’s any truth to this theory.

Once More Unto the Underworld

Overall, the Hades 2 trailer leaves us with as many questions as it does answers. And you know what? I love that! It’s so exciting to know that a mysterious new game is on its way, and it’s going to be a lot of fun guessing about the content. Besides, the aspects that we do know are really interesting.

I can’t wait to get to know Melinoë, and I’m sure she’ll be just as wonderful of a protagonist as Zagreus was. Kronos also sounds like he’ll be a formidable villain, and I can’t wait to encounter him for the first time. Being able to use magic is also going to be a lot of fun, and it’ll be fascinating to see how the abilities differ from those in the first game.

FAQs

Question: Does Hades Have a Sequel?

Answer: Supergiant Games have never done sequels in the past, but on 8th December 2022, they confirmed at The Game Awards that Hades 2 was in the works

Question: Who’s the Main Character of Hades 2?

Answer: In Hades 2, players will take control of Melinoë, the Princess of the Underworld. In Greek Mythology, she’s the daughter of Zeus and Persephone, but in the lore of the game, it seems likely that she will be Hades’ daughter, and Zagreus’ sister.

Question: When Will Hades 2 be Released?

Answer: As of now (December 2022), we don’t have an exact release date. However, Supergiant Games have confirmed that Hades 2 can be expected to release at some point during 2023. Let’s hope it’s sooner rather than later! It will also be getting an Early Access release at some point, so players can experience the game before its official launch.

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