Key Highlights
- The game’s unique blend of roguelike mechanics and mythological storytelling keeps players engaged.
- New additions in Hades II, including new powers, companions, and a larger world to explore, add depth and complexity.
- God Mode and Boons are crucial gameplay elements that significantly impact the player’s journey through the game.
- The ending is both powerful and emotional, offering a rewarding conclusion to the player’s experience.
A Love for ‘Hades II’: A Journey Through Mythology and Power
I’ve been playing Hades II non-stop for the past few weeks, and I’ve lost count of the number of times it has blown me away. Every few hours, there’s a new twist, turn, or revelation that makes me sit back in my seat and marvel at how truly marvelous this game is.
Originally released in Early Access in late 2024, Hades II took almost a year to fully release on consoles, with the Nintendo Switch 2 being one of the latest platforms to get it. Like its predecessor, it’s a roguelike game—so basically, a run-based game where failure and success alike reset you to start again, while certain things like skills and weaponry persist from run to run as you advance through the mythological narrative.
The Roguelike Mechanics
Every time I booted up Hades II for the first time, I thought it would be more of the same. Struggling to get through each level, dying over and over, but always getting a little stronger, and moving the story a little bit further. But there were so many new additions this time that I started to get delightfully overwhelmed.
New powers, new ways to unlock or sustain them, pick a companion, pick a weapon—there’s an endless array of choices that make each playthrough feel fresh and exciting.
The game introduces you to new characters like Selene, the Moon Goddess, who initially seemed unhelpful but turned out to be incredibly powerful when used correctly.
Boons also play a significant role in Hades II, as they did in the first Hades. These random powers from different members of the Greek pantheon offer three choices each night. The variety and unpredictability of these boons mean that no two runs are ever the same, keeping the gameplay fresh.
The Emotional Pacing
One of the most unfathomable things about Hades II is how information and revelations are perfectly delivered right when you need them. So while you might not be able to access a certain spell or item at the start, it becomes available when the game knows you’re ready. The same goes for different pieces of information, new characters, and more.
The way Hades II so beautifully weaves themes of family and betrayal that you’ve been wrapped up in for all these hours is completely wonderful.
Plus, it’s bolstered by the incredible pacing of it all. As you get closer to the ending, things change, and your last few runs are ever so slightly different from the previous ones, which makes them mind-blowing.
The Endgame
One of my biggest mistakes was avoiding Selene’s powers because they didn’t seem helpful. However, on a random run, I was forced to take them, and I realized that she was an idiot. Her powers weren’t just good; they were incredibly good, arguably the most powerful in the game.
Once you use them right, they become insanely powerful and basically turn you into a superhero.
After about 30 deaths, I decided to cheat by putting on “God Mode,” which means that each time you die, you become less susceptible to damage. It’s not the most honorable way to play, but my character is battling gods, so I figured, why not embrace those powers too? God Mode helped immensely.
The ending of Hades II was powerful, poignant, beautiful, and surprising.
Melinoë, the Princess of the Underworld, delivers a line that perfectly sums up the emotional journey: “We’re not finished.” This is because you aren’t finished either, if you don’t want to be. After you beat the main story, there are still many things to unlock, including bigger and more difficult challenges.
For example, I haven’t woken up Hypnos yet, despite him being there and accessible since the very start of the game. The Fates, who were captured by Chronos, are still missing. To do either of those things, you have to keep fighting, both on Earth and in the Underworld, again and again.
A Magnificent Experience
Hades II is a magnificent, exhilarating game that moved me and kept me coming back again and again. I love it so much that I’m already looking for figures, merch, whatever I can get to remember this incredible experience long after finally putting Melinoë back on the shelf.
It’s not just another video game; it’s a deeply emotional journey through mythological storytelling and intricate gameplay mechanics. If you’re a fan of Supergiant Games or love the roguelike genre, Hades II is an absolute must-play.
It’s currently available on Nintendo Switch 2, PC, and MacOS.
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