Words by Conor Woods for Levelhead Gaming
In the treacherous realm of video game sequels - where most are damned if they do and damned if they don’t - Hades II has escaped the common hellscape of development limbo. Answering the prayers of the faithful, it has slayed the titan of expectation that loomed over its release.
Those on that early access drip had no fear: Hades II’s early access was a shining example of how early access can be done. From the outset it was gorgeous, brimming with content to satiate hungry fans and proof to skeptics that Supergiant’s next great work was well underway.
It didn’t miss its marks, nor did it languish eternally “in development,” fat off the dime of hopeful players. Instead, Supergiant did the almost unthinkable - they did exactly what they said they would. They released a fantastic sequel in a market still quaking from Silksong’s surprise debut, earning a 95 Metacritic score and satisfying legions of devotees.
This is a game that ascends to meet the towering legacy of its predecessor - a sequel that delivers on every front a successor could be hoped to. The challenges before it sprung forth like the many heads of the ancient Hydra: would it be too similar to the original, a repetitive echo? Or would it, like a hero corrupted by power, abandon its sacred roots and stray too far from the formula that forged its legend?
Would its art and sound, once divine, now feel woefully mortal?
Would its game-loop become a Sisyphean grind, devoid of inspiration?
Would its beloved characters return as but hollow shades of their former selves?
Against all these dark possibilities, Hades II stands in bold defiance.
The Story and Setting
Hades II carries on the narrative from the first game with effortless grace. Things have changed, time has passed, and new calamities have reshaped the Underworld.
You now play as Melinoë, daughter of Hades, secreted away after cataclysmic events befell her father and his realm. Aided by Hecate, a legendary witch of exceptional power (and even more exceptional abs…), you traverse the highest peaks and lowest depths to thwart Chronos, the Titan of Time himself.
It’s a setup worthy of the myths: a generational struggle, a family curse, a cycle of gods and mortals forever trying to outpace fate. For those who conquered Hades on 32-Heat (like me - and yes, I’m bragging), the continuity to the first game’s plot is extensive and satisfying. What could follow a reunion of that fractured family?
A peaceful, unblemished eternity and happy times for all? Nice try. This is Greek myth - so, naturally: “very-much-blemished tragedy and a fountain-load of bad times.”
In order to right the wrongs of an even older source of generational trauma than last time, Melinoë wields the Nocturnal Arms - an arsenal ranging from the quintessential witch’s staff, to a giant axe, explosive skulls, and even an adamantine jet-suit. Each run offers divine blessings from Olympus, which combine in deadly, run-defining ways.
Boatloads of new enemy types, entirely new weapons and weapon upgrades, and double the number of levels make Hades II feel as expansive as it is replayable.The combat remains satisfying, twitchy, and frenetic - balanced beautifully between chaos and control.
Environmental hazards and enemy interactions create constant moments of surprise and tension. Progression feels tuned to perfection: every upgrade and victory feels earned, not granted.
Art and Sound
The art design is, once again, sublime. Every frame of Hades II roils like Hecates’ cauldron, a bubbling concoction of high-quality ingredients and divine craft.
Backgrounds are richly evocative, enemies elegantly animated, and bosses both brutal and beautiful. Each god and character design is a feast for the eyes: the blur lines on the ever-speedy Hermes, the thundering, storm-cloud mane of Zeus, the hearth-warm glow of Hestia’s home-spun furnacing - and yes, even Dionysus’ leopard-print budgie-smuggler.
And then there’s the voicework: universally excellent. As before, every line of dialogue is fully voiced - each performance elevating its character beyond mere archetype. From calm introspection to heated conflict, the cast delivers with nuance and energy, allowing players to truly invest in the world, the stakes, and the strange, divine family at its center.
I love this game, just as I loved the original Hades - a rare case where my inflated expectations have been well and truly met. It is reverent yet daring, confident yet warm, and overflowing with that rarest of game-design magic: heart.
So delay no more, mortal. Time is fleeting - and he’s also quite rude, frankly - so it’s best you knock him down a peg or two.
So mote it be.
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