Hades 2: everything we know so far
Supergiant Games’ modern classic roguelike, HadesYou are getting a sequel. Hades 2 received a surprise announcement at the 2022 Game Awards, and it promises to take players beyond the Underworld in the company of a new heroine, Melinoë.
Many details about the game remain a mystery, which will likely continue until early access. However, we do have some details, mostly courtesy of Supergiant’s announcement and FAQ, as well as the trailer.
What’s Hades 2’s release date?
Supergiant is yet to announce a release date. Hades 2 yet. It has been working on the game since the start of 2021, but the developer says “We still have a lot left to build.” The game is expected to be released on PC and consoles, but the specific platforms will be announced closer to its release.
Supergiant however, confirmed that Hades 2As its predecessor, it will also be available in early access on PC. Hades 2’s early-access build will be available on both Steam and the Epic Store. Supergiant promised additional information about the early-access phase of 2023 but did not confirm that it would indeed be made available by 2023.
Who is Melinoë, Princess of the Underworld?
Hades 2 has a new protagonist — Melinoë. In the game’s lore, she Hades’ daughter and the sister of Zagreus, star of the first game. According to Supergiant, she’s “an immortal witch and sorceress with powerful magical abilities.”
Like Zagreus, Melinoë isn’t a pure creation of Supergiant’s, but an existing figure from Greek mythology that the developer has adapted to fit its story. She’s a nymph or moon goddess, and a bringer of nightmares, associated with the queen of the underworld, Persephone, as well as with Hecate.
Ah, this is how you pronounce her name.
Who is the cool witch Melinoë fights in the trailer?
That’s Hecate! It’s not confirmed in the trailer itself, but if you check the credits in the YouTube description, you’ll see that Amelia Tyler is listed as the voice actor for Hecate, alongside Judy Alice Lee as Melinoë.
Supergiant mentions that Hecate will play an important role in the game. Perhaps she’s the most important inspiration. Hades 2The theme of witchcraft is also included in the book.
“Central to this ancient and oft-feared and misunderstood practice is Hecate, the secretive goddess of witchcraft and the crossroads,” Supergiant says. “She plays a significant role in classical mythology surrounding Hades and the Underworld, and has been an influential and deeply compelling figure in witchcraft, myth, and folklore in a variety of cultures for thousands of years… so much so that we felt we needed a whole new game to try and do her justice.”
What is Hades 2’s villain?
Hades 2The sequel is set two years after the events of game 1. It’s both set in and outside the Underworld. The villain of the piece is Chronos, the Titan of Time, and Hades’ father. Chronos has escaped imprisonment in the Underworld to wage war on Olympus; Melinoë will take on his forces, assisted by “the full might of Olympus.”
Supergiant promises “a bigger, deeper mythic world” than the first game, with “a sweeping story that continually unfolds through your every setback and accomplishment.”
From the trailer and cast list, we can see that the game will also feature Moros, the spirit of impending doom; Apollo, god of light; and Nemesis, goddess of revenge, plus a cute “listless shade” called Dora, who might actually be Pandora.
What will change in Hades 2’s gameplay?
Although Supergiant is keeping its gameplay secrets tight, it seems like they will try to surprise users within the same framework as the original. “New locations, challenges, upgrade systems, and surprises await as you delve into the ever-shifting Underworld again and again,” Supergiant says. There will be no multiplayer — it’s a strictly single-player experience.
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