Hades II has been running a technical test for the last few days, and it is already a blast. I’m a huge fan of the original Hades; the stylish roguelike had fantastic combat and incredible character design and nailed that just one more run feel. Hades II, I’m happy to say, feels even better than the original so far.
Developed by Supergiant Games and published by Private Division, Hades II has entered early access with a technical test. It holds the hub world, the first zone, and the first major boss encounter. It feels fluid and fast, with the changes to the base character already making the game feel like something different, without giving up what made the original so special. Supergiant Games‘ first sequel is shaping up to be one for the books.
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Hades II switches up the main character from Zagreus to his bewitching sister, Melinoë. She’s on a revenge quest to take down Cronos, the Titan of time, for what he did to her family. She’s driven and focused, determined to take down anything in her way. Her combat kit is interesting and hints at some cool ways to tear through enemies. Her dash is standard, but damn do the little black and green flames the trail leaves look awesome. She uses a staff as the starting weapon, with fast strikes and a long reach.
Charging the staff lights up the ground ahead and behind, dealing damage to anyone in its path. Her special attack fires a magic orb that can be charged for massive damage. The massive difference is her ability to toss down a giant spell circle on the ground, preventing anyone trapped inside from moving. This allows for some sweet setups as you pile on to enemies that try desperately to hit you but can’t reach you. I unlocked a new weapon in the twin blades, dealing massive quick DPS damage. I can’t wait to see how many other weapons will be available.
In terms of new godly powers, I got to experiment with some fantastic elemental abilities. Fire strikes, burning damage, and increased attack made each attack better than the last. The standout ability for me thus far is a wave dash, letting you surf across a combat arena, dealing damage to whoever’s in your wake. The difficulty feels similarly tuned to the original so far, with the first boss taking some serious work to put down.
We get to see glimpses of Hades II full potential. Getting enough materials let you start to upgrade your base, allowing for new merchants and and tools to change your runs. I was able to get a pickaxe, letting me get at the sweet silver deposits on my next run.
Doing so unlocked the dual blades mentioned above. Some NPCs tell you to come back later, hinting at what may transpire. Options pop up in certain areas, including fishing and the aforementioned mining, some of which are unavailable in the technical test. Hades II is clearly ambitious, doing more to improve each run than before.
The standout character art from the original is back in full swing. These characters look hot. Each design feels unlike the one before, so clearly inspired by a specific vision for who those characters are. Hecate, Oddysseus, and Hephaestus all look incredible, and, I’m sure, will inspire some delectable artwork. The environmental design is similarly gorgeous, with the first zone dripping in dark greens, lush blues, and purples, all setting the scene for all the murder going on.
Hades II is already running like a dream on Steam Deck. With it constantly running at 60fps, there were no performance issues whatsoever. Even when the screen got busy, the game never dipped or lagged. I was already incredibly excited about Hades II, but after this technical test, Early Access cannot come soon enough. Supergiant Games said they don’t want a massive break between the test and EA. Let’s hope it’s just around the corner.
Hades II has no release date announced, but you can apply for the technical test here. May the gods be in your favor.
