Hades II

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Hades II
Developer(s)Supergiant Games
Publisher(s)Supergiant Games
Composer(s)Darren Korb
Platform(s)Windows
Release
  • WW: 2024 (early access)
Genre(s)Roguelike
Mode(s)Single-player

Hades II is an upcoming roguelike video game developed by Supergiant Games. A direct sequel to Hades (2020), it follows Melinoë, Princess of the Underworld and sister to Zagreus, the protagonist of the first game. Melinoë aims to defeat Chronos, the Titan of Time, with the aid of other Olympian Gods.

The game was announced in December 2022, and will have an early access release in 2024. It will initially be exclusive to Windows via Steam and the Epic Games Store, though Supergiant has plans to bring the game to other systems.

Premise[edit]

See also: Gameplay of Hades

Like the first game, Hades II is a roguelike dungeon crawler game.[1][2] Set "sometime" after the events of Hades in the same universe,[3][4] the sequel stars Melinoë, Princess of the Underworld and sister to the protagonist of the first game, Zagreus.[5] Alongside her mentor Hecate,[6] she aims to defeat Chronos, the god of time.[3] Returning from Hades is "God Mode", which allows the player to gain more power after each failure.[7] New to the game is the "Mana Bar," a combat resource used for moves that recharges at the start of every fight.[8]

Development[edit]

Development in Hades II began at the start of 2021.[9] In August 2021, Hades writer Greg Kasavin said that Supergiant was undecided as to if the game would receive a sequel.[10] A technical test began in 2024 before its release to early access.[11][12]

Hades II features music by Darren Korb.[5]

Marketing and release[edit]

On December 8, 2022, Hades II was revealed during The Game Awards 2022.[13] It was announced that the game would have an early access release in 2023 on Windows via Steam and the Epic Games Store.[1] Supergiant later clarified in September 2023 that the game would release in early access in Spring 2024 instead.[14] Supergiant plans to reveal information on the game's availability on other platforms in the future,[3] and has plans to release the game on console platforms, despite the game being initially exclusive to PC[5]—similar to the release cycle of the first game.[4] The trailer also showcased interactions between Melinoë and several other characters, including Nemesis and Dora.[7]

Reception[edit]

Awards[edit]

Hades II was nominated for Most Anticipated Game at The Game Awards 2023, losing to Final Fantasy VII Rebirth.[15]

Critical reception[edit]

Pre-release[edit]

During the technical test, Kotaku praised the sex appeal of the game's character designs, writing that "sexiness is woven into their personalities."[16] When comparing technical test to the first game, Elijah Gonzalez of Paste commented that Hades' "blend of convincing characterization, witty dialogue, and excellent performances is alive and well here. I loved what I saw of Hades II's gameplay upgrades, but what excites me most is how it builds on this world and its characters".[17] Gonzalez opined that while Melinoë has more initial "clarity of purpose" than Zagreus, she's also "dragged down by self-doubt and the pressures of being a savior, making her a similarly complicated and engrossing protagonist".[17]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Miller, Matt (December 8, 2022). "Supergiant Games Announces Hades 2". Game Informer. GameStop. Archived from the original on December 9, 2022. Retrieved December 9, 2022.
  2. ^ Carpenter, Nicole (December 8, 2022). "Hades is getting a sequel starring the underworld's princess". Polygon. Vox Media. Retrieved December 9, 2022.
  3. ^ a b c Zheng, Jenny (December 8, 2022). "Hades 2 Announced By Supergiant Games At The Game Awards". GameSpot. Fandom. Retrieved December 9, 2022.
  4. ^ a b Wald, Heather (December 12, 2022). "Hades 2: Everything we know so far about Supergiant Games' sequel". GamesRadar+. Future plc. Retrieved December 12, 2022.
  5. ^ a b c Peters, Jay (December 9, 2022). "Hades is getting a sequel". The Verge. Vox Media. Retrieved December 9, 2022.
  6. ^ Conditt, Jessica (December 8, 2022). "'Hades II' promises witchy vibes and a new immortal protagonist". Engadget. Yahoo!. Retrieved December 9, 2022.
  7. ^ a b Winslow, Levi (December 9, 2022). "Oh Shit, They're Making A Hades Sequel". Kotaku. G/O Media. Retrieved December 9, 2022.
  8. ^ Hughes, William (April 19, 2024). "Game Theory: Hades II is already incredible, and it's barely getting started". The A.V. Club. Retrieved April 21, 2024.
  9. ^ "Hades II FAQ | Supergiant Games". Supergiant Games. Archived from the original on April 18, 2024. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
  10. ^ Stedman, Alex (December 9, 2022). "Hades II Announced at The Game Awards". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved December 9, 2022.
  11. ^ Yang, George (April 16, 2024). "Hades 2 Technical Test Is Coming Soon, Here's How To Sign Up". GameSpot. Retrieved April 16, 2024.
  12. ^ Parrish, Ash (April 19, 2024). "The Hades 2 technical test is a trial in self-control". The Verge. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  13. ^ Kennedy, Victoria (December 9, 2022). "Hades is getting a sequel, the Princess of the Underworld is heading our way". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on December 9, 2022. Retrieved December 9, 2022.
  14. ^ Egan, Toussaint (September 14, 2023). "Hades 2 will release in Early Access next Spring". Polygon. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
  15. ^ Bankhurst, Adam (December 8, 2023). "The Game Awards 2023 Winners: The Full List". IGN. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  16. ^ Mercante, Alyssa (April 19, 2024). "Hades II Is The Kind Of Hot We Need Right Now". Kotaku. Retrieved April 21, 2024.
  17. ^ a b Gonzalez, Elijah (April 19, 2024). "Through its Excellent First Few Hours, Hades II Entirely Justifies the Sequel Treatment". Paste. Retrieved April 19, 2024.

External links[edit]

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