Hades II simply obtained its second main replace as a part of its early entry improvement, which was an important excuse for me to leap again in. Since its preliminary launch, I’ve logged greater than 30 hours and really held myself again from taking part in way more – I don’t need to get bored with the sport earlier than it hits 1.0 – however with the brand new replace, I wished to see what’s new and attempt to beat the brand new ultimate boss on my very first run.
Sadly, I haven’t even been in a position to see what the boss is but. I did make it to the replace’s new area, however I bought destroyed by a harmful miniboss. Still, I’ve nonetheless been actually impressed with what Supergiant Games has added since May to make what’s already an excellent sport even higher.
Image: Supergiant Games
The massive additions are spectacular. Hades II initially launched with six areas — 4 for an Underworld route and two for a “floor” route — and with every main replace, Supergiant has added a brand new area with new enemies, characters, and music to spherical out that floor route.
The first main replace, which got here out in October, added the sport’s first new area, Mount Olympus, and it feels as epic as Mount Olympus ought to. It has grand structure, fearsome enemies, and a fiery boss struggle towards Prometheus, all backed by an unbelievable orchestral soundtrack. (I’ve spent extra time than I’d wish to admit listening to this track on loop.)
That replace additionally added the sport’s sixth and ultimate weapon – a witch-y, Hades-style interpretation of a mech swimsuit. Seriously: your major assault is punching baddies with large fists whereas your particular assault shoots projectiles that dwelling in on close by targets. You even have cool wings.
Image: Supergiant Games
In the second main replace, there’s a brand new area and boss, too, however I’ve additionally observed plenty of smaller particulars that really feel simply as impactful. For instance, the Altar of Ashes, a spot the place you choose from varied passive results within the type of arcana playing cards that may assist your runs, bought a visible redesign so as to add intricately-illustrated customized playing cards. (One of them options Theseus and the Minotaur, who chances are you’ll keep in mind as bosses from the primary Hades, in thongs, lol.) I additionally noticed an enthralling new portrait for Melinoë, the sport’s protagonist, that added some levity to a personality that’s often fairly critical.
And all through the main updates and lots of smaller patches, Supergiant has rebalanced and adjusted all types of mechanics and particulars in ways in which I can actually barely start to maintain monitor of. The studio isn’t afraid to take the hatchet to issues that must go, too; with this most up-to-date patch, Supergiant scrapped a complete mechanic tied to gathering.
Overall, the adjustments have made the sport really feel higher to play over time – and looking patch notes, Supergiant makes use of an emoji to point which adjustments are impressed by neighborhood suggestions, which I feel is an efficient option to acknowledge how gamers are contributing to the sport, which is without doubt one of the most important advantages of this kind of early entry launch. (I must also acknowledge that Hades II has the benefit of constructing from the already-great basis of the primary Hades.)
Hades II may not launch in 1.0 for a very long time. Supergiant hasn’t dedicated to a timeframe for that, and it’s nonetheless engaged on a 3rd main replace that’s set to launch “some months from now.” Because of the success of Supergiant’s different video games, like Bastion and Transistor, the studio in all probability doesn’t must rush.
But given the way it’s handled Hades II’s early entry up to now, I’m superb if Supergiant takes its time. Even although Hades II isn’t completed, I’ve no qualms about recommending the sport to anybody that’s . And leaping in now permits you to expertise simply how a lot an already-great sport can enhance over time.
