Hades 2: Character Introduction and Gameplay Explanation

In comparison to its predecessor, you’ll certainly recognize many familiar faces in this installment.

Let’s delve into the music of this game, crossing over a bit.

If the average music quality of Hades 1 was around 80 points, and Orpheus’ exclusive music scored 85 points, then Hades 2’s score is generally on par with the previous installment.

The regular tracks have distinct characteristics and don’t overshadow the experience with noise or agitation. The second act boss, the Sea Goddess Orchestra, with its accompanying battle music, surpasses even the Muse’s songs from the previous game. Additionally, the artistic creation aspect of the Giants is truly unbeatable.

As for the final boss, the sense of urgency during the battle is palpable. Without an HP boost, one should be on the brink of death with a single hit. The difficulty of this final boss is notably higher than the previous installment’s climactic battle with Hades.

Skipping over characters like Zeus and Poseidon, let’s focus on the highlights of the combat and off-stage cultivation aspects.

Continuing from the intensity of the final boss, the difficulty of this game is lower than the previous one. I encountered the final boss within 4 hours of gameplay, whereas in the previous game, I’d probably still be squabbling with the Big Sister.

However, the strength of the final boss, Old Man Time, is significantly higher than Hades from the previous game, which is understandable since Old Man Time probably has an instant-win combo deck up his sleeve, haha.

The Early Access version currently offers four weapons: the staff, the dagger, the axe, and the torch. Except for the staff, which is available from the start, the dagger, axe, and torch require materials to unlock. So far, I haven’t seen any branching paths like in the previous game.

However, keepsakes are available very early on. You receive one with your first bottle of wine. So, I’d recommend giving wine to everyone at the start.

Correction: Thank you for pointing out my mistake. In the previous game, companions were unlocked through trust, while keepsakes were given with wine. Nevertheless, I still recommend giving wine to everyone first—at least to unlock some useful ones before focusing on one companion.

The keepsake from the Fury sisters grants health regeneration after battles, with a maximum healing cap, and it restores to full health once damaged.

The keepsake from the Furies grants attack-related bonuses.

The keepsakes from the two teachers provide damage reduction and mana regeneration.

Personally, I don’t find these three particularly useful.

The keepsake from the Spider Lady grants 20 armor, and if the armor exists, it regenerates 2 armor after battle. This keepsake’s strength shines when paired with certain playstyles, as there are many ways to gain armor in-game. With this item, you can continually stack armor.

Speaking of armor, let’s discuss the basic mechanics. Similar to the previous game, there’s a health system where you start with a certain amount of health, and if you die, the game ends. However, this game introduces an armor system, which can be obtained through various means such as NPC interactions and special blessings. When you have armor, damage is deducted from it before your health. Also, in almost every run, you’ll encounter the Spider Lady who will make you a piece of clothing. You can choose the effects of this clothing, and when you have armor, it counts as wearing the clothing. The clothing has effects like mana regeneration. If your armor is depleted to zero, the clothing is damaged and won’t be repaired even if you gain armor again.

Additionally, the game replaces the grenade mechanic from the previous game with regular attacks, special attacks, and spells, as well as charged versions of each. Charging requires mana, which normally doesn’t regenerate, but can be replenished through equipping clothing, gaining blessings, and other means. Currently, there are five main blessing slots, each corresponding to regular attacks, special attacks, spells, movement, and mana regeneration. In other words, each deity has a blessing that allows you to regenerate mana. For example, Zeus reduces your mana cap but allows you to regenerate mana, Aphrodite marks enemies with weakness, and you regenerate mana while near them, and Apollo allows you to regenerate mana while standing in a spell circle, and so on.

The spell circle deserves special mention. Its effect is to imprison units within its radius, and a charged spell circle deals high damage when it ends.

The effects of regular attacks and special attacks vary depending on the weapon.

For instance, in this run, I acquired the ability to shoot additional fireballs with my regular and spell attacks, enlarge the spell circle, and passively regenerate mana, allowing me to effortlessly reach the final boss with full health.

Furthermore, instead of each deity having a major support slot, this game introduces off-stage support from the Moon Goddess Tyrande. You’ll encounter her in certain blessing scenarios. Like before, you’ll have three options for off-stage support tailored to your build, and all of them require you to spend mana to fill the support gauge. Once you’ve spent enough mana through multiple charges, you can press F to unleash Elune’s Fury…

As for off-stage character development, this game is much more complex than the previous one. Firstly, the tools you can bring outside are limited. To draw a comparison with the well-known World of Warcraft, whereas before you were a player with all professions and a gnome army knife, now you have to choose which profession tool to bring before leaving.

That’s right, now you need a pickaxe for mining, a shovel for gathering herbs, and a fishing rod for fishing—five tools in total, but you can only bring one each time you leave. So, if you encounter thorium ore on the road while holding a fishing rod, you’re basically stuck watching like a dumb tiger…

The materials obtained can not only be used to craft weapons but also to unlock various recipes and enhance character abilities in the crucible.

Additionally, a new cultivation system has been introduced: tarot cards. You can unlock tarot cards with a white material—I forgot what it’s called—and equipping tarot cards consumes potential. Potential can be increased using a green material.

As shown in the image, I’ve already equipped several cards. The maximum potential is 12, and I’ve used 11. Some cards, like the centaur card in the image, have “Awakening” written on them. I’ve also obtained blessings with “Awakening” from the gods. Based on the current situation, meeting certain conditions should trigger an awakening.

Lastly, there’s a currency called “bones” used for off-stage purposes. After battles, you can exchange bones for various materials at merchants.

In summary, the off-stage cultivation aspect of Hades 2 is much more complex than the first game. I reckon it’s to prepare adequately for high-intensity challenges…