Hades II Just Got a Major Update, and It’s Better Than Ever
A New Region and Boss, and a Whole Lot More
I jumped back into Hades II, the action-packed roguelike from Supergiant Games, after its second major update, and I’m impressed by the progress the studio has made. The update added a new region, a new boss, and a ton of smaller details that have made the game feel even better to play.
The Big Additions
The big additions are impressive. Hades II initially launched with six regions – four for an Underworld route and two for a "surface" route – and with each major update, Supergiant has added a new region with new enemies, characters, and music to round out that surface route. The first major update, which came out in October, added the game’s first new region, Mount Olympus, and it feels as epic as Mount Olympus should. It has grand architecture, fearsome enemies, and a fiery boss fight against Prometheus, all backed by an incredible orchestral soundtrack.
Witch-y Mechs and More
That update also added the game’s sixth and final weapon – a witch-y, Hades-style interpretation of a mech suit. Seriously: your primary attack is punching baddies with giant fists while your special attack shoots projectiles that home in on nearby targets. You also have cool wings.
Smaller But Significant Changes
In the second major update, there’s a new region and boss, too, but I’ve also noticed a lot of smaller details that feel just as impactful. For example, the Altar of Ashes, a place where you pick from various passive effects in the form of arcana cards that can help your runs, got a visual redesign to add intricately-illustrated custom cards. (One of them features Theseus and the Minotaur, who you may remember as bosses from the first Hades, in thongs, lol.) I also spotted a charming new portrait for Melinoë, the game’s protagonist, that added some levity to a character that’s usually pretty serious.
A Game that’s Getting Better with Time
Overall, the changes have made the game feel better to play over time – and browsing patch notes, Supergiant uses an emoji to indicate which changes are inspired by community feedback, which I think is a good way to acknowledge how players are contributing to the game, which is one of the main benefits of this type of early access release. (I should also acknowledge that Hades II has the advantage of building from the already-great foundation of the first Hades.)
Conclusion
Hades II might not launch in 1.0 for a long time. Supergiant hasn’t committed to a timeframe for that, and it’s still working on a third major update that’s set to release "some months from now." Because of the success of Supergiant’s other games, like Bastion and Transistor, the studio probably doesn’t need to rush. But given how it’s treated Hades II’s early access so far, I’m fine if Supergiant takes its time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is Hades II still in early access?
A: Yes, Hades II is still in early access and is expected to continue to receive updates and improvements.
Q: How often do I need to play to keep up with the changes?
A: It’s not necessary to play constantly to keep up with the changes, but frequent play sessions can help you stay current with the latest updates.
Q: Is Hades II worth playing?
A: Yes, Hades II is worth playing, even in its current state, due to its engaging gameplay and constant improvements.
