Even though Hades 2’s Technical Test has only recently started, offering a select group of players their very first hands-on experience with Supergiant’s debut sequel, this incredibly early look demonstrates that the renowned developers are far from resting on their laurels. Hades 2 aims to improve on a roguelike formula that is already legendary.
Supergiant has never released an inferior product, whether it be Bastion, Transistor, Pyre, or Hades. With each new release, the Californian independent studio has overcome new obstacles and experimented with daring new genres, all while growing stronger and stronger.
But when Hades finally released in full in 2020, Supergiant took off thanks to the team’s debut roguelike, which not only sold incredibly well but also topped critics’ lists as the finest game of the year and among the best in the genre.
The developers chose to remain in the same place this time, breaking with their recent tendency of taking a completely different turn and revealing Hades 2 as their first-ever sequel. And even though not many specifics have been released since its 2022 reveal, Early Access is rapidly approaching. For a limited segment of the community, a modest Technical Test is currently active in order to work out any last glitches before the floodgates fully open.
Through this Technical Test, we were able to delve into Hades 2, and even with this restricted glimpse of the entire experience, it’s evident that the sequel is a complete progression of what made the original such an amazing, endlessly replayable treat.
We won’t reveal any plot details here, but if you want to wait until the Early Access launch in the upcoming weeks to find out, proceed with caution. Although titled as a Technical Test, this initial glimpse at Hades 2 does indeed advance the plot, so proceed with caution if you intend to avoid spoilers.
The cycle restarts.
It’s important to note that Hades 2 is still entirely Hades from the beginning. You’ll quickly feel at home thanks to its colorful cast of demi-gods from the underworld and its entertaining upgrading (Boon) system.
Taking on the role of Melinoë, the Princess of the Underworld, the new protagonist, you’re going on a blood quest once more, much like you did with Zagreus in the first game. We won’t get into that here, but your goals are very different this time around.
Just be aware that the basic layout of the game remains mostly unchanged—you’re still pushing through rooms and completing floors in order to reach the last boss.
IMAGINATIVE GAMES
Throughout your travels, you’ll run into a lot of new people in addition to some familiar ones.
The process of pushing through one room after another remains largely unchanged. When something is working well, why fix it? With its endlessly enticing roguelike mechanisms, the first Hades nailed combat, and it’s already obvious that the sequel does the same, merely adding more elements to the mix.
There are numerous weapons to learn and master, new currencies to uncover more hidden surprises, a variety of new boons to combine and match, sort of Tarot cards to unlock, and a whole new hub world (The Crossroads) to outfit and improve. There’s a lot packed into the first several hours alone. When the final build leaves Early Access, we’re going to be in for a wild ride if this is all a Technical Test has to offer.
One significant departure from the original is the presence of special tools that you can bring with you into each given run. For example, an early unlock grants you access to a pickaxe, which lets you mine resources that you otherwise wouldn’t be able to obtain. This gives the already complex gameplay loop—where each run is preceded by a thoughtful examination of your arsenal—an additional degree of complexity.
Once the grind begins, that classic Hades fighting returns to prominence. Similar to the original, difficulty is through the roof on the early expeditions. Learning the patterns of opponent attacks is necessary because your health is limited. You have to learn how to move well and regulate distance while you take out enemies because you don’t have many options at your disposal to eliminate them quickly.
IMAGINATIVE GAMES
Reorganizing your inventory to house all of your currencies is made easier with a new method.
The Technical Test culminates in a classic boss battle that, if you’re not careful, will convert you into a sheep as you make your way across the one accessible floor. On multiple occasions, I did not exercise caution.
After defeating the boss, you receive a kind message before having to restart from the beginning. However, as many Hades fans are well aware, the conclusion of a particular run is actually only the start of a new chapter in the larger narrative.
Beautiful storytelling gradually falls apart
Apart from the delicious in-the-moment action, Hades’s distinct storytelling approach was maybe its most remarkable feature. You had to earn your advancement through the story, as opposed to having cutscenes after every run or exposition-heavy encounters with demi-gods beating you over the head.
Whether or not it was successful, every expedition into the underworld advanced the plot in intriguing ways. Maybe you would discover more about a significant figure in the present plot, maybe you would uncover some background information regarding the purpose of your mission, or maybe you would come across an unexpected discovery that would make you want to give it “one more run” before calling it quits.
The cadence was fantastic back then, and it still has the same allure today. It is there in every run even in this constrained capacity—it is only a Technical Test and is not meant to give much in that regard. Once a powerful attack renders you incapacitated, you quickly return to the hub world where you can continue to learn, meet new people, and broaden your perspective on your home.
Everything is really well-polished. The narrative’s deliberate flow never gives you too much at once or too little that makes you feel deceived. Every run is exhilarating, but it’s also exhilarating to come back to the more peaceful, non-hostile environment each time, as you prepare yourself to do it all over again.
If Supergiant is right and this is simply a first taste with very little substance baked in, then Hades fans are going to be in for a real treat when Hades 2’s Early Access phase begins in a few weeks.
Although a specific date hasn’t been confirmed yet, Q2 2024 has been selected, and because the Technical Test is currently operational, there shouldn’t be much more waiting.
