Summary
Supergiant Games’Hades 2is officially in early access, and although it retains the fundamental mechanics of its predecessor, it is still unique in many ways. One of the most significant waysHades 2sets itself apart from the first game is in its playable protagonist. WhereasHadessaw players controlling Zagreus, son of Hades,Hades 2puts players in control of Melinoe, the daughter of Hades and younger sister to Zagreus. Melinoe is both like her brother and unlike her brother, and this not only serves to differentiateHades 2fromHadesin terms of character development but also in terms of gameplay.
Melinoe and Zagreusare similar in their calm and cool demeanor, as well as in their tendency toward perfectionism and self-deprecation. However, they also differ in some rather notable ways. For example, while Zagreus is much more playful and sarcastic, Melinoe takes things very seriously and is generally a bit more sincere than Zagreus. Aside from their personalities, Melinoe and Zagreus also differ in their approach to combat — so much so thatHadesveterans might mistakenly attempt to playHades 2as if it were the first game, only to find their success in the sequel far beyond their reach.
How Hades 2’s Melinoe Plays Differently Than Hades' Zagreus
Melinoe Plays Like a Witch, While Zagreus Relies More on His Weapon
The tendency of players inHades 2might be to play it as though they are still inHades, butMelinoe’s combat styleis so much different than her brother’s that players would be remiss not to consider approaching the sequel differently. Specifically, Melinoe is a witch and therefore plays like a witch, so she works best when she is taking advantage of the Magick she is canonically an expert in. This means Melinoe is typically at her best when she uses spells, as opposed to when she relies more heavily on her main weapon to deal damage.
As players navigate the Underworld and Surface inHades 2, they may feel compelled to grab Boons and upgrades similar to those they might have prioritized inHades, but since Melinoe’s combat style focuses more on her use of Magick, players should prioritize those Boons instead. This isn’t to say that upgrading her main weapon during a run isn’t worth it, only that upgrading her spells will pay off more in the end.
Boons that improveMelinoe’s Omega Cast or Specialare some of the best the game has to offer her, as well as any Soul Tonics players might come across that will increase her Magick capacity.
Melinoe Is Much Lighter on Her Feet Than Zagreus
Another way Melinoe differs drastically from her brother Zagreus is that she is much lighter on her feet. Unlike Zagreus, who can only dash, Melinoe can sprint. This is largely on account of her needing to cast spells and stay away from her enemies as much as possible. Unfortunately, at least at the moment, Melinoe’s sprint mechanic has a rather frustrating cooldown, especially in comparison to her dash ability. Even so, there are manyBoons players can get for Melinoethat will enhance her sprint ability by giving it special effects or making it faster.
Overall, Melinoe and Zagreus differ in both their personality and their playstyle.Hadesveterans now making their way throughHades 2’s Underworld and Surfaceshould approach combat with Melinoe in an almost entirely different way than they did Zagreus in the first game. However, if they desire to be successful in each of their runs inHades 2, they should play Melinoe like the witch that she is and prioritize the use of Magick over her main weapon.
Hades 2
WHERE TO PLAY
The first-ever sequel from Supergiant Games builds on the best aspects of the original god-like rogue-like dungeon crawler in an all-new, action-packed, endlessly replayable experience rooted in the Underworld of Greek myth and its deep connections to the dawn of witchcraft. BATTLE BEYOND THE UNDERWORLDAs the immortal Princess of the Underworld, you’ll explore a bigger, deeper mythic world, vanquishing the forces of the Titan of Time with the full might of Olympus behind you, in a sweeping story that continually unfolds through your every setback and accomplishment.MASTER WITCHCRAFT AND DARK SORCERYInfuse your legendary weapons of Night with ancient magick, so that none may stand in your way. Become stronger still with powerful Boons from more than a dozen Olympian gods, from Apollo to Zeus. There are nearly limitless ways to build your abilities.MINGLE WITH (MORE) GODS, GHOSTS, AND MONSTERSMeet a cast of dozens of fully-voiced, larger-than-life characters, including plenty of new faces and some old friends. Grow closer to them through a variety of new interactions, and experience countless unique story events based on how your journey unfolds.EVERY RUN IS ITS OWN ADVENTURENew locations, challenges, upgrade systems, and surprises await as you delve into the ever-shifting Underworld again and again. Reveal the mysteries of the Arcana Altar, tame witchy familiars, and gather reagents using Tools of the Unseen to get closer to your goal.THE PERKS OF IMMORTALITYThanks to a variety of permanent upgrades and the return of God Mode, you don’t have to be a god yourself to experience whatHades IIhas to offer. But if you happen to be one, you can brave escalating challenges for greater rewards, and prove just how divine you really are.
