Xbox Series X|S Hades 2 Review

The early access status of Hades 2 is surprising, given that Supergiant Games plans to keep it there for most of 2024 before calling it version 1.0. What's astonishing is that it already has nearly everything you'd want from a sequel to one of the best roguelite action games ever made. Hades 2 keeps all the elements that made the original a masterpiece of design, but rearranges them in a way that gives the game its own unique feel rather than seeming like a fancy add-on. The result is a familiar yet fresh follow-up that challenged, amazed, and thrilled me with every win and loss alike. While a few things are missing, most notably a proper ending to its story, it's hard to imagine Hades 2 not living up to the legendary status of its predecessor once it's finished.

I won't spend too much time explaining why the elements carried over from the original Hades work so well. GP named it our Game of the Year in 2020 for good reason. If you haven't tried this gift from the Greek gods to gamers yet, and think you might enjoy some of the smoothest, most stylish top-down action ever created, coupled with a story that grows deeper with each run, you really should before diving into the sequel. I'll wait.


Now that you're caught up, you can appreciate how Hades 2 excels at replacing all the old weapons, boons, upgrades, and other components from the previous game with brand new ones that serve similar functions, but in fresh and exciting ways. This time, you play as Melinoe, Zagreus's sister and Hades' daughter, who shares her brother's smooth voice and cool attitude. She's a bit more formal and less playful than Zag, with a personality fitting for the Princess of the Underworld, but she's just as likable and equally well-written.

Melinoe's controls mirror Zag's, but with a few key tweaks that lead to notably different gameplay styles. For example, she has an unlimited sprint ability that can be used to flee danger or, with the right boons, charge headlong into it. This increased sustained speed comes at a cost, though: Melinoe isn't as dash-happy as her brother. She still has a dash to avoid enemy attacks or cross gaps, but in my 40+ hours of play, I haven't seen any upgrades to increase her dash count. This is a significant change, as Hades is a game where I dash constantly - often more than I run. However, Supergiant has cleverly designed enemies and bosses around this gameplay shift, so I rarely missed having multiple dashes. I grew to love the sprint and its enhancing boons, which might boost its speed for better evasion, turn it into a water-based ramming attack, or make you a moving target for Zeus's lightning, zapping nearby foes.


As a witch, Melinoe also has a completely revamped magic system that adds complexity to combat and requires more thought about resource management. By holding down the button for her three offensive moves - attack, special, and cast - she can use an Omega version of these abilities that consume mana. For instance, the starting magic staff has a standard three-hit combo for its regular attack, but charging up an Omega attack releases a powerful magic blast that extends far in front of and behind you. Omega attacks are an excellent addition that not only improve the moment-to-moment action and decision-making in Hades' combat but also introduce new options for build crafting.

This is where Hades 2 truly outshines its predecessor. The game offers an abundance of character build options for each run, significantly altering your approach. While some builds are undoubtedly stronger, I always felt I had a chance to progress further, regardless of my chosen path. Unlike many roguelites that suffer from "doomed runs" due to lack of crucial upgrades, Hades 2 avoids this pitfall. My defeats were mainly due to encountering unfamiliar enemies, being too aggressive, or simply making mistakes, rather than feeling underpowered. (Though the current final Underworld boss seems a bit overpowered compared to earlier challenges.)


One memorable run focused on enhancing my cast, now a circular sigil that temporarily traps enemies. A particular boon caused the sigil to explode rapidly after a few seconds, dealing massive damage to trapped foes. I'd swoop in, drop my Omega cast, charge my Omega special - which in this run created circling projectiles - and watch with joy as enemies dissolved in my death circle.

This contrasted sharply with my Giant Axe weapon run, where I boosted sprint speed to create distance before unleashing a powerful Omega special, decimating enemies in a line. Like any good roguelite, each Hades 2 run felt unique, taught valuable lessons, and was enjoyable in its own way.

While much of what we've discussed so far builds on the strengths of the original game, Hades 2 truly excels in the depth and variety of its regions. Each area is distinct, with the third Underworld zone featuring open fields requiring multiple encounter clears and rewards before progression.

You might have noticed my frequent mentions of Underworld areas. This is because there's a whole separate set of levels, foes, and bosses waiting for you above ground too. I won't reveal too much about what's in store if you climb those stairs, but let's just say these levels are where Supergiant really flexes their creative muscles in level design, with impressive results.


The Crossroads: A Sanctuary Between Worlds

Between runs, you'll find yourself at the Crossroads, a hidden haven bridging the surface and the Underworld. Almost everything you could do in the House of Hades from the first game is possible here too: You'll distribute nectars to NPCs to strengthen your bonds and earn their keepsakes, tick off long-term goals from the prophecy list for various rewards, and engage in seemingly endless chats with the many legendary Greek figures who call it home, from the brave Odysseus, to the defiant Nemesis, to the adorably sassy shade, Dora.

However, Mel's power progression differs significantly from Zag's. This time, there's an Arcana card grid, each card requiring specific resources to unlock. Once unlocked, you can equip its bonuses (if you have enough Grasp, which limits the number of equipped cards), and reveal the bonuses of two adjacent cards. This clever system balances powerful bonuses with higher Grasp costs, making your resource-finding priorities during runs even more crucial. Do you chase resources to unlock more Arcana cards, or focus on Psyche to increase your maximum Grasp and equip more cards?

Beyond these resources, Hades 2's levels offer much more to discover. Various flowers, metals, and monster parts can be found, all used to create incantations that unlock new gameplay elements or mechanics. This system improves upon the House Contractor from the first game, allowing more decisions about which resource-collecting tools to bring on a run and which concoctions to prioritize.


One of my favorite incantations adds a hot spring to the Crossroads, enabling more intimate hot spring dates with NPCs. As you might guess, this leads to some entertaining conversations that delve deeper into these characters than your typical chats when they have an exclamation point above their heads.

While Hades 2 doesn't boast a dramatic visual upgrade from its predecessor, that's hardly a criticism given the high bar set by the original. The game's art style remains breathtaking, complemented by an equally impressive soundtrack. The standout boss fight so far is Scylla and the Sirens, featuring a dynamic theme song that adapts as you defeat each performer, removing their part from the music. This clever touch elevates an already thrilling encounter and hints at the exciting surprises Supergiant might have in store for the full release.

After conquering the underworld's final boss, you unlock the Testament of Night, Hades 2's version of the Pact of Punishment. This feature allows you to customize your next run with specific difficulty modifiers, such as increased enemy damage, less effective healing items, or speedier foes. It's essentially a tailored New Game+ mode with rewards and incentives, a brilliant addition that I'm thrilled to see implemented already.


So, what's still in the works for Hades 2's Early Access release? Some character portraits, like Charon and Narcissus, are currently placeholders. Certain boon icons lack unique art, using letters as temporary identifiers. A few visual effects will likely be polished before the 1.0 version launches. Most notably, while you can unlock the New Game+ equivalent, the story doesn't have a conclusion yet. The title screen's development roadmap also reveals plans for a new region to explore, additional cosmetic features for the Crossroads, and another weapon to be introduced in the next major update.

These unfinished elements, however, don't detract from the game's current appeal. The core gameplay loop is as addictive as ever, and the new mechanics add fresh layers of strategy. The character interactions remain witty and engaging, with the expanded cast offering even more diverse personalities to encounter. While there's clearly more to come, Hades 2 already feels like a worthy successor to its critically acclaimed predecessor, promising an even richer experience when it exits Early Access.


Hades 2 is shockingly vast and refined for an early access title, surpassing expectations. Mel shines as a protagonist, and the updated combat and progression systems are top-notch. The game boasts an impressive array of features, doubling the content of its predecessor. Yet, it's clearly still evolving: some art is temporary, more weapon aspects are coming, one weapon is missing from the planned six, the story lacks a proper conclusion, and another region is set to arrive in the coming months. Despite these gaps, the current offering is remarkable, and the promise of future additions is exciting.