Summary
One of the biggest surprises of 2020, the firstHadesbecame an overnight sensation when it initially launched, and due to its staggered release structure, its popularity only continued to grow over the course of the next year. Now a few years on from its debut,Hadesis widely considered to be one ofthe greatest Indie games ever made, and one of the most revolutionary roguelike titles, putting some major pressure on the upcoming sequel,Hades 2.
Focusing on a new protagonist this time around,Hades 2will see players take control of Zagreus' half-sister Melinoe as she attempts to stop the Titan Chronos from taking his revenge on Mount Olympus and the gods that reside there. Based on the light plot descriptions given so far, it seems as thoughHades 2is delving even deeper into Greek mythology than its predecessor, but after it’s done, the series might want to take a page out ofGod of War’s playbook.
The Next Hades Could Borrow God of War’s Mythology-Hopping
Hades Has Already Established Other Mythologies
Though the entirety ofHades' story and characters revolve around Greek mythology, the first game does make a few intriguing references to a handful of other mythologies, all via the game’s hidden weapon aspects. Unlocked through conversations with various NPCs and a handful of Titan Blood, each ofHades' six weapons has a hidden versionbased on a completely unique mythology, all of which drastically change the weapon’s moveset.
The Eternal Spear, Varatha, for instance, has a hidden aspect that pays homage to Chinese mythology, referencing the great general Guan Yu and giving the weapon a new projectile attack that heals the player for every point of damage it incurs. Stygius is another great example, with its secret Aspect of Arthur transforming the sword into the Holy Excalibur, allowing for faster combos and a special that slowly oncoming enemy projectiles. TheHindu god Vishnu’s avatar Rama, Gilgamesh, Lucifer, and Beowulf are all referenced inHadesas well, inferring that there are other mythologies out there inHades' universe.
Hades 3 Could Benefit Greatly From a God of War-Like Mythology Shift
Greek mythology is incredibly vast, so naturally, there’s more than enough content for a potentialHades 3to draw inspiration from. But it might actually be more fun for the series tofollow inGod of War’s footsteps. After seven installments, and almost a decade of development, theGod of Warfranchise had explored just about every corner of Greek mythology that it could, and though the setting remained fun to explore for fans, it started to get a little tiresome and repetitive towards the end.
Rather than let the series continue to get increasingly stale, Santa Monica made the smart decision to takeGod of Warback to the drawing board, only returning once it had something completely new to offer players. A pretty huge departure for the series,God of War2018 took players to Norse mythology for the first time in the series, and it was the best decision Santa Monica could have made, allowing for completely new locations, characters, stories, enemies, and threats. Though it’s a little early to guess whereHades 2’s storyis going, it would still be fun to see aGod of War-like mythology shift in the series' future, letting players control a new character, wield different weapons, explore fresh settings, and face off against more enemies, all while retaining the same gameplay loop and being set in the same universe that fans adore.
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’re able to brave escalating challenges for greater rewards, and prove just how divine you really are.
