Summary
There are plenty of reasons to be excited aboutHades 2, even if Supergiant Games has only shown a glimpse of it. Given the studio’s track record, many players are expectingHades 2to have the same magicas its predecessor, and while it will hopefully feature plenty of new surprises, there’s one strange and unexpected element of the franchise’s lore that ought to be built upon.
How exactlyHades 2will fit into the narrative of the first game is a bit unclear, but they are certainly narratively connected, with the first game’s rendition of Hades, God of Death, playing a significant role in the sequel. Moreover, both games exist within the same vision of Greek mythology, featuring well-known figures like Zeus, Athena, Poseidon, and so on. That said, the first game also roped in other mythological beings from other cultures, albeit only on a minor level, bordering on Easter egg territory. While this is fine for the first game, the sequel should go a bit further.
Hades 2 Could Flesh Out Other Mythologies and Cultures
There arehidden aspects of each weapon inHadesthat are direct references to mythological and deified beings from other cultures and religions. These hidden aspects radically change how each weapon functions, often granting an entirely new moveset. The six hidden aspects are:
Unlocking these hidden aspects requires learning respective, secret phrases from NPCs, which are references to each aspect’s mythological background (for instance, Lucifer’s aspect is unlocked with the phrase “I see your prideful downfall from the heavens to the flames”). The different moves and abilities associated with each aspect are also relevant to the given mythological background, and NPCs that Zagreus encounters may offer passing comments regarding the equipped hidden aspect. The lore surrounding these different myths and cultures doesn’t go much further than that, though, and ifHades2is expanding on the first game’s foundations, then this would be a good narrative element to hone in on.
How Other Mythologies Can Be Handled In Hades 2
The ties to Christian, Indian, Chinese, and more cultures inHadesare essentially just references, which makes sense—it is a game about Greek mythology, after all—but if the series is going to make the connection to these other cultures, then it should commit to this connection. On the most basic level,Hades 2will probably have something similar to the hidden aspects, perhaps referencing connecting the same beings to different weapons or invoking new beings altogether. Alternatively,Hades 2could dig deeper into mythology, expanding beyond the Greek pantheon and maybe even having Melinoe interact directly with icons like Beowulf or King Arthur.
Essentially,Hades 2could go in three different directions when it comes to tackling other mythologies: it could repeat the approach of the first game, incorporating them as mere references; it could significantly expand the role of other mythologies; or, it could simply ignore other mythologies, relegating them to interesting quirks of the first game. There are pros and cons to all of these options, but if pulled off effectively, doubling down on these mythological ties could be extremely rewarding, allowingHades 2to have a unique identitywhile delivering on the seeds planted by its predecessor.
The key phrase there is “pulled off effectively” as, while incorporating figures from Christianity, Hinduism, and other religions and cultures could be interesting, it could also dilute the identity of theHadesIP. IfHades 2devolves into a who’s who of world mythology, it could easily get too big, too fast, undermining what made the first game special.
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.
