Supergiant Games is a studio that consistently provides games that are great experiences. From its debut Bastion, follow up Transistor, and then Pyre, the studio showed its strong storytelling and gameplay capabilities. Then Hades arrived and set a new bar for roguelites. Supergiant Games then did something they had not done before: they announced a sequel. Surely Zeus would not let lightning strike twice and have Hades II stand side-by-side with its predecessor?
If you have already played Hades II then you will know how closely aligned to the original it is, while also introducing a new lead and characters into the mix. Arriving on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S this week, I have been checking out the PS5 version of Hades II, and I can say that it stands up very well.
I may have to disagree with my fellow writer Jason who said in our original review that Hades II does not quite stack up to the original. Personally, I think it is better. I really enjoyed Hades and having Zagreus as a protagonist along with his quest to escape the Underworld and learn the truth about his mother Persephone. Important stakes for sure, but not as big as we have in Hades II.
Enter Melinoe, daughter of Hades and the Princess of the Underworld. Her mission is to save the Underworld and Olympus as they are besieged by Chronos and the Titans in a new war. She has been raised and trained in secrecy by the witch Hecate, while counting Odysseus, Charon, and Nemesis as allies, even if the latter is not Melinoe’s biggest fan. Hades II delves further into Greek mythology with characters that may not be quite as well known as those in the original. Arachne is a welcome ally that you can come across in runs, while the take on Scylla makes her one of the most memorable bosses. Narcissus is well known, but the way he is utilised in Hades II is great as well.
On PS5, Hades II plays as well and looks as good as you could expect. The combat is fast paced and smooth, regardless of which weapon you are armed with. The Moonstone Axe Zorophet and Revaal the Argent Skull are my preferred nocturnal arms. The enemies provide a variety of challenges and while there are similarities with some of the monsters found in the original Hades, there is a larger variety which means more of a challenge to deal with as you come to learn their attack patterns. Naturally the PS5 doesn’t skip a beat when everything is kicking off.
Visually, Hades II looks fantastic. There is a lot of detail packed into both the environment and the characters. No matter how fast the action appears on screen no detail is lost, and each area’s unique look just pops. The hub at the Crossroads has been designed very well to incorporate the addition of resource gathering by planting seeds, and the Arcana screen with its cards is easy to navigate, with each card design looking very good. The addition of new mechanics makes Hades II a deeper game as you figure out which Arcana to activate, while also complementing them with the boons that you are granted by the Olympians as you go to fight Chronos.
If you enjoyed Hades then there is no reason why you won’t like Hades II. It has the same core gameplay that made the original one of the best games of all time, while adding new content and expanding on ideas to give Hades II its own identity. If you have been waiting for the game to come to PS5 or Xbox Series X|S, then you will be pleased to know that the experience is top notch.
