Summary
A homage to stories and characters that have endured for thousands of years,Hades' protagonist, Zagreus, was unknown to many players before their experience of the game. Unlike Zagreus, there are many well-knownfigures from Greek mythology inHades, such as the Olympians and the spirits of the Greek heroes that populate the Underworld and play a role in Zagreus' journey. Thanks to the indeterminate time period Hades takes place in,Hades 2has the freedom to continue in this tradition and feature other heroes from any point in Greek mythology.
The Greek heroes play key roles inHades, as mentors, advisors, or simply challengers getting in the way of Zagreus' path to the surface. Achilles, Theseus, Asterius, Patroclus, and Orpheus were some of the most memorable characters inHades, and there are many more heroes in Greek mythology for Melinoe to meet inHades 2.
The Strength of the Gods in Hades 2: Heracles
The Strongest Man
One of the most famous Greek heroes, Heracles was a demigod - the son of Zeus and a mortal woman. He was renowned as the strongest mortal and is most known for his Twelve Trials of Heracles, which he undertook after killing his wife and children in a rage. There are several versions of Heracles' fate in mythology, including death or being turned into a god by Zeus.Heracles is mentioned inHades, where he’s said to have been spirited to Olympus by Zeus, or that he simply resides in Elysium. Heracles would make a formidable boss fight for Melinoe on her journey to Tartarus and, with the Titan of Time in play, it may happen no matter Heracles' fate.
The Smartest Hero in Hades 2: Odysseus
Athena’s Favorite Hero
Odysseus is a leading player in the Trojan War Cycle, where he’s one of the key figures in theIliadand the hero of his own tale in theOdyssey. Odysseus was favored by Athena, the Goddess of War and Wisdom, thanks to his cunning and smarts. It was thanks to Odysseus that all the kings of Greece were sworn to travel to Troy to fight to retrieve Helen once she was taken, as he had manipulated them into swearing an oath in exchange for the hand of Penelope. Odysseus spent ten years at war in Troy, and another ten making the journey to his home of Ithaca. Thanks to his connections to theIliadand wisdom, he would be an amazing advisor for Melinoe, serving the same sort of role as Achilles did for Zagreus.
The Prince of Troy in Hades 2: Hector
A Possible Reconciliation
The Trojan Prince Hector was Troy’s answer to the Greek’s Achilles. Hector was mortal, but he spent ten years single-handedly holding back Achilles from destroying the morale of the Trojan army. His death at the hands of Achilles is consideredone of the tragedies of theIliad, and even though Hector was Trojan and not Greek, he’s depicted in a sympathetic and compassionate light in theIliad. The Trojans worshiped the same gods as the Greeks, and so Hector would probably have ended up in Elysium like Patroclus.
Another Sorceress in Hades 2: Jason and Medea
An Unlikely Ally
The myth of the search for the Golden Fleece is one of the most enduring, and brought together Greek heroes like Orpheus and Heracles. The leader of the group was Jason, who led the group through many trials. Jason was also married to Medea, a sorceress and a priestess of Hecate. Medea is widely considered one of the key villains in Jason’s story, but some argue she’s a sympathetic victim. Jason’s connection to one of the most notorious sorceresses in Greek mythology could mean his appearance inHades 2, either as a hero or, in a twist of fate, as a villain, leavingMedea as Melinoe’s ally.
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.
