Intro:
Being human isn’t just about falling in love, pretty sunsets, or deciding what heels go with what outfit. Being human is about experiencing the not-so-comfortable aspects and the beauty of life combined into one event. Being human is a mixture of brilliance, pain, and exquisite meaning that creates a subjective life lived. Hades Two early access dives into Melinoe’s story, fighting time to find her family, and gives us a psychological lens into how the Gods and Goddesses utilize their understanding of humanity.
With this being the final part of my review, I feel it crucial to discuss more of the psychology of this game, as well as the use of humanity as a motif. Humanity in itself is wonderful and torturous and something that while, in this game is small in part in how it was approached, its giant-sized in the narrative design and how it snuck into the story and game approach.
An amazing early access: Through the Fields of Mourning, the cascading waterfalls of Oceanus, the turning tides of Tartarus, and back home where the trees whisper and friends are found in the smallest form. Hades 2 early access should be the guidepost for how all early access games are approached. Early access is a time when the company making the game can allow players to explore the world while it's still being created and furnished. So the choice to make this game early access, allowing players to get a firsthand look and transparent peak behind the curtain was smart and well thought out. The world of Hades 2 is an immersive rouge dungeon crawler that creates beautifully rich environments. The first Hades was an outline, a skeleton if you will of what was to come. Looking back on the first game, then playing the second you can tell they built on so much and had ideas in place of things that would come to fruition in the second game. The costume of humanity: The psychology of humanity in this game is something special, but also something shocking. From the Greek mythology I have read, I came across this notion in the game that the Gods and goddesses wanted to be human without the pain, all the allure without the struggle of humanity. The struggle that the Gods and goddesses imposed on one another was because they could quite frankly. There are several stories about how mankind came to be, but the one in Greek mythology is the most interesting and telling of how the Gods loved to spend their time. Hades Two did a fantastic job of making Chronos a sadist with an ego in representing how the Greek Gods were very malicious a lot of the time. Chronos represents time in a very evil (but honest) way in regards to the malicious comments that are made throughout the boss battle, and how his fight is the only one you can’t pause in unless you make a potion for a spell at your home base. Time for the Gods is nonexistent, it's irrelevant because Gods don’t die, and are simply the keepers of the world that maintain balance, law, order, chaos, etc. Humanity was there to entertain the Gods and keep them happy by worshipping them, performing sacrifices, praying to them in temples, and having festivals. So humans, being human showed their emotions, their anger their lust, and the Gods wanted that. The Gods wanted to be human without being human and wanted beauty without the struggle or the pain associated with a mortal life. In Hades 2 the Gods are our timekeepers, but who keeps watch of the very beings that placed order over mankind? Hades 2 dives into that very psychology of the greed of Chronos, Moros regaling his tales of being with humans, the Greek gods loved humanity it was like a puzzle to them which is so beautifully depicted in this game. Changes to the game: I was so happy along the journey of Hades 2, to see a lot of the changes happening each time I went into play. For starters, the UI icons have been updated from just a ring to full pictures like in the previous game. The movements, (if you can believe it) are even faster, as well as the combat is a lot smoother making speed runs of this game fun! The scope of the game, much like the first is short there are only four sections, five if you count Chronos teleporting you to Asphodel.
The main bosses and locations in the early access include
- Hecete in Erebus
- Scylla in Oceanus
- Cerberus in the Fields of Mourning
- Chronos in Tartarus The bosses had a lot of weight to them and were properly difficult in this installment, I would even go as far as to say the bosses in Hades 2 were more difficult than the first game. Each area was uniquely different and incorporated key points of Greek mythology. The Fields of Mourning was a personal favorite of mine, seeing that incorporated was truly amazing and again showcased the beautifully crafted narrative design. Timing is everything: Hades 2 early access shadow dropping into my life was an unexpected joy this year. Playing through this title, and seeing the story unfold, is quite wonderful and fills me with a content excitement like no other. I’m looking forward to what else gets added to Hades 2, and if Zagerus makes a guest appearance since Hades already appeared in one of the dungeons in Tartarus. I would highly recommend getting this game in early access, and for $29.99 it’s a steal for how already well done it is. Being a part of the early access process, and playing a game while it’s still in development is a truly special thing to be a part of. This game was not sent to me. I purchased it with my own money
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