Supergiant’s sequel to their godlike roguelike is just days away from finally breaking out of Steam’s Early Access, moving into a full release for PC and Nintendo Switch 2. With all the discourse that will surround Hades 2, plenty of players will revisit the first game to finish a few Prophecies or try out some experimental runs.
While I enjoy both games, I can’t see myself going back to Hades 1 after spending time with its sequel in Early Access. Here’s why:
Hades 2 Has Faster Combat
While both games differ in gameplay mechanics, Hades 2 offers a sharper combat system compared to the first. Being a sequel, that should be expected. Melinoe’s arsenal of Nocturnal Arms packs more punch than Zagreus’ Infernal Arms, though I admit I miss equipping the Eris Rail, one of my favorite weapons in the first game.
Melinoe’s skills also have a stronger focus. Even with her varied loadouts and weapons, her standard magick attacks can carry you through the early game, even with bad Boons. In Hades 1, one poor Boon pick could easily put you at a disadvantage.
Hades 1’s Story is Essentially Over
While I haven’t unlocked every Prophecy in Hades 1, I’ve finished the game’s central family drama and resolved its conflicts. Now Zagreus lives happily with his parents, and Hades is reduced to being little more than a training dummy.
My journey with the original Hades feels complete, and I see no reason to return apart from maybe beating up Skelly for the millionth time.
Progression is Better in Hades 2
The best part about Hades 2 is its impressive progression system. In the original, the Mirror was your main tool for upgrading stats and tweaking difficulty. Hades 2’s Arcana mechanics open new doors for fresh and more personalized runs, while Hecate’s cauldron gives you much-needed upgrades through gathered ingredients from fishing and mining.
And that’s not even the end of it. Hades 2 also introduces a Heat system similar to the original, but this time weapons are tied to the system, and bosses change depending on which Nocturnal Arm you use. The “Fear” system also scales faster compared to Heat, and it is a much more forgiving difficulty compared to the first game.
Hades 2 is Bigger, With More Options
Perhaps the biggest change from Hades 1 is scale. The first game only had four biomes in the Underworld. Hades 2 doubles that with eight. That’s a huge selling point, and for a game that costs about as much as two boxes of pizza, it’s an easy hook.
I love having the choice to climb the mountains of Olympus to face a massive Titan, or to burrow deep into Hades’ domain to kick Chronos’ ass for the nth time. Both paths offer equal challenge and reward, and I can’t wait to see more of them fleshed out when the full game launches this September 25.
These are the biggest reasons I can’t return to Hades 1. It’s a game I’ve had my fill of, and after spending more than 100 hours on Zagreus’ story, I’m ready to put all my focus into Melinoe’s new adventure.
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