Minor spoilers for Hades and Hades II to follow–read at your individual discretion.
Since its inception, Supergiant Video games has constructed up a status round high-quality story experiences with deep gameplay programs to match. But whereas all of the San Francisco-based studio’s video games are worthy of reward, it was the primary Hades recreation that raised the bar when it got here to roguelike video games and their storytelling. It solely is smart, then, that it additionally grew to become the primary Supergiant title to earn a sequel.
Hades II carries over plenty of the options that made its predecessor such a beloved title, with one exception: its protagonist. This shift offered Supergiant with an thrilling alternative to discover new themes, making it disappointing that the tip outcome as a substitute performs into matronly stereotypes. Whereas the primary recreation had a protagonist who began out a cocky, sarcastic jackass earlier than present process a deep and significant character arc, Hades II forgoes this in favor of constructing its feminine protagonist overtly stoic and duty-bound, taking part in into the misogynistic societal expectations for female-identifying folks.
Set within the Greek mythology model of the underworld, Hades advised the story of Zagreus, son of the titular god of the Underworld. Sad along with his lifetime of luxurious and luxury within the Underworld, Zagreus decides to go away and be a part of the remainder of the gods in Olympus. Alongside his method he fights quite a few enemies within the underworld and the fields of Elysium in a Dante’s Inferno-esque journey.
Throughout Hades’ dozens of hours, gamers acquired to find out about Zagreus and witness his transformation from melancholic spoiled brat to suave, care-free warrior–the very embodiment of cool. He acquired a correct and fulfilling arc, one which helped cement the sport as an on the spot basic and proved Supergiant might take a topic as huge as Greek Mythology and ship a private story about development. By way of their makes an attempt to flee as Zagreus, gamers noticed his character change, and demeanor soften. What might have been a modern-day interpretation of gods and mythology as a substitute grew to become a private fable of development, gratitude , and maturity. Hades’ story strikes a chord and has common attraction, regardless of the viewers.
Enter Hades II, the surprising sequel. How can a studio even observe up on a recreation that felt so full? Positive, Greek mythology permits for numerous tales and settings, however Hades felt so private and laser-focused that one can’t assist however marvel the place to even go from there.
Hades II follows new protagonist Melinoë, the daughter of Hades and youthful sister of Zagreus. After the house of Hades was sieged by Chronos, the God of Time, Mel was raised within the discipline of Elysium by the witch Hecate. As a result of Chronos launched his assault when she was a child, Mel has by no means met her household and as a substitute solely is aware of them by data that she realized from others. Mel, needing the household she has by no means identified, decides to coach with Hecate to kill Chronos and assist her household reclaim their dwelling, all whereas coping with a warfare and invasion of Olympus within the course of.
And herein lies the issue with the fable of Molinoë. Hades II begins in the course of its story–Mel is already properly into her coaching and the home of Hades has already fallen. We don’t know a lot about her as a personality and though we’re drip-fed details about her backstory all through the sport within the type of flashbacks, we by no means fairly get to know her past her wanting to save lots of her household.
The primary Hades recreation gave us a completely fleshed-out character and allowed them to develop all through the narrative. Zagreus was allowed to be flawed, to take time to be taught his personal classes, and to undergo a wealthy, fulfilling character arc. Mel in Hades II, alternatively, has her story and worth tied to her household. She’s portrayed as having only a few flaws apart from failing over and over to save lots of a household that she doesn’t know. Even when she will get wrapped up in a warfare for Olympus, she’s at all times fixing different characters’ issues. All through the sport, we be taught so little about her. Mel even loses company in her personal narrative when Zagreus will get concerned within the third act, and it’s a staggering disappointment.
The issue with Mel’s quest being so intrinsically tied to her household is that it’s evocative of misogynistic ideologies–ideologies that proclaim a girl’s worth is tied inherently to her household and that it ought to be the main target of her life and ambitions. Zagreus was allowed to be a cocky, smartass drawback youngster who confirmed his flaws by happening a self-centered quest, so why isn’t Mel allowed one thing comparable? Why isn’t she allowed to point out flaws to an identical diploma, or have a reckless angle about sure conditions?
I’m not asking for her to be a beat-for-beat repeat of Zagreus, however there was a lot potential to discover sure themes with a feminine protagonist that Hades II fails to ship on. In the beginning of Hades II, Mel is proven to be mature and established, as if she went by a whole character arc off-screen that we’re solely drip-fed details about. Hades II having a protagonist like this solely reinforces societal expectations that girls have to mature quicker, hold order, and give attention to duties at hand on the expense of self-exploration. Hades II might’ve performed some fascinating exploration of feminist themes utilizing this set-up however as a substitute forgoes it in favor of a stoic protagonist to offset their cheeky protagonist of the primary recreation.
In some ways, Hades II is an enchancment on the primary game–from the fight and improve programs, to the moment-to-moment gameplay. It’s simply such a disgrace that Hades II fails its protagonist in such deep ways in which it blemishes your complete expertise. Whereas Hades confirmed audiences how deep storytelling might be in a roguelike expertise, Hades II fails to succeed in that very same hallmark by giving us a protagonist that has little company of her personal and is usually a fixer of different characters’ issues.