Supergiant Games' roguelike was a smash hit after its release in 2020, and it wasn’t long until the studio confirmed thatHades 2was on the way. The first game covered the adventures of Zagreus, prince of the Underworld and son of Hades, as he tried to escape his father’s realm.Hadesmay have focused on Zagreus' story, butHades 2is switching things up with a new protagonist in the form of his sister Melinoe. This is just one of the changes that the sequel will be looking to make as it builds on the world established in the first game.
Hadeswowed fans with its fast-paced action, enjoyably cyclical gameplay, and intriguing mythical setting. Although the fun and frantic combat was one of the standout features ofHades' gameplay, the characters that Zagreus could meet throughout his many escapes became another memorable draw, as they served as helpful supporters that provided the prince with various perks and interesting encounters. From tragic figures from Greek myth like Achilles and his lover Patroclus to potential romances like Thanatos,Hadesis full of exciting people to meet. However, the method to gain favor by constantly plying them with Nectar is somethingHades 2needs to address.
RELATED:Hades 2 Should Follow Haunted Chocolatier’s Lead
Gaining Favor In Hades
As Zagreus attempts to escape his father’s realm and track down his mother Persephone in the mortal world, he can find support from various Chthonic and Olympian gods throughout the Underworld. Some other characters can help as well, and this colorful cohort of Underworld residents provides a lot of intrigue and emotional heft inHades' story, with tragic love stories, heartening reunions, and humorous encounters. However, the way that players can get closer to the majority of these characters is arguably too simplistic, and this is something that could easily beremedied inHades 2.
Building a bond with different characters is very straightforward inHades. The main method that players need to undertake is to give NPCs Nectar, one of the Artifact currencies that gamers can find in various places in the Underworld. Nectar can be earned after players clear certain dungeons, in trades with the Wretched Broker, or by fishing in Elysium, among other methods. It can then be used for a few activities, but most significantly to raiseZagreus' affinity with most characters. While this system works in principle, it can be a tiresome process, especially given how rare Nectar can be.
How Hades 2 Could Improve This
Grinding for gifts to improve relationships with NPCs isn’t a new premise, butHades 2could potentially come up with a better solution. The process of finding Nectar and distributing it to certain characters that players want to establish relationships with can feel repetitive, and it also doesn’t tailor gifts or requirements to different characters in any meaningful way. In order to present a different and much deeper experience, the system of how the game’s protagonist increases their bond with various NPCs needs to be overhauled. This would make befriending characters a more satisfying experience, and it could alsoadd new layers toHades 2’s romances.
There are a number of ways thatHades 2could go about this. The sequel doesn’t necessarily have to implement a complex system or turn the roguelike into something resembling a dating sim, but small changes would make a big difference. Instead of having one item that pleases all characters and builds their affinity for the protagonist equally, gamers should have to work out what items and gifts work best for certain NPCs. These could be much more character-specific, like giving Ares some fancy weapons or sourcing an obol for Charon like his Greek myth counterpart. Players could complete certain tasks or side quests to helpbuild their relationships inHades, soHades 2could put more weight on performing favors rather than gifting foodstuffs.
