Hades 2 had some big shoes to fill. A sequel always has the difficult task of remaining true to the previous title, but with Hades being such a complete package, it was almost hard to imagine a world in which the game could be developed or evolved in any meaningful way.
Supergiant has always been up to the task and didn’t disappoint here. The playstyle of Melinoë is exactly what players had hoped for, maintaining Zagreus’ fast-paced, dodge-heavy, hack-and-slash playstyle while introducing several tricks of her own. Even more than that, the playstyle is indicative of the character, giving players a glimpse into the inner workings of Melinoë even just by observing how the game has changed.
How Melinoë Changes Combat
Compared to Zagreus, Melinoë is a much more versatile protagonist. While weapons still have basic attacks, combos, dash strikes, and specials, the Cast mechanic is reworked, and three more options are added in the form of Omega moves.
The Cast undergoes the biggest change, which highlights just how differently Melinoë approaches combat. Gone is the single-shot projectile, replaced instead with a large field that holds enemies in place. Melinoë is much more about control, understanding threats, and how to approach each situation.
Many enemies, such as the Wailers and Whispers, become much more aggressive and dangerous once they approach, sometimes requiring distance and reassessment before a player goes into melee range. There is still room to be an aggressive melee fighter, but more often than not, a cool head with an eye for openings prevails.
The other meaningful addition to combat is the addition of Omega moves and a Magick bar. Attacks, Specials, and Cast can all be charged up by holding down their respective buttons, resulting in new effects that cost Magick to use. The Omega Cast stays the same between weapons, while the weapons have unique Omega effects for each.
Because of the charge time of the moves and the introduction of the Magick bar, Melinoë can often play like a spellcaster hybrid rather than the pure weapon-focused style of Zagreus. While melee still feels strong, there will be times when players use their cast and dash out of melee, using the window created by cast to charge up a powerful Omega special. The new Omega moves provide tons of opportunities in combat, giving each weapon multiple avenues for combat and expanding how players can approach Hades II.
Combat as a Reflection of the Character
It is perhaps more important to discuss how Melinoë embodies the changes to combat, adding character to the game as a whole, not just during moments of dialogue.
Playing as Zagreus was indicative of who he was as a character. He was new to his role, butting heads with his father, out on a rash and sudden attempt to understand what was being kept from him. His playstyle was heavier on melee weapons, requiring players to face enemies head-on, jump into danger, and prepare to use pure strength and reaction time to beat their enemies.
Melinoë, on the other hand, feels like an evolution of Zagreus. She comes from the same family line and the same base of combat is there. The way she can dodge into melee range and start to unload feels so similar to Zagreus, but she was raised differently. She never knew her family, instead being raised by Hecate, the Witch of the Crossroads. Hecate, under the orders of Hades, raised her with the single goal of overthrowing Chronos, starting her training at a young age, both as a witch and a warrior of the house of Hades.
Fighting as Melinoë reflects both the new emphasis on witchcraft and her preparedness for the task ahead. Using her Cast to hold enemies in place creates a much more tactical feel, allowing her to choose the moments where she’ll engage. Many of her weapons feature Omega spells that deal large amounts of AoE damage, allowing her to either punish the targets she holds in place or clear her other flank while they are temporarily non-threatening. The myriad options with which she can approach combat speak to her years of training with Hecate, her time sparring with Nemesis, and picking up knowledge from the master tactician Odysseus.
The same feel and style of the original game are there beneath it all, but Melinoë takes everything one step further. Where Zagreus was brash, Melinoë is collected. Where Zagreus was aggressive and single-minded, Melinoë is calculating and careful. It all goes a long way to prove that Hades was no fluke. Supergiant understands how to build towards a single artistic vision. Melinoë is no Zagreus, and Supergiant graciously gives us the ability to explore why.
