Hades II Debuts to Rave Reviews
The highly anticipated roguelike sequel, Hades II, from acclaimed developer Supergiant Games, is officially exiting its early access phase for a full release tomorrow. Ahead of its launch, the review embargo has lifted, revealing an overwhelmingly positive reception from critics worldwide.
Journalists have showered Hades II with glowing reviews, with the lowest score at the time of writing standing at a solid 8 out of 10. The game currently boasts an impressive average of 96 on Metacritic (PC version) and 93 on OpenCritic, with a commanding 97% recommendation rate. Reviewers are largely hailing Hades II as a near-perfect sequel, one that is sure to resonate deeply with fans of the original Hades. While the praise is extensive, a few critics noted that the game can feel somewhat drawn out at times, with some finding the story's conclusion a little underwhelming.
What the Critics Are Saying:
Gamereactor UK (100/100): Initially, I doubted Hades II could match its predecessor, even though it was an excellent roguelike. After playing the 1.0 version, I realized how wrong I was. Once you get past the tonal shifts and gameplay differences, it becomes clear that Hades II delivers everything you could ask for in a sequel and more. It's a larger, richer experience filled with unexpected twists, a captivating story, and memorable characters. Hades II not only rivals but potentially surpasses the original Supergiant roguelike without simply repeating its formula. It's an achievement akin to stopping time itself, according to Alex Hopley.
IGN (100/100): Leana Hafer describes Hades II as something beautiful, special, memorable, and admirable. She asserts that Supergiant's unparalleled quality shines through, making this exceptional action-roguelike one of the team's best works in almost every aspect – a remarkably high bar to clear. Hades II reminds her why she loves video games so much, citing breathtaking art, mesmerizing characters, fast and endlessly varied combat, and an incredible soundtrack.
GamesRadar+ (90/100): Ali Jones calls Hades II an incredibly ambitious sequel that occasionally feels a bit stretched in its efforts to deliver on its increased scope. However, this is only a minor distraction from a meticulously crafted experience. The flawless combat and charming cast make it even better than its already excellent predecessor. Special challenges, evolving character storylines, new progression paths, and the sheer joy of overcoming enhanced bosses with powerful builds ensure Hades II is infinitely replayable and deeply rewarding long after the credits roll.
Metro GameCentral (80/100): Jeffrey Bunting views Hades II as essentially 'just another Hades.' If you loved the original, its rogue-like formula, and visual novel-style storytelling, this game is for you. However, if the first game didn't completely enthrall you, Hades II might not feel like a groundbreaking sequel and might not win over new audiences. While it offers solid roguelike gameplay, it changes little from the original and some aspects even fall short. It offers a staggering amount of content and combinations, but Bunting criticizes less interesting characters and a predictable plot, along with visuals that are harder to parse than the first game, especially for portable play.
VGC (80/100): Diego Arguello notes that as a sequel, Hades II is an ambitious game that provides some of the most enjoyable rogue-lite experiences in recent years. However, it struggles to escape the shadow of its predecessor. In trying to pack in too many new ideas and expand the story, it ultimately loses some of the signature weight typical of Supergiant's projects. Mechanically, the game design is superb, with satisfying progression and unique art and soundtrack. Yet, Arguello points to unnecessary material gathering and a storyline that takes a backseat, with a surprisingly abrupt narrative conclusion, as drawbacks.
Release Details
At launch, Hades II will be available on PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store, as well as on Nintendo Switch. There's also mention of a potential release on the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2. The game will include Russian text localization. PlayStation and Xbox console versions are planned for a future release.
Overall, Hades II appears to be a triumph for Supergiant Games, largely meeting and even exceeding the high expectations set by its predecessor. While some minor points of contention regarding pacing and narrative resolution have surfaced, the critical consensus points to an expansive, engaging, and exceptionally polished roguelike experience that existing fans will adore and new players will find hard to resist.
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