Hades 2 is still in the early stages of testing, but the game looks good. Like, really good.
On Wednesday, developer Supergiant Games released part of the game as a technical test that gave fans their first look at the sequel to Hades, 2020’s popular action roguelike, since it was announced in 2022. The limited release only covers the first section of the game, but it already gave players an in-depth idea of what to expect — spoilers, it looks very sexy.
Sure, new hero Melinoë’s black magic-inspired gameplay looks great and all, but there’s a lot more to see. Every new and recurring character just looks so dang good. The developers showed off returning characters from Hades, like Aphrodite and Hypnos, who got full-on redesigns, and then revealed new characters, like the blacksmith Hephaestus, who have inspired their fair share of thirst.
If there was any takeaway from that technical test, it’s that the cast will be a huge draw for both new and old fans. Given this, we at Polygon have rounded up every character we’ve seen in the game so far. At this point, we’re basing this list off of who we’ve seen during the technical test, but we’ll update this post as we hear about more characters in the game.
[Ed. note: This list contains spoilers for content shown in the Hades 2 technical test, including new characters, character redesigns, and dialogue. Since the game is still in development, some of these details could change before release.]
Aphrodite
Aphrodite, the goddess of love, returns to Hades 2. This time around, she’s leveled up her outfit by simply taking it off. I think the look works for her!
Apollo
Apollo, the god of light, makes an absolutely shiny return. His entire look makes him seem a bit more regal and godlike than in Hades.
Arachne
Arachne might be an itsy-bitsy spider, but her specialized armor will give Melinoë the support she needs when fighting through baddies.
Artemis
If you’re in a tight spot and a green arrow suddenly comes to your aid, then you’ve been lucky enough to bump into Artemis. Her beastlike but confident look makes for a perfect design. Her design hasn’t changed a whole lot from the original, but her pelts look a bit more stylish now.
Charon
Charon, the shopkeeper, might not be chatty, but he is relatable. I also long to be a faceless being draped in gorgeous fabrics. This is the one design that doesn’t look as good as it did in the first game, but maybe it’ll get replaced as development continues.
Demeter
Grand-mommy? Demeter is the grandmother of Melinoë and an icon in Greek mythology. This time around, she’s leaning into the warrior look rather than her aged sage visage in the original. Whatever she’s doing to maintain her health, it’s working.
Dora
Whenever Melinoë dies, Dora the shade will be there to greet her at home. The cheeky little ghost will be a welcome friend during tough times.
Hecate
In the statues I’ve seen, artists tend to portray Hecate in a very classical and stereotypically feminine way. That’s why I love this design; it’s dark, commanding, and shows us that she’s a force to be reckoned with. More dark magicians that look like this, please!
Hephaestus
Mount Olympus who? Hephaestus might have been kicked out of the realm of the gods, but we can see he’s maintained his godly good looks. Out of all the new characters, he’s specifically drummed up a lot of excitement.
Hestia
Hestia’s flames burn bright, but we still don’t have a great look at her yet. It’s possible that this character design is a placeholder since it looks similar to Charon’s, and we know that Hestia generally appears as an old woman in Greek myths. Regardless, I’m curious to see how this character shapes up.
Hypnos
Out of all the redesigns we’ve seen so far, I like Hypnos’ the most. In Hades, he had a very implike expression that made him seem a bit quirky. Now we get to seem him cuddled up with gorgeous long locks, and he looks like a straight-up angel.
Melinoë
Melinoë is the princess of the Underworld and our beloved new protagonist. I think the internet collectively gasped when Supergiant Games first revealed her because, like everybody else on this list, she looks amazing and like she can kick serious ass. So far, we’ve seen two designs for her, including one section that shows her as a child.
Moros
I do not care if Moros is literally titled “Doom Incarnate”; I would welcome him into my home any day of the week and chase him down relentlessly.
Nemesis
Nemesis is one of the handful of characters you can meet at the base camp. She doesn’t seem thrilled to talk to Melinoë, but maybe she (and therefore you) can win this muscle mommy over in time.
Odysseus
I think my high school English teacher failed to convey just how hot Odysseus could be. Cute, strong, and approachable, he’s a great pal to have around the base camp.
Poseidon
I think Poseidon looked great in Hades, but his art in Hades 2 has a bit more personality to it. He effuses the sort of effortless confidence I’d associate with a shampoo commercial.
Schelemeus
Fans are already theorizing that Schelemeus and Skelly from Hades have some sort of secret connection because of their designs and roles in each game. It’s too early to say yet, but I appreciate the quirky drill sergeant vibes this guy brings to Hades 2.
Selene
All hail Selene, the new moon mommy of Hades 2. She looks great, but she’ll also offer Melinoë an assortment of hexes to aid her fight. This is a standout design from the technical test, and her elegance honestly reminds me of Alucard from the Castlevania anime a bit.
Zeus
Can I say that daddy’s home? Zeus, the king of the Olympians and father of Mount Olympus, returns to offer his aid in the fight. He looks pretty similar to his first design, except this time he’s got a sick new golden chest plate with abs.
The post Which Hades 2 character is your favorite? appeared first on Polygon.
