This year’s Game Awards was a night celebrating the great achievements from both indie and AAA developers alike in the video game industry. One of the biggest surprises was Supergiant Games’ reveal of Hades 2, the sequel to their indie hit, Hades, which came out in 2020.
The trailer revealed during the ceremony offers a glimpse at the game’s new protagonist, as well as gameplay which does not stray from its predecessor. It offers some important clues as to the identity of the female lead, along with the story that will unfold. What is her connection to the previous game? Why is she fighting? And can she pet the frog?
6 Her Eyes
While Hades 2’s trailer does not feature Zagreus from the first game, the new protagonist does resemble him in several key ways. She wears a garland upon her head, and her dialogue has the same measured cadence as Zagreus.
The most telling clue is in her eyes. Her right eye is blue, and her left eye is red, mirroring Zagreus’s eyes. The evidence points to Zagreus and this protagonist being siblings. Supergiant Games confirmed this, calling her their own take on a figure from Greek Mythology called Melinoe, who was supposed to be able to manipulate people’s dreams and drive them mad.
5 A New Guide
The beginning of the animated clip shows Melinoe dueling with a foe under the light of the moon. When Melinoe is surprise attacked, and it seems she has met her end, the figure instead offers her a hand up.
The character appears to be a powerful, masked sorceress, one who mentors her and assists as a sparring partner, similar to Skelly from the first entry. This is Hecate, Goddess of Witchcraft and Crossroads. She also offers some wisdom for Melinoe, reminding her that she should not be so hard on herself, and that all she can do is learn from her mistakes.
Death To Chronos
Footage from the trailer promises more of the classic hack-and-slash action that was immensely satisfying in the previous game. The characters also establish the game’s main antagonist, with Melinoe’s rallying cry, “Death to Chronos.”
Chronos is the father of Hades and king of the twelve Titans, who were powerful figures in Greek Mythology. He rebelled against the Gods, who, thanks to Zeus, defeated them and sealed them beneath Tartarus, the first zone that Zagreus must fight through in Hades. It looks like Melinoe is on a mission for revenge against him.
4 New Faces
Throughout Hades, Zagreus receives assistance from the Gods of Mount Olympus. They offer enhancements to his attacks and abilities, as well as some words of encouragement.
Hades 2 looks to have some new friends to meet for the player and Melinoe, including the God Apollo, who often spoke through oracles, and has also been associated with the sun. Other new faces include Moros, who is a son of Nyx, Zagreus’s stepmother, and who set mortals on the paths to their deaths.
3 She Can Pet The Frog. Ten Out of Ten.
In the House of Hades, the guard dog of the Underworld, Cerberus, lays down by the side of his master. Before going out on a journey, Zagreus has the option to pet one of Cerberus’s three heads, since every gamer wants to know if they can pet the dog.
The beginning animation shows a frog hopping out of the way of Melinoe’s fight with her mentor. Later on, the trailer does confirm that, yes, Melinoe can pet the frog. She is briefly shown giving it some love in an open area that has a symbol in stone on the ground. If Hades 2 follows Hades structure, then this is likely Melinoe’s base of operations, and the frog is a friendly companion.
2 The Light Of The Moon
The trailer for Hades 2 contains many references to the moon, from Melinoe and her mentor sparring under the moonlight to the crescent moon adorning her forehead and the shape of her sickle. The most telling imagery is when the camera shifts up to the moon encircled in a magic symbol, and her proclaiming “I was born for this.”
This evidence can be interpreted in two ways. It is a nod to her description in the Orphic Hymns as a moon Goddess. It may also be a nod to her ancestor Selene, Goddess of the Moon and daughter of Titans Hyperion and Theia.
1 Zeus Is Held Captive
It looks like this version of Melinoe will have Persephone as her mother and Zeus as her father in the story. Zeus appears very briefly in the trailer, but he is in darkness with his head down, and bound in chains. Following this snippet is Melinoe uttering the words, “Wait for me Father. I will be there soon.”
Judging from this moment and the fact that Melinoe is after Chronos, it seems that the Titan has captured her father in a coup against the Gods. While Zagreus’ story was about reuniting with his birth mother, Melinoe’s story is going to have much higher stakes, not only for her, but for all of Olympus.
Hades 2 is in development, with Early Access planned for 2023.