Minor spoilers for Hades and Hades II to follow–read at your own discretion.
Since its inception, Supergiant Games has built up a reputation around high-quality story experiences with deep gameplay systems to match. Yet while all the San Francisco-based studio’s games are worthy of praise, it was the first Hades game that raised the bar when it came to roguelike games and their storytelling. It only makes sense, then, that it also became the first Supergiant title to earn a sequel.
Hades II carries over a lot of the features that made its predecessor such a beloved title, with one exception: its protagonist. This shift presented Supergiant with an exciting opportunity to explore new themes, making it disappointing that the end result instead plays into matronly stereotypes. While the first game had a protagonist who started out a cocky, sarcastic jackass before undergoing a deep and meaningful character arc, Hades II forgoes this in favor of making its female protagonist overtly stoic and duty-bound, playing into the misogynistic societal expectations for female-identifying people.
This post offers an intriguing perspective on Hades 2 and its protagonist. It’s always interesting to see how sequels handle character development and storytelling. Thank you for sharing your thoughts!
I agree, it’s fascinating to dive into the character dynamics in Hades 2. The way the narrative contrasts with the original Hades really highlights the growth of the characters and their struggles. It’s a bold choice that adds depth to the story, even if it feels like a misstep for the protagonist at times.