Supergiant’s first outing into the world of Greek mythology had plenty of excellent qualities. From the game’s writing to its art style to its roguelike structure, the firstHadeswas a true benchmark for not just its genre, but Indie games as a whole. While it may not get as much widespread praise as those other features,Hades' boss fightswere also a solid highlight of the game, presenting the player with an opportunity to put all of their learned skills and abilities to good use. And though not much has been revealed so far, it seems likely thatHades 2is going to follow suit.
Putting players in the boots of Melinoe, daughter of Hades and Zagreus' half-sister,Hades 2has no shortage of Greek figures it could draw on for bosses. With the Titan Father Chronos set to be the game’s main antagonist, it would make sense for his Titan brood to join him in his war against Olympus, and thus be boss fights for Melinoe. But there’s one potentialHades 2boss idea that seems incredibly obvious, and Supergiant should just go ahead and pull the trigger.
Hades 2 Should Embrace a Zagreus Boss Fight
How a Zagreus Boss Fight Could Fit into Hades 2’s Story
Based on the trailers released so far, it’s a little unclear as to whatMelinoe and Zagreus' relationshipwill be inHades 2. With the central plot ofHades 2revolving around the titular god of the underworld being imprisoned in Tartarus by Chronos, it seems likely that Zagreus won’t just sit idly by and let his father rot in prison, given how their relationship developed in the first game. Instead, it seems much more likely that Zagreus will venture out to free his father, and a meeting between him and his half-sister feels inevitable.
While a reason to fight Zagreus might be a little tricky to engineer, it’s not impossible. One simple way to weave a Zagreus boss fight intoHades 2is by having Zagreus attempt to train his sister at random intervals during the story, popping up to test her similarly to theplayer-character’s rival inPokemon. This would allow Zagreus and Melinoe to remain allies while still letting players experience a boss fight against the former protagonist.
Alternatively, Supergiant could manufacture a reason why the siblings would be at odds with one another. For instance, the two could disagree on the best method to rescue their father, causing them to briefly fight over whose plan is better. This, admittedly, isn’t a strong reason for the two to fight, and Supergiant might catch some flak for portraying Zagreus like this, but the end results could still be worth it.
What a Zagreus Fight in Hades 2 Could Look Like
Though it’s a rarity, boss fights against prior playable characters can be some of the most memorable in gaming, as long as they’re done right. One of the best examples of this is last year’sMarvel’s Spider-Man 2, which saw players try to take down aSymbiote-crazed Peter Parker, equipped with all the gadgets and special moves that players have been using themselves for the last 10 hours or so. It’s always a fun novelty to see familiar moves get turned against the player, andHades 2could embrace that fully with a Zagreus boss fight.
The idealZagreus boss fight inHades 2would see the ex-protagonist cycle through all of his weapons from the past game, complete with their associated special moves. It would also be great to see Zagreus use a handful of Boons during his fight, calling upon a handful of gods to take his side in the midst of battle, thus also having some narrative implications.
Hades 2
WHERE TO PLAY
The first-ever sequel from Supergiant Games builds on the best aspects of the original god-like rogue-like dungeon crawler in an all-new, action-packed, endlessly replayable experience rooted in the Underworld of Greek myth and its deep connections to the dawn of witchcraft. BATTLE BEYOND THE UNDERWORLDAs the immortal Princess of the Underworld, you’ll explore a bigger, deeper mythic world, vanquishing the forces of the Titan of Time with the full might of Olympus behind you, in a sweeping story that continually unfolds through your every setback and accomplishment.MASTER WITCHCRAFT AND DARK SORCERYInfuse your legendary weapons of Night with ancient magick, so that none may stand in your way. Become stronger still with powerful Boons from more than a dozen Olympian gods, from Apollo to Zeus. There are nearly limitless ways to build your abilities.MINGLE WITH (MORE) GODS, GHOSTS, AND MONSTERSMeet a cast of dozens of fully-voiced, larger-than-life characters, including plenty of new faces and some old friends. Grow closer to them through a variety of new interactions, and experience countless unique story events based on how your journey unfolds.EVERY RUN IS ITS OWN ADVENTURENew locations, challenges, upgrade systems, and surprises await as you delve into the ever-shifting Underworld again and again. Reveal the mysteries of the Arcana Altar, tame witchy familiars, and gather reagents using Tools of the Unseen to get closer to your goal.THE PERKS OF IMMORTALITYThanks to a variety of permanent upgrades and the return of God Mode, you don’t have to be a god yourself to experience whatHades IIhas to offer. But if you happen to be one, you can brave escalating challenges for greater rewards, and prove just how divine you really are.
