Summary
Anyone who has played Supergiant’sHadeswill probably know that it is a game with no shortage of content. The story of the game seems never-ending, the six weapons and their various aspects allow for combat specialization and mastery, andHadesspeedrunners are known for beating impossible challenges. However, the first game was conspicuously missing one commonplace feature, and its sequel would do well to implement it in some way.
Players have a great deal of freedom inHades. The combat of the game is fluid, multifaceted, and easy to tweak in a number of ways, characters have unique dialogue options and side quests available based on how much the player interacts with them, and the Halls of Hades can be adorned with a wide assortment of different decorative options. With all that being said, it’s strange thatHadeslacks one very common feature: character customization. It might be a while before gamerslearn 2, but this highly anticipated successor to 2020’s best roguelike should implement at least some options for players to customize the main character.
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Why Adding Cosmetics to Hades 2 Would Make it a Better Game
Caring about cosmetics in video games is a spectrum; some gamers couldn’t care less, and others consider it a make-or-break feature in the games they play. Most gamers probably fall somewhere in the middle, where they appreciate the inclusion, but won’t necessarily mind its omission if the rest of the game is strong enough. The firstHadesis certainly strong enough to be enjoyable without character customization, but the feature would fitHades 2perfectly.
Hadesis known for its lengthy postgame, with some players arguing that the game only truly begins after the credits roll. While there is more than enough content to carry a playthrough over one hundred hours, there is a surprising lack of cosmetic collectibles and unlockables. Gems and diamonds can be redeemed for cosmetics for the Halls of Hades, which is certainly a welcome addition. However, this makes the omission of customization options for Zagreus himself all the more glaring.
It’s likely that players will come to feel a strong connection with Zagreus throughout extensive playthroughs, and some customization options would have helped with that.Hades 2lead Melinoe seems a bit different from Zagreus, and this new characterization could be the perfect opportunity to introduce a bit of variable fashion to the sequel. Not only would this help strengthen the personal connection that players will have with the game, but it could also serve as an added incentive for a number of gameplay challenges.Hades' endgame was characterized by the Pacts of Punishment, difficulty modifiers that could alter runs dramatically. The rewards for completing these altered runs, however, could be seen as somewhat underwhelming, as they are simply additional currencies and upgrade materials that players have already earned before this point. Valuable, but very familiar.
It’s likely thatHades 2will learn from the endgameof the first game, and the Pact of Punishment reward system is the perfect candidate for improvement. If, in addition to upgrade materials and other currencies, players could unlock special outfits or accessories for Melinoe, it would keep things fresh and exciting while serving as motivation to complete brutal challenges. There wouldn’t have to be too many alternate costumes or cosmetics, but even just a handful, rewarded for completing the game’s toughest challenges, could go a long way toward making an even better game.
Hadesdeveloper Supergiant has addressed the lack of cosmetics from the first game, explaining that it would be too difficult, expensive, and time-consuming given the resources available to the team.Hades 2offers a great opportunityfor this team to experiment and expand, asHadeswas the most popular game from the studio, and Supergiant could likely leverage more resources toward building out several systems, including personalization, when the game eventually releases.
Hades 2is in development.
MORE:Hades 2 Could Show Zagreus' Growth Through One of its Key Mechanic
