I'm so excited to play Hades II for the very first time — this is my very first run and my very first impressions. It's available on Steam in Early Access for $30, and I didn't even know this was out there. I played Hades, the first one, all the way through and got the full ending ten times. So let's see how this is.
My First Run as Melinoë
Right away: oh, that's a nice, big, fat attack she has now. All right, we're going to use our dash successfully... ah, no! No, I can't have light! I've got to have a better first run than that. I got down to 12 health, and that got me messed up. I told myself I will not die in, like, the second instance — then admitted I might die in the second instance. Ah! I was just trying to dash! Stupid mouse and keyboard.
Dude, I got three health. Somebody's got to heal a girl up. Ridiculous. Die, little thing. Oh my God, I needed some health so bad — where's some health at? So, so bad. All right, so y'all got health right here, right? No. Oh my God. All right, that's cool — three health, let's see what we can do. Then I picked up speed — look at it — and realized, oh, I can just cast constantly? That's good. I caught myself playing scared: oh, you playing scared now, Jerry. That's true. Oh, all right — that's a big, fat attack. Yeah! All right, we got one more. I need some health! Can't feel my legs. Oh, no health. No health for a girl, huh? That's great. Oh, thank God — thank the gods. Then armor. And then... dude, I died in less than ten minutes. So bad. Oh my God. That's great. Didn't even make it ten minutes. That's cool?
Why I Was So Excited for This Sequel
So, the first game, Hades, was one of the... well, I've played hundreds of games in the last few years, because for a while I just relentlessly tried new games. That's all I did — try new games. I'd play a new game, like, every day. Hades was one of the most fun games I found out of all those hundreds of games. So this is the sequel, Hades II, and I've been really excited to try this out.
The Marvel Snap Trap
And I was grinding Marvel Snap this morning. I lost an 8-cube game, and I'm like, man, I've got to stop playing this game. But then you want to keep playing it, because if you ever stop playing this game, it's hard to come back to. And it's like, if I keep playing Marvel Snap, then I'm essentially... look, I spent, like, $2,000 playing Marvel Snap. So if I keep playing it, it seems kind of reasonable, right? But if I stop playing, then it's just like you're a freaking lunatic.
I find, too, in my experience it really helps the brain to play different games — to challenge your brain. Playing a different game makes your brain work harder. And isn't that so funny? You want a relationship, and then you get one. You want a relationship, you get one, then you're annoyed with the relationship you got.
Run Two: Stronger, and Straight Into Hecate
All right, let's do another run. "In the name of Hades, Olympus, I accept this message." "Just like your mother, I'll not lose her again. I shall freeze hell in its entirety." Grandmother. The specials deal more damage and inflict freeze now. All right, yeah — let's do another. This is a lot more... we're a lot more powerful than last time. We've advanced significantly. Better, better.
Flames — I thought the Fire Goddess never got involved. "Well, look at you, hot stuff. Come to help the elderly. Oh, what a good girl you are. And here I was, just about to burn this old blasted place to the ground myself. Now, here's a little warm-up." Oh, that's pretty cool — so if I have at least 80 health, that's double.
Oh, here we go — it's the big boss. The Headmistress. There she is. "Welcome to the edge of Erebus. Well done, Melinoë." Melinoë? "Thank you, Headmistress Hecate. I could not have reached this point without your guidance." "And in turn, you shall not pass this point without a demonstration of your capability." "My capability? You'd have us face each other here, even though my task has already begun?" "Your training shall never be enough. It shall be complete. And I would know if you stand any chance." All right, bring it out. Awaken.
I got eight health. I got one health. I can't feel my legs. Oh, shoot. Oh, that was a good shot — that hit her. Oh no, I went the wrong way, Dad. GG's. "You're clearly unprepared as yet." GG's. Strong. You there? Yeah, Dora — we're dead. Time to start over. We'll upgrade a little bit, and then... all right, so let's quit.
First Impressions
Yeah, this was fun. I definitely recommend this — this is a good time. And if you enjoy watching me get humbled by Hecate on my very first runs, there's plenty more where that came from on my Games playlist.