There is a lot of anticipation forHades 2. The sequel to the highly popularHadeswill center around thePrincess of the Underworld Melinoeas she tries to rescue her father, Hades, from the clutches of the Titan of Time, Chronos. She will also be aided by her mentor Hecate, the Olympians Zeus and Apollo, and other characters who have yet to be confirmed.
Being an action roguelike game,Hadesgave players a fair amount of assistance courtesy of the Olympians' Boons and thepower-ups from Nyx’s Mirror of Night. Although it hasn’t been confirmed, it’s highly possible that Boons would come back inHades 2because of Zeus and Apollo’s presence. But there’s still no sign of a feature similar to the Mirror of Night.
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What Could Be Hades 2’s Version of the Mirror of Night?
The Mirror of Night in the firstHadesgame was Nyx’s gift to aid Zagreus in his escape from the Underworld. It gives two versions of upgrades that can enhance Zagreus' abilities throughout his run. Unlike the Boons, the Mirror of Night’s perks are permanent unless players switched some of them off. This feature played a big role in the game, so it would be interesting to see howHades 2would adopt the same mechanic.
Hecate is currently the front-runner to play the Nyx-like role inHades 2. Not only because she’s implied to be Nyx’s daughter in some Greek mythology accounts, butHecate is also Melinoe’s mentorin the game. She was seen sparring with the princess, and giving her advice to prep for her journey ahead. Hecate is the goddess of witchcraft, magic, and crossroads, and is also associated with the protection of homes and travelers. So, it would make sense if she provided Melinoe with additional upgrades.
The question now would be what Hecate’s gift would be if Nyx gave Zagreus a mirror. An obvious choice would be a cauldron that Melinoe could use to go withHades 2’s witchcraft and magic theme. But if the game wants to be lore-accurate, it could also use Hecate’s wheel or the Stropholos of Hecate. In mythology, she’s known for having three forms in one body, which represent the three phases of womanhood: maiden, mother, and crone. The wheel is often used to symbolize Hecate’s life, and how she could provide blessings and prosperity.
IfHades 2utilized the Stropholos, perhaps it could include upgrades based on Hecate’s three forms to give Melinoe more power and protection in each run. This would already be a step above Nyx’s Mirror of Night, which only had two versions of each ability available for Zagreus to use. Plus, Melinoe would need all the buffs she could get if she’s going up againstthe powerful Chronos.
Another possible character who can help Melinoe is her mother, Persephone. Although she wasn’t shown in the trailer or confirmed to show up yet, the Goddess of Harvest could very well be present to help save her husband from Chronos. In the firstHadesgame, Persephone made her presence known through pomegranates that increased Zagreus' health bar. This time, she could play a bigger role and let Melinoe explore her garden, which can be her version of the Mirror of Night. The princess could pick out certain crops that can give her significant boosts before venturing out.
A lot ofHades 2’s details are still shrouded in mystery. But based on the information available, it’s clear that Supergiant Games wanted to tell a more in-depth story usinglesser-known gods in Greek mythology, and how they would interact with the Olympians and Titans. This would make both the story and gameplay more exciting, and possibly even bigger than its predecessor.
