When it comes to fantastic roguelikes and/or dungeon crawlers, gamers are spoilt for choice at the time. While there is a wealth of great titles available to scratch that itch, oversaturation can become an issue too. Titles like Slay the Spire can be enormous timesinks, so it’s crucial to know that roguelike you’re investing in will be worthy of all your time.
Fortunately, Supergiant’s super-successful Hades (possibly their best game yet) certainly qualifies. The familiar genre trappings are present and correct, but what really sets Hades apart is its world-building and the depth of the main cast. The loveably snarky Prince of the Underworld, Zagreus, is a fascinating protagonist, with a huge amount of tiny details and hidden secrets lavished upon him that some players may not have noticed. Here are some of the best. Watch out for spoilers!
10 He’s A Talented Lyre Player… After A Fashion
At the House Contractor, players can purchase all kinds of upgrades for the House of Hades, the hub world that they’ll be returning to time and again between runs. From simple cosmetic changes to items that actually unlock a new feature, there’s a lot to choose from for the different areas of the house.
One thing that players can buy to adorn Zagreus’ bed chambers is the lyre. The prince can’t play this delicate stringed instrument at first and it appears to be largely ornamental, but there’s actually more to it: through a sidequest with one of the game’s excellent NPCs, master musician Orpheus, Zagreus is able to learn to play the instrument!
9 He’s Doing Legitimate Underworld Work
When the story of Hades begins (here come some of those spoilers), anti-hero Zagreus seems to be nothing more than a rebellious young man, trying to charge out of the underworld — slaying the lumpen monstrosities that call it home as he goes — against his despairing father’s wishes.
As the player makes progress, however, they learn of his true motives and the plight he faces. There are a lot of things players don’t know when they first pick up the game, and the heartstring-plucking places the story will take them to is certainly one of them. On achieving his objective and returning his beloved mother Persephone to the House of Hades, Hades begins to open up to his son, requesting that Zagreus continues to try to escape so as to test the underworld’s defenses. He has a legitimate job, Security Specialist, and access to rank-ups via the Resource Director!
8 He Can Befriend ‘Bouldy’ (To An Extent)
The world of Hades, as players will know, is habited by many colorful characters from Greek mythology. From Zeus, owner of the most magnificent beard in all the land, to Sisyphus, the devious king of Ephyra, lots of familiar faces are represented here.
Those familiar with the story of Sisyphus will know that he was punished by being sentenced to push a boulder to the top of a hill, constantly toiling because his job could never be completed. Sisyphus can be encountered in Tartarus in Hades, and will give the player a helpful item of their choosing. Sisyphus’ boulder, ‘Bouldy,’ is right here alongside him, and if you take the time to develop a closer relationship with Sisyphus, you’ll be able to talk to Bouldy too! It doesn’t reply or have an affinity bar to raise, but it offers an exclusive Boon, Heart of Stone, which gives a small stat boost.
7 He Can Romance Certain Characters
For many players, one of the highlights of Hades is its engrossing story. This is an area in which the genre is often lacking, and the way that the game deftly interweaves storytelling with the core gameplay is one of its greatest strengths.
Those simply interested in grabbing one of the game’s brilliant weapons and diving straight back into the action, however, may be unaware that Zagreus is able to romance certain fellow denizens of the House of Hades. If he advances his relationship with Dusa, Megaera, or Thanatos far enough (through conversations, Nectar, and Ambrosia), he can romance them. All three of them at once, if the player desires. Each storyline has its own brilliant conclusion and is worth pursuing.
6 His Keepsakes’ Designs Change Slightly When Bonds With The Gifter Are Forged
Each time the player returns to the House of Hades, characters with exclamation mark icons above their heads will have something new to say. Often, this will advance or offer up a new sidequest, so it pays to check in with everybody.
While the vast majority of characters can’t be romanced, they all offer fantastic dialogue as Zagreus builds a bond with them. When that bond is maxed out, there’s another little bonus: the Keepsake that character gave Zagreus will be marked with an adorable cartoon icon of said character, along with a new message about/from them.
5 His Own Weapons Aren’t So Bland After All
For fans of great dungeon crawlers and similar titles, it’s often only the very strongest builds that are worthwhile. Hades includes four variants of each of its six weapons, each of which is very distinct from the last. Naturally, the legendary weapons, such as the Stygian Blade’s Aspect of Arthur, tend to be the most potent of their ‘class.’
Meanwhile, each weapon has its Aspect of Zagreus, the standard version of the weapon. While many would be tempted to drop this as soon as they’ve unlocked more, weapons with the Aspect of Zagreus can be very potent too. Notable examples include the Twin Fists of Malphon (which has an upgradable chance to auto-dodge attacks) and Coronacht (which can be upgraded to a 10% base critical hit chance).
4 He Has A Fan
On the quest to defeat everything his father has to throw at him, one of the biggest challenges Zagreus faces is the boss fight against Theseus and Asterius. The battle against these Heroes at the end of Elysium can make or break a run and is a common roadblock for newer players.
The key is using the pillars to avoid Theseus’ spears and Asterius’ charges. On vanquishing them, you may be too relieved to notice a neat little detail: among all the shades cheering for Theseus and Asterius in the stands, a lone red-toned shade has a little Zagreus banner and is cheering for him! Approach this shade and the prince will thank them for supporting him.
3 His Father Really Does Care For Him
Each of the major players in the game has a unique personality and quirks of their own. Players soon develop their own favorites, but the gruff and standoffish Hades is just so hard to like at first.
As probably expected, though, he gradually softens (a little) as the title goes on. In fact, he will eventually give Zagreus a Keepsake, Sigil of the Dead, which grants the prince an exclusive Call: Hades’ Aid. This allows him to become briefly invisible/Unseen as his father can. To offer his aid and protection in a subtle way is characteristic of this father-son relationship.
2 He’s The Worst Motivational Speaker Ever
Hades can’t exactly be blamed for his harshness towards his son, though. Zagreus, the player sees through flashbacks, is hardly the most attentive or obedient young man. With his aversion to hard work, he’s hardly in a place to inspire others to be more efficient in their jobs.
Still, when the Administrative Chamber is unlocked, he can ‘Inspire’ the shades at their desks with a supposedly motivational phrase. This little feature has no real effect, but it’s yet another tiny detail that goes towards making the grim and spooky yet utterly charming Hades what it is.
1 He Had His Own Place In Greek Mythology
As previously mentioned, those familiar with Greek Mythology will recognize a lot of the characters here. The likes of Persephone, Demeter, Poseidon, and Euridyce have been recreated rather faithfully.
Zagreus is more obscure, but he wasn’t originally created for the game. Contradictory versions of his story place him as Hades and Persephone’s son or as the offspring of Zeus and Persephone, and it’s unclear precisely what he was considered the god of or just how powerful he is. A lot of this is reflected in Hades.
NEXT: 10 Of The Scariest Video Game Monsters Based On Mythology
