First Impressions/Feedback

[Elfbird]

I don't see a general feedback thread, so new topic it is...

OG Hades was the game that sold me on ARPGs when I generally don't like action games, and I fell in love with Supergiant as a studio from there. After about three hours with the EA launch, Hades 2 is more of what I'm here for with enough shiny new things and development space that it feels different from just playing more Hades 1.

Wishlist:
- Combat generally feels fluid, with each weapon bringing a strongly distinct and equally fun playstyle, but sometimes (only sometimes, and I'm not sure why?) dodges and the axe's blocks are really clunky. I wish they had more ability to interrupt attack animations/combos, because it feels really bad to get caught in an incoming attack that you can see but not respond to - especially against the rootstalker filling your face with pins while you're waiting to get out of an axe slam.

- Maybe it's better on controller, but I basically can't sprint on KB/M - holding down the spacebar feels unnatural compared to tapping it, and even if I got used to that it becomes tricky to manage the other keyboard inputs I'd want while sprinting. Would feel much better to just maintain sprint after dash until movement stops completely.

- I remember some, if not all, enemies in Hades 1 showing AoEs on the ground before attacking, which would be really nice here - as an accessibility option if nothing else. I see the appeal in wanting players to just master enemy attack patterns and animation cues, but ground AoE patterns would reduce visual strain and difficulty curve for more casual players.

- Since Hades 1, I desperately, desperately want a prompt before leaving a room with uncollected resources/interactables. I don't always notice the sound effect over the music, it can be hard to pick out interactables from the beautifully lively scenery even if I break my momentum to take a lap around each room before leaving, and I've lost count of how many times I noticed a chest or sparkle during the room-exit animation, too late to go back and grab the lost goods.

- On a related note, I'd love to see text popups or tooltips for what the door symbols mean (gold, shop, ashes, Zeus, Demeter, etc.). The visual language can be hard to make out at times, and having to memorize the meanings can make it hard to get back in after a long break.

- Right-clicking to exit menus would be easy enough to implement, right? It feels far more natural to me than moving my hand to the ESC key or hitting the menu's open button again (B for Boons, etc.)

- The tool system feels really, really bad so far. Maybe it's different later on when you're flush with resources and only need to farm out this or that, but at the start when I need absolutely everything, it just hurts to only be able to collect one map resource each run, which I may only encounter one or two of, while having to pass up other things I also need.

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Standouts:
- I'm so here for the feelings of nostalgia and longing for the House of Hades we called home in Hades 1 that permeate the Crossroads. A few familiar faces displaced from their old home, a few with connections to the previous story who never showed up in person, dear Melinoe who's been put at the forefront of a fight she struggles to find her stake in. Sometimes I miss Zagreus's snark and rebellious dynamic with everyone in the underworld, but that just sets Hades 2 apart as different and equally worth playing, rather than a direct replacement for Hades. Very much looking forward to how the plot and Melinoe's emotional dynamics develop on her journey.

- The new gods are delightful surprises, and I enjoy the redesigns for the old lineup - it highlights the passage of time and change in circumstances. Again, if I wanted the old designs, I'd just play more Hades 1. (Poseidon's callout about the old blessings was also fun, and curious foreshadowing...)

- Once again, the sheer amount of contextual dialogue is stunning, from all the different salute exchanges to Skelly and Hecate's helpful tips based on how your last run ended.

- Arachne is absolutely precious. As an arachnophobe, I was nervous going into her room for the first time, but she's completely disarming. I hope we get to buy her outfits in the Crossroads at some point, as cosmetics if not to take into runs.

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Overall I'm very happy with the foundation we've got and excited for future developments, just holding my breath a bit for QoL before I fixate on Hades 2 as much as I did the original.
(For the record, this is my first Steam forum post, so kudos for dragging that out of me.)

[Drake]

i agree that the tool system is the worst i ever saw in a game its horrible it NEEDS to go its not fun at all. no one wanna see stuff they cant gather just by sheer luck
i would add that the keyboard/mouse control is also much worse then in h1 and needs improvements as well as the movement overall feels not as smooth as in h1 especially stuff like dash attack feels rly bad