Supergiant Games’ Hades seems to have become a hot topic within the gaming community. The roguelike steeped in Greek mythology has been celebrated by both critics and players alike both for its gameplay loop and its evolving narrative experience. Even though the game has been available for almost 2 years now through early access on the Epic Games Store, some have even begun to champion Hades as a top contender for Game of the Year in 2020.
With so much buzz surrounding the game there are likely very few players who would consider Hades to be an incomplete package. However, there are some prominent figures from Greek mythology that are noticeably missing from Zagreus’ many attempts to escape the underworld. And while Hades is a great game on its own, the addition of these figures through DLC or content updates could make the game that much better.
Perhaps better known by his Roman equivalent Hercules, some might find it surprising that Heracles is nowhere to be found in Hades except for an occasional reference. Known primarily for his godlike strength, Heracles could serve one of two functions within the world of Hades. Perhaps the most likely use would be as a boss at the end of the Elysium stage. While Theseus and the Bull of Minos are threatening in their own right, Heracles could prove a formidable opponent for Zagreus to overcome, likely doing massive damage with every hit.
The other potential use of Heracles would be as an NPC that Zagreus could talk to in between runs at the House of Hades. Heracles could charge Zag with assisting him in completing the Twelve Labours of Heracles. This could result in more mini-bosses, like the Nemean Lion or the Erymanthian Boar, appearing within the runs themselves providing some variety for veteran players.
Apollo is probably the most notable absence among the various Greek gods and goddesses in the world of Hades. Apollo is the twin brother of Artemis, and is often seen as the god of light as well as the god of music and dance. Boons from Apollo could feature a multitude of effects found through the other gods like knockback or charmed, but a chance to be able to stun enemies could really set his blessings apart from the others.
In Greek mythology, Hephaestus is the god of the forge, blacksmiths, artisans, fire, and volcanoes. While not one of the more popular deities within the Greek mythos, Hephaestus might be able to find a home within the realm of Hades by providing boons for Zagreus. These boons could take multiple forms, however, it’s likely that Supergiant could lean into his volcanic abilities, giving the player more damage over time abilities and perhaps filling his God Gauge to cause a volcano to erupt in the arena.
The Greek god of time, Chronos, could provide a unique gameplay mechanic through his boons. Chronos could occupy a space similar to Chaos, where players don’t find his boons through ordinary circumstances on their runs and may need to find doors that require special prices to enter. Furthermore, Chronos could give players boons that let them play with time, either by slowing down, speeding up, or stopping time altogether.
When it comes to Hades, the only gods or goddesses that seem to lend their strength to Prince Zagreus through various blessings are the Olympians, while the Chthonic Gods tend to support him from afar. Hecate could be the Chthonic Goddess to break this trend. As the goddess of magic, witchcraft, and ghosts, Hecate could provide unique boons that might allow players to become ethereal and intangible for a short period of time.
Hades is available now on PC and Switch.
Image Sources: Statue of Apollo, Statuette of Hephaestus, Statue of Chronos, Statue of Hecate
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