Hades 2: Everything We Know About Melinoë So Far

Summary Hades 2 is Supergiant Games' first sequel, and the studio has introduced a new protagonist for the game: Melinoë.

Melinoë is the Princess of the Underworld, hellbent on killing Chronos for usurping Hades.

She is aided by Olympus and has a special relationship with Artemis.

She is different to Zagreus, using witchcraft to grow in power under the tutelage of Hecate.

Hades 2 is Supergiant Games' first ever sequel, but that doesn't mean it is going to keep things the same. Zagreus, the lovable and sarcastic protagonist of the first Hades, has been replaced by his little sister, Melinoë, and the game no longer revolves around escaping Hades over and over again. Instead, it is about breaking into the Underworld, killing the Chronos, Titan of Time, so that Hades can be reclaimed from its usurper, and a recent Hades 2 technical test provided plenty of insight into the new protagonist.

Due to the inconsistencies with the Greek myths, there are a few versions of Melinoë. Sometimes, she's a Goddess, while other times she is a chthonic nymph. Her parentage can rarely be agreed upon too, since sometimes her father is Hades, while other times it is Zeus, just like with the potentially returning Zagreus. Given that the Hades franchise is called the "god-like roguelike", Supergiant has made Melinoë a Goddess, and since she is the Princess of the Underworld, she is also the daughter of Hades.

Related Hades 2: Zagreus' Return Could Make It The Perfect Co-Op Roguelike Hades is known for its outstanding single player experience, but Hades 2 could unite the Underworld siblings in an epic co-op experience.

Melinoë, Princess Of The Underworld

Hades 2 Player Character

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Melinoë is the second child of Hades and Persephone, being born after the events of the first game. Despite being born in the Underworld, she has very little knowledge of it, since Chronos is said to have attacked shortly after the princess was born, at least according to Poseidon. She managed to escape the same fate as her family, who are assumed to have all been captured by the Titan, and has trained with Hecate ever since.

As of the start of the game, Melinoë is in hiding with what is effectively a camp full of Underworld rebels seeking the death of Chronos. She has been training with Hecate since she was a child in service to the goal of ending the Titan of Time, with "Death to Chronos" even being somewhat of a salute. With her mentor being a user of witchcraft, she fights very differently to her warrior-like brother, who trained under Achilles, as she utilizes magic never before seen in Hades.

In Hades 2's technical test, there is a sequence in which a child version of Melinoë talks with Hecate about beginning her training. The camp and tyrannical rule of Chronos is almost as old as she is, and she knows very little about her family first hand.

Melinoë & The Olympians

Returning Mechanic From Hades

Much like her brother, Melinoë can call upon the aid of the Olympians, but the set-up is different. Olympus is under siege, and the Gods are at war, which can be seen in their new UI art, as many are brandishing weapons and donning armor. It is agreed that Melinoë is the key to killing Chronos, so the Olympians help with their Boons. Strangely enough, Melinoë doesn't seem fond of these gods, since they are referred to as the family she doesn't like by Dora, a Listless Shade.

Hades 2 allows at least one Olympian to be met in person. Artemis, Goddess of the Hunt and a fan favorite, will appear to greet Melinoë, and it appears this is not the first time this has happened, since the pair appear to be friends. In fact, Artemis refers to Melinoë as "sister," which could hint at the Princess of the Underworld being a member of the Olympian's group of huntresses. She still gives Boons like other Gods, but seems like she might have more functions in the future.

Another God that appeared during a run in Hades 1 was Thanatos, God of Death. Perhaps Artemis could serve a similar role to Thanatos, helping Melinoë during her runs.

Related Hades 2: Everything In The Original Hades' Ending That Set Up A Sequel Hades 2 will be a direct follow-up to the first Hades, and both endings of the original godlike roguelike help set up the sequel’s premise.

Hades 2 Gameplay & Melinoë's Witchcraft

Training To Defeat Chronos

Melinoë is called "witch" several times in the technical test; all of her natural powers seem to stem from witchcraft, whereas Zagreus' came from the Mirror of Night and his own blood. She could end up becoming the Goddess of Witchcraft, as her brother was the God of Blood in Supergiant's world, but that is a title technically taken by Melinoë's ally Hecate, at least according to Greek myths. She even has access to a Cauldron, which can be used to summon shades to add functionality to the camp, making it work more like The House of Hades.

The entire aesthetic of Melinoë's powers stems from witchcraft, as there are summoning circles for her weapons, which she can test on Schelemeus, who is Skelly with a new job title. She also meditates on an altar, rather than reflect at a mirror, to access new abilities. These are called Arcana Cards, taking inspiration from the witch-like tarot cards, requiring Ash to unlock. Their function is similar to that of the Mirror of Night's upgrades, which require Darkness.

Schelemeus (or Skelly) seems to have an entirely different relationship with Melinoë compared to her brother. While he is friendly and mocking with Zagreus, he acts like a drill sargent with his sister. Funnily enough, she seems to have fallen for this, acting like a private in a squadron when she answers him.

Related Roguelike vs. Roguelite: What's the Difference? Roguelike and roguelite are interchangeably used to describe games with permadeath and procedurally generated maps, but there is a distinction.

Melinoë's Story & Characterization In Hades 2

A Foil To Zagreus

Melinoë is not a gender-bent version of Zagreus with another name. Their personalities differ as greatly as their abilities. While there was a happy-go-lucky energy to Zagreus, as well as the determination of teenage rebellion, Melinoë is equally driven, but by vengeance. She is obsessed with killing Chronos – it's all she talks about, and she even reminds herself of everything she has lost by constantly looking at a painting of her and her family. She may be just as endearing as her brother, but she lacks some of his wit and charm.

The Princess of Hades also has her own pet. While Zagreus could spend hours petting Cerberus, the three-headed dog, Melinoë has a frog, named Frinos, to confide in.

In general, her disposition is darker than Zagreus', but that also represents how dire the overall situation is. The stakes are higher, and while Zagreus only needs to succeed for himself, Melinoë has to kill Chronos for the sake of Olympus and Hades. There is a lot of pressure which the young goddess feels, since she often expresses her doubts about whether she is ready. She tends to beat herself up on failed runs, unlike her brother, who usually has a "get back on the horse" mentality after death.

Unfortunately, it seems that Melinoë knows very little about her brother, as well as her family. She is extraordinarily driven to save them, especially since she has Nemesis, Goddess of Retribution, on her side, but has never had the opportunity to spend much time with them. This seems likely to change as she progresses through the game. At least she is friends with a child of Nyx, like her brother, even if Nemesis, one of Hades 2's confirmed characters, appears harsh toward her.