Get The First Deep Dive Into Hades 2 Gameplay With A New Video

Players can now sign up for the Hades II technical test, although only a few people will actually get in. For everyone else, there is still a way to get a glimpse at the anticipated title. Supergiant creative director Greg Kasavin and Studio Director Amir Rao livestreamed an initial run of the game on the developer’s official YouTube channel.

Like the technical test itself, the livestream only shows off the first major area of the game (although if you don’t want spoilers at all, probably best not to watch the video). You play as Melinoë, potentially a daughter of Hades, who seeks to vanquish the forces of the resurrected god Chronos. The technical test takes place in Erebus, where souls wait to be sorted into the afterlife from the last game.
 Like the prior game, Melinoë can pick up enhancements and new abilities from the gods of Olympus. The video shows off some of these new gods like Apollo. Melinoë is a witch and she can use “omega” moves that deal extra damage, but these can be hard to pull off and cost magick. She can even sprint, unlike the last game’s hero Zagreus.

Back at home base, The Crossroads, Melinoë can hang with her pet frog and a “listless shade” named Dora, learn from Hecate the witch of the crossroads, and meet other mythical figures like Odysseus and Hypnos. She can also gather ash to unlock Arcana cards that make Melinoë stronger and choose new weapons.

The technical test will run an as-yet-undetermined amount of time. The game should launch in an early-access-version soon after the technical test is complete. Here’s everything else we know about the game so far.