Hades 2 Has a Lot to Learn From Cult of the Lamb’s Latest Feature

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Hades 2 Has a Lot to Learn From Cult of the Lamb's Latest Feature

Highlights

  • Despite fan requests, Hades 2 won’t have local co-op, leaving room for Cult of the Lamb to showcase this feature in their DLC.
  • Cult of the Lamb’s Unholy Alliance DLC introduces new co-op gameplay with unique traits and challenges for players to overcome.
  • Fans speculate on potential partners for Melinoe in local co-op, highlighting Nemesis and Zagreus as possible allies in her quest.

As a seasoned gamer with years of roguelike experience under my belt, I can’t help but feel a pang of both excitement and disappointment as I navigate the latest updates in the realm of these challenging, yet rewarding games. On one hand, I’m thrilled that titles like Cult of the Lamb are pushing boundaries, introducing innovative features such as local co-op gameplay through their DLCs. On the other, it seems my heart’s desire for a local co-op feature in Hades 2 remains unfulfilled… for now.

In “Hades 2,” the storyline carries on from its predecessor, featuring Melinoe as the main character and an array of fresh characters based on Greek mythology. Ever since the original game, supporters have been hoping for Supergiant Games to incorporate a local co-op mode with Zagreus and Thanatos, but this feature hasn’t been implemented yet. As “Hades 2” is now available in early access, fans are still clamoring for co-op play to be included in the sequel.

It appears that Supergiant Games currently doesn’t seem to be planning on including a local co-op mode in Hades 2, but fans are still keeping their fingers crossed. Given the challenging nature of Hades 2’s dungeons and enemies, many believe it would make perfect sense for characters like Melinoe to join forces with others such as Nemesis or Zagreus. Simultaneously, another roguelike game, Cult of the Lamb, recently released the Unholy Alliance DLC, which introduces the long-awaited co-op feature to the game.

Cult of the Lamb Further Shows that Co-Op Roguelike is Possible

Hades 2 Has a Lot to Learn From Cult of the Lamb's Latest Feature
  • Cult of the Lamb Unholy Alliance DLC characters: Lamb and Goat

The Unholy Alliance expansion pack for Cult of the Lamb enables players to team up with their friends, jointly navigating dungeons with both the Lamb and the Goat characters. This collaboration allows them to slay monsters and band together to defeat bosses, in addition to coordinating the management of their cult. The DLC introduces unique tarot cards and relics for cooperative play, which grant the Lamb and Goat additional abilities and strengths when battling opponents.

Furthermore, the Unholy Alliance introduces unique characteristics among cultists, making them more volatile and tough to handle. These cultists may develop insomnia, aid fellow cultists in escaping prison, and upon returning from missions, they could be inspired or traumatized. As a result, managing followers in Cult of the Lamb becomes slightly trickier due to the dual responsibilities of two players.

“Cult of the Lamb has demonstrated that cooperative gameplay is achievable in roguelike titles, a genre known for its intricate dungeons filled with adversaries. These labyrinths can prove challenging and potentially overwhelming for some players. However, by introducing local co-op, players can receive support from one another as they uncover unique abilities belonging to the secondary protagonist.”

Supergiant Games still has time to include local cooperative play in “Hades 2”, given its planned release next year. All they need to do is decide on an additional character who will join Melinoe in battle, focusing on combat characters she meets during her journey. If they opt not to add co-op to “Hades 2”, it could be a future installment of “Hades” that sees this feature implemented.

  • Combat character encounters: Nemesis, Artemis, Heracles, Icarus

Who Can Be Melinoe’s Partner in Local Co-Op?

Similar to its predecessor, Hades 2 showcases Melinoe’s unwavering spirit as she battles against malevolent forces. Along her journey, she gathers divine powers bestowed by the gods of Olympus and other significant characters. The game also introduces players to many of Melinoe’s companions in The Crossroads, such as Hecate, Nemesis, and Odysseus. If Hades 2 included local multiplayer mode, characters like Nemesis or Zagreus could team up with Melinoe. Nemesis is a recurring figure when Melinoe ventures out, where they engage in competitions to slay the most enemies or exchange blows for rewards. Despite their complex relationship, Nemesis and Melinoe have mutual respect for each other, and their bond can develop throughout the game, much like Zagreus and Thanatos in Hades.

In the meantime, it remains uncertain whether Zagreus will feature in “Hades 2”, as there is no official confirmation yet. At present, Melinoe can only interact with Hades upon reaching Chronos’ castle, and the whereabouts of the rest of her family remain unclear. Some speculate that Zagreus could play a crucial role in helping his younger sister when “Hades 2” is fully released, making it plausible for him to be Melinoe’s partner in local co-op mode, if he returns as a playable character.

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2024-08-17 20:34