Summary
Much like its predecessor, a vital mechanic inHades 2is the gifting mechanic.Give an ambrosia and get a Keepsake in return, which you can take on your runs to make them easier. Of course, there’s more nuance this time around, with the gift-giving changing depending on the circumstances.
Eventually, you’ll be able to offer some characters bath salts, which will invite them to spend some time in the hot springs with you, or some fishing lures, which will invite them to the docks. All of this, combined with some conversation, is crucial for advancing the friendships and relationships Melinoe has in the Crossroads.
Hades 2
WHERE TO PLAY
Hades 2 is the sequel to Supergiant Games' smash-hit roguelike dungeon crawler. This time you’ll play as Melinoë, Princess of the Underworld and Zagreus' sister, as she takes on the forces of the Titan of Time.
The following contains spoilers. Hades 2 is still in Early Access, and some information may be subject to change.
6Eris
Are you looking for something like a Romeo and Juliet-type situation? Well, look no further because Eris has your back in some really warped and twisted way. She doesn’t necessarily want to help Melinoe, and yet, you may still win her favor.
The hardest part about trying to win Eris’ affection, however, isn’t that she can come off as really aloof and arrogant - it’s that you don’t get to meet heruntil you’ve beaten her for the first time on the surface. At that point, you’ve probably already invested a fair bit into building your relationships with others.
It’s not even like Eris is particularly nice when you first meet her on Olympus, though perhaps time will soften her relationship with Melinoe to something more gentle (even while both of them try to pummel each other upon exiting the Rift of Thessaly).
5Dora
You probably know as much about Dora as she knows about herself. She’s constantly questioning who she might have been, even taking the time to talk to Moros occasionally in the hope of getting some more answers.
Unfortunately, he doesn’t really know either. At times, this can cause Dora to withdraw into herself, pulling away from Melinoe and the world around her (not that she really ventures out into it in the first place). Like Hecate, Dora certainly comes off as more of a close friend option than some of the other romance options.
Sadly, there are times when Melinoe doesn’t seem to be that great of a friend to Dora either. It’s understandable that Melinoe is wrapped up in her own quest for vengeance, but she should take the time to understand Dora’s plight and frustrations on a more sympathetic level.
4Hecate
Hecate really isn’t so much a romance option as she is a “closer friend” option. Even still, it’s nice to grow closer to her and to get to know Melinoe better.
Despite having practically raised the Princess of the Underworld,there’s still so much about Hecate that you really don’t know. She can come off as overly abrasive and harsh at times, and yet, Hecate has this certain softness to her that’s just hard to ignore.
She knows the right times to be gentle and to offer praise, and her faith in Melinoe’s abilities and judgment is almost unending. Hecate is probably the best support pillar that you have in the entirety of the Crossroads and beyond. Even after you save the House of Hades from Chronos, there’s little doubt that she would willingly leave Melinoe’s life.
3Odysseus
Odysseus,the tactical and charismatic leader, is also surprisingly awkward when interacting with Melinoe at times. When you first invite him to the hot springs, he gets a little bit flustered in an endearing way, though he does share some interesting insights about the cultural differences between mortals and gods.
But this little perspective into Odysseus as a more than charismatic face isn’t where it ends - there are times when he wanders around camp where you can find him reminiscing, quiet, melancholy, all of which reminds you that he was once mortal and, in many ways, still is.
A relationship between a shade and a god probably isn’t meant to be, but if it were feasible, Odysseus would certainly make a wonderful romance option for the equally strategic Melinoe.
2Moros
Moros clearly doesn’t get out and around people who aren’t dying very much. He can be awkward at times when interacting with people whose imminent doom is not anytime soon.
However, he can also be incredibly insightful and thought-provoking, offering you a great deal to ponder over as you move below Erebus or through Ephyra. His perspective is so unique, and over time, he gradually grows more comfortable interacting with Melinoe and the world around him.
Moros is such a genuine and sweet person at times that he stands out among the slightly more gritty and well-guarded characters in Hades 2. This certainly works well to make him an excellent and interesting romance candidate.
1Nemesis
In many ways, Nemesis comes off as abrasive, rude, and confrontational. It seems, at first, that she really doesn’t like Melinoe, but after some time, Melinoe begins to return the sentiment.
However, there is more to Nemesis than meets the eye. Love and hatred are two sides of the same coin, and other feelings - like regret and resentment- can cause those feelings to become muddled and near indistinguishable. Nemesis has, perhaps, one of the most satisfying character arcs, especially in regard to her relationship with Melinoe.
Talking with her time and time again and meeting her out on the battlefield, or even at Charon’s shop, is delightful. Hatred begins to shift into a thrill at beating her to the reward that you want, and the more that you talk with her, the more the coin starts to flip.
