Hades - by Supergiant Games (Bastion, Transistor, Pyre)

Stele wrote:

I might be having my first win tonight. Had to break for baby stuff. But on area 3 I picked up 2 duo boons and some epic stuff. One is healing me at all times now that my revive count is at 0!

The other was a hammer I think that changed the shield charge attack into a ranged attack! So about the area that you would rush with the shield it shoots a wide attack instead. It's amazing. I still can block everything but also attack between enemy attacks and hold my position.

I completely kicked the sh*t out of A&T, almost felt sorry for them. My health (125) never got below 100 during the fight and ended at max.

Can't wait to get in and try 4th area later.

Long story but I finally got back to this just a few minutes ago and I won my first victory! That was run 18 for me.

IMAGE(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Ei43PBZUcAAPnZS?format=jpg&name=small)

Feels damn good. And I still want to play more. At least one victory with each weapon would be cool. And clearly there's more story.

And separately, a question for the more experienced players. Do you complete every part in the 4th area?

The first time I got there I didn't even know you could. I found the key item on 2nd area and then turned it in, and all other areas closed at that point. But tonight when I got there item and went back to start, Zag commented that I could try more paths or continue. So I went and did all of them and was able to buy 2 more items before the boss.

Is this how I should do it? Or does it depend on how complete your build is?

It really depends on the rewards on offer. I've done extra rooms if I think a boon available might fulfill a prophecy, or if the coin might let me buy a chance at a boon or a diamond. Most of the time, though, it's just not worth the loss of health. Some of those rooms can be really rough, especially if you catch a poison effect in the right place or run up against a mini-boss.

I almost never complete "All" the rooms. However, sometimes I will complete an extra one if I want the rewards enough.

Well I beat 2 areas with the last weapon. And I beat A alone as a midboss but then died in a random room to a trap. Ugh.

Finally met another NPC in are 3 who offered a chance to reset all my death defiance counts. But I had just spent 200 coins to add 1 back. I wish I had realised what that ! door had a chance to be. Oh well.

Anyway I got 2 diamonds now, so I think I'll expand the renovation options.

I tend to go once I have the item. One time I wanted some extra coin but the extra room really kicked my ass and I went into the boss with only 60/300ish health.

I had picked up this game when it first went on sale due to Supergiant's previous few games. Last played in March at 62 runs, only ever got to the final boss once, never beaten.

With all the chatter this past week I fired it up to find that I last saved one room shy of the Hydra. So I went on to beat the final boss for the first time. Neat. Though apparently from my stats screen i'd gotten up to the end once before, though i can't remember which zone was the end at that point.
IMAGE(https://i.imgur.com/PS9v2IZ.png)

That Stubborn Roots boon is absolutely busted.

Dryden wrote:

I had picked up this game when it first went on sale due to Supergiant's previous few games. Last played in March at 62 runs, only ever got to the final boss once, never beaten.

With all the chatter this past week I fired it up to find that I last saved one room shy of the Hydra. So I went on to beat the final boss for the first time. Neat. Though apparently from my stats screen i'd gotten up to the end once before, though i can't remember which zone was the end at that point.
IMAGE(https://i.imgur.com/PS9v2IZ.png)

That Stubborn Roots boon is absolutely busted.

Oh, never had Stubborn Roots.
For all my runs, which has to be definitely over 50, maybe towards 100, I'm still trying to figure out some of the unlocks for this game.
Also fishing is so dumb, but off to cast I go.

Yeah see my win above. Stubborn roots plus shield, you should be undefeatable.

62m!

I finally got to see Erebus. And boy I died quick. Haha. Y'all know if you've been there.

Spoiler:

Sad that when you get credits you don't fight hades. Had a really nice build going, was looking forward to it.

Had my first win! I love how it sets up the continuation of the story.

Second area fight keeps changing. Zag keeps commenting on the boss new look. And I keep getting my ass kicked. Not sure why I can't adjust but lost 3 runs in a row there now.

It’s funny, I actually find the other two easier than Meg. Fewer/no adds.

Still haven’t won yet. Got pretty close on a fist run, because I got some crazy boons/hammers, but I’ve lost with bow, spear, and now fist.

Having the first act boss fight pull from a pool of 3 is rather brilliant, as that's the boss you'll fight the most while progressing.

I'm less enthused with how the Hydra fight changes. Most of them are fine, but the head that spawns adds... those skeletons can be worse than the Hydra itself. I guess I'm grateful that isn't the prime head every time.

Hades took me quite a while to be able to beat reliably. He was definitely a difficulty spike in and of himself. I think part of the problem is I was playing it a little too safe and the fight was taking too long. I'd lose focus as it dragged on and he'd wear me down.

Vargen wrote:

I'm less enthused with how the Hydra fight changes. Most of them are fine, but the head that spawns adds... those skeletons can be worse than the Hydra itself. I guess I'm grateful that isn't the prime head every time.

That's what my last post was about. The fireball hydra head is challenging but still doable. But the f*cking skeletons can go to hell... Hahaha

Stele wrote:
Vargen wrote:

I'm less enthused with how the Hydra fight changes. Most of them are fine, but the head that spawns adds... those skeletons can be worse than the Hydra itself. I guess I'm grateful that isn't the prime head every time.

That's what my last post was about. The fireball hydra head is challenging but still doable. But the f*cking skeletons can go to hell... Hahaha

It is a lot easier if you can kill the "eggs" before they turn into skeletons. Their health is a lot lower in larval form. Unfortunately I can't seem to train myself to prioritize them, so I only handle them properly when I have a build that does it incidentally...

boogle wrote:
Spoiler:

Sad that when you get credits you don't fight hades. Had a really nice build going, was looking forward to it.

Spoiler:

Same reaction when I hit that point! Especially since it was a decent build with my least played weapon (shield), so was curious how it would have turned out.

Anybody know why I've still not met Thanatos? 24 or 25 runs at this point. Wiki info says he just shows up in any run after you've taken damage. And I've already had one clear run, but still not seen him.

He's the only one missing for a prophecy completion too. Would love those 10 keys.

Ugh. I definitely thought I had a winning build, but his second form caught me a bit off guard because I hadn’t seen his attacks before. Died at about 20%.

just got to the surface yesterday (run 27), naturally it was on a run that i was only intending to cross off some boons i don't like from the fated list. almost got him to half health before i went boom. with the sword of all things.
i'm enjoying the game and the storytelling alot, almost all of the weapons are really fun for me (basically everything but the bow, i know, i know, it's really good, i just don't like how it feels).
currently just trying to get lots of gems and darkness for upgrades along with trying to collect every boon.

Vargen wrote:
Stele wrote:
Vargen wrote:

I'm less enthused with how the Hydra fight changes. Most of them are fine, but the head that spawns adds... those skeletons can be worse than the Hydra itself. I guess I'm grateful that isn't the prime head every time.

That's what my last post was about. The fireball hydra head is challenging but still doable. But the f*cking skeletons can go to hell... Hahaha

It is a lot easier if you can kill the "eggs" before they turn into skeletons. Their health is a lot lower in larval form. Unfortunately I can't seem to train myself to prioritize them, so I only handle them properly when I have a build that does it incidentally...

This dialog is so genius. Just got back to area 2, and Zag commented "hope it's bone hydra." Like he's tired of dying to the other variant too. Haha.

Just picked this up this weekend and holy hell is this great! I’m about 15 runs in and I have both a weapon I am best at (the bow) and a favorite weapon (the sword). The bow really helps me avoid my natural tendencies to get in close, while the sword feeds into those bad habits.

Been reading the thread so far, and for what it’s worth, I think I prefer stacking my buffs on one weapon and a dash. And right now I’m trying to unlock permanent upgrades (keys, purple goo, gems) a opposed to run specific stuff.

Do you get anything for fully upgrading Hades palace, other than what they tell yet per item? Spoilers obviously. Just want to know where to place my grinding.

UpToIsomorphism wrote:

Just picked this up this weekend and holy hell is this great! I’m about 15 runs in and I have both a weapon I am best at (the bow) and a favorite weapon (the sword). The bow really helps me avoid my natural tendencies to get in close, while the sword feeds into those bad habits.

Been reading the thread so far, and for what it’s worth, I think I prefer stacking my buffs on one weapon and a dash. And right now I’m trying to unlock permanent upgrades (keys, purple goo, gems) a opposed to run specific stuff.

Do you get anything for fully upgrading Hades palace, other than what they tell yet per item? Spoilers obviously. Just want to know where to place my grinding.

There is one specific non-cosmetic upgrade that unlocks a character's affinity meter.

Spoiler:

Hypnos with the upgrade "Tomb of Kings" or something like that. The one that puts a bunch of coffins on the floor.
And now that I think about it, Dusa's affinity meter may be connected to some lounge upgrades.

I'm not sure I would have stumbled on that one on my own, because the upgrade itself isn't particularly appealing.

Fully upgrading? You'd have to get a LOT of gemstones to do everything. I don't think there's even an achievement for it.

Yeah to get a companion from Dusa you have to do like a dozen upgrades, including a rug or something. But otherwise just stick to the functional construction items.

I've been reading a bit about companions, relationships etc. because I've reached the point where I've given 1 gift to all but like 2-3 characters and I'm wondering who to increase first. Looks like Dusa is a good option because if you fully max her out she offers you all of your gifts back, so then you can use them for someone else too.

Hope that's not too spoilery, but I feel like it's good to know before you start throwing rare items around.

I actually started bumping Skelly first though because I think I can complete his quest faster. I'm really behind on gems. A lot of the good construction needs diamonds so I'm trading in gems whenever the trader has a good bonus item.

There is so much to do in this game! There's even 3 romance options.

Thought I had a chance to finally escape last night on run 63. Didn’t happen.

I really enjoying this game but I’m not so good at it. I’m hoping to make it out before run 80.

I think my favorite weapon are the gloves. I like to think I’m little Mac from punch out. I want a mod that adds the uppercut sound effect

Finally got my win on attempt 45, spear. I think the major bump I needed was a legendary shield boon that absorbed one attack per 20 seconds. Negated quite a few of his big sweeps.

Awesome game, but I dunno if I’ll be continuing. I don’t particularly like the narrative conceit they used to egg you on.

Edit: I lied, I played more. Partially because I was downloading another game at the time. Anyway I got two more wins, once with the bow and then again with the spear. Both builds were great and relied upon the same base: hammers that caused holding the attack button to rapid fire and attack in a spread pattern.

It was especially devastating with the boons on the second spear run. Poseidon attacks to knock back, with added damage against barriers, and a duo boon called Sea Storm which caused those knock backs to also drop lightning strikes. It literally melted most enemies in less than two seconds. The hydra fight was especially humorous.

Yeah I can't quit this game for a while.

So far I've found a few general builds that work well for me.
Shield with the aspect of zeus if i can get athena's reflect boon on it (secondary) it works as a fantastic area denial blocker. Dash in and out of it to evade and/or let it keep groups of enemies busy while i focus on 1. Makes the champions a hell of alot easier, i can basically just ignore T while i pursue A without much fear. And trivializes alot of otherwuse tough encounters like the asphodel witches that shoot dozens of giant purple balls.

Gun or bow with ares's doom on them (primary or secondary respectively) build for burst attacks and just dodge in and out firing when unthreatened. The procs add up really fast. A bit more fiddly then strat 1 but really rewards aggression.

Stumbled into a few others that have potential, but they are alot more involved and require way more boons, so I've only had a chance to use them 1 time and even then something i could tell the build needed wouldn't spawn.