Hades II 1.0
Mar. 28th, 2026 10:44 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
schneefinkA little over a month ago I finally started my Hades II 1.0 playthrough, and I've been having a lot of fun. I just reached another milestone today so I thought now is a good time to post some notes.
Made it to Hecate the first night, and past her on night three, and almost beat Scylla that very night! Nice. I also met Artemis, and got the first flashback.
I'm so "familiar" with the game I almost forget to look around and admire the scenery.
Nemesis is an ass.
On run #4 I encountered Selene, Arachne, Chronos, and Narcissus, and Moros after I died in Oceanus. On run #5 Chronos attempted to capture me in Asphodel, and I made it to the Sirens again but died quickly this time. I have both the Fated List and the Book of Shadows now – I forgot how brutal the writings in the latter are, oof. And I've unlocked the pick, the tablet, and the spade.
I'm too eager to continue playing to take more detailed notes on dialogue this time (or at least right now…), though I'm still tempted sometimes, like when Hestia said both Hecate and her hate everything. Mm tasty.
On run #6 I first encountered Hermes, who asked me to come to Olympus and help there. I also finally made it past Scylla and through the Mourning Fields, but was killed by Cerberus.
After I got back I finally unlocked the Sister Blades.
On run #7 I first encountered Hephaistos and Chaos; I knew talking to Chaos right before Scylla was a bad idea (and I did promptly die to her) but I didn't want to miss it. I also unlocked the incantation to open the wards to the surface! Just need another round of resource gathering first. Grave Thirst, which I also unlocked, will help with that.
On run #9 I finally beat Cerberus! With the torches, not my favorite weapon during EA but with Hestia's Cardio Gain allowing me to rapidly replenish magic the omega attack became very powerful; Origination also helped a lot and also Nightbloom. I even got an achievement for raising a Siren against her friends. After that I finally summoned Moros back to the Crossroads, and more importantly unsealed the overworld! Which I immediately checked out of course and died quickly as expected to the curse, but not before getting some bronze to unlock Revaal, at least.
On run #11 I was thiiis close to beating Cerberus again (with the torches again), I just got impatient. But after I'd met Raki last underworld run Hecate gave me the incantation to unlock animal familiars this time and now I'm bonded to Frinos \o/ Still wasn't offered the incantation to lift the overworld curse, strangely enough.
Also I'm finally at the point again where I just want to keep playing and it's hard to stop.
Run #12, I tried out the skull but got bad luck with boons and died to Scylla. But I got the incantation from Hecate to upgrade my arcana! Finally, very cool. Though moondust is not easy to come by. Then I tried another doomed surface run and afterwards Moros gave me the incantation to lift the overworld curse, but I need two Chaos seeds for it so that might take a while to get, unfortunately. I'm currently growing more cattail so I can at least have more soil plots.
Run #14: I deactivated all Arcana and still beat Hecate :) Thanks to Descura's Special, mostly. Moondust is a very nice reward for that prophecy, I finally have two DDs. I died to the King Vermin, not a surprise. But I also met Chaos twice during that run (I had the Embryo with me too) and got two seeds, so now I only have to wait another run until I have enough for the surface incantation.
Run #15: I made it to Chronos! And my controller promptly disconnected, heh, but I very much doubt I would have won anyway. I used Revaal; the two DDs were necessary, and an upgraded Lunar Ray helped a lot, as well as the Demeter&Zeus duo boon, and the Chaos trinket. I even beat the King Vermin. And I met Hades along the way :)
And Eris back at the Crossroads when I got back. And I finally lifted the overworld curse, so next stop: Ephyra.
Run #16: I made it past Polyphemus on my first try, go me. But then died to Eris, though it was closer than I expected.
One more bronze until I can reveal the weapon aspects.
#17: I met Hera, Heracles, and Icarus, finally. And I bonded with Toula! And then died to Charybdis, oh well. Back home I finally unlocked the aspects of night, and upgraded a few arcana.
#18, I went back to the Underworld, sadly didn't meet Raki but I did get the incantation for the Pitch-Black Stone! (I had bad boon luck and was distracted so I died to Scylla. Also I still hate the squid miniboss in Oceanus.) I promptly did my first Chaos trial afterwards, the very easy one. I forgot those count as full nights when it comes to the total. Makes me inclined not to do too many of those until I beat Chronos so the number looks nicer. (Though I could just keep a separate count I guess.)
#20: Bonded with Raki :) And made it to Chronos' second phase. Afterwards I got the flashback with Hades sending Hecate away with Melinoe and then confronting Chronos at his house, fitting.
#21: Back to the underworld for resources, using Zorophet for the first time. And this time I beat Chronos!! \o/ Nightbloom was enormously helpful, especially in the last fight, I raised an hourglass that healed me during. Also Nemesis' Evil Eye, meeting Echo and Hades along the way, Water Fitness from Poseidon, Aphro Attack and Demeter Special for Origination, etc. etc.
And afterwards I could finally go into Zagreus' chambers! (I was delighted that I had no spoilers what would happen.) And talk to him! In the past, huh. That was nice. It was impossible for their meeting to live up to the build-up but I enjoyed it well enough.
#22, after vanquishing Chronos I died to Eris again, grr. But I met Medea and Circe, at least. And afterwards I got permission to recruit Hecuba and Gale.
#23, Chaos' Trial of Humility: I beat it first try, go me. I had after all already beaten Hecate without Arcana once before. And with that I had enough to upgrade to my third DD, nice.
I almost have all Arcana unlocked, but I need to beat Eris and Prometheus for the last two. And I'm at 26 grasp.
#24, I went up again because I only wanted to do a short run, and at first thought that would work because I almost died before even meeting Icarus (god trials and Charybdis are hard), but then he gave me armor and I somehow made it past Eris. Nice! (Evil Eye definitely very helpful once again.) I even met Athena on Olympus. And when I got back I could finally unlock Xinth, the black coat.
#25, I unlocked the first new weapon aspect and did an underworld run with Momus. I recruited Hecuba and beat Chronos again, nice. I unlocked the ability to upgrade my animal familiars, and the incantation for the final goal is now showing up, so I know I need to defeat Chronos at least five more times to get all the sand I need.
I'm so resisting the urge to start quoting dialogue again because that would take so much time, but. Odysseus suggesting "we" would step in if Nemesis seriously impeded Mel *chinhands*
And more importantly (but easier to look up elsewhere), Melinoe and Zagreus!! Poor Zagreus in such a strange situation ^^ …but also, Melinoe seriously doesn't have more of a plan worked out??
#26, made it to Prometheus with Ygnium, and I think I would have had a good chance if I hadn't lost two DDs to stupid Talos. Boo.
#27, This time I beat Prometheus! With a fully upgraded Witch's Staff, and I didn't even lose a DD fighting him. Didn't quite make it through the Summit regardless. But I bonded with Gale! And I could now unlock all the Arcana, but upgrading Persistence first might be smarter so I'm holding off.
I'm really enjoying how everyone is reacting to Prometheus. Also, he's hot.
#28: I used the Vow of the Unseen for the first time! And beat Prometheus again, barely but I did. Fortunately I met Athena right after who restored 3 DDs, I still barely made it to Typhon. But then I still held out until Zeus had his big entry, go me. Eos Dawnbreaker is a very cool effect.
Unfortunately when I got back I wanted to select the Artemis blades but accidentally upgraded them, so my first Nightmare is gone before I could even choose. Ah well.
I've now unlocked all the Arcana, just need some more Grasp. For that Frinos would be helpful but I'm also short on seeds to plant and Hecuba is very convenient to have along as well, hm.
#31: I beat Chronos again, with Xinth this time. I met Ares, so the only god I haven't met yet is Dionysus, and there's only two weapon aspects I haven't unlocked yet I think, apart from the secret ones.
I also successfully did three Chaos trials to get star dust.
After that I died to Chronos again and then to the spawn of Typhon, boo, but I at least got some reagents along the way and then restored the fishing pier. I used the staff of Circe on that last run but didn't see her, unfortunately.
#35, killed by Chronos again, ugh, so close. It's hard not to get impatient and careless during runs.
And I did another chaos trials – so many Hestia boons and still no Legendary! Pretty sure I need to get a Legendary to finally get the boon guide, that would be so helpful.
Then another death at the Summit, this time to the Twins. I really struggled with Prometheus this time, but I made it past him, at least. No Circe or Dionysus again.
#38, another death to Chronos. How the heck did I beat him three times in a row? I did enjoy the Thanatos Axe/Scythe, at least.
After that I died to Typhon's second phase again, though at least this time I beat the Twins and the Eye along the way. Two runs with Raki in a row and not one portal to Chaos. But I did happen to get their rarest blessing thanks to the Embryo. And also my first Legendary boon, so maybe now I'll finally get the boon info. (Sadly no.)
Then I got offered three incantations that required star dust, so I did five Chaos trials in a row (and failed two of the harder ones.) The Chaos trials are useful for leveling trinkets and for prophecies too, I got more Legendaries. I also fully leveled Raki. My favorite enemy to encounter in a Chaos trial so far is Polyphemus, who realizes he's in one; and I'm disappointed I didn't get to the Sirens because it sounded like they were singing a new song.
I'm constantly short on nectar at the moment: I give them to Icarus and Athena at every opportunity and to Medea and Odysseus fairly often, Hecate and Arachne also already got more than one, everyone else got either one or none. (I should at least try to get all the trinkets at this point.)
#45: Finally defeated Chronos again! With the Persephone aspect of the skull, that was fun. Nightbloom is still my favorite Hex. It was also a fairly good reagent run. And I got to hear a new song by Scylla and the sirens!, that was cool.
Melinoe talked of "them" when mentioning Chronos fighting his family and he pointed it out and said she too would always be one of the rejects, hm.
Another talk with Zagreus, and this time Melinoe asked him to think of a suitable weapon – definitely something she and Hecate could have done in the last couple of years, it seems to me… Extra "aww" for Zagreus asking for information about his friends and loves of his life.
Back at the Crossroads I got my grasp to 29, finally unlocked the last non-hidden weapon aspect (aspect of Shiva) and opened the Hot Springs again.
#46, beat Chronos again, nevermind I remembered how to do it xD On one heat, I mean fear, even. With Pan aspect sister blades this time, and my first God-sent Hex (Nightbloom again, and I also had Sun Worshipper – go minions go!)
Zagreus is going to send me Gigaros – it does seem like something Melinoe could have thought of, ah well. And when I got back, after I gave all of the gods (except Dionysus, who I still haven't met) one nectar each I could finally unlock the boon guide, nice.
#47, I went looking for Dionysus but once again didn't meet him. I died to Prometheus this time. But at least I finally met the last overworld mini-boss, the Yargonaut, I struggled a lot with them. I haven't quite got the rhythm of the Medea skull yet.
#48, up again and again I failed to find Dionysus and died to Prometheus. The Yargonaut was easy this time, using the Moros torches, but I really struggled against Eris, and didn't do that well against Prometheus either.
Had another "WOW this is gorgeous" moment, I don’t appreciate the scenery enough I think. I also barely read the book of shadows atm. But I did spend my first kudos, now that I unlocked decorations, on alternate designs for the arcana card sets. Not that I use different sets but still.
#49, next day. I died in the third room in Ephyra, didn't even think about how that was strange and immediately went up again and only then realized that when looking at the new arcana card designs I apparently switched to a set with none of the cards activated ^^ The second time I at least made it to Prometheus and even stayed in that fight pretty long.
After that I beat another easy Chaos Trial for the star dust.
#52: I was thiiiis close to beating Typhon! Had a very nice build with the Sister Blades, three duo boons by Aphrodite, Demeter, and Hestia, and also some nice Hera boons, the morph hex etc. The main problem was that I don't have enough practice fighting on the Summit yet so I lost all my DDs fighting the two mini-bosses there. Argh.
Some very intriguing dialogue. Melinoe asked Prometheus why he cared about the mortals, since "only in death do many of them finally begin to gain some sense." Hecate then said it sounds like Melinoe is beginning to harbor some sympathies for him and reminded her that he's the enemy. Moros laid out the central conflict between Chaos and the Fates: Chaos wants everything to be possible, while the Fates want things to be a certain way. Melinoe asked Nemesis why she's not looking for justice for their family, after everything Chronos took from them and that him being somewhat nice to some mortals doesn't make up for that; Nemesis wonders if this is what they deserve. Melinoe says they deserve better than living in shadows denied their families.
I finally have 30 grasp! Nice. Next step, fully upgrading all of them, and upgrading the weapons.
#53, I tried out the aspect of Nyx of the coat, but didn't really vibe with it. Didn't have luck with my build either tbf (never great when it's hard to trigger Origination), and only with luck made it to the Summit, where I died to the Eye of Typhon. Still no Dionysus, but I did get another Nightmare. And Circe gave me the incantation Alteration of Familiar Spirits, just need to get one more wool. And I persuaded Icarus to visit the Crossroads! Nice.
#54, soo close to beating Typhon! I just need to be a liiittle better at avoiding his attacks. With Thanatos scythe this time. And I finally met Dionysus! That took a while. Couldn't give him nectar yet, of course.
I also cast Alteration of Familiar Forms: the only one I could alter so far is Raki because I still need to upgrade the others, but those are some very cool options, though I don't have enough kudos yet for most of them.
#55, next I decided to go back to the Underworld for once, with the Black Coat. I beat Chronos again and then had a ~fight with Zagreus who is hesitant to give Melinoe the means to permanently kill a family member he hasn't even met yet – fair!
Back in the Crossroads I summoned the music maker, and learned that Nemesis is especially mad at Narcissus for breaking Echo's heart – I don't get it, tbh. And Dora is practicing her haunting on Moros, which is very cute. And I bought a work bench for Icarus for his next visit.
#56: Finally came to an understanding to Arachne! Who realized that the way things have gone has also had its silver linings, like meeting Melinoe, her new best friend.
The conversation with Hecate was interesting, Hecate basically told Melinoe to tell Zagreus whatever he needs to hear to get him to help and was very dismissive of Melinoe saying she doesn't want to lie to him.
Melinoe and Zagreus did reconcile, he agreed to help and also expressed concern because he doesn't want to lose her. Afterwards Melinoe asked Hecate if there really was no other way to deal with Chronos and Hecate told her not to falter, and they'll deal with the consequences after. Hmmm.
Then I did another surface run with the Sister Blades, but died to Eris, ugh. At least I met Icarus again and he visited the Crossroads again, and became the first person I took on a visit to the fishing pier.
I have a couple of nightmare by now that I could use to upgrade weapon aspects, but haven't decided which ones yet.
#58, I decided to hold off on raising fear on the surface until I've beaten Typhon. I died to Eris that time though, ugh. I enjoy the Thanatos axe but still need more practice. At least I had a lovely conversation with Medea where she said basically nobody else trusts her, and Melinoe told Polyphemus that he's minuscule in comparison with Typhon and he mentioned wanting to eat monster meat again.
#59, died to Typhon's last phase again. I think I'm getting better at dodging his attacks but very slowly and it takes so long to get to him… I think I'd have a good chance if I could get to him with all DDs and good health but alas. I think I'm too impatient in general.
I met Heracles on Mount Olympus, this time, and had another conversation about gods and mortals with Prometheus. Afterwards Melinoe asked Odysseus his honest personal take on if the gods were in the wrong and brought this on themselves, and he answered evasively but did swear he'd tell the good witch or her if he thought they were in the wrong.
#60, died to Eris again with Zorephet, ugh. I did a chaos trial afterwards, and then finally went to the taverna with Odysseus.
I still choose to believe that he and Persephone are still together, he just doesn't like to mention it because it's a vulnerability and she's on her own mission.
I haven't given Hecate any more nectar because I still feel a bit bad about her encouraging Melinoe to lie to Zagreus.
At this point I'm considering turning on God Mode because I know I could do it eventually without, but it'd just make the training easier.
#62: I finally decided to turn on God Mode: damage reduction 20%. Because I know I just need a little more practice to learn his patterns but I'm not in the mood rn, and every run takes a long time.
Aaand I beat Typhon without losing a single DD, so now of course I almost regret it because surely I could have done it without /o\ Very nice Zeus-focused build with Circe staff and heroic storm cast, and Night Bloom etc.
I got to go to the Palace of Zeus! Very pretty :D And I got to talk to Zeus, Hera, and Apollo in person. Weeird ^^ and send a boon to Hecate!
I might just stick with 20% god mode for a bit, idk.
I've now played 1.0 for a little under 50 hours. I don't think I'm going to stick with it for as long as I did with Hades 1 tbh, I'm not as into the story and there's several other games I already look forward to playing eventually, but right now I enjoy it a lot.
Made it to Hecate the first night, and past her on night three, and almost beat Scylla that very night! Nice. I also met Artemis, and got the first flashback.
I'm so "familiar" with the game I almost forget to look around and admire the scenery.
Nemesis is an ass.
On run #4 I encountered Selene, Arachne, Chronos, and Narcissus, and Moros after I died in Oceanus. On run #5 Chronos attempted to capture me in Asphodel, and I made it to the Sirens again but died quickly this time. I have both the Fated List and the Book of Shadows now – I forgot how brutal the writings in the latter are, oof. And I've unlocked the pick, the tablet, and the spade.
I'm too eager to continue playing to take more detailed notes on dialogue this time (or at least right now…), though I'm still tempted sometimes, like when Hestia said both Hecate and her hate everything. Mm tasty.
On run #6 I first encountered Hermes, who asked me to come to Olympus and help there. I also finally made it past Scylla and through the Mourning Fields, but was killed by Cerberus.
After I got back I finally unlocked the Sister Blades.
On run #7 I first encountered Hephaistos and Chaos; I knew talking to Chaos right before Scylla was a bad idea (and I did promptly die to her) but I didn't want to miss it. I also unlocked the incantation to open the wards to the surface! Just need another round of resource gathering first. Grave Thirst, which I also unlocked, will help with that.
On run #9 I finally beat Cerberus! With the torches, not my favorite weapon during EA but with Hestia's Cardio Gain allowing me to rapidly replenish magic the omega attack became very powerful; Origination also helped a lot and also Nightbloom. I even got an achievement for raising a Siren against her friends. After that I finally summoned Moros back to the Crossroads, and more importantly unsealed the overworld! Which I immediately checked out of course and died quickly as expected to the curse, but not before getting some bronze to unlock Revaal, at least.
On run #11 I was thiiis close to beating Cerberus again (with the torches again), I just got impatient. But after I'd met Raki last underworld run Hecate gave me the incantation to unlock animal familiars this time and now I'm bonded to Frinos \o/ Still wasn't offered the incantation to lift the overworld curse, strangely enough.
Also I'm finally at the point again where I just want to keep playing and it's hard to stop.
Run #12, I tried out the skull but got bad luck with boons and died to Scylla. But I got the incantation from Hecate to upgrade my arcana! Finally, very cool. Though moondust is not easy to come by. Then I tried another doomed surface run and afterwards Moros gave me the incantation to lift the overworld curse, but I need two Chaos seeds for it so that might take a while to get, unfortunately. I'm currently growing more cattail so I can at least have more soil plots.
Run #14: I deactivated all Arcana and still beat Hecate :) Thanks to Descura's Special, mostly. Moondust is a very nice reward for that prophecy, I finally have two DDs. I died to the King Vermin, not a surprise. But I also met Chaos twice during that run (I had the Embryo with me too) and got two seeds, so now I only have to wait another run until I have enough for the surface incantation.
Run #15: I made it to Chronos! And my controller promptly disconnected, heh, but I very much doubt I would have won anyway. I used Revaal; the two DDs were necessary, and an upgraded Lunar Ray helped a lot, as well as the Demeter&Zeus duo boon, and the Chaos trinket. I even beat the King Vermin. And I met Hades along the way :)
And Eris back at the Crossroads when I got back. And I finally lifted the overworld curse, so next stop: Ephyra.
Run #16: I made it past Polyphemus on my first try, go me. But then died to Eris, though it was closer than I expected.
One more bronze until I can reveal the weapon aspects.
#17: I met Hera, Heracles, and Icarus, finally. And I bonded with Toula! And then died to Charybdis, oh well. Back home I finally unlocked the aspects of night, and upgraded a few arcana.
#18, I went back to the Underworld, sadly didn't meet Raki but I did get the incantation for the Pitch-Black Stone! (I had bad boon luck and was distracted so I died to Scylla. Also I still hate the squid miniboss in Oceanus.) I promptly did my first Chaos trial afterwards, the very easy one. I forgot those count as full nights when it comes to the total. Makes me inclined not to do too many of those until I beat Chronos so the number looks nicer. (Though I could just keep a separate count I guess.)
#20: Bonded with Raki :) And made it to Chronos' second phase. Afterwards I got the flashback with Hades sending Hecate away with Melinoe and then confronting Chronos at his house, fitting.
#21: Back to the underworld for resources, using Zorophet for the first time. And this time I beat Chronos!! \o/ Nightbloom was enormously helpful, especially in the last fight, I raised an hourglass that healed me during. Also Nemesis' Evil Eye, meeting Echo and Hades along the way, Water Fitness from Poseidon, Aphro Attack and Demeter Special for Origination, etc. etc.
And afterwards I could finally go into Zagreus' chambers! (I was delighted that I had no spoilers what would happen.) And talk to him! In the past, huh. That was nice. It was impossible for their meeting to live up to the build-up but I enjoyed it well enough.
#22, after vanquishing Chronos I died to Eris again, grr. But I met Medea and Circe, at least. And afterwards I got permission to recruit Hecuba and Gale.
#23, Chaos' Trial of Humility: I beat it first try, go me. I had after all already beaten Hecate without Arcana once before. And with that I had enough to upgrade to my third DD, nice.
I almost have all Arcana unlocked, but I need to beat Eris and Prometheus for the last two. And I'm at 26 grasp.
#24, I went up again because I only wanted to do a short run, and at first thought that would work because I almost died before even meeting Icarus (god trials and Charybdis are hard), but then he gave me armor and I somehow made it past Eris. Nice! (Evil Eye definitely very helpful once again.) I even met Athena on Olympus. And when I got back I could finally unlock Xinth, the black coat.
#25, I unlocked the first new weapon aspect and did an underworld run with Momus. I recruited Hecuba and beat Chronos again, nice. I unlocked the ability to upgrade my animal familiars, and the incantation for the final goal is now showing up, so I know I need to defeat Chronos at least five more times to get all the sand I need.
I'm so resisting the urge to start quoting dialogue again because that would take so much time, but. Odysseus suggesting "we" would step in if Nemesis seriously impeded Mel *chinhands*
And more importantly (but easier to look up elsewhere), Melinoe and Zagreus!! Poor Zagreus in such a strange situation ^^ …but also, Melinoe seriously doesn't have more of a plan worked out??
#26, made it to Prometheus with Ygnium, and I think I would have had a good chance if I hadn't lost two DDs to stupid Talos. Boo.
#27, This time I beat Prometheus! With a fully upgraded Witch's Staff, and I didn't even lose a DD fighting him. Didn't quite make it through the Summit regardless. But I bonded with Gale! And I could now unlock all the Arcana, but upgrading Persistence first might be smarter so I'm holding off.
I'm really enjoying how everyone is reacting to Prometheus. Also, he's hot.
#28: I used the Vow of the Unseen for the first time! And beat Prometheus again, barely but I did. Fortunately I met Athena right after who restored 3 DDs, I still barely made it to Typhon. But then I still held out until Zeus had his big entry, go me. Eos Dawnbreaker is a very cool effect.
Unfortunately when I got back I wanted to select the Artemis blades but accidentally upgraded them, so my first Nightmare is gone before I could even choose. Ah well.
I've now unlocked all the Arcana, just need some more Grasp. For that Frinos would be helpful but I'm also short on seeds to plant and Hecuba is very convenient to have along as well, hm.
#31: I beat Chronos again, with Xinth this time. I met Ares, so the only god I haven't met yet is Dionysus, and there's only two weapon aspects I haven't unlocked yet I think, apart from the secret ones.
I also successfully did three Chaos trials to get star dust.
After that I died to Chronos again and then to the spawn of Typhon, boo, but I at least got some reagents along the way and then restored the fishing pier. I used the staff of Circe on that last run but didn't see her, unfortunately.
#35, killed by Chronos again, ugh, so close. It's hard not to get impatient and careless during runs.
And I did another chaos trials – so many Hestia boons and still no Legendary! Pretty sure I need to get a Legendary to finally get the boon guide, that would be so helpful.
Then another death at the Summit, this time to the Twins. I really struggled with Prometheus this time, but I made it past him, at least. No Circe or Dionysus again.
#38, another death to Chronos. How the heck did I beat him three times in a row? I did enjoy the Thanatos Axe/Scythe, at least.
After that I died to Typhon's second phase again, though at least this time I beat the Twins and the Eye along the way. Two runs with Raki in a row and not one portal to Chaos. But I did happen to get their rarest blessing thanks to the Embryo. And also my first Legendary boon, so maybe now I'll finally get the boon info. (Sadly no.)
Then I got offered three incantations that required star dust, so I did five Chaos trials in a row (and failed two of the harder ones.) The Chaos trials are useful for leveling trinkets and for prophecies too, I got more Legendaries. I also fully leveled Raki. My favorite enemy to encounter in a Chaos trial so far is Polyphemus, who realizes he's in one; and I'm disappointed I didn't get to the Sirens because it sounded like they were singing a new song.
I'm constantly short on nectar at the moment: I give them to Icarus and Athena at every opportunity and to Medea and Odysseus fairly often, Hecate and Arachne also already got more than one, everyone else got either one or none. (I should at least try to get all the trinkets at this point.)
#45: Finally defeated Chronos again! With the Persephone aspect of the skull, that was fun. Nightbloom is still my favorite Hex. It was also a fairly good reagent run. And I got to hear a new song by Scylla and the sirens!, that was cool.
Melinoe talked of "them" when mentioning Chronos fighting his family and he pointed it out and said she too would always be one of the rejects, hm.
Another talk with Zagreus, and this time Melinoe asked him to think of a suitable weapon – definitely something she and Hecate could have done in the last couple of years, it seems to me… Extra "aww" for Zagreus asking for information about his friends and loves of his life.
Back at the Crossroads I got my grasp to 29, finally unlocked the last non-hidden weapon aspect (aspect of Shiva) and opened the Hot Springs again.
#46, beat Chronos again, nevermind I remembered how to do it xD On one heat, I mean fear, even. With Pan aspect sister blades this time, and my first God-sent Hex (Nightbloom again, and I also had Sun Worshipper – go minions go!)
Zagreus is going to send me Gigaros – it does seem like something Melinoe could have thought of, ah well. And when I got back, after I gave all of the gods (except Dionysus, who I still haven't met) one nectar each I could finally unlock the boon guide, nice.
#47, I went looking for Dionysus but once again didn't meet him. I died to Prometheus this time. But at least I finally met the last overworld mini-boss, the Yargonaut, I struggled a lot with them. I haven't quite got the rhythm of the Medea skull yet.
#48, up again and again I failed to find Dionysus and died to Prometheus. The Yargonaut was easy this time, using the Moros torches, but I really struggled against Eris, and didn't do that well against Prometheus either.
Had another "WOW this is gorgeous" moment, I don’t appreciate the scenery enough I think. I also barely read the book of shadows atm. But I did spend my first kudos, now that I unlocked decorations, on alternate designs for the arcana card sets. Not that I use different sets but still.
#49, next day. I died in the third room in Ephyra, didn't even think about how that was strange and immediately went up again and only then realized that when looking at the new arcana card designs I apparently switched to a set with none of the cards activated ^^ The second time I at least made it to Prometheus and even stayed in that fight pretty long.
After that I beat another easy Chaos Trial for the star dust.
#52: I was thiiiis close to beating Typhon! Had a very nice build with the Sister Blades, three duo boons by Aphrodite, Demeter, and Hestia, and also some nice Hera boons, the morph hex etc. The main problem was that I don't have enough practice fighting on the Summit yet so I lost all my DDs fighting the two mini-bosses there. Argh.
Some very intriguing dialogue. Melinoe asked Prometheus why he cared about the mortals, since "only in death do many of them finally begin to gain some sense." Hecate then said it sounds like Melinoe is beginning to harbor some sympathies for him and reminded her that he's the enemy. Moros laid out the central conflict between Chaos and the Fates: Chaos wants everything to be possible, while the Fates want things to be a certain way. Melinoe asked Nemesis why she's not looking for justice for their family, after everything Chronos took from them and that him being somewhat nice to some mortals doesn't make up for that; Nemesis wonders if this is what they deserve. Melinoe says they deserve better than living in shadows denied their families.
I finally have 30 grasp! Nice. Next step, fully upgrading all of them, and upgrading the weapons.
#53, I tried out the aspect of Nyx of the coat, but didn't really vibe with it. Didn't have luck with my build either tbf (never great when it's hard to trigger Origination), and only with luck made it to the Summit, where I died to the Eye of Typhon. Still no Dionysus, but I did get another Nightmare. And Circe gave me the incantation Alteration of Familiar Spirits, just need to get one more wool. And I persuaded Icarus to visit the Crossroads! Nice.
#54, soo close to beating Typhon! I just need to be a liiittle better at avoiding his attacks. With Thanatos scythe this time. And I finally met Dionysus! That took a while. Couldn't give him nectar yet, of course.
I also cast Alteration of Familiar Forms: the only one I could alter so far is Raki because I still need to upgrade the others, but those are some very cool options, though I don't have enough kudos yet for most of them.
#55, next I decided to go back to the Underworld for once, with the Black Coat. I beat Chronos again and then had a ~fight with Zagreus who is hesitant to give Melinoe the means to permanently kill a family member he hasn't even met yet – fair!
Back in the Crossroads I summoned the music maker, and learned that Nemesis is especially mad at Narcissus for breaking Echo's heart – I don't get it, tbh. And Dora is practicing her haunting on Moros, which is very cute. And I bought a work bench for Icarus for his next visit.
#56: Finally came to an understanding to Arachne! Who realized that the way things have gone has also had its silver linings, like meeting Melinoe, her new best friend.
The conversation with Hecate was interesting, Hecate basically told Melinoe to tell Zagreus whatever he needs to hear to get him to help and was very dismissive of Melinoe saying she doesn't want to lie to him.
Melinoe and Zagreus did reconcile, he agreed to help and also expressed concern because he doesn't want to lose her. Afterwards Melinoe asked Hecate if there really was no other way to deal with Chronos and Hecate told her not to falter, and they'll deal with the consequences after. Hmmm.
Then I did another surface run with the Sister Blades, but died to Eris, ugh. At least I met Icarus again and he visited the Crossroads again, and became the first person I took on a visit to the fishing pier.
I have a couple of nightmare by now that I could use to upgrade weapon aspects, but haven't decided which ones yet.
#58, I decided to hold off on raising fear on the surface until I've beaten Typhon. I died to Eris that time though, ugh. I enjoy the Thanatos axe but still need more practice. At least I had a lovely conversation with Medea where she said basically nobody else trusts her, and Melinoe told Polyphemus that he's minuscule in comparison with Typhon and he mentioned wanting to eat monster meat again.
#59, died to Typhon's last phase again. I think I'm getting better at dodging his attacks but very slowly and it takes so long to get to him… I think I'd have a good chance if I could get to him with all DDs and good health but alas. I think I'm too impatient in general.
I met Heracles on Mount Olympus, this time, and had another conversation about gods and mortals with Prometheus. Afterwards Melinoe asked Odysseus his honest personal take on if the gods were in the wrong and brought this on themselves, and he answered evasively but did swear he'd tell the good witch or her if he thought they were in the wrong.
#60, died to Eris again with Zorephet, ugh. I did a chaos trial afterwards, and then finally went to the taverna with Odysseus.
I still choose to believe that he and Persephone are still together, he just doesn't like to mention it because it's a vulnerability and she's on her own mission.
I haven't given Hecate any more nectar because I still feel a bit bad about her encouraging Melinoe to lie to Zagreus.
At this point I'm considering turning on God Mode because I know I could do it eventually without, but it'd just make the training easier.
#62: I finally decided to turn on God Mode: damage reduction 20%. Because I know I just need a little more practice to learn his patterns but I'm not in the mood rn, and every run takes a long time.
Aaand I beat Typhon without losing a single DD, so now of course I almost regret it because surely I could have done it without /o\ Very nice Zeus-focused build with Circe staff and heroic storm cast, and Night Bloom etc.
I got to go to the Palace of Zeus! Very pretty :D And I got to talk to Zeus, Hera, and Apollo in person. Weeird ^^ and send a boon to Hecate!
I might just stick with 20% god mode for a bit, idk.
I've now played 1.0 for a little under 50 hours. I don't think I'm going to stick with it for as long as I did with Hades 1 tbh, I'm not as into the story and there's several other games I already look forward to playing eventually, but right now I enjoy it a lot.
