One of my favorite things developers can do is port the entire original game into a sequel like Left 4 Dead 2 or Pokémon Gold and Silver. With new quality of life updates and improvements, it's very exciting to revisit these games and experience the entire story seamlessly in one place. But while it's rare, it's fair enough considering how big a deal it is to produce a remaster along with a sequel. Thankfully, enthusiasts and modders with a lot of spare time have us covered.
In this case, we're talking about NikkelM, who uploaded an incredibly ambitious Hades 2 mod titled Zagreus' Journey to Thunderstore. This allows you to experience most of the original game as Melinoë, plotting your way through Tartarus, Asphodel, Elysium, and the Temple of Styx, culminating in an iconic boss fight against the Lord of the Underworld.
Other contributors to the mod include iDeathHD, @burn, Magic_Gonads, zannc, @Aunuch, and “many other modding community members who tested early versions.”
All you need for this game to work is a whopping 1GB of free space and a copy of both games. By not only playing as Melinoë, but utilizing her unique arsenal against the denizens of Hades, you'll experience the original from a whole new vantage point. “Once you install the mod, a Chaos Gate will appear in Crossroads, allowing you to experience Zagreus’ journey,” NikkelM explains. “You can play the mode from start to finish, but it's still in beta so there may be some missing features and occasional bugs.”
Zagreus' journey is ongoing, and there are many plans to further enhance Melinoe's time in Hades.
Of course, this mode is designed with returning players in mind, not new ones. Because without Zagreus at the helm, you miss a lot of the original story. In fact, NikkelM recommends that players go back and play the first game to achieve the “true ending” rather than the adapted Melinoë version because “not all story events are included.”
NikkelM and the team plan to introduce a wealth of new features that will further bridge the gap between the two games, including secret bosses (“What You Know”), Erebus Gates, new spells, additional story events, dialogue between Melinoë and other Hades 2 characters, and additional goodies for Sisyphus, Eurydice, and Patroclus, so there's plenty to look forward to even if you're holding off on going back and playing the original first.
If you're interested, you can download the mod here to keep checking it out.
