EOne of the biggest changes in Hades 2 is the protagonist. Goodbye Zagreus, hello Melinoë. However, if you've played the first game then you'll have a fondness for the all-loving son of Hades. As such, you’ll likely be interested to find out whether you will be able to play as Zagreus in Hades 2. Or, whether he even appears in the sequel. Well, Hades 2's Zagreus is slightly different than you remember.
Luckily, our new protagonist Melinoë is just as good as Zagreus, though she does bring a new set of tools to the table, such as a new collection of Hades 2 Boons to choose from. With all the Hades 2 bosses standing in your way, you'll certainly need them.
Does Zagreus Appear in Hades 2?
Unfortunately, Zagreus doesn’t appear in Hades 2 directly, further confirmed by the fact that the voice actor is also not credited. However, in the Crossroads, there is a portrait of Hades and Persephone holding a new-born baby, and you can see Zagreus in that picture.
This is the only reference to Zagreus so far, and considering he’s the main protagonist and a major character in the series, it’s very surprising that he doesn’t even have a small note in the sequel. However, considering that Hades 2 is in early access, we hope that the Zagreus will return in a future update - potentially in the true ending of the game.
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+ 2Instead, during Hades 2, you’ll be playing as Melinoë, who is the princess of the Underworld and sister to Zagreus. Unlike her older brother, Melinoë has the ability to wield magic, thanks to her training with Hecate, the Witch of the Crossroads and Goddess of Magic. Strangely, she doesn’t make any mention of her brother, and his current whereabouts are left to our own theories. Personally, I believe he’s currently running the Underworld during the events of the game.
Thankfully, fans of the first game aren't left out to dry. While Zagreus doesn't appear, other characters from Hades 1 do return in Hades 2. For example, the Hades 2 Cerberus boss fight brings back our favorite three-headed dog - even if he's on a bit of a mean-streak thanks to Chronos.
click to enlarge + 2Nevertheless, hopefully, the introduction of a second main protagonist will give us the opportunity to play as Melinoë and Zagreus in co-op one day, giving players the chance to play as both main characters from the Hades series. One can only hope.
Fancy grabbing a copy of the early access Hades 2? The early access began on May 6 and is likely to run until at least the end of 2024. Hades 2 early access is available on Steam and Epic Games Store, so why not help Melinoë conquer her quest to kill Chronos?
Check out the trailer for Hades 2 early access below:
That’s everything we know about Zagreus in Hades 2. If you’re waiting for a console port before diving into the sequel, here’s all you need to know about the Hades 2 Xbox and Hades 2 PS5 releases.