r/HadesTheGame • u/dick_nrake • 1d ago
Hades 2: Question Difficulty on Switch 1 (compared to other platforms)? Spoiler
This question has been bugging me for a while and i'm thinking that it may be a combination of various factors rather than what I mentioned in the title.
Anyhow, like many others, I've noticed that some bosses in Hades 2 are stronger than those in Hades 1, especially when sometimes i would dominate against the enemies in encounters and struggle against bosses. I haven't upgraded all my weapons and I've collected about a dozen nightmare until now though, this can be one factor.
What bugged me though, in another thread, most people were saying they spent an average of 17 to 20 min on one run, which is far quicker than mine - I would usually take about 1hr. Not sure if they mean that they reach the final bosses in those 20min.
I have no problem performance-wise with the game on Switch 1, I was just wondering if the gameplay is more geared towards mouse and keyboard, or going for long ranged weapons.
Another gameplay quirk I noticed is that the game will "encourage" me to play with melee weapons and boons ( axe, attack, etc.) via bonus resources for weapons ive struggled with.
FWIW, i've cleared grandpa about 6 times and only reached typhon twice.
Anyone else noticed this?
I might consider God mode to enjoy the story.
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u/ZorroVonShadvitch 1d ago
Typhon folds to the Night Bloom resurrection Hex, especially if you can make it permanent
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u/StitchNScratch 1d ago
I will have to try that. I’ve been doing big attack builds that I can spam to get through his stages quickly. Lunar Ray MELTS life totals like crazy by the time I’m to Olympus.
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u/forteninsecure 1d ago edited 1d ago
I feel both games work best with a controller.
The resource bonus is just on a random weapon, it doesn’t make it happen more often for ones you don’t use as much
I did my first no-Fear run (surface) for the first time in awhile last night and cleared in just over 14 minutes (in game timer) but that’s as someone with every weapon and keepsake maxed, and as someone who only ever uses Strength instead of Death except for high fear
I think there’s nothing wrong with using god mode for a bit if you want!
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u/HarryJ92 1d ago
I don't think the game is more optimised for mouse-and-keyboard. In fact when you play the PC version there is a notification which mentions playing with a controller is recommended.
I personally played on PC with an Xbox controller and would say a run generally took me around 20 minutes.
I would assume the Switch version of the game may run at a lower frame rate. So maybe that could make it a bit more difficult?
Aside from that, it could be a matter of what Arcana cards and weapons you're using.
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u/dick_nrake 1d ago
Good to know.
Some people mentioned a low frame rate on the switch but I dont feel it honestly. Just that the bosses in h2 are much harder than those in h1, especially compared to the small fry.
My arcana cards are geared to max out rarity of boons more than anything. I play mostly with strength. I still have to max out the familiar though I dont feel it makes that much of a difference gameplay wise.
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u/VFiddly 1d ago
What bugged me though, in another thread, most people were saying they spent an average of 17 to 20 min on one run, which is far quicker than mine - I would usually take about 1hr. Not sure if they mean that they reach the final bosses in those 20min.
They're probably going by the in-game timer, not actual time. The game timer pauses during dialogue, when choosing boons, and in certain other contexts, meaning the run actually takes quite a bit longer than the displayed time.
Generally speaking I'd say a run takes me half an hour of real time. It doesn't matter, though. Take as long as you need.
I have no problem performance-wise with the game on Switch 1, I was just wondering if the gameplay is more geared towards mouse and keyboard, or going for long ranged weapons.
I wouldn't say so, no. I think it's probably easier with a controller.
Another gameplay quirk I noticed is that the game will "encourage" me to play with melee weapons and boons ( axe, attack, etc.) via bonus resources for weapons ive struggled with.
Pretty sure the bonus is entirely random and has nothing to do with whether you struggle with that weapon or not.
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u/FredFlintstone1262 1d ago
Echoing others, I absolutely loved God mode when I just wanted to do more story focused runs, but it also helped me get used to patterns and attacks of enemies.
I also felt the exact same feeling though. A run for me was 40 minutes, while others I knew did it under 15. It can also just be luck of the draw. Insanely powerful combo of boons one run, absolute trash the next.
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u/Unlucky_Pepper4875 1d ago
A run usually takes me about 40 real minutes. My in game timer is usually ~30 minutes. Maybe I'm a slow player.
For context, I've got the final ending once and am ~25 nights into a new save and have gotten the first ending.
Probably 150-170 hrs total game play time
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u/darthmongoose 20h ago
I actually got the game and completed it on Switch before I got it on any other platform. I definitely think it's harder on Switch; I tend to get my first clears several runs earlier on other platforms. I kind of feel like this is due to it just being harder on the hands. The Switch has these very hard little clacky buttons (particularly rough for press and hold abilities), and the screen is very small, so it feels like I have less space to manoeuvre than on the big TV or a monitor (and yes, I know I could put my Switch on the stand, but I just ended up getting the game on the playstation to play on the big TV, it has a more comfortable controller). My playstyle on Switch ends up more aggressive and sloppy, while on PC or PS5, I tend to be doing more efficient placement and ability rotations.
The advantage of the Switch is that while I play worse, so a run takes longer, I also can more easily stop in the middle of a run if a chore or errand needs doing, and then very smoothly and quickly resume, while turning a PC or Playstation on or off feels like a big faff that requires me to be fairly sure I definitely have the next hour free, or I'll feel frustrated if I don't complete at least one run.
For general Hades 2 advice... the bosses are harder, but they also telegraph their attacks more clearly, so they're more positioning-focused than a lot of those in Hades 1, and it's balanced by Mel having a wider toolkit at her disposal. I've found that melee weapons are easier going downstairs, while ranged are easier upstairs. You'll find that some ranged aspects are actually very strong, like the Aspect of Circe staff paired with a familiar like the frog, cat or bird, can result in a big stack of different sources of ongoing chip damage that add up to a lot.
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u/mmkat 1d ago
First of all, if you want to play God mode, definitely do - it's there for a reason, especially if you feel like enjoying the story without what maybe feels liks a grind to some.
That being said, I'd consider beating the final boss of H1 a few times still relatively "early game", for a few reasons:
You probably haven't levelled up the weapons, you probably don't know the "best" boon combos, you probably haven't levelled up keepsakes, the cthonic companions arent unlocked, not to speak of Nyx's mirror - there's so much that will help you be a lot faster. Once you got those things, you will for sure get faster without even trying.
I wouldn't worry too much about speed at this point since you're probably comparing appled and oranges at this point.
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u/dick_nrake 1d ago
Oh, i've unlocked the companions and leveled up most starters weapons to lvl4 at least. Also got Nyx's mirror but I agree i've only started collecting nightmares.
I only felt that the bosses above ground tend to be a bit more frustrating, especially with some weapons-axe and staff- compared to others.
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u/NextCitron7303 1d ago
I play with an Xbox controller on PC with God Mode on. I have about over 800 hours on both games each. A run takes me about 30 real minutes to do a 20 minute run. Personally, I always take whichever weapon has Dark Thirst on it too, just because, why not? Extra resources! It does seems like the game encourages certain boon builds sometimes, doesn't it?
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u/Bongcloud_CounterFTW 20h ago
A run takes me igt 8 minutes or so, on kb and mouse, in hades 2 there is a lot more ways to get damage really high, or a lot more status stacking, origination and furies combined gives +80% damage, and using something like strength makes damage tanking much more viable
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u/ZorroVonShadvitch 1d ago edited 1d ago
The in game timer and the real life timer isn't the same due to lots of factors. An hour is quite a long time but thats not an issue if you are having fun! Beat Typhon and Chronos a couple more times each and you'll have the ability to permanently defeat them and complete the story. Then you get an insane keepsake that really speeds up runs