Hades 2 had some big shoes to fill. A sequel always has the difficult task of remaining true to the previous title, but with Hades being such a complete package, it w??as almost hard to imagine a world in which the game could be ??developed or evolved in any meaningful way.

Supergiant has always been up to the task and didn't disappoint here. The playstyle of Melinoë is exactly what players had hoped for, maintaining Za??greus' fast-paced, dodge-heavy, hack-and-slash playstyle while introducing several tricks of her own. Even more than that, the playstyle is indicative of the character, giving players a glimpse into the inner workings of Melinoë even just by observing how the game has changed.

How Melinoë Changes Combat

Compared to Zagreus, Melinoë is a much more versatile protagonist. While weapons still have basic attacks, combos, dash strikes, and specials, the C??ast mechanic is reworked, and thr??ee more options are added in the form of Omega moves. 

The Cast undergoes the biggest ?change, which highlights just how differently Melinoë approa?ches combat. Gone is the single-shot projectile, replaced instead with a large field that holds enemies in place. Melinoë is much more about control, understanding threats, and how to approach each situation.

Many enemies, such as the Wailers and Whispers, become much more aggressive and dangerous once they approach, sometimes requiring distance and reassessment before a player goes into melee range. There is still room t?o be an aggressive melee fighter, but more often than not, a cool head with an eye for openings prevail??s.

The other meaningful addition to combat is the addition of Omega moves and a Magick bar. Attacks, Specials, and Cast can all be charged up by ?holding down their respective buttons, resulting in new effects that cost Magick to use. The Omega Cast stays the same between weapons, while the weapons have unique Omega effec?ts for each.

Because of the charge time of the moves and the introduction of the Magick bar, Melinoë can often play like a spellcaster hybrid rather than the pure weapon-focused style of Zagreus. While melee still feels strong, there will be times when players use their cast and dash out of melee, using the window created by cast to charge up a powerful Omega special. The new Omega moves provide tons of opportunities in combat, giving each weapon multiple avenues for combat and expanding how players can approach Hades II.

Combat as a Reflection of the Character

It is perhaps more important to discuss how Meli?noë embodies the changes to combat, adding character to the game as a whole, not just during moments of dialogue. 

Playing as Zagreus was indicative of who he was as a character. He was new to his role, butting heads with his father, out on a rash and sudden attempt to understand what?? was being kept from him. His playstyle was heavier on melee weapons, requiring players to face enemies head-on, jump into danger, and prepare to use pure strength and reaction time to beat their enemies. 

Melinoë, on the other hand, feels like an evolution of Zagreus. She comes from the same family line and the same base of combat is there. The way she can dodge into melee range and start to unload feels so similar to Zagreus, but she was raised differently. She never knew her family, instead being raised by Hecate, the W??itch of the Crossroads. Hecate, under the orders of Hades, raised her with the single goal of overthrowing Chronos, starting her training at a young age, both as a witch and a warrior of the house of Hades. 

Fighting as Melinoë reflects both the new emphasis on witchcraft and her preparedness for the task ahead. Using her Cast to hold enemies in place creates a much more tactical feel, allowing? her to choose the moments where she'll engage. Many of her weapons feature Omega spells that deal large amounts of AoE damage, allowing her to either punish the targets she holds in place or clear her other flank while they are temporarily non-threatening. The myriad options with which she can approach combat speak to her years of training with Hecate, her time sparring with Nemesis, and picking up knowledge from the master tactician Odysseus. 

The same feel and style of the original game are there beneath it all, but Melinoë takes everything one step further. Where Zagreus was brash, Melinoë is collected. Where Zagreus was aggressive and single-minded, Melinoë is calculating and careful. It all goes a long way to prove that Hades was no fluke. Supergiant understands how to build towards a single artistic vision. Melinoë is no Zagreus, and Supergiant graciously gives us the ?ability to explore why.

The post Wha??t’s in a Punch? How Melinoë’s Combat Style Embodies the New Direction of Hades 2 appeared first on Destructoid.

The power of technology and a fistful of bullets

First-person action RPG Atomic Heart has a new trailer today, showcasing the upcoming game's combat. And from wild ?powers to melee weapons and guns, it looks like you'll have a pretty fun arsenal to play with in this game.

Developer Mundfish released this trailer today, spotlighting how the player can fight against hordes of mechanized combatants. They look p??retty dangerous, from the regular automated grunts to giant bosses.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbIc2_FwReE

Atomic Heart is set in a future where a failure at a Soviet facility has led to a machine uprising. As Major P-3, you have to go in, mini?mize consequences, and prevent critical info from leaking.

You'll need weapons though, to deal with all the angry robots. And it looks like you get a pretty decent variety of them. Atomic Heart is absolutely giving me BioShock vibes, in a very good way. Freezing enemies and lifti??ng the??m into the air with your power-charged glove, then battering them with a makeshift melee weapon looks like a blast.

Atomic punk

We've been seeing bits and pieces of Atomic Heart over the last few years, as Mundfish has continued to work away on the project. We've seen combat, exploration, story, and even one very unsettling clown enemy. Not looking fo?rward to that fight in particular.

It's a game that's continued to impress me a little more each time I see new footage. And from what we saw today, it really does seem like Atomic Heart is coming together well.

The question at this point is, when will it launch? Mundfish published the trailer today, alongside a tweet that says it will launch?? on console and PC in late 2022.

It looks like this? holiday season might see us ?freezing, smashing, and bashing robots in this retro-future universe.

The post Atomic Heart shows off more of its combat in new t?railer appeared first on Destructoid.

Let the AI take the wheel

No Man's Sky got another big update out of the blue today, dubbed the Sentinel Update. The new patch reworks the combat and Sentinel?? enemies, as well as a new Expeditio?n and more.

The crux of the Sentinels Update is the Sentinels themselves. The robotic automatic defenses of various planets are bothersome, yes. But the Sentinels Update for No Man's Sky is making them a bit more formidable of a foe. The new Hardframe Battle Me??ch can employ a jetpack in b??attle, as well as a flamethrower.

Sentinels are also getting t??heir own control posts called Pillars, which serve as highly-guarded forts. Heavy Combat Drones can also roll out to deal with pesky explorers, and Sentinel drones will have a wider range of weapons to use in fights. Repair drones can also deploy, and there are some huge battles you can get into with Sentinel forces.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEJfPZPTYRA

The explorers of No Man's Sky get some new toys in this update too, though. More Multi-tools can be carried and the Minotaur mech has been improved. The latter even has an AI function you can equip now, so it can follow you around and help out like your very own BT.

More quality-of-life features are included as well, like faster warping and increased companion slots. Players with compatible graphics cards on PC can also opt into NVIDIA's Deep Learning Anti-Aliasing tech, or DLAA, and Hello Games confirms No Man's Sky will support the Steam Deck.

It's another big post-launch update to add to the bevy of No Man's Sky updates. But, like previous ones, it continues to amaze ??me how this game stays supported through the years. Cheers to all the explorers setting off to fight the Sentinels today.

The post No Man’s Sky overhauls its combat with the Sentinel Update appeared first on Destructoid.