The Hades 2 technical test is a trial in self-control

Imagine the most perfect barbecue — a prolific spread of smoked meats, all the right sides, every pie, type of cookie or cake, and even your grandmother’s famous dinner rolls. But there’s a catch: most of the food is kept behind glass to be unlocked at a later date, and you are starving. That’s what it’s like playing the Hades 2 technical test.

Spoilers for the Hades 2 technical test.

Hades 2, like its predecessor, is a roguelike. You play as Melinoë, the long-lost daughter of Hades and sister of Zagreus, the first game’s protagonist. Unlike her brother, Melinoë isn’t trying to break out of hell. Instead, she’s trying to break into it as Chronos, Titan of Time, has taken over, kidnapping Melinoë’s mother, brother, and father. Reaching the depths of the Underworld is a tough task, with powerful monsters often stymying Melinoë’s efforts, sending her right back to the beginning to try again.

It’s tempting to look at trailers for Hades 2 and assume Melinoë is a female reskin of Zagreus. But the game plays like a true sequel, where combat feels just similar enough to be familiar but just remixed enough to feel different and exciting.

Unlike her brother, who used his martial prowess to escape hell, Melinoë relies on her magical abilities as a witch. Her staff delivers powerful magical bursts at range while her sickle and dagger weapon allows her to get up close and personal. She also has two basic magical cast attacks: a projectile and an area attack that roots enemies in place. New in Hades 2 are what the game calls omega casts that augment your basic and cast attacks. Instead of tapping an attack button, you hold it down, giving the attack an extra oomph. Your omega melee attack extends out from Melinoë in a line, damaging anything in its path. The omega projectile cast makes the attack hit more enemies harder, while the area omega cast not only roots enemies in place but deals a bit of damage after a short time. Each omega cast has a mana cost — a new resource in Hades 2 — and can be further augmented based on the godly boons you acquire.

Speaking of the gods, they’re back, there’s more of them, and all of them are smokin’ hot. Running into the gods has been the best part of my time in Hades 2 so far. I love how they react to Melinoë, the tenor of their conversation changing based on when they speak to her and where. Demeter, her grandmother, tells her how much she looks like her mother. Hephaestus, the blacksmith god, insults the quality of her weapons. The gods even have words about each other depending on the boons you’ve chosen. In one really cool moment, Hecate, the fire goddess, remarked on how what she was offering me would clash with a boon from Poseidon I had already picked up. Each attempt on the Underworld feels different, not only for the different boons you collect each time but for the different conversations you have with your godly benefactors.

Since this is only a technical test, the game only allows you to progress as far as the first major boss. However, because of the cyclical fight-die-repeat nature of the game, all the content in the technical test isn’t exhausted until you’ve beaten the first boss at least five times. I’ve made it through one successful run, and while I know I still have four more attempts left, I’m reluctant to try. Supergiant has said that the technical test will run “longer than a week, shorter than a month,” and once it’s done, early access will open up very soon after. (The technical test and early access will be on PC, with console launch information to come later.)

From the bit I’ve seen, Hades 2 is likely to be just as if not more thrilling than its predecessor. Wherein lies my barbecue problem. I’m torn between eating my fill of the delicious food that’s available now or waiting until I have the whole spread to gorge myself on. No matter what I choose, though, I’ll be eating well.