Starting Out Right In Hades 2, How Not To Suck In V Rising, And More Of The Week’s Gaming Tips

Image: Supergiant Games, Supergiant Games, Moon Studios, Supergiant Games / Valve / Kotaku, Screenshot: Konami / Claire Jackson / Kotaku, Konami / Claire Jackson / Kotaku, Supergiant Games, Illustration: Stunlock Studios

Hades 2 is here, bringing with it all kinds of questions about how to gather materials, unlock the ward, and a whole lost of other things. Well, we’ve got answers. We’ll also shine a little light on the darkness of Shadow Moses with some fun tips for Metal Gear Solid, get you started right in V Rising, and more. 

Image: Supergiant Games

Hades 2 is now in Early Access, ready to overtake your evenings, lunch breaks, and weekends for the foreseeable future. Playing as Melinoë, you’re tasked with defeating Chronos, aka time itself, to rescue her family and defend Olympus. It’s quite a lot to take in, especially if you go unprepared. – Diego Argüello Read More

Screenshot: Konami / Claire Jackson / Kotaku

1998’s Metal Gear Solid is widely available via the recently released Master Collection containing it and a number of other essential Metal Gear titles. While this collection isn’t the best way to explore these games, given its lacking features and technical issues, the strengths of these classic titles often outweighs the discomforts of a lackluster release. – Claire Jackson Read More

Screenshot: Konami / Claire Jackson / Kotaku

With the release of the Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection in 2023, games like 2004’s Metal Gear Solid 3 are more freely available (albeit in a very compromised and feature-lacking collection) than they have been before. But as MGS3in the Master Collection is secretly a repackaged version of its follow-up expansion, Subsistence, you might not be aware of an important camera option that toggles between a classic view perspective and something that feels a bit more modern. – Claire Jackson Read More

Gif: Konami / Claire Jackson / Kotaku

If you’ve been playing the Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection, then you know 1998’s MGS1 is all about staying hidden. The game gives you a number of tactics to remain out of sight, but one of the most signature of techniques in Snake’s arsenal is simply hiding in a cardboard box. But boxes don’t just let you stay hidden from cameras and guards. You can also use them to fast travel around Shadow Moses Island. – Claire Jackson Read More

Image: Supergiant Games

Image: Moon Studios

Action RPG No Rest for the Wicked might be a Soulslike at heart, but there’s more than meets the eye with Moon Studios’ newly released title—especially around its main city, Sacrament. The city serves as a hub for most quests and merchant needs, which means you’ll be visiting it often. One NPC in particular has an array of upgrades available to make subsequent trips to the town easier in terms of navigation, as well as expanding some key mechanics in place. – Diego Argüello Read More

Illustration: Stunlock Studios

Anyone can punch trees long enough to build a house, but can you also take down a teleporting necromancer and eat an entire bear in one sitting? These questions and more will be answered in your time with V Rising, Stunlock Studios’ survival/crafting/action-RPG hybrid that’s finally out of Early Access. I’ve been playing it because I’m a sucker for our current moment of 2020s Castlevania crossover DLC bait, but there’s a decent game in there too. Want some tips? I’m here at Kotaku Dot Com to offer some just for you. – Lucas White Read More

Gif: Konami / Claire Jackson / Kotaku

One of Metal Gear Solid’s ultimate bosses is the massive walking battle tank known as Metal Gear Rex. Rex is one of the tougher boss fights of the game, and little else is more frustrating than repeatedly dying to a late-game boss when you’re so, so close to wrapping up. – Claire Jackson Read More

Image: Supergiant Games / Valve / Kotaku

Hades 2 arrived via Early Access on Steam and the Epic Games Store on May 6 and already it’s been stirring up a ton of excitement. If you’re looking to take its Greek-mythos-inspired roguelike action-RPG gameplay on the go with the Steam Deck, there are a few settings you may wish to tweak. – Claire Jackson Read More

Screenshot: Supergiant Games

Hades 2, released on May 6 in Early Access, is already surpassing its predecessor’s feats. The sequel will feel familiar enough to those who fought their way to the surface as Zagreus in the first game. Some existing systems, however, have been iterated on, with perhaps the biggest example being the incantations mechanic. – Diego Argüello Read More