Summary
Hades 2and pre-2018God of Warboth draw on real-world Greek mythology for their stories, but they take decidedly different approaches to presentation and framing. Nowhere is this clearer than in the games’respective representations of Chronos/Cronos:Hades 2imbues the Greek God of Time with a very different narrative purpose and flair thanGod of War, making him a rather interesting point of comparison.
Hades 2is still in early access and its story has not been finished, meaning that there may be more to learn about Supergiant’s rendition of Chronos.
There are a few striking similarities betweenGod of War’s Cronos andHades 2’s Chronos. Both are sons of Ouranos (Uranus) and among the first Titans, siring major gods like Zeus and Hades, who eventually turn on their father in accordance with prophecy. This mostly aligns with the character’s depiction in real Greek mythology: Cronos/Chronos heard tell of a prophecy that he would be overthrown by one of his children, and so he swallowed them all, except for Zeus, who was spared by his mother Rhea. Zeus led a rebellion against him as an adult, leading to a prolonged period of war which culminated in Chronos' imprisonment.Hades 2imagines Chronos' retribution for this imprisonment, whileGod of Warchronicles it, albeit with a number of creative liberties.
How Hades 2 and God of War Differ In Their Presentation of Cronos/Chronos
Hades 2 and God of War Differ In Their Depiction of Chronos/Cronos As The God of Time
The different spellings of Cronos and Chronos are not merely a matter of linguistic departure:Cronos is the first of the Titans, King of Gods, and is directly linked to the myth of the Great War and the rebellion of Zeus, while Chronos is the personification of time. Many ancient scholars considered Cronos and Chronos to be separate entities, though the notion that Chronos is an aspect of Cronos became a widespread interpretation during the Renaissance era, either through confusion or intentional association.
Hades 2leans further into the post-Renaissance interpretation of Chronos thanGod of Wardoes. Chronos inHades 2is explicitly referred to as a Titan and father of both Zeus and Hades, while also being defined as the personification of time—something that is reinforced byChronos' many special abilities in-game. Thus,Hades 2’s Chronosadheres both to the history of the Titan Cronos and the mystical, temporal significance of Chronos, God of Time. Cronos' connection to the concept of time is much more tenuous inGod of War, which focuses more on his position as a Titan and Zeus' father.
Cronos' Role in God of War Is Different From Chronos' in Hades 2
Chronos is the Big Bad ofHades 2, the ultimate antagonist of the story. This is not the case inGod of War: Cronos is a very insignificant character in the firstGod of Warand a minor ally inGod of War 2, when he allows Kratos to climb his back and access the Temple of Pandora.Cronos returns as an antagonist inGod of War 3, though he is far from Kratos' main nemesis. Rather, he holds a grudge against Kratos, considering him responsible for his imprisonment in Tartarus by Zeus. Kratos ultimately brutalizes and kills Cronos in battle, relegating the Titan to the position of a secondary antagonist.
This stands in stark contrast toHades 2’s Chronos, who is presented as something of a villainous mastermind and a much more imposing threat. AlthoughHades 2’s lorepositions Chronos in a similar manner asGod of War—that is, establishing him as an enemy of Olympus, Zeus, and Hades—Supergiant depicts him as considerably more competent. By the time players encounter Cronos inGod of War 2, he has already been bested by Zeus. InHades 2, he has risen above Zeus' dominance, and is now in a place of significant, dangerous power.
Hades 2
WHERE TO PLAY
The first-ever sequel from Supergiant Games builds on the best aspects of the original god-like rogue-like dungeon crawler in an all-new, action-packed, endlessly replayable experience rooted in the Underworld of Greek myth and its deep connections to the dawn of witchcraft. BATTLE BEYOND THE UNDERWORLDAs the immortal Princess of the Underworld, you’ll explore a bigger, deeper mythic world, vanquishing the forces of the Titan of Time with the full might of Olympus behind you, in a sweeping story that continually unfolds through your every setback and accomplishment.MASTER WITCHCRAFT AND DARK SORCERYInfuse your legendary weapons of Night with ancient magick, so that none may stand in your way. Become stronger still with powerful Boons from more than a dozen Olympian gods, from Apollo to Zeus. There are nearly limitless ways to build your abilities.MINGLE WITH (MORE) GODS, GHOSTS, AND MONSTERSMeet a cast of dozens of fully-voiced, larger-than-life characters, including plenty of new faces and some old friends. Grow closer to them through a variety of new interactions, and experience countless unique story events based on how your journey unfolds.EVERY RUN IS ITS OWN ADVENTURENew locations, challenges, upgrade systems, and surprises await as you delve into the ever-shifting Underworld again and again. Reveal the mysteries of the Arcana Altar, tame witchy familiars, and gather reagents using Tools of the Unseen to get closer to your goal.THE PERKS OF IMMORTALITYThanks to a variety of permanent upgrades and the return of God Mode, you don’t have to be a god yourself to experience whatHades IIhas to offer. But if you happen to be one, you can brave escalating challenges for greater rewards, and prove just how divine you really are.
