When Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice was launched in 2017 it rapidly grew to become one among my favourite video games of all time. I beat it in a single sitting and bear in mind feeling grateful that I had performed it in a room darkish sufficient to hide how a lot I wept because the credit rolled. As a younger girl who had endured abuse and was desperately wrangling together with her personal psychological well being and attachment points, Senua’s journey resonated and comforted me in a approach no different sport ever had. So it’d shock you then, that once I heard Ninja Idea was engaged on a sequel, I used to be extraordinarily hesitant.
My largest concern–particularly after Microsoft bought Ninja Idea–was that the following entry within the Hellblade collection would goal to be one of many huge, AAA experiences which might be taking up the video games trade, full with a cluttered mini-map, crafting, facet quests, and extra. That is to not say these options are inherently dangerous of course–they do have their place–but to me, this felt at odds with what Hellblade did so properly. I did not need breadth, I needed the collection to keep up its depth; I needed emotion, artwork, storytelling, introspection, mythos, terror, and magic. Actually, I used to be so involved that the studio would commerce in its depth for breadth, I did not foresee what truly occurred.
Slightly than increasing its programs and scope, or weaving a narrative equal elements intimate and mystical, Senua’s Sage: Hellblade 2 focuses on vastly enhancing what its predecessor already did so properly: visuals and sound. Hellblade 2 is a marvel to have a look at. It is attractive, cinematic, and hyper-realistic, but nonetheless eerie and ethereal. Its music stays extraordinary, and its sound design is primed to make your pores and skin crawl. And but, I can’t assist however be dissatisfied by how pared down and shallow its story and gameplay are. Whereas Hellblade 2 is likely to be a sight to behold, its minimal gameplay and muddled narrative stop it from being a sport that has any significant impression on me.
Senua’s Saga picks up not lengthy after Senua’s Sacrifice, and follows our heroine as she units off to confront the Northmen who hold raiding her lands and enslaving her folks. She sees this not solely as an opportunity to do what’s proper, however as a technique to atone for the sins she remains to be satisfied she committed–a technique to wash off the blood that she will’t assist however see on her fingers. Nonetheless, Senua quickly discovers that vengeance just isn’t so easy, and a choice that condemns and brutalizes one group may imply security and survival to a different.
It is a easy plot that’s finally executed in a approach that lacks richness. But there are particular themes right here that carry it a bit additional. Initially–and as each therapist will inform you–progress just isn’t linear. Exploring Senua’s reintegration into society and the way her psychological sickness impacts that course of is an attention-grabbing idea. Regardless of her being in a greater place by the tip of the primary sport, she just isn’t miraculously cured of her trauma or the interior voices that manifested on account of it. Actually, she remains to be largely scared of herself and tormented by the guilt her father instilled in her. I respect that this comes by way of in her latest journey, too.
Moreover, Hellblade 2 hones in on compassion in a approach that’s not novel, however tender nonetheless. Between Senua’s companions assuring her that her empathy and distinctive approach of seeing the world is a present, to the sport’s total emphasis on attempting to know the “man behind the monster” with a view to heal them and cease cycles of violence, there are some requires kindness right here which might be at all times price listening to. I appreciated the sport presenting conflicting concepts on morality and reformation, and whereas it did ceaselessly delve into the outdated saying “harm folks harm folks,” it additionally made clear that folks at all times have a alternative and that ache just isn’t an excuse for cruelty.
And but, the themes fall a bit flat. I think it is largely as a result of sport’s dialogue, narration, and Senua’s voices, which by no means attain the identical stage of poeticism or introspection as they do within the first sport. The voices specifically typically come throughout as a distracting novelty. And certain, it may be argued that anxiousness and trauma is distracting, but when that was the creative alternative Ninja Idea was going for, that sense of turbulence does not reduce by way of. As a substitute, I used to be left pissed off that Senua’s inner monologue grew to become this simplistic little bit of noise that solely really supplied up both affirmations or self-flagellating remarks–some of which appeared to counteract all her earlier classes discovered in a approach that felt much less like nonlinear progress and extra like a scarcity of narrative cohesion.
However whereas the voices felt too easy, the sport’s narration felt overly obtuse, that includes legions of phrases mentioned all to convey quite simple messages which might be then repeated dramatically time and time once more. All this comes on high of the truth that this sport provides a solid of supporting characters who speak over and beneath these different voices, resulting in writing coming throughout as muddled and tedious, and finally lacks the identical sense of artistry exhibited within the Hellblade 2’s audio and visuals. I additionally suspect that a few of this might have been simpler to forgive if the sport’s story beats have been bolder, extra intimate, much less repetitive, and fewer predictable, however Senua’s Saga finally commits to being an aesthetic and cinematic spectacle on the expense of telling a profound story that takes each Senua and the participant to new heights.
It is a downside that rears its head once more when analyzing Hellblade 2’s gameplay, which is considerably extra irritating than its storytelling. Whereas taking part in by way of Senua’s Saga, you’ll primarily do three issues: stroll, resolve puzzles, and struggle. In concept, that must be sufficient to make a participant really feel like they’re taking part in a game–I imply heck, strip down Zelda and it is mainly the identical factor, proper? But Hellblade 2 reached factors the place it felt extra like I used to be watching a barely interactive film. Nearly all of my time felt spent crawling by way of caves or strolling alongside seashores, and rare puzzles and simplistic fight stored me from feeling any sense of reduction, connection, or satisfaction with the sport.
And certain, I’ve heard it argued that the unique Hellblade’s puzzles and fight have been nothing extraordinary–I might say that is truthful, as the sport primarily targeted on deep, introspective storytelling. However contemplating Hellblade 2 does not have that, I had some hope new and improved mechanics may lie in retailer for us. As a substitute, issues have been pared again. Nearly each battle is similar: you face off towards an enemy, parry their assault, press a button to kill them, then interact with the following one. Whereas within the earlier sport you needed to navigate the sector, handle a number of enemies, and will kick and struggle a bit extra dynamically, all of that has been reduce in favor of circling round a single enemy till you may get in a parry.
It is clear that the explanation for this new fight system is to make battles extra scripted and cinematic, as it is easy to include tense moments, rolls, combos, dramatic deaths, and extra when the participant is restricted to hitting a pair buttons towards a single opponent in a really small area. However the massive downside here–well, apart from the fight itself–is that a number of video games have confirmed that fights can really feel choreographed and cinematic whereas permitting gamers to have interaction with enemies in additional significant methods. Fight in Hellblade 2 feels not similar to an afterthought, however nearly non-existent. Actually, I might argue that the tip consequence feels just like a quick-time occasion, but extra tedious.
Fixing puzzles is simply as easy a course of, and primarily consists of discovering methods to distort actuality with a view to acquire entry to new areas and vantage factors. From there, you’ll find hidden runes that assist your progress. It is barely much less tedious, however not one of the puzzles scattered all through the sport are notably participating or troublesome, that means you by no means really feel challenged or notably glad with your self.
This is not to say Hellblade 2 is devoid of any outstanding options. Actually, you would be hard-pressed to discover a extra visually placing first-party Xbox title. From its lighting and framing to the hyper-realism of its characters and places, each little bit of Hellblade 2 feels cinematic and spectacular. Whereas its story and programs may use some love, it’s abundantly clear that these environments–from the animal skulls that adorn dilapidated homes to the towering mountains and huge oceans that stretch previous the place the attention can see–were utterly adored by the group. Equally, the sport’s movement seize and performances are next-level, with every of the sport’s important solid bringing a stage of melodrama and pressure to the sport that elevates a script that’s in any other case a bit flat and predictable.
The sport’s sound design and music are maybe much more notable. Although the obvious reward is leveled on the sport’s binaural audio, there are such a lot of different parts that come collectively alongside this alternative that elevate it. The deep groans of rotting buildings and shrieks of villagers in ache are so real looking they really feel palpable. Senua’s up-close and breathy panic evokes prompt pressure, whereas far off, guttural singing strikes concern. Although the fight itself is likely to be subpar, the music that performs whereas Senua faces off towards the draugr is intense and riveting.
However whereas few video games can rival Hellblade 2’s sound, graphic constancy, and expertise for rendering gorgeous vistas and characters so expressive you possibly can inform after they’re tensing their jaws, I could not assist pondering how attractive the sport can be if what was depicted was extra diverse. There are just a few memorable set items I will not spoil, however even in comparison with its predecessor–which led gamers by way of tombs, razed cities, haunted woods, chamber halls, and allow them to face off towards giants, a rotting boar, towering stag-headed monsters, and the god of illusions–there is surprisingly little variation in Hellblade 2’s settings and monsters. Although the caves Senua crawled by way of succeeded in inducing the claustrophobia the sport warns you about at its begin, massive chunks of the sport going down surrounded by stone is not totally interesting. It is yet one more substance downside in a sport that’s regrettably filled with them.
Primarily based on its new naming conference, the usage of “saga” in Hellblade 2’s title, and Microsoft’s acquisition of developer Ninja Idea following the success of Senua’s Sacrifice, it appears as if Hellblade is slated to be a collection in addition to a staple in Xbox’s first-party lineup. That mentioned, at this level, I do not precisely perceive the place the collection is headed, if to not the field workplace. There are many video games that show video games could be artwork, however as some studios lean tougher into proving that in a single particular approach that cribs from Hollywood, we’re seeing some video games that really feel afraid of being video games. With an excessive amount of concentrate on cinematics and too little on creating an expertise that’s participating, Senua’s Saga fails to succeed in the identical highs as its predecessor–even if it does look gorgeous while attempting.