Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II Reviews

Hellblade 2 is a visual spectacle, but not much more than that. Gameplay is simple and clumsy, both in terms of puzzles and combat, but also because it sticks to a 'no button prompt' rule, which means there are multiple instances where you are guessing what the game wants you to do. It might look like a cinematic, and the game wants you to in fact push forward to move the character, or press a button to stop her dying. You won't get any real warning of this, so it is up to your intuition. It also features a main character dealing with mental psychosis, and honestly as a neurodivergent person myself, I found it irritating and pandering when this was inferred by multiple internal voices saying the most obvious and banal lines about what the character was feeling, or what she had to do. At least it is quite short, but get it on deep discount if you really have to try it.

Play Mechanics 9/10 Story 9/10 Soundtrack 8/10 Graphics 10/10 Overall: 9/10 and highly recommended.

If you have enjoyed the first one, you won't be disappointed by this second instalment. The greatest experience is reached by using headphones, as the producers recommend each time you start the game. Some goosebumps moment, a game to play as you would read a tempting book, or you would drink a nice glass of water in a hot and sweaty summer day: in one shot.

The game looks like ass and its because of AI. Smoke / steam / fire looks pixelized. Grass shimmers and is blurry. Characters 2m in front of you have blurry faces. There is weird artifacts around the horizon and around Senua. I have tried every AI setting but they all look crap. What an amazing showpiece for UE5

Beautifully orchestrated in some aspects and anti-climactic in others. Made me sob like a baby, like the first installment, all the same. The world is absolutely stunning and the soundtrack is amazing to boot. It's only a shame that my PC is growing older and had some difficulties.

For me these games about Senua are experiences. They are emotional and immersive experiences into to a life of a person from Viking age, who sees world differently. These games are like immersive movies, where you are the actor in a great story. The Senua's Saga is amazing in it's story telling and atmosphere. It's a story about a time, when people had believes that explained the world that they couldn't understand. It's a story about coming to understand your past and why leaders get corrupted. It's a story about becoming valued, when you grew up hated. You don't find RPG elements, nor inventory management. However, you will find immersive fights, which force you to focus in the game and keep you immersed in challenges Senua is facing. The game isn't very long, when compared to many other games. However, it's still long as a trilogy of movies. It took me about 8 hours, which sounds really short. But in truth, it was a long game as I was so focused and immersed in it. I personally would try to reserve the full time in one or two sessions, in total darkness and with headphones. Compared to the first part, I find the story to be bit better or it's told better. I love other characters that add perspective and interactions to Senua. However, I think the first game had more iconic locations and enemies. I recommend to play them both. The games tell different part of the Senua's story. Senua's world view and perspective are different in these games, as she grows as a person and learns about herself. And finally, remember it's not a fantasy world. It's a real world seen differently. Although, I find real to be different for every person, hence this world is real for Senua.

crouch, slowly walk.... cheap tricks to extend play time from 3 to up to 7 hours

Not as good as the first one but still a very interesting adventure. Visually stunning, it's a showcase of UE5. There are two main issues: a lot of the atmosphere from the first game is lost and combat has been dumbed down to make it more cinematic (I guess?). However the story is interesting enough and the game is still an enjoyable walking simulator.

just not as good as the first game. there is no feeling of danger at all, its basically a walking simulator with some (pretty easy) puzzles and (very easy) combat thrown in.

More like a walking simulator with a few puzzles but a good walking sim with excellent visuals and audio. Rather short took just under 8 hours to do so I would get on sale