Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 Looks Solid, but Microsoft’s Messaging Has Been Questionable

It feels like Microsoft can't decide whether Hellblade 2 is a AAA megaton or an arthouse sequel.

[Terry_B]

Lets be honest. Its mainly a walking simulator. Just like the first game..maybe there is even less combat and an even bigger focus on cinematics and listening to her inner voices while walking.

Big pros are just the excellent graphics, designs and the music of Heilung.

[DarXyde]

Correction:

It WAS a walking simulator.

Specifically during the timed exclusivity window on PS4 and before being acquired. Now it's a megaton.

That aside, I think it's a AA game given a AAA budget. Ninja Theory is doing what they do, but with more resources. Can't really complain about a talented studio having more scratch to work with (and it is cheaper, though that digital only nonsense needs to go).

I don't know what it is, but I just don't have fun with their games. They're not at all bad and they're well made with attention to quality (Heavenly Sword might be an exception: beautiful for its time but it ran really rough and the game wasn't fun, at least you to me). Just can't really get lost in them. Never knew why. Still don't know.

[CrashMania]

The first was one of the most boring games I've ever played. Slow walking, glyph puzzle, walk, glyph puzzle, boring combat, walk, run from fire, glyph puzzle, walk, boring combat, run from fire, walk, rinse repeat.

And yes I played it long before it was ok Xbox or MS bought the studio.

[Markusb33]

megaton ? so ground breaking sales then ? at a $50 download only title ? that has already been said to be the same length as the last ? dont sequels attempt to improve upon the previous title and try do more?

[DarXyde]

Markusb33,

If ever there was a whoosh...

In fairness to Hellblade II, I'm sure we don't know everything. At the same time, it doesn't look to be breaking anything that made people enjoy the first game. Implying a sequel is worse because it's the same length and digital only is a bizarre take, at least to me. It sucks that it's digital only, but that doesn't make it worse. It just doesn't. If it's broken and glitchy, that is objectively worse. Willing to bet that's not the case though.

[VenomUK]

THIS was the game used to promote the power of the Xbox Series X at its reveal back in 2019. Then every showing there was intentional focus on this being bigger and better. Then this year Microsoft revealed it would be a shorter experience, around seven hours -so why only reveal that in 2024? It suggest a change of plan and that behind the scenes there was some development hell and the game is shorter to ensure it’s released this year.

The twist (my speculation) might be that Hellblade III, made from what was originally going to be the second half of Hellblade II, could just need polishing and be ready to release 2025-2026.

[Crows90]

A change of plan??? I don't think so...it was never going to be this big AAA game. The premise that Microsoft has improved any game by purchasing them is evidently wrong....just look at the recently released ones.

MS is great at deception...that's all.

[YourMommySpoils]

It wasn't development hell. All them developers were just high on weed, meditating with spiritual yoga.

[anast]

"Heilung" is great music.

[Terry_B]

Its a great project. Seen them live twice already since their first tour back in 2019.

[anast]

Nice. Danheim and of course Wardruna put out some good stuff too.

[Ironmike]

So lis death stranding fact nearly all games have u walking towards something the game recieved a lot critical acclaim

[Terry_B]

I never played Death Stranding and don't care for it. But this comment section is about an article regarding Hellblade II and not any other game.

[Ironmike]

I just stated mt that all games are walking simulation then if u go by ur logic as there's puzzles bits of platforming in this game

[isarai]

I mean they released the fact that it's the same length as the 1st game and is digital only. That seems like a pretty rock solid indicator that it's not really gonna be a "AAA megaton"

[Barlos]

Digital only?! Well that's me out then

[Nyxus]

Maybe if/when it comes to PS5 it can get a physical version. Like what happened with Hi-fi Rush and Pentiment.

[Ironmike]

And how do come to that conclusion by game length and digital only but what if game is amazinng

[helicoptergirl]

I know one thing, it's not a "megaton".

[Profchaos]

It won't have wide market appeal even if it's very good and highly reviewed because the subject matter at heart is a hard sell for many

[DiRtY]

I liked the first game and the sequel looks great to me.

Maybe just take the game as it is?
Sounds crazy, I know.

[rakentaja]

The combat is completely secondary. People should prepare themselves that this is not a fighting game.

[Andrew336]

The people interested in the game know that but this is n4g.

[anast]

It's an arthouse sim. It's going to look nice on the PS5.

[purple101]

I expect this to get 10/10 reviews, not because it's a good game, it will be good, but 1. because it was made with love, 2. modern media is woke - whatever that means

[Crows90]

It looks like the 1st game.

[neomahi]

It's a crap game. The idea when it was announced was interesting, but when you actually play it it really doesn't have much of anything to do with psychosis. I live with someone that suffers from psychosis and I don't see anything of it really. The gameplay is slow and clunky and the puzzles remind me, pretty much, of those wooden boards you'd have where you fit the wooden block shapes into them. And the tech..... I mean most of the screenshots you see pretty much tell it all, it's a woman screaming on your face zoomed way in. Ninja Theory wasn't s very good studio to acquire, they've really been mostly a disappointment and this game....... Ergh.......

[Andrew336]

All of your comments are pro Sony and against anything Xbox. So I'll look elsewhere for thoughts about an Xbox game.

[CrimsonWing69]

The marketing for this has been abysmal.

[Aussiesummer]

It’ll be just a prettier snore fest like the first.

[Markusb33]

didnt xbox just tweet, its ok to not beat games ? so its ok to not buy, and not finish, talk about actively trying to devalue your own platform and the products you offer. Xbox is the worst, i remember when hellbalde came out on ps fans beat it and said it was a nice indie title, xb fans said walking sim, then xb bought the studio and suddenly its the best thing since sliced bread

[Petebloodyonion]

Simple: MS wanted to make this a AAA experience and funded the game to these expectations
sadly there's also a real truth that Ninja Theory is not a major studio using 2000 employees
So they created the best experience a mid-size studio could pull.

[LoveSpuds]

The relevant question for me is, does it matter? It's on GamePass day and date so the traditional metrics for success won't matter?

[TwoPicklesGood]

Game will be good. Judge it when it’s released instead of bs articles like this.

[Psychonaut85]

Gunna be a visual, audio and artistic showcase. But a 7 hour single player game is not gunna be megaton. Especially when it’s a sequel and we have a rough idea what to expect.

[gold_drake]

i mean the story is good, but digital only?
same lenght as the first one?

meh.

[MontyeKristo]

So many negative comments on this thread/website, when it was really well received on the Playstation..

Weird.