Xbox gamers are in the midst of a severe drought right now, due to the lack of big-budget exclusives on Microsoft’s console. While Game Pass continues to offer great indie titles and passion projects from developers, the tentpole titles that gamers expect from Xbox have been largely absent over the last two years. With Xbox gearing up for a showcase in June, one title that needs to take the spotlight is Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II.
We're another day closer to the release of Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 on May 21st, and that means Ninja Theory is continuing to tease us with new snippets of info and footage - including a closer look at the game's Photo Mode.
I like photo modes. I will find some awesome shots and use them as wallpaper on my SX.
Gears 6 is going to look insane on UE5. The Coalition are UE experts. Hellblade 2 is going to be epic.
First game’s photo mode had some sweet filters. Even if they just port those over, I’ll be good!
Realism is one of many valid art forms and not the only recipe for success.
"Anything below the pristine, realistic scenes we see in pretty trailers is quickly dubbed a “PS3 game", which was the case during Rise of the Ronin’s debut."
Er... no thanks. Last thing we need is a PS3 looking Hellblade game.
I rather have Hellblade II truth to its roots. Dark Fantasy narrative driven adventure, focused on photo-realism, believable world, stunning looking environments, realistic combat, exceptional animations, state of art sound engineering and Melinda´s beauty and superior act skills to take Senua and Hellblade II´s immersion to a whole new level in gaming.
@Kornholic no it's worse than that. He loves Xbox and Phil so much that he does this for free! Honestly I struggle to believe this is a grown adult. Sometimes his comments are so ridiculous they border on parody.
@Korn/ Barlos: “He is an MS employee. It has become pretty clear at this point”
It’s even sadder than that he’s a guy that gets paid for every response he gets out of the community😱
And he does it for free. Microsoft doesn't pay the old man anything and most gamers disagree with his comments 😂
@obscured: “I rather have Hellblade II truth to its roots. Dark Fantasy narrative driven adventure, focused on photo-realism, believable world, stunning looking environments, realistic combat, exceptional animations, state of art sound engineering and Melinda´s beauty and superior act skills to take Senua and Hellblade II´s immersion to a whole new level in gaming.”
I rather be Amazon owner guess what your wish and my nether are happening ,there’s no such thing as a perfect game as you describe it.
I would say atmosphere is a huge part of this graphics are a big part of that. But it's not the whole thing. I hope there's more to the gameplay than the original. I gave up on it before the story could really hook me.
I always thought the game was a walking simulator *most* of the time. I mean calling it a game is a stretch. Sure it has the glossy graphics and atmosphere, but beyond that, there's just nothing there. She jogs through the woods at an octogenarian's pace and solves illusion puzzles. That's about the gist of it. Sure there's a bit of combat if you consider slashing the same identical figures a few time here and there combat. The gameplay didn't have no depth but I finally realize that they wasn't aiming for that. I always thought the first game was overhyped and overrated. The graphics has always been the selling point and the reason to play it. I'm glad the second game will be on PC gamepass so that I don't have to pay $70 dollars to play it.
You never played the first game and you won´t be playing the second either!
I can´t wait for Hellblade II to drop, so we can see your benchmarks since you said you´ll be running it at 4K/60-120fps. Lol
Already got my popcorn ready. Just one month to go!
What are you talking about he's summed up the gameplay loop perfectly. I bet when the game was a PS4 exclusive you even called it or walking simulator. You have no credibility here.
@Sonic1881 - calling it a walking simulator (like many other Sony fanboys or Xbox fanboys who call Death Stranding a walking simulator),makes me think that most people dont know what a walking simulator is (which happens to be one of my favorite game genres).
Games like Dear Esther, Everybody Gone to Rapture, What Remains of Edith Finch, are clear showcases of the genre.
A walking simulator typically has no combat and limits gameplay to very basic interaction while foregoing action sequences.
"Sure there's a bit of combat if you consider slashing the same identical figures a few time here and there combat." - Now this comment here shows how biased you are.
"Yes there is combat but it is a rare instance and therefore this is not a game". Ok no comment there as you obviously did not play the game.
I would not disregard this game simply because is on Xbox and not on playstation. Just wait to see the game for your self since as you say you have game pass and you can try it for free.
If it turns out to be a good game, is a win for everybody as it will most likely end on playstation as well in the future given MS new multi platform strategy.
This game is going to flop so massively.
A decade of anticipation and development.
Only to receive a message a couple weeks ago that gamers shouldn't expect the game to be very long.
Sure, it's going to be the most successful X-box exclusive this generation, but that isn't saying much.
10 years ago you could distract people with having a pretty picture on screen, you didn't need much in terms of gameplay / length.
But now? You can dress up a pig as much as you want, it still is a pig.
The fact that we haven't seen ANY real gameplay videos says more than enough regarding this.
Only pre-rendered "Gameplay" videos.
This generation is truly a sad one.
From both Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo.
"10 years ago you could distract people with having a pretty picture on screen, you didn't need much in terms of gameplay / length."
The Order: 1886 came out nearly a decade ago, in 2015, and pretty picture on screen was not enough even back then.
Pretty sure Order 1886 was actually a pretty good game but it was waaaaaaaay too short, that's why it failed.
Oh man...I forgot how good The Order: 1886 was - it was sure a fun time and looked absolutely stunning but holy hell it was simply too short and I'm so glad I ended up not buying it. I rented it and finished it over the course of a weekend and didn't have much desire to just go play it again. If I recall, there wasn't at all much one could do as far as exploration either and maybe had a random collectible tucked away in corners, that's it.
@JusttJD0099
"Pretty sure Order 1886 was actually a pretty good game but it was waaaaaaaay too short, that's why it failed."
And I´m "pretty sure" that you never played that game also. That game been "short" has nothing to do with "why it failed". FYI that game sold 1.6+ million copies which is far from a failure.
1886 has many flaws regarding level design, gameplay, combat and how all those elements interact combined. I´d loved the setting, graphics, atmosphere, plot and the characters. And I hate how fast Sony dumped RAD and put that franchise on ice.
The Order had the potential to be Sony´s response to Gears of War, but just like they did with Days Gone, they rather measure one game´s success based on Metascores. Smh.
@JusttJD0099
I would also add awful boss battles (those werewolves - ugh) and the ending was very meh.
Other than that, i did enjoy the game, the graphics, the world, the gun play... But yeah, also very short, got platinum in 8h total without trying much or following guides.
Its visuals have to be pretty much spotless at this point to make up for the lack of engaging gameplay not to mention story that have to hit all the right notes and then its potential lack of replayability.
I learned from cinematic games like these is that if the story not up to snuff then the game pretty much not worth replay through again.
In this day and age, I'm surprised that we still have games like this as the gap between not as cinematic one and cinematic game like Hellblade 2 are no longer big, not like back in 7th gen.
It takes far more effort now just to wow us with these push for filmic photorealistic visuals.
So many studios big and small so obsessed at getting their cinematic games' visuals to look right to the point they forgot they still have to do Gaming part of it.
"This game is going to flop so massively."
Only in the minds of those spiteful fanboys that wouldn´t be able to play it.
The first Hellblade had an all time peak of 5,653 concurrent players on STEAM. I´m positive that even been available on PC Gamepass day one, Hellblade II will easily beat that number and you´ll be called out on your bs predictions.
"A decade of anticipation and development.
Only to receive a message a couple weeks ago that gamers shouldn't expect the game to be very long."
A decade?! What the F* are you talking about?!
The first Hellblade was released back in August 2017 and development for Hellblade II started 2 years later!
Where did you get that "A decade of anticipation and development." BS? Why are you here spreading lies about a game you don´t know sh!t about?
"The fact that we haven't seen ANY real gameplay videos says more than enough regarding this.
"Only pre-rendered "Gameplay" videos."
Lmao!
That line is nothing but further proof that you never played Hellblade in your life! The game is focused on REALISM and IMMERSION, genius!
There´s NO VISIBLE HUD AT ALL!
IT´S ALL GAMEPLAY RUNNING ON AN ACTUAL XBOX SERIES X!!!
It´s baffling how some dumb and arrogant people believes they´re in a position of authority to talk about subjects they have zero knowledge of!
Next time you go out running your mouth spreading lies and misinformation, make sure you made your homework first!
We'll see when it drops. I'll say this, based on how 1 played prepare to be disappointed lol.
"FYI that game sold 1.6+ million copies which is far from a failure."
Nice. So FF7 Rebirth or 16 for that matter, are doing just fine. Aye Observer 👀 👍🏽Thanks for telling the truth.
"Nice. So FF7 Rebirth or 16 for that matter, are doing just fine. Aye Observer 👀 👍🏽Thanks for telling the truth."
Always my pleasure.
And just to put things into perspective; By the time of its release, The Order: 1886 were a new IP from a relatively unknown and unproved studio. The game sits at a 63 Metascore.
The PS4 had 20+ Million consoles sold after 1 year and 3 months in the market.
Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth, is well known, highly regarded as one of the most prominent RPG of ALL TIMES, by one of the most beloved and traditional gaming studio in the market. Rebirth also ranks at the same 92 Metascore as the original.
By the time of its release, the PS5 had sold 50+ Million consoles after 3 years and 3 months in the market.
I´m sure you can connect the dots.
Have a good week.
""FYI that game sold 1.6+ million copies which is far from a failure."
Releases between PS4, Xbox One, PC, Switch then Series S/X is absolutely 💯 a failure. That's 450+ million gamers between all the platforms and it barely sold anything
I would generally agree with the article to be fair.
I enjoyed the original well enough but the puzzles and combat were excruciatingly repetitive.
If the gameplay hasn't advanced then that is going to be really disappointing.
A closer look at Ninja Theory's state-of-the-art graphics.
Will look best on PC with 60fps can't wait!
i think there will be some RT - PT mods like they did with horizon games etc
Hellblade 2 and Squadron 42 looks like a real next gen games hope to see a release date soon.
It runs in 964p on the Series X/S. What a joke. PC is definitely the way to go for this game
"It runs in 964p on the Series X/S. What a joke. PC is definitely the way to go for this game"
*NATIVE* 964p up to 1070p on a UE5 powered game which has all of its features like MetaHuman, Nanite, Lumen and Virtual Shadow Maps. And you called it a joke?!
And you claim to be a PC GAMER?!
I think you lie through your teeth.
When Hellblade II finally releases, I want to see benchmarks from your PC and have a good laugh!
Just wait for it.
@Obscure_Observer
You're definitely reaching now. Desperate comment on your part. Everyone knows PC is the way to go if you want to play it in 60fps. The UE5 engine excuse is getting old. Remnant 2 is using UE5 and it also has a 60fps option and the game looks great. GTFO liar which you're good at. It's getting embarrassing reading your comments most of the time 😂
https://www.ign.com/article...
By the way Black Myth Wukong will also have a 60fps option on consoles using UE5 😂 and the developer already mentioned it.
https://m.youtube.com/watch...
@Sonic1881
Everyone knows that ports for modern PC will ALWAYS be superior when compared to consoles, genius. Especially compared to 4 year old consoles which is not even fair. Only insecure weirdos needs to constantly keep talking about it.
That said, no *every* PC will do it. And I doubt you´re a PC gamer in the first place due your very dumb and clueless comments regarding technology and gaming.
Nobody will find you on PC only related topics, but in console topics cheerleading PS5 games and trashing *every single* Xbox game.
You don´t love games at all, all you love is a plastic box which I don´t even believe in your claims to own.
Just prove me wrong and just show us your benchmarks when Hellblade II gets released. I´ll wait.
can we just stop with the sounding like a broken record? ps5/switch games also run better on pc because DRUMROLL, pc's have stronger hardware.
"You don´t love games at all, all you love is a plastic box which I don´t even believe in your claims to own."
I already prove to a few people that I own a PC a few years back and they still didn't believe it. A matter of fact I've played with some of the user's on here on N4G that only owns a PC 😀. I also have a active steam account and the last game I played on it was Dragon's Dogma 2, Helldivers, and Baldur Gate 3. Anything else Obscure_Observer. Btw I also own a Nintendo switch and PS5
You are the joke. You say the same thing on every Xbox article always pushing the negative in your comments. Once in awhile I’ll see something sensible from you but mostly just trash comments.
Does it really destroy your world about how many frames or resolution game has ? Just because you hate Xbox doesn’t mean you have to bring in the negative into every article.
Game looks amazing and enjoyable and that what counts in the end.
I honestly dont have much interest in this. Its all pretty much pre rendered. Its not so much a game than an interactive movie. It somehow rubs me the wrong way because while I dont have an issue with games like Heavy Rain I feel that this is acting like its something its not. It tries to be a normal videogame but it really is not. As opposed to interactive games that focus on choices. Im sure this will be an ok game, but nothing that would make me want to spend money on.
Do all these people disagreeing with you actually think the game won’t look better on pc at 60fps?!
Or are they just console fan boys who refuse to accept that games on a $400 console will look and perform worse than on a $3000 pc.
@Espangerish
"Or are they just console fan boys who refuse to accept that games on a $400 console will look and perform worse than on a $3000 pc."
Assuming that you have a $3000 Rig, absolutely. But there´s lots a lying clowns here claiming to be PC gamers with very expensive and powerful machines, and yet, by their clueless comments alone it´s easier for anyone with minimal technical knowledge to spot a liar.
Any person that is in fact a PC gamer and PLAY actual games, knows that UE5 has incredibly high resource usage.
Now let clueless idiots call a joke, trash, unacceptable and a "blurry mess" the most resourceful and feature-rich UE5 game to date, running at internal resolution and performance of 1070p at 30fps on a 4 year old console which still can´t take advantage of more modern PC resources like FSR 3?
Digital Foundry literally is calling Hellblade II the most beautiful UE5 game to date and technical Marvel, but here you have a bunch of jealous liars sh!ting on the game just because it´s not available on their favorite plastic box.
I call them liars, because real PC gamers would be happy about a game which do nothing other to make their investments on a very expensive rig, worthwhile. Taking full advantage of it. Even if such game/genre is not their thing.
I think 60fps will actually cheapen the experience imo. I know 30 fps isn’t usually ideal but in this case makes it feel more like a movie, which is cool imo. 60 fps is good for sims and competitive games imo but I’m ok with 30 fps on games like this. I say this having a pc that can easily run anything at 4k/60 (2x 4090s)
Once you play games in 60fps or 120fps, It's hard to ever go back to 30fps. Lucky for me I can play this game in 60fps on PC🙌🏻
According to digital foundry, Hellblade 2 runs at 964p to 1070p at 30fps on series x
Say hello to UE5 gaming on 4 year old APUs.
But you can cherry pick the stats for or against, on your TV its probably still going to be the best looking console game yet.
No way, not from some cheap free tools unreal engine 5. This no sony high production game with its own custom engine, its a low funded cheap free unreal engine tools game.
Too many sacrifices. All this for graphics.
I dunno if it's worth it tbh.
@Hear wtf does that have to do with Sony!?
Oh had the numbers moved from 75% no one told me, needs an article don’t you think?
“ That's according to documents from the recent court leaks from Microsoft vs. FTC. A heavily redacted document from the case shows that nearly 75%, 74.8% to be exact, of Xbox Series owners own a Series S.” sept' 2023
or did you mean 60percent less powerful so 60% worse?
@darth I still don’t get it
You give me too much credit for being clever, when infact I am extraordinarily inept
All the post processing isnt making things any better either, you can see the environments just look blurry and faded. Senuas model looks very impressive but everything else just screams budget title.
According to Digital Foundry:
"This is a profoundly improved sequel and a game that is generationally advanced beyond its predecessor."
"Hellblade 2 is just on another level in almost every respect in terms of core technology."
"...and is possibly even a bit ahead of Hellblade 2's first gameplay trailer."
"This could be the very best looking Unreal Engine 5 title out there"
N4G's takeway: 1070p30fps off cheap free UE5.
I can see on this on the Series S but on the Series X? That's just horrible & unacceptable.
The Order and Death Stranding doesn't belong to interactive movie category.
Until Dawn and Detroit sure does.
Those games are almost ALL gameplay with choices that affect the end game. They include movie cuts to help tell the story.
This “game” is almost ALL movie with sprinkles of linear walking paths.
Holy Shit. First submitting an article..after that writing the first comment about it and praising the game, after that replying to yourself, praising the game even more..and after that defending the game and coming up with other games when someone points out it will be more like an interactive movie.
Sorry, can't take you serious any longer.
All the games you mentioned had more gameplay than hellblade 1...so no. Especially death stranding....you are so incredibly off the mark there. Some of the games you mention have branching storylines based on your choices....that's a lot more than a simple interactive movie...
Stop being disingenuous...
Curious to know how you have arrived at that conclusion when so little gameplay has been shown off jwillj2k4.
How about showing Ninja Theory some respect and acknowledging the hard work and talent required to make this game.
Real people worked really hard on this game and you choose to act like a 5 year old. Wait to play the game before you start with your criticism. Even then, if you don't like it that doesn't mean others wont, just accept it wasnt for you and move on, as it stand you just seem super ill informed and spiteful.
First off, categorizing does not equal criticism stop trying to gaslight.
Secondly, the “game” has been worked on for 7+ years and is only about 7 hours long, is about to release in a month, has only shown movie cuts and LINEAR WALKING PATHS as “gameplay”, (did I mention comes out in a month?) and has a price matching a AA game.
Did you forget the multiple no shows at various E3’s and then finally showing up only to give us more movie cuts advertised as “gameplay”?
Nothing is wrong with the above, however based on what little they’ve shown this “game”, it is a walking experience not an actual game title. They’ve substituted movie equipment for Unreal engine.
Dear God Obscure, you haven't played it squire, how about being objective just for once!
I get being excited, but to call something we know relatively little about a masterpiece without even playing it is ridiculous.
"I get being excited, but to call something we know relatively little about a masterpiece without even playing it is ridiculous."
Never see you calling anyone out by referring to a Playstation game as GOTY or Masterpiece, prior release.
So give me a break and spare me from your hypocrisy.
Because I have never seen any one individual behave the way you do here, you are such a negative force here on N4G, I only wish we still had the bubble system.
Don´t give a flying f* about what you think about me, dude. No sure why you even replied to my comment in the first place.
*You* are the negative force here. I´m an Xbox fan and this is an Xbox topic, an exciting one. And unsurprisingly you here full of salt playing the hype police.
GTFO and just refrain from ever reply to me again.
He's simply his excited for the game. You being angry over his excitement says allot more about you than it does him.
His "behavior" with this comment is "unacceptable" because he's getting excited over a game that's not in your favorite box.
You're definitely wrong in this scenario. Instead of admitting you're wrong here I'm sure you'll spin this in some miraculous deflection stating how he's still wrong.
I don't even pay attention to what Observer says at times but again, you're definitely wrong in this scenario.
They might be. Both come off as ridiculous. They didn't praise the 1st game anywhere near as much...it's blatantly obvious what they're doing
Lol both of you are really sick
just getting rekt and envious of something
you are both sony fanboys downplaying anything not from sony in this site
and lol @Crow
I have finished Hellblade 1 multiple times on PC and praised the game on different sites both of you making yourself look stupid and you are, pls seek help.
A masterpiece at 8 hrs or less including you never played Hellblade 2... Smh.
LMAO!! No review scores yet nor do you have a copy to make a claim of H2 being a masterpiece.
Digital Foundry quotes
Says image quality is 'mixed'
-letterbox
-Low res
-soft images
-unwelcome effects
-blurry
-image breakup in motion
-and artifact prone quality in motion
Sounds like Xbox was the one needing a Pro console
UE5 can run up to 120 FPS in open world on console. So one imagines, that this game is probably GPU bound the dynamic range also gives it away in the circumstance. So what it boils down to is how good UE5 runs on a dual issue GPU... I will go do some research but more likely given the same resolution the PS5 pro could deliver 60 FPS or close to it. With PSSR it could deliver 4K 60 no problem. (This would be upscaled from 1080p). Some caveats I would mention is we haven't seen PSSR yet. Is it inline with something like DLSS. Can it reduce the softness of the title on Xbox? This all assume UE5 wouldn't take advantage of RNDA 4 dual issue.
I suppose the game isn't finished yet though, Ninja Theory may still polish some of those rough edges yet, maybe?
"Sounds like Xbox was the one needing a Pro console"
Literally no point because they will still be tied down by the Series S
Congratulations, out of loads and loads of positive things eurogamer had to say about the visuals you got your notebook and pen out and found 7 negatives. You deserve a mickey mouse badge.
Halo Infinite didn’t turn things around.
Redfall definitely didn’t turn things around.
Starfield likely won’t turn things around either.
Heck let’s just wait til E3…
The first game was really good, but the gameplay was really not good and kind of bare bones. Hope they rectify this in the 2nd game.
Psfanboys crossing their fingers to starfield and every xbox console exclusive to flop. Sick attitude. Any true gamer would be exited about new big triple A games. Starfield gameplay look stunning people are less toxic on youtube and more eager to play the game than judge it pre release.
One game couldn't solve Xbox's drought. Even if the game's going to be amazing.
If you're hungry, one plate of food wouldn't make you feel full.
It could be a sign on change, sure. But first, i would like at least to see some unedited gameplay.
But after a recent interview with Phil Spencer, when he said that great games won't help to turn things around, i don't expect much. Better to keep your expectations low and be pleasantly surprised than to overhype everything and repeat the Halo Infinite/Redfall situation, imo.
Wasn't it stated the game was still in early development sick months ago don't expect this one for another year