Back in 2017, Ninja Theory blew the ceiling off cinematic when they introduced the world to the Celtic/Nordic horror of Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice. Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 is the highly anticipated sequel to the critically acclaimed Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2. In this journey, players once again step into the shoes of Senua, a Celtic warrior haunted by mental illness and embroiled in the mysteries of Norse mythology as the sequel promises to push boundaries further, building upon the foundation laid by its predecessor while pushing boundaries in storytelling and immersion.
At its core, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 is a narrative-driven experience that plunges players into the haunting psyche of its protagonist. The story unfolds with a potent mix of psychological horror and mythological intrigue, weaving together themes of mental illness, trauma, and the supernatural. Senua remains a deeply compelling protagonist, her journey driven by her determination to confront the demons of her past and find meaning in her suffering.
This also reflects the narrative journey. The first part of the game is a long course in understanding the Norse mythology at play, the power of words, and the soul-crushing presence that giants bring to the world. That’s what Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 is all about. Senua tracks them down, enslaves her people and sacrifices them to the giants. The first encounter with the giants is this awe-inspiring cinematic marvel that makes you truly fear them. But once you get past that, the rest of the story feels incredibly rushed.
“The world is richly detailed, inviting players to unravel its secrets and mysteries.”
We travel through the land with no sense of direction, and the thing that bothers me the most is how abruptly the story ends. The way the story was built up in the first half is almost disingenuous, especially how it ends after Senua achieves something that wasn’t even clearly her goal. And with the way Microsoft has been closing studios, who’s to say we’ll get a chance for a third one that can bring the story to a satisfying conclusion?
In terms of gameplay, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 retains the core elements that made its predecessor compelling while also introducing new mechanics to enhance the experience. Combat encounters are visceral and intense. Senua’s fluid and responsive fighting style allows players to chain together attacks and evade enemy strikes with precision.
Outside of combat, exploration also plays a significant role in Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2, with players traversing various environments ranging from haunting forests to desolate wastelands. The world is richly detailed, inviting players to unravel its secrets and mysteries. However, some may find specific segments of the game’s exploration to be less compelling than others, with pacing occasionally slowing to a crawl.
“The sound design further enhances the game’s atmosphere, with haunting melodies and ambient sounds drawing players deeper into Senua’s world.”
Puzzle-solving is another aspect of gameplay that is a focal point in Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2. The glyph symbols seeking doors make a return, along with some more tedious environment-shifting mechanics that make traversing the world in Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2, at times, a slog.
It wouldn’t be so bad, but one of the mechanics has you interacting with these visual points that sometimes have you slow walking a fair distance only to have to slow walk all the way back instead of giving us a shortcut near the end, making the return trip much more manageable. These puzzles provided a welcome change of pace from combat and exploration in the beginning. Still, after entering the second half, they are relied on too heavily, which breaks the immersion of some of the implied sense of urgency.
Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 is visually one of the most striking games ever released. From the haunting landscapes of the Nordic wilderness to the intricate details of Senua’s facial expressions, every aspect of the game is meticulously crafted to immerse players in its dark and atmospheric world. Photogrammetry and motion capture technology further enhance the realism, making every scene feel like a living, breathing work of art.
“Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 is visually one of the most striking games ever released.”
The sound design further enhances the game’s atmosphere, with haunting melodies and ambient sounds drawing players deeper into Senua’s world. The use of binaural audio technology adds an extra layer of immersion, creating a sense of spatial awareness that heightens the tension during intense moments. From the eerie whispers of Senua’s inner voices to the thunderous roar of battle, every sound feels perfectly balanced and meticulously placed. The haunting score, composed by Andy LaPlegua, further adds to the game’s sense of dread and foreboding.
Despite its many strengths, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 is not without its flaws, and some players may find its gameplay mechanics repetitive. Still, for those who appreciate atmospheric storytelling and are willing to engage with its themes of mental illness and mythology, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 delivers an unforgettable cinematic experience that lingers in the mind long after the credits roll. The story suffers from some pacing issues in the back half, but spending more time in Senua’s world was still a splendour.
