- Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios , Xbox Game Studios
- Release Date: May 21, 2024
- Also On: Xbox Series X
- Critic score
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- By date
- Unscored
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May 21, 2024Senua's Saga: Hellblade II is well worth the wait and is a serious game of the year contender. Senua's follow-up journey is the best exploration of mental health that we've seen in games to date, using incredibly striking visual imagery, metaphors and immersive soundscapes to have you feel right there next to her. In what has to be the most photo-realistic game of all time, you're guaranteed to be constantly taken by the hero's adventure as you take in the beautiful and often haunting Viking Iceland. Through mud and dirt, blood and bones, Senua and Ninja Theory in turn bare all to you, the player. A masterpiece, benchmark and magnum opus, Hellblade II is crucial storytelling you won't soon forget.
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May 21, 2024It has been a very long time since I played a game as assured, polished and emotionally affecting as Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2. The first game was impressive, but the sequel brings everything Ninja Theory was trying to do into sharp, unforgettable focus. Senua's new journey is epic and harrowing, told through cinematic visuals. jaw-dropping graphics and gameplay mechanics that feel at one with the story. It's a saga of sadness, courage, challenge and redemption, told by masters of their craft.
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May 21, 2024Senua’s Saga Hellblade 2 is a video game only on its surface. Scratch that away and you’ll see that it’s a deep, thought-provoking, interactive experience; it proves games as a form of art, demanding skill and talent. Ninja Theory should be very proud.
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May 21, 2024Did Ninja Theory manage to recreate the same impact and blow me away again? The answer is a resounding yes. Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 is an improvement on all fronts. The game retains its respectful representation of psychoses, but now also shows that there is not only darkness in Senua. Add to that the cinematic quality and you have a new champion: a new realistic, emotionally charged and oh-so-immersive experience to surpass.
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May 21, 2024Visually outstanding, intense adventure in which horror and the fight against one's own demons are staged particularly effectively.
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May 21, 2024Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II from developer Ninja Theory and publisher Xbox Game Studios proves there is more story to tell from Senua’s journey, and that the story is still centric to the game. The sequel extends and expands Senua’s character, opens her world to more possibilities, and maintains its quest to replicate and address mental health issues and disorders caused by trauma. The gameplay mechanics and action are still essentially the same as the first title, although those elements appear to be far smoother in their execution and less of a drag to the story.
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May 21, 2024Hellblade II: Senua's Saga" far surpasses its predecessor, offering a technically impressive experience with touches of action and puzzle-solving, where all its elements come together around an emotional work that neither lacks nor exceeds a single second.
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May 21, 2024Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 is yet another masterful testament to the talent and ingenuity of Ninja Theory, which has once again created a frighteningly tangible world with some of the best sound design I've ever experienced. Even though the studio closely follows the formula of the first game, Hellblade 2 is an experience you absolutely cannot miss.
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May 21, 2024Hellblade 2 is a new reference in terms of graphics and audiovisual production, but has to make concessions in terms of gameplay.
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May 21, 2024Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 is an impeccable story of coming to terms with trauma and making difficult decisions, punctuated by moments of outstanding beauty and strength.
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May 21, 2024For all the praise I’m about to heap on Senua’s Saga Hellblade 2, it’s a game I never want to play again. An odd thing to say, but one said with the best of intentions.
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May 21, 2024This is a masterpiece of gaming with atmosphere so powerful, that the player forgets to breathe and absorbs the story with all their senses, unable to divert their eyes, and oblivious to the surrounding world. Terror and awe are constant during this phenomenal, but too short adventure.
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May 21, 2024Hellblade 2 left me wanting to keep taking another step forward, wanting Senua to succeed, and yet fearing what horrors awaited her next. It’s not for the faint of heart, but it might be one of the most beautifully designed games of 2024.
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May 21, 2024The chaotic story of Senua continues. We set out to take revenge on the Viking raiders who have inflicted devastating losses on the people of Orkney.
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May 21, 2024Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 is a special game: While the gameplay is far from perfect, the presentation and the story are keys to success here. Ninja Theory dye creates an immersive and equally emotional rollercoaster that sticks with you – even days after finishing the game.
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May 21, 2024Perhaps a more precise description would be to label Senua's Saga: Hellblade II as a bridge that connects walking sims with action games, incorporating the finest elements of both genres. This is probably the best movie you can play in right now.
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May 21, 2024All in all, Senua's Saga: Hellblade II is one of the most unique experiences I have encountered in a game in recent years. The way the psychoses that Senua undergoes are depicted in the game is an excellent way to help people understand these mental issues. Additionally, Hellblade II is also a fantastic game to play, though I would recommend playing in shorter sessions due to the challenging subject matter. The story is beautiful and is enhanced by a stunning landscape featuring impressive puzzles.
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May 21, 2024The game's high level of immersion makes you want to play it from start to finish in one sitting. With outstanding audiovisual presentation and effects, it gives the feeling that you're playing a movie, not watching it. However, the gameplay elements, such as combat and puzzles, still lack significant meaning, which leads to rather disappointing feelings.
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May 21, 2024Senua's Saga: Hellblade II excels in technical quality, story, and characters — with particular emphasis on the protagonist and her voices. However, the obsession with cinematography ends up sidelining its gameplay mechanics, which hardly have any new features compared to the previous game.
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May 21, 2024Hellblade 2 reaches new heights in audiovisual quality while developing Senua’s story. Even if it isn’t revolutionary, it improves on many aspects of its predecessor to deliver a spectacular adventure beautifully paced.
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May 21, 2024Senua's Saga: Hellblade II remains a maverick in the gaming world. While its gameplay has not evolved from the first game, it has expanded on the aspects that set it apart from mainstream games: more realistic graphics, more moving performances, and an even more immersive depiction of psychosis that resonates deeply with players. This interactive film style game is very niche and I don't think everyone will appreciate it. However, there must be creators who make such games, and these games must exist. They allow those who live in a different reality every day to be seen and understood by more people.
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May 21, 2024Hellblade II attempts to improve one of the most incredibly creative projects that landed on the video games industry a few years back, through which Ninja Theory shows the opposite sides of itself. On one hand, Hellblade II represents the peak technical performance of this generation of consoles. On the other hand, it doesn't really provide anything beyond what the first game offered. Although this sequel is really an amazing game, it feels like the studio could have pushed for something more.
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May 21, 2024The most beautiful nightmare of the year, which masks a mediocre game concept with stunning graphics and unparalleled sound design.
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Jun 5, 2024Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II is an atmospheric, intimate saga wrapped in a stunning setting, all at the expense of free and varied gameplay. If you don’t mind that playability takes a backseat, Hellblade II is a must-play for its exciting story and beautiful environments.
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May 31, 2024It is an admirable attempt to portray people with psychosis and treat them with dignity. We can learn so much from games that takes us down this kind of path.
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May 23, 2024Limited in terms of gameplay, but incredibly intense, grueling and artistically and creatively breathtaking, it is somewhat of a miracle that this game exists.
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May 21, 2024It isn't perfect and whether or not it surpasses its predecessor is up for debate – this is a story that is different in scope – but Hellblade 2 is one of the standout experiences of the year so far and has been worth the wait.
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May 21, 2024Hellblade 2 Sinua's Saga truly feels like a next-generation experience with graphics and design that leap off the screen. The combination of a fully cinematic experience and a well-crafted world fits perfectly into the game, creating a vibrant world with a decent story based on Norse mythology. However, the game mechanics are its weakest point, with very simple and easy-to-master combat and puzzle elements. I was hoping for the same epic boss battles as we saw in the first game, but unfortunately, they never materialized. Nonetheless, the fights are much more cinematic, with Instagram-worthy moments scattered throughout the game.
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May 21, 2024Hellblade II is an impressive piece of technology to which some elements have been added that allow the player to interact with the presentation. It appeals to those who like these experiences, but those who prefer to control, be challenged, do things in different ways and even try out other progression options won't find any of that here.
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May 21, 2024Next gen graphics and presentation is now among us, next gen game design on the other hand, will be running late.
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May 21, 2024Dim the lights, turn up the volume and put out the candles. Senua's Saga: Hellblade II succeeds in its crazy bet of being the “next-gen” visual slap in the face so much hoped for, even if the traces left by its hand bear the marks of the 100% narrative game of 2017 with simplistic gameplay and online exploration RIGHT. More condensed, more brutal too, the creation of Ninja Theory ultimately changes little from the original formula but strengthens all its cogs to the point of making it a beautiful war machine. If you are a Game Pass subscriber, give it a try, you should have a great time.
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May 21, 2024Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 is a brutal and mind-bending journey through Senua's eyes and ears once again, but this time through Viking Iceland. With new puzzles, tense combat scenarios, and evocative visuals, Hellblade 2's only downfall is it's occasional slow pacing and its technical problems.
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May 21, 2024Senua's Saga: Hellblade II keeps virtually the same scope and structure of the independent triple-A game made in 2017 by Ninja Theory. The story is just as poignant, the visuals are stunning, and the experience is one that every Game Pass user should check out for themselves. However, those hoping for a more traditional game in the vein of the God of War reboot will inevitably be disappointed, and this is unlikely to have nearly that level of success, which is what Microsoft still desperately needs.
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May 21, 2024I wish Hellblade 2 was entirely as bold as the second half of the game, but even in the beginning of Senua's new quest you can't deny the beauty hidden in darkness and misery. In many ways it is an impressive game, but it lacked some emotion and fresh gameplay ideas.
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May 21, 2024There is simply nothing else like Hellblade 2 on the market and that alone kept me enthralled the whole way through. Its pared-down elements might not be mechanically complex, but they give the story a momentum that makes it hard to put down. Ninja Theory tackles themes that are challenging and not often seen in games, with a backdrop that vacillates between the epic and the intimate. It's approach doesn't have widespread appeal, but Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 is as close to an interactive movie as we’ve seen yet.
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May 21, 2024With the developers' goal of "cinematic immersion" in mind, I truly feel as though Ninja Theory has delivered on what they set out to do. While not perfect, there are two undeniable truths to Hellblade 2: you can feel the passion that the team who built the game feel toward it, and this is one of the most immersive experiences in gaming to date.
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May 21, 2024Hellblade 2 remains the most technically impressive experience I’ve ever played through. Through the chosen medium of games, Ninja Theory tells a compelling narrative that, if you can put up with some rather archaic gameplay, will leave you deeply satisfied - and maybe just a little traumatised.
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May 21, 2024Senua's Saga: Hellblade II tells a story, which is spectacular in its presentation and comes with unbelievably life-like characters and facial animations. On top of that, you get breathtaking scenery and graphical effects. Senua's inner voices and the horrific tricks her mind plays on her, create a harrowing atmosphere and psychological horror. The story is emotional and gripping, and Senua's followers are a great new feature over its predecessor. However, this is not a game for fans of non-stop action. Hellblade II frequently turns into a walking simulator. Combat, while incredibly well-animated, is very shallow. The accessible part of the game world is often very limited, and puzzles are relatively easy. Like its predecessor, Hellblade II is a wonderful game, which was not made to appeal to a broad audience.
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Game World Navigator MagazineAug 23, 2024A sequel to a story that didn’t need a sequel. A dull walking simulator with puzzles that require very little brainpower to solve. Still, it’s an extremely beautiful game with amazing fight choreography. [Issue#264,p.74]
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May 21, 2024Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 perfectly meets all the expectations we've had for months (and years) for this sequel. It undoubtedly capitalizes on Ninja Theory's expertise and the work done seven years ago with the original title, but it doesn't even attempt to bring any real innovation to the gameplay. This is an adventure game with some puzzles and a handful of combat sequences that serve to break the narrative's rhythm. If you approach it prepared and aware of this reality, we're confident that Hellblade 2 will not disappoint you. However, if you were tired of the first game or expected a cutting-edge action title, you might end up feeling burned. But one thing is for sure: if you find a way to check it out, do so at all costs, if only to understand what is, to date, the new technological benchmark of modern video games.
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Jun 12, 2024An unusually beautiful game that fails to surpass the success of its predecessor. This is a classic example of how all the money and time in the world can't guarantee a final product that satisfies players. It offers an intriguing deep dive into the psychoses and inner visions that the mentally ill endure daily, and the struggles required to overcome (or at least manage) these challenges.
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May 21, 2024Senua's Saga: Hellblade II is more of an interactive experience than a game. Despite a bigger budget and grander visuals, the sad reality is that what worked so well before may not suffice the second time around. Nevertheless, it's a creation worth experiencing at least once.
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May 21, 2024Ninja Theory took a very big risk with Hellblade 2, and the gamble paid off in part. By moving away from the extreme darkness of the first game, the studio avoids taking the easy way out or creating a feeling of repetition. Now, the title also has a more conformist form, a rhythm, dispensable NPCs and certain flaws that have only been ironed out, which may not appeal as much as the more intimate, anxiety-inducing first experience. A interesting game, but not a fantastic sequel or the masterpiece it could have been.
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May 21, 2024If you’re looking for a cool and fairly unique experience and you’ve got Game Pass, then Hellblade 2 could be worth your time. Its visual splendor and highlight moments are worth experiencing. But, if you haven’t played the original Hellblade yet? Do yourself a favor and go play that instead. In all ways except visual, it’s a better game.
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May 21, 2024Senua’s Saga could stand to learn more from the giants it is inspired by.
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May 21, 2024Which is the overarching tale of Senua’s Saga– for almost everything it does well, there is a better counterpart in its predecessor, the remaining new additions never fully realised. It is painstakingly crafted yet thoroughly unengaging, its ruminations on the human condition are not unwelcome but presented with unearned profundity and housed in gameplay that is apathetic to the player at best. Senua’s Sacrifice was a crunchy experience but, in its limitations, and focus, it blossomed into a striking, contained reflection of emotions through systems. Conversely, Senua’s Saga is undeniably gorgeous and well intentioned, but exhaustively preoccupied with its own reflection.
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May 21, 2024Hellblade 2 is a mechanically dated game carried along by its incredible presentational flair. For a game shown alongside the debut of Series X, it's not reflective of the story Xbox is trying to tell with its first party. As a result, it's disappointing.
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May 21, 2024Despite its greater scale and visual splendour, this sequel fails to escape the shadow of its predecessor with a muddled tale that Senua herself feels out of place in.
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May 21, 2024Where the first game felt like a journey of self-discovery, both for Senua and for the player, Hellblade 2 feels more invested in creating the myth of Senua: Senua as legendary giant slayer, as mystical seer touched by the underworld. There are moments where we do get glimpses at her actual humanity — in early chapters, where she is still struggling to survive and find her footing in this strange land, and in the denouements after later battles, where she falls to her feet, diminished, and mourns for those she was unable to save. But these moments are marginal to the central thrust of the narrative: a woman finding her place in the world; moving from a state of victimhood and isolation to one of heroic leadership; working to unite a people against their fears. It’s an inspiring story, and a hopeful one that seeks not to dwell in the mournful solemnity of the first game, instead pressing forward toward an impressively epic future. But, as with most epics, we only really get to see the broad strokes. We get the myth, but we lose the woman.
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May 21, 2024I like Hellblade 2, and without wishing to sound churlish, I'd definitely give it a whirl if I had a Game Pass subscription. But in a month that's included Animal Well and Crow Country and Cryptmaster and Little Kitty, Big City and Dread Delusion and Indika and Lorelei and the Laser Eyes, dropping fifty notes on this shiny but safe sequel just seems daft. Amid such a cornucopia of imagination, Hellblade 2 needed to be more than just more Hellblade, to elevate the ideas of the first game and build them out. But for all its technical wizardry and narrative worth, more Hellblade is exactly what Hellblade 2 is.
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