Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice

 PlayStation 4
User Score
7.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 1461 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1,097 out of 1461
  2. Mixed: 178 out of 1461
  3. Negative: 186 out of 1461
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  1. Bizancio_Askatu
    Apr 5, 2021
    7
    Hellblade is a strange game. Some of the key points like atmosphere, Senua facial movements and voice acting are superb, but others like combat, puzzles and rhythm are just barely acceptable, and they are sadly the core of this videogame.
    Sometimes I felt like playing a walking simulator with some tiresome "find the shape" puzzles and suddenly I am in the middle of a fight against huge    Hellblade is a strange game. Some of the key points like atmosphere, Senua facial movements and voice acting are superb, but others like combat, puzzles and rhythm are just barely acceptable, and they are sadly the core of this videogame.
    Sometimes I felt like playing a walking simulator with some tiresome "find the shape" puzzles and suddenly I am in the middle of a fight against huge Northmen not remembering the combat controls as I have not used them during the last 2,5 hours.
    The trick of the Furies voices gets tiring fast and after 4 hours i was really annoyed about them.
    Also the trial and error part of escaping the labyrinth is a horrible design idea as is using real actors footage.
    As a summary, i would said that only the awesome acting of Melina Juergens, the graphics and the atmosphere save this game.    … Expand
  2. michaelb1928
    Jun 13, 2019
    6
    Really tried to like this game but the gameplay just didnt do it for me, initially the game starts out really strong, the atmosphere they build is fantastic with one of the best openings ive ever played in a game, but after the first boss "room" where the gameplay consisted of boring tedious puzzle solving with some good if not basic combat i thought that was a good idea for that roomReally tried to like this game but the gameplay just didnt do it for me, initially the game starts out really strong, the atmosphere they build is fantastic with one of the best openings ive ever played in a game, but after the first boss "room" where the gameplay consisted of boring tedious puzzle solving with some good if not basic combat i thought that was a good idea for that room hoping to see more mechanics in the next but unfortunately the rest of the game is filled with these boring puzzles that involve you walking around at a really slow pace looking for glyphs, The story itself was interesting and i did keep with it far enough but i was never really invested in it and later on after yet another door presented me with 3 glyphs to go find i decided to drop it, i imagine i was very close to the end but my heart at that stage was not in it and that door was the tipping point, i can understand why people would like this game if they can overlook or maybe actually enjoy the puzzle solving mechanic but its simply not for me, thhe game isnt bad, im giving it a fair score in my opinion as it has a great concept although the main protagonists performance was fairly shoddy and i never felt anything for her other than annoyance at her ear screeches that consistently made me have to turrn down the volume on my headphones. Combat as i said earlier was fun but very basic, there is no difference in it later on in the game except the variance in enemies and how many get thrown at you at once. Overall not a bad game , good ideas, great atmosphere, boring gameplay… Expand
  3. nyxkahos
    Apr 17, 2019
    5
    I honestly wanted to love this game. The trailers I saw or clips that were available seemed amazing. I refuse to watch streamers or game plays of most games because I want the experience to be completely new to me. So i decided to buy it on steam for a birthday gift to myself. Really wish I had knew the return policy for steam, since i have never returned or requested a refund. Until II honestly wanted to love this game. The trailers I saw or clips that were available seemed amazing. I refuse to watch streamers or game plays of most games because I want the experience to be completely new to me. So i decided to buy it on steam for a birthday gift to myself. Really wish I had knew the return policy for steam, since i have never returned or requested a refund. Until I played this game. It seemed real interesting and I was loving to intro of the game at first. It had the whole Getting you into the schizo mood and setting the stage. But for how close you are stuck over the shoulder of the character felt annoying, would of been nice to scoot back just a bit. I didnt need the character fully in front of me but I didnt like feeling like a parrot over the shoulder, it felt almost nauseating at times. Getting the clips of audio from stones was nice and even the visual clips of a person talking to you. The one thing I ended up hating quickly was the endless letter searching and the stupid fighting. At some point I was hoping for just a little something different to kind of switch it up, but it felt like endless repetition. I own and have played Dark Souls, which is what some people had compared the fighting to in some reviews but I honestly feel the fighting in this game was far worse. In DS you could at least learn the technique for what you were fighting and beat it. Monster after Monster on Senua's sacrifice was the same thing one after the other till I finally turned it off. In DS you could at least move left to right an maneuver an inch but in Senua's Sacrifice all you have is forward and back. You can not really turn or step left or right so if you have a monster behind you and one in front, or ends up next to you, you cant do anything. Blocking doesnt always work either. Its either block and hope it works or block and it doesnt work at all. What I loved to hear was a voice stating to "remember your training"...What training? This character obviously never had any and was just born because all the character is allowed to do is step forward and back in fighting. I love to play an array of games so when I bought this one I was already playing something else. So sadly couldnt get store credit or money back for this game because I didnt get to it and start it till 2 months later. This is Sadly the first and ONLY game I have ever played in my life that I disliked so much since i started playing games on PC in the late 90s. I give it 5 for creativity and graphics. But it felt like it missed a lot of substance story wise for a beginning and the limited fighting movements were complete garbage. I badly wanted to emerge myself in this game and love it, but it felt like an inexperience EX who was good at story telling but no idea what they were doing. Not appealing enough to want to keep up with or ever return to.… Expand
  4. simon574
    Apr 12, 2020
    6
    TL;DR: Atmosphere is good, gameplay is bad. This would work better as a film.
    I really like the theme and presentation of this game. The graphics are beautiful, and the main character has a very wide range of facial expressions. The story is so-so, the game tries to portray psychosis and mental illness. Senua is constantly hearing voices, and very convincingly so. At the same time she is    TL;DR: Atmosphere is good, gameplay is bad. This would work better as a film.
    I really like the theme and presentation of this game. The graphics are beautiful, and the main character has a very wide range of facial expressions. The story is so-so, the game tries to portray psychosis and mental illness. Senua is constantly hearing voices, and very convincingly so. At the same time she is portrayed as a warrior in a weird norse mythology fantasy world, which sometimes gets in the way of the "mental illness" theme, I feel they want to show me two different things at once.
    Speaking about gameplay, it's terrible for the most part. The surroundings look accessible at first glance, then you discover all the invisible barriers. Sometimes Senua can duck under a wooden bar or crouch under a rock (scripted!), but generally the tiniest rocks can act like an unsurmountable wall because the level designer said so. I managed to soft-lock the game once when I tried to go somewhere I wasn't supposed to and Senua was stuck between invisible barriers.
    There are about 5 different enemies you have to fight over and over again. The game expects you to fight like a robot, you have to press the right button on cue or you're dead. In my RL experience (martial arts) you have to be creative and try different things to find your opponent's weaknesses. In Hellblade, the enemies are primitive state machines which don't take the player's actions into account.
    Then there are some rune puzzles, where you have to "find" certain patterns in the level geometry or have to align shapes by altering your position and camera angle. I feel this is completely scripted too as in more than one occasion I have aligned the shapes correctly but the game wouldn't accept it. When I moved around a bit, and ended up with a slightly worse solution the game would happily spawn the missing part of a bridge or light up a rune. I then figured out the controller vibrates when you stand at the "right" position, making this a lot easier but at the same time less enjoyable. If you want to see a game where a similar mechanic is executed masterfully, play "The Witness".
    I still played through the game and had a good time for the most part, just lower your expectations when it comes to gameplay mechanics.    … Expand
  5. That_DL_Kid
    Oct 2, 2017
    7
    This is a graphically beautiful game with a great storyline. It is too bad that gameplay couldn't keep up. I loved the fighting mechanics and all the fights but I found them to be spread too far apart. I also found myself not knowing where to go several times and that frustrated me. I found finding runes to open doors very boring and it makes up most of the game. They game had a lot ofThis is a graphically beautiful game with a great storyline. It is too bad that gameplay couldn't keep up. I loved the fighting mechanics and all the fights but I found them to be spread too far apart. I also found myself not knowing where to go several times and that frustrated me. I found finding runes to open doors very boring and it makes up most of the game. They game had a lot of good qualities but I don't think it lived up to the hype and I don't feel I got my money's worth from it. Wait for it to go on sale if you really want to play it.… Expand
  6. Skitte
    Sep 15, 2017
    5
    Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice is a game made by Ninja Theory, developed entirely on Unreal Engine 4. It took a long wait to finally see this game make it on the market. I finished it in 2 days, roughly. I just couldn't finish it on one playthrough. I had high hopes for this, but ultimately, I can't really recommend it. It looks good on PC; the game really proves the power of Unreal 4, butHellblade: Senua's Sacrifice is a game made by Ninja Theory, developed entirely on Unreal Engine 4. It took a long wait to finally see this game make it on the market. I finished it in 2 days, roughly. I just couldn't finish it on one playthrough. I had high hopes for this, but ultimately, I can't really recommend it. It looks good on PC; the game really proves the power of Unreal 4, but as what the game offers, it's not enough for me, plus the wrong steps they took. First of all, the story is kind of... nice, the presentation hooks you up immediately, but as the story moves on, it becomes a mess, you might just lose interest. It's kind of the same dialogue, it's kind of the same thing told with other words. What I liked is the topic. I haven't seen many other games tread psychiatrical problems this way. Then... where the problem appears. THE GAME IS EXTREMELY TEDIOUS around the half of it. THE GAME IS FILLED WITH WAAAY TOO MANY PUZZLES, ONE AFTER ANOTHER. They aren't hard, but you'll sigh everytime you have to look for certain symbols, running in circles and noticing that SENUA IS GODDAMN SLOW. I get it it's a game about mental problems, but the puzzles broke the immersion and the atmosphere just fade away after going through a gate and another puzzle waiting for me. The last thing that I want to say, the combat. It's extremely simple, but it's enjoyable, it's not like it's the main part of the game, but it contributes. Some fights are rewarding, some hard, some that you wish would end sooner, but ultimately, it didn't tire me.
    Also, I really paid attention to detail, voices and art style. They really immitate The Nordic/Viking lore. This area of the game has been extremely well done.

    TL;DR:
    Pros:
    - Presentation and Topic
    - Graphics
    - Voice Acting and Art Style
    - Psycosis was extremely well potrayed.
    Neutral:
    - Execution of the Story
    - Combat

    Negative:
    - Puzzles *I think the game would be 2-3 hours without those filling puzzles*
    - Execution of the story
    - Senua is too slow in walking and even running
    - Writing becomes tiring to listen to and even read. *I took my headphones off at the last scene, the puzzle and voices really drove me nuts I couldn't wait to finish it*

    Conclusions:
    The game isn't terrible by any means, but it isn't really what I have been waiting for. I can't recommend to casual puzzle, action or story rich gamers. It's basically a walking simulator with an attempt to a great story. I could say to only hardcorre fans to puzzle to try this, fans of walking simulators and eventually if you are curious how psychotic people cope with this mental issue.    … Expand
  7. UnderOverRated
    Mar 12, 2018
    6
    Graphics are top notch, atmosphere and audio is incredible but unfortunately lacks actual gameplay. The player is so God Damn slow, as well as the camera (patch in some settings for Christ sakes) . For a game that has portals on opposite sides of a level and a battle system, your character is so clunky its almost unbearable. Puzzles are repetitive as well as the combat. The audio andGraphics are top notch, atmosphere and audio is incredible but unfortunately lacks actual gameplay. The player is so God Damn slow, as well as the camera (patch in some settings for Christ sakes) . For a game that has portals on opposite sides of a level and a battle system, your character is so clunky its almost unbearable. Puzzles are repetitive as well as the combat. The audio and visual stimulation with a good set of headphones are the main reason why this game didn't completely suck for me. Good narrative and creepy atmosphere. One of the best in that category. I don't regret playing it but I had to force myself to get through it.… Expand
  8. BorderlineBunk
    Aug 29, 2017
    7
    I gotta say when I started out I loved this game as so many others did, but I finally reached a point where I had to put the controller down and write a review. The games atmosphere, story, graphics, and audio are all top notch which you'll see in every review. But I don't play games to look around or listen. I play for a fun gameplay experience. The puzzles are lackluster. They don't hurtI gotta say when I started out I loved this game as so many others did, but I finally reached a point where I had to put the controller down and write a review. The games atmosphere, story, graphics, and audio are all top notch which you'll see in every review. But I don't play games to look around or listen. I play for a fun gameplay experience. The puzzles are lackluster. They don't hurt the game, but to me they don't really add anything either. I found myself annoyed anytime I came across one, but this brings me to my main gripe with the game, the combat. Its painfully easy. I've been sitting here hacking away at enemies for way too long. I chose the auto difficulty option, which I got the hang of very quickly and I've only fallen in battle maybe twice the whole game so I'm imagining that the difficulty is quite high at this point, but that just translates to the enemies being able to take sword slash after sword slash. The second to last boss fight took me about 30 minutes to complete. I'm so sick of the combat at this point I just want to beat this game so I can call it done. Senua's slow movements and painfully long combat sequence takes a game that should've only taken 4-5 hours to complete and doubles it. I respect the level of polish they put on this game and its still worth playing which is why I gave it a 7, but Ninja Theory really should've invested more time into actual gameplay mechanics instead of doing hours of whispered voice recording that constantly plays in your ear. Play this game for the story and brilliant atmosphere, but set a reasonable difficulty, dont do the auto scaling because it makes the game much less enjoyable.… Expand
  9. DwarfPerkele
    Oct 10, 2017
    7
    For the most part, I enjoyed Hellblade. The graphics are beautiful, the setting is unique and really creepy. The story is interesting and made me want to find out how it ends. I really liked the combat system; fast, brutal, and has a bit of a strategy element to it when there are multiple opponents.

    I was a tad disappointed that the game looked a lot like an RPG (like Horizon Dawn Zero,    For the most part, I enjoyed Hellblade. The graphics are beautiful, the setting is unique and really creepy. The story is interesting and made me want to find out how it ends. I really liked the combat system; fast, brutal, and has a bit of a strategy element to it when there are multiple opponents.

    I was a tad disappointed that the game looked a lot like an RPG (like Horizon Dawn Zero, Witcher 3, etc.), but it was actually only a mix of combat and puzzles, and little else. 90% of the puzzles involves finding shapes that resemble runes in your environment, and it gets really repetitive. There's little to no interaction between the character and the world except where it's required for you to advance to the next area. No items you can pick up except when the story requires it. No people to talk to. If you can interact with an object (usually a door), you probably should if you want to finish the game. The only exception are rune stones, which info-dump a bit of mythology on you. While I found the info dumps interesting, their connection to Senua's story was tenuous a lot of time. I would have much preferred (for example) murals, paintings, carvings, statues, or other art that actually depicts the stories in question so that Senua could have observed them, learning the story.

    The game is also really short, which was a bit disappointing. Still, despite all the flaws, I enjoyed the game and thought it was worth the money.    … Expand
  10. wesker2012
    Dec 21, 2017
    6
    Great graphics, cinematic atmosphere, and sound with an interesting new core concept of hearing voices. Everything else though was very lackluster. The combat and puzzles were very annoying. A lot of times, it was hard to know what to do. The combat took forever and wasnt very enjoyable.
  11. abekdd
    Apr 17, 2019
    7
    La epopeya de Senua podría ser, perfectamente además, el indie más importante de todos los tiempos. De hecho, su categoría de AA queda en ocasiones olvidada debido al impresionante aspecto visual, a todos los niveles, que Hellblade Senua's Sacrifice ofrece al usuario. Así, tenemos en este título de Ninja Theory una compleja historia en la que sumergirnos, ya que tendremos que abrirnos pasoLa epopeya de Senua podría ser, perfectamente además, el indie más importante de todos los tiempos. De hecho, su categoría de AA queda en ocasiones olvidada debido al impresionante aspecto visual, a todos los niveles, que Hellblade Senua's Sacrifice ofrece al usuario. Así, tenemos en este título de Ninja Theory una compleja historia en la que sumergirnos, ya que tendremos que abrirnos paso en medio de la mitología nórdica en la piel de una enferma mental. De esta manera, a lo largo de todos los compases tenemos constantemente la misma duda: ¿todo lo mostrado es real? No es un juego que recomendaría a todo el mundo debido a algunas de sus mecánicas jugables, como la posibilidad de perderlo todo, pero a nivel personal me quedo con una muy buena historia que no merece continuación ninguna.… Expand
  12. Dubeau
    Aug 9, 2017
    6
    I never understood those kind of games. Yes the graphics and the story are amazing, but this is a game right ??? I mean you got some sequence of focusing, which means backtracking with the RT button to open a sequence of a story that will open a path or a door...euh and you have some fighting which is a repetitive button mashing of two buttons essentially. No levelling, crafting, weapons,I never understood those kind of games. Yes the graphics and the story are amazing, but this is a game right ??? I mean you got some sequence of focusing, which means backtracking with the RT button to open a sequence of a story that will open a path or a door...euh and you have some fighting which is a repetitive button mashing of two buttons essentially. No levelling, crafting, weapons, or anything actually. Oh, you get to walk, semi run, move upward and downward (fascinating stuff). For me that's an interactive movie with a very hype pricing. Going from point A to point B to see a story with limited interaction or gaming. This is exactly what Hellblade is about...They would have made a 3D movie with this story, I would have given a 80% easy and be absolutely delighted. I give this a 55% because they did something interesting in terms of story, especially regarding mental problems. But I find the gaming side appalling and just ordinary...… Expand
  13. Kalfyra
    Aug 9, 2017
    6
    Gameplay is boring, and have horrible cinematography/atmosphere (there are so many better example around... just look at cinema production). Still i appreciate the effort on creating something new even if it actually didn''t give me any kind of experience about mental illness. Vote: 6,5
  14. drowblade
    Sep 7, 2017
    6
    Good story, good atmosphere, good soud. Sorry, bad gameplay, boring enemies, and 3 bosses. 3! God damn, 3 bosses! WTF?! Riddles for schoolgirls, 70% of game - walk, walk, walk. Yes, this game is not AAA, but it is not justification. And, of course, you dont want to replay this game. Because it is disposable.
  15. mikepatyaev
    Aug 24, 2017
    6
    Hellblade is a slap in the face of the giant and greedy publishers, for the sake of the game industry i hope this game will be a success in critics and sales.I highly recommend it if you love games that can be more than just fun experiences...a true work of art and i hope to see more indie developers
  16. Instable
    May 27, 2018
    7
    Немного не понимаю восторженных отзывов. Геймплей этой игры очень бедный! Головоломки и драки чередуются друг за другом в крайне неуклюжей последовательности. Из-за этого играть становится невыносимо скучно, несмотря на отличный сюжет.Немного не понимаю восторженных отзывов. Геймплей этой игры очень бедный! Головоломки и драки чередуются друг за другом в крайне неуклюжей последовательности. Из-за этого играть становится невыносимо скучно, несмотря на отличный сюжет.
  17. Alexnhchong
    Feb 27, 2020
    7
    This is a game that I really wanted to love - after all, who doesn't like an underdog success story: a small indie studio taking on greedy corporations like EA and Activision Blizzard with a AAA title that shows there is still a market for single player games. Unfortunately, for every good I could identify, there always seems to be some fault that, in my opinion, hold this title back.This is a game that I really wanted to love - after all, who doesn't like an underdog success story: a small indie studio taking on greedy corporations like EA and Activision Blizzard with a AAA title that shows there is still a market for single player games. Unfortunately, for every good I could identify, there always seems to be some fault that, in my opinion, hold this title back.

    Graphics for instance: the character models are EXCELLENTLY DONE but the environment (short draw distance, texture pop-ins etc) is surprisingly shoddy. I played it on a PS4 Pro so perhaps you can attribute this to the hardware (or the lack thereof) but if God Of War managed to look stunning (both character models and environment) on the exact same PS4 Pro, then I think the blame lies squarely on the developers. Don't get me wrong, it is still miles better than anything Ubisoft could produce but that's also why I bought Hellblade at full price and Watch Dogs at 95% off.

    Another example: combat. When I first began my journey as Senua, I loved the combat mechanics. I wouldn't say it's the best but it was surprisingly solid (and not just a button-mash fest). But as I fought more and more enemies, it became apparent that most of them have only been programmed to perform 3/4 actions (some in a certain sequence as well). What that meant was that fights became boring and (especially if you manage to not die, which is not hard considering the repetitive AI mechanics) extremely laborious. What was initially fun ended up feeling like a chore.

    The voice acting as well. Usually when voice actors/ actresses fail to perform, we blame it on the script. But in this instance, I feel the blame lies either on the sound director (or whoever chose the voice actors/ actresses) as well as the actors/ actresses themselves. The two that caught my mind in particular are Dillion and Senua (great visual performance for the latter, the voice though I felt didn't carry enough weight).

    I can go on and list other observations I've made but I think by this stage (if you've managed to read through what I've written) you should already have a gist of what I'm talking about. So all in all, I am disappointed. The game is not a bad game, not at all. But it had so much potential to be so much greater. Reminds me a bit of The Order 1886.    … Expand
  18. OfTheMagi
    Aug 8, 2017
    6
    I am going to concede immediately and strongly that this game is artistry. When I concede the point, I am not speaking of 'graphics' -- much too small a word to convey the various immersive elements Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice excels at. This effort is beautifully photo-realistic and lovingly rendered with art direction that is at once daunting and aloof, allowing the player to share inI am going to concede immediately and strongly that this game is artistry. When I concede the point, I am not speaking of 'graphics' -- much too small a word to convey the various immersive elements Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice excels at. This effort is beautifully photo-realistic and lovingly rendered with art direction that is at once daunting and aloof, allowing the player to share in Senua's sense of penetrating a foreign and hostile hellscape, but it is also intricate and personal, as Senua reacts and flinches, balks and lunges at her own personal demons given form in another culture's landscape and mythology before her. But, those are just the visual elements. The sound design is perhaps some of the best I have ever played through. Unlike so many games, the music is not so omnipresent that it becomes a character unto itself competing with the one I am controlling, rather it is utterly organic to the experience Senua is having. It so flawlessly punctuates the game play that I only noticed how well it was carrying me emotions when I had to mute my TV to answer a call. The mind-expanding surround of Senua's psychotic voices so mimic psychosis in the real world that there is a psychiatric caution preceding the game, similar to those that other games have for epilepsy patients. If you suffer psychosis, this game might be too 'real' for you. And, that is brought to bear with technical mastery in the sound mixing of this game. The principal character's psychotic voices speak from all directions, to her, to themselves, to each other, even to you. I turned on subtitles to get some distance from it myself, not that I was about to think any of Senua's voices in her head were my own, but just to be sure. You can insert a nervous laugh here, and if you were playing, you'd be hearing one as it circled behind you. Yes, this game is art. But, one does not play art. This is also a game. And, unfortunately, it is in game mechanics that I had to start deducting points from what would otherwise be a 10. The game is brief all-told. Playing it, you will guide Senua through a series of environments in which she does the same several exploration puzzle-solving maneuvers over and over. You will face several Vikings and have combats that look great, owing to beautifully realized motion-capture. Then you will fight a boss with a pattern of attack you must memorize in order to counter it in a few specific ways. The duration and complexity of each of these puzzle areas, and the duration and complexity of each boss's attack sequence will increase, otherwise you'll be doing the same several things through only enough different environments that you can feel the repetition begin to weigh on the game. And, then it will end, having given you less than 24 total hours diversion, less than 12 if you're good, about 6 if you're great. The artistry of the game should not be minimized, and the game is worth the retail price just to experience it, but set your expectations to that level. You will be playing interactive art, more than you will be playing a game, and it will only take as long as visiting a good museum.… Expand
  19. CadeARudolph
    Aug 8, 2017
    5
    I am baffled at all of the reviews here. Most of them seem like they have been paid for (check, two of them use the exact same language about greedy developers). How in the world are people complaining about paying $60 for games that easily provide 20-300 hours of enjoyment? Movies cost like $10-$30 (with snacks) for 2 hours of enjoyment. People are so entitled and greedy nowadays.I am baffled at all of the reviews here. Most of them seem like they have been paid for (check, two of them use the exact same language about greedy developers). How in the world are people complaining about paying $60 for games that easily provide 20-300 hours of enjoyment? Movies cost like $10-$30 (with snacks) for 2 hours of enjoyment. People are so entitled and greedy nowadays. Games at $100 a pop would be great values.

    With that said, this game suffers from a lack of execution despite the overabundance of creativity. This could have easily been a game on my iPad. The only innovative feature is the story, which I respect and appreciate. The combat is repetitive and grows tiring quickly. There is nothing interesting about this game from the perspective of gaming. It would be a great animated movie. This is a step in the right direction, but too many miscues for me to recommend.    … Expand
  20. thefather
    Aug 9, 2017
    5
    Meh..
    Meh..
    The game is Meh.. , just another PS4/Xbox port for PC (tessellation anyone?? anno 2017???) don't waste you money (even it is a cheap one). The game play is boriiiing, the graphic is sub bar (PC gamer), atmosphere is not there for me.
    Short - game not worth!
    It is not even a near miss!!
  21. revelc
    Aug 9, 2017
    6
    Game is very boring, story is questionably awful, and incredibly linear gameplay. The only reason I tried it because of the graphics and the media coverage. I recommend wait for sales or skip entirely. There are better games coming out in the upcoming months. This title should've been $15 at most.
  22. karco
    Aug 8, 2017
    6
    Typical Ninja Theory game: good story, great art and sound (especially idea with voices in the head), mediocre gameplay (except maybe two or three puzzles in Odin's trials). I recommend to play this game on easy, because battle system is primitive and somewhat clunky, enemies are useless bulletsponges and encounters are too frequent.

    9/10 for story. 5/10 for gameplay. And I think,    Typical Ninja Theory game: good story, great art and sound (especially idea with voices in the head), mediocre gameplay (except maybe two or three puzzles in Odin's trials). I recommend to play this game on easy, because battle system is primitive and somewhat clunky, enemies are useless bulletsponges and encounters are too frequent.

    9/10 for story.
    5/10 for gameplay.
    And I think, that gameplay is the most important part of any game so 6/10 overall.    … Expand
  23. coustoe
    Aug 12, 2017
    5
    Spend Millions on a Triple A Title, but make the ugliest Golem Main Character Possible. Doesn't take that much, not paying you $40 so I can play my ugly self in a game. I can already do that in real life.
  24. DrZomboid
    Feb 4, 2018
    6
    I like different game but this is sick, bit boring and unclear.
    This game needs better story, less film grain and better graphic solutions in few areas.

    Anyway the game can be beautiful sometimes, no HUD gives movie vibes.
  25. arostislavna
    Oct 5, 2017
    6
    A good story, however absolutely no replay-ability whatsoever.

    Oddly some of the graphics towards the start of the game feel washed out, or feel like old-tech (like backgrounds from RE5 on 360/PS3)

    Buy it on sale.
  26. Hyper-Dash
    Aug 16, 2017
    6
    The narrative is the driving force that will keep you going. It's fantastic and you really feel for the protagonist. It'll suck you in and you'll immerse yourself in the game world.

    Unfortunately, the weak gameplay is what keeps this game from what it could've ultimately achieved. The combat on one hand is compelling and satisfying. But most of the time you're wandering around solving    The narrative is the driving force that will keep you going. It's fantastic and you really feel for the protagonist. It'll suck you in and you'll immerse yourself in the game world.

    Unfortunately, the weak gameplay is what keeps this game from what it could've ultimately achieved. The combat on one hand is compelling and satisfying. But most of the time you're wandering around solving uninteresting, boring puzzles.

    For 30 euros, I didn't regret buying this game. It was a worthwhile experience and it's something that I will still remember years from now, thanks to the storytelling. But I wished the gameplay had more to offer.    … Expand
  27. emporio2866
    Feb 2, 2019
    7
    Игра очень понравилась, хоть и короткая!
    Великолепная графика - Ninja Theory умеют работать с движком Unreal на уровне Epic Games, только в прошлой игре Endlaved была третья версия, а тут уже четвёртая.
    Художественная составляющая на таком же высоком уровне, как и качество текстур! Игра просто оргазм для глаз. Звук - тут не рассказать, это надо слышать... он бесподобен!!! Актёрская    Игра очень понравилась, хоть и короткая!
    Великолепная графика - Ninja Theory умеют работать с движком Unreal на уровне Epic Games, только в прошлой игре Endlaved была третья версия, а тут уже четвёртая.
    Художественная составляющая на таком же высоком уровне, как и качество текстур! Игра просто оргазм для глаз.
    Звук - тут не рассказать, это надо слышать... он бесподобен!!!
    Актёрская игра главной героини также выше всяких похвал, за что актриса и получила заслуженный приз.
    Графика, звук и актёрская игра создают потрясающую атмосферу безысходности.
    Геймплей представляет собой симулятор ходьбы с решением головоломок, разбавленный несложной, но зрелищной боёвкой.
    Сюжет простой и всё, что я о нём могу сказать будет спойлером, но он неплохой.
    Игра проходится за 10 часов, но она и не корчит из себя AAA-проект и стоила на старте 2200 кажется, а не 4к, так что претензий ноль, чего не скажешь о Last Guardian!
    Платина простейшая, так как сложность не влияет ни на что и можно играть на лёгком, хотя я прошёл на харде и в боях даже был челлендж ближе к концу.
    Очень советую купить, ведь это очень необычный проект, созданный независимой студией и изданный ей же, а не под крылом крупного издателя. Поддержите, она того стоит!
    Оценка не 10 и 10, потому что 10 из 10 - это Last of Us и Witcher 3, а эта игра просто хорошая... не раздавать же всем десятки, как это делает один "худощавый непродажный блоггер", у которого чуть ли не каждая Call of Duty 12 из 10:)    … Expand
  28. StyxWitcher
    Apr 21, 2019
    6
    #Hellblade #RPG #action
    https://vk.com/adventurestocollapse
    Том II: "Приключения в Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice завершены". -Начинаем мы за кельтскую героиню Сенуа которая отправляется в Скандинавию в мир Мертвых...ради спасения своего возлюбленного Диллиона из рук Хель, носящая с собою его голову. -Спутниками путешествия возглавляют душераздирающие голоса до видений... проклятие    #Hellblade #RPG #action
    https://vk.com/adventurestocollapse
    Том II: "Приключения в Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice завершены".
    -Начинаем мы за кельтскую героиню Сенуа которая отправляется в Скандинавию в мир Мертвых...ради спасения своего возлюбленного Диллиона из рук Хель, носящая с собою его голову.
    -Спутниками путешествия возглавляют душераздирающие голоса до видений... проклятие охватившее ее под названием "Гниль" которая разрастается с каждой смертью, черная метка.
    -Брось вызов Богам.
    -Панические страхи до взгляни страху в лицо.
    -Путь закрыт Семью Печатями открывающими с помощью Рун, вашего бурного воображения.
    -Камни Воспоминаний поведают вам историю.
    -Взгляните Зрением найдя иллюзию для преображения в материю.
    Мысли в слух.
    -Наконец то завершилось путешествие.... Cенуа убивают мечем Грама...тьма, в которой она перерождается в Хель или Хель завладела душой Сенуа .... шестое чувство подсказывает мне что Сенуа является Хелью. В конце концов она сбрасывает голову Диллиона в бездну.
    -Сюжетная игра, которую я перепроходить не собираюсь, но ощущения от испытанного не безразличны.
    Я потратил два дня в разбирательствах ради прохождения, выскакивали ошибки мешающие прохождению которые решил изменениями в файлах, спас интернет. Пиратская версия GOG 1.03. Да у меня еще компьютер горяч, в этом наверняка еще заключалась проблемка, так или иначе после изменений в файлах, прошел за два дня.

    Оценка: 6 из 10.
    Жанр: action-adventure
    Год выхода: 2017 г.
    Платформы: Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
    Режим: Однопользовательская игра
    Разработчик: Ninja Theory
    Дизайнер: Ninja Theory
    Сценарий: Ninja Theory    … Expand
  29. ElObjetivo89
    Apr 17, 2020
    7
    Great atmosphere but a bad gameplay and irregular narrative.

    Senua tiene cosas buenas. Es una experiencia bastante inmersiva y muy disfrutable.
    Pero mando en mano es un mal juego, que no se siente fluido y solo tiene 3 o 4 tipos de enemigos.
    El final me ha parecido muy malo, pero eso es cuestión de gustos.
  30. sergio123456
    Oct 23, 2020
    6
    Un walking simulator distinto, pero que en ocasiones se vuelve tedioso en sus mecánicas. La manera de combatir es muy repetitiva, así como sus puzzles.
  31. ksejoshot
    Jul 16, 2020
    7
    Buen juego pero demasiado repetitivo. Recomendado por menos de 15 euros en ofertas, así es como me hice con el a través de GOG.
  32. Icekyng
    Jun 14, 2018
    6
    I am a quarter in and got on PS4. It throws you no tutorial at all and the combat feels stodgy but then I found out I can dodge and use r2 for a slow down effect. Bit repetitive already and lining up the focus to open a door didn’t work even though was doing it right. 6 out of 10 at the moment, but I am intrigued. Care and attention has been put into this game and I will finish it out ofI am a quarter in and got on PS4. It throws you no tutorial at all and the combat feels stodgy but then I found out I can dodge and use r2 for a slow down effect. Bit repetitive already and lining up the focus to open a door didn’t work even though was doing it right. 6 out of 10 at the moment, but I am intrigued. Care and attention has been put into this game and I will finish it out of respect for that.… Expand
  33. HaloFever
    Jan 9, 2022
    7
    Great game that does something different and wows with its character models. Although I didn’t love it, I appreciate what Ninja Theory is doing and want to see more games stretch the medium.

    Let’s talk about the good. Seeing Senua look at the camera is eerie in a good way. The expressiveness is so real, unlike any game before 2017 and to this day. The camera isn’t pulled back. Senua is    Great game that does something different and wows with its character models. Although I didn’t love it, I appreciate what Ninja Theory is doing and want to see more games stretch the medium.

    Let’s talk about the good. Seeing Senua look at the camera is eerie in a good way. The expressiveness is so real, unlike any game before 2017 and to this day. The camera isn’t pulled back. Senua is big on screen and her anguish is unavoidable. All of the voice work, lighting, art direction, and whatnot is just perfect. No spoilers on the story. You have to experience this for yourself. Hellblade is a good reminder of how good a tight, focused experience can be when compared to the giant open world AAA games that rule the top charts.

    Now the bad. The combat is the “souls like” experience that has been ruining games for me throughout the PS4 generation. Games like “Darksiders 3”, “Jedi Fallen Order”, and “God of War” are all symptoms of an industry chasing the Dark Souls audience at the detriment of the broader audience. On a personal note, I’ve been playing games for dozens of years. My reflexes are only getting slower. My muscle memory is stuck in games that had circle for dodge rolls. Needless to say, I did not really enjoy the combat in Hellblade so much as suffer through it.

    Another gripe about Hellblade is the inability to replay segments of the game. The game saves often so you don’t have to worry about you kid taking over the PlayStation. But if you miss an item you need for a Platinum trophy, you have to play the entire game again. No skipping cutscenes either. You also have only so many lives before you have to start a new game. Permadeath is a fun option but not a fun requirement. The game does offer an “easy” mode and will reduce the number of enemies if you die a few times. (If I had died too many times and had to restart, I probably would have watched the end of the game on YouTube.)

    All-in-all Hellblade is a worthwhile experience because of how it shows psychosis and how it presents the protagonist. The gameplay could have been more engaging, and I highly recommend “easy” mode for this experience.    … Expand
  34. zwolsa
    Mar 16, 2020
    7
    This is an awesome game. The story is great, so is the presentation, the acting and the sounds. I would give it a 10 if there wouldn't be some parts, that i found terrible and that finaly prevented me from finishing the game. I love the puzzles in sometimes unreal surroundings and the story. When i'm playing, i'm interested to hear/see/experience a story, like a book or a movie. HellbladeThis is an awesome game. The story is great, so is the presentation, the acting and the sounds. I would give it a 10 if there wouldn't be some parts, that i found terrible and that finaly prevented me from finishing the game. I love the puzzles in sometimes unreal surroundings and the story. When i'm playing, i'm interested to hear/see/experience a story, like a book or a movie. Hellblade does a great job here. But as a story driven player the fights are simply too difficult for me, even on "easy" setting. Some of them lasts for 12 minutes or more with wave after wave of enemies, that attack you oftentimes from behind, while you fighting against another one. And some parts are just trial and error, like escaping a maze under time pressure. I hate that. That's bad game design, there is no excuse for this. And there are no hints or anything that makes it easier after x attempts. This was were I stopped playing it and i watched the rest on youtube. Summarized, when you not bothered by the parts that bother me, you're getting an awesome game. For future games the developers should think about the balancing. Why not make it really easy for players like me and really hard (what it is anyway) for the soulslike players. This what the difficulty settings are for.… Expand
  35. Empyrea
    Aug 30, 2020
    7
    I have mixed feelings about this game and I cannot rating this game with more than a 7. I don't want to spoil anything (although it's really not a spoiler) but you'll understand better everything when you watch the extra video that you can watch at any time although they recommend you to watch after beating this game. Let's say only that something isn't right with Senua. If you've playedI have mixed feelings about this game and I cannot rating this game with more than a 7. I don't want to spoil anything (although it's really not a spoiler) but you'll understand better everything when you watch the extra video that you can watch at any time although they recommend you to watch after beating this game. Let's say only that something isn't right with Senua. If you've played the last God of War, the landscapes, enviroment and suits will remind you this game although the rest it's quite different. This game have moments of puzzles and others of fighting. About fighting press the Option button to see how to properly fight and use the R2 button when you see that shomething shines for a second in the left down corner of your tv. And if you find yourself stuck don't doubt to pause the game and look for help in the internet. In my opinion, the best of this game is its graphics and the fighting (althoug you can easily die). If you find yourself down in the floor don't give up, just press the X button while moving to a side to keep playing. Although it's not a bad game, it's not great either but it's interesting.… Expand
  36. frederik1478
    Jun 21, 2023
    7
    I enjoyed this game. I had some good story times with it even if I think the gameplay is mostly low point even if I enjoy the combat .

    The surround sound in this game is amazing to hear all the voices from all directions. It is truly a good experience to have to play this game. The problem is that walking from A to B is mostly boring even if you hear all the voices so at some point you    I enjoyed this game. I had some good story times with it even if I think the gameplay is mostly low point even if I enjoy the combat .

    The surround sound in this game is amazing to hear all the voices from all directions. It is truly a good experience to have to play this game.

    The problem is that walking from A to B is mostly boring even if you hear all the voices so at some point you might begin to long for some radio in the background. Just in the moments where you are Just walking with no dialogue.

    This is mostly in one and done kind of game, but it is an experience that you will remember and that is always worth playing.    … Expand
  37. ToshLichev
    Sep 19, 2021
    7
    There is very little you can say about Hellblade without spoiling the game because it is an entirely narrative experience. The gameplay really is just a more or less rudimentary component that only serves as a way for you to experience the story the game wants to tell. Thankfully the plot in question is quite intriguing due to its spin on mental illnesses and our perception of them,There is very little you can say about Hellblade without spoiling the game because it is an entirely narrative experience. The gameplay really is just a more or less rudimentary component that only serves as a way for you to experience the story the game wants to tell. Thankfully the plot in question is quite intriguing due to its spin on mental illnesses and our perception of them, although I do have to note that some of the praise it has been receiving may be a bit over the top.

    While I do recommend that you play Hellblade I can't ignore the fact that it is more of an interactive movie which gets rudely interrupted with unnecessary combat sections. I also can't forgive the devs for not fixing an absurd collectible glitch which makes you miss out on the platinum due to a bug in the rune count - if you can't do it perfectly you add chapter select, if not you lose a point.    … Expand
  38. Phased
    Jan 4, 2020
    5
    Sound design and graphics: great. Boss fights and illusion mechanics are kind of cool but... fighting overall is too repetitive and boring, and even though the game is short it feels like most mechanics overstay their welcome.
  39. mynameiscalled
    Sep 26, 2021
    7
    So, I took my time starting this journey, had the game in my collection for about 4 months before I finally decided to commit. As you might expect, the hype was high. And all justified.

    Game is gorgeous, dark and makes you feel eerie and spooked, even when there is no immediate danger on sight. The psychosis was scary, unpredictable and set the overall tone of the game. Voices, whispers,    So, I took my time starting this journey, had the game in my collection for about 4 months before I finally decided to commit. As you might expect, the hype was high. And all justified.

    Game is gorgeous, dark and makes you feel eerie and spooked, even when there is no immediate danger on sight. The psychosis was scary, unpredictable and set the overall tone of the game. Voices, whispers, hallucinations. Hard to describe the sensation without playing yourself.

    The only part that drew the overall points down was probably the combat - I would have enjoyed the game more if it were to be a puzzle/story mode exploration trip - the combat was kinda slow and not very satisfying. Whenever a combat stage popped, in my mind I was like “ugh this again”. Other than that, the game was superb! Pick it up!    … Expand
  40. MrMiggins
    Jun 8, 2021
    6
    As 3rd person puzzle adventures go, there's some real genius on display here. The puzzles often take the form of optical illusions that are quite satisfying to find solutions for. Combat is crisp and precise. The graphics are great. The story and lore will please any fan of Norse mythology.

    But, this game is also very unforgiving. There are no mini-maps and it is possible to get    As 3rd person puzzle adventures go, there's some real genius on display here. The puzzles often take the form of optical illusions that are quite satisfying to find solutions for. Combat is crisp and precise. The graphics are great. The story and lore will please any fan of Norse mythology.

    But, this game is also very unforgiving. There are no mini-maps and it is possible to get completely lost sometimes. The boss battles are very challenging. I found myself having to replay them over and over again. They can be quite long, and if you die you'll have to start from the beginning of the boss fight again. It can get quite frustrating at times.

    I admire its ambition, but its not exactly fun. It's mostly dour and depressing and often pretty terrifying. It's on the one hand technically very impressive but at the same time quite stressful and disturbing. It's mercifully fairly short, but It's not a game I'll ever go back to.    … Expand
  41. Shenandoah
    Sep 5, 2020
    7
    No PS5 patch planned, No VR support for PSVR, no plans for Hellblade 2 for the Playstation platform. I’m very disappointed.

    „An update for the PC version of Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice is currently in development. There are no plans to bring this update to any other platform at this time.“
  42. Oshiri_Maeda
    Jan 3, 2021
    7
    Fantastic visual and audio design, good story and boring gameplay that often kills the pace.
    8 hours of gameplay. plan them to enjoy the movie, don't stretch through too many days not to loose the atmosphere. Lights off and headphones on. Solid 7.
  43. GretchenGrinch4
    Jan 6, 2021
    6
    this is, without a doubt, one of the best narratives of any game made recently. the graphic style is great and at times unsettling. i applaud ninja theory for this excellent vision. however, the combat system is just plain terrible and basically ruins an other wise brilliant game. and the cliche
    reliance on chase scenes was also a big drawback.
  44. gbaluq
    Oct 6, 2021
    5
    I have heard and read so much great things about Hellblade, that my expectations were really high before playing it. Ninjas did not meet those expectations... the game is quite well written, the story is promising although ends quickly, the main character is interesting at first but kind of boring, so each of those elements left me wanting a little bit more. And on top of that theI have heard and read so much great things about Hellblade, that my expectations were really high before playing it. Ninjas did not meet those expectations... the game is quite well written, the story is promising although ends quickly, the main character is interesting at first but kind of boring, so each of those elements left me wanting a little bit more. And on top of that the mechanics implemented into the game are very repetitive and irritating in some instances, I felt like some of them were added just to extend the experience, without adding any content. Other were super simple, but took time to wonder around and waste time on accomplishing something banal. I was also slightly disappointed with the fights, even though I was not expecting too much out of them in the first place. Regardless the low rating I am giving to this product, I think this is the game everyone should try and have their own opinion, things which were pissing me off may be seen as a good qualities by someone else. Good things: graphics, story, sound
    Bad things: fights, puzzles, few bugs, too much hype ;)    … Expand
  45. Tedd-Deireadh_
    Nov 18, 2021
    7
    Я не понял этой игры и не понимаю высоких оценок. Для инди проекта это ещё неплохо, но мне не сильно вкатило. На один раз, выбить платину и забыть. Ничего запоминающего нет, а прикол со звуком по началу стремный, но потом привыкаешь и все. Боевка средняя, история просто непонятная, но хоть не долгая - на неделю можно растянутьЯ не понял этой игры и не понимаю высоких оценок. Для инди проекта это ещё неплохо, но мне не сильно вкатило. На один раз, выбить платину и забыть. Ничего запоминающего нет, а прикол со звуком по началу стремный, но потом привыкаешь и все. Боевка средняя, история просто непонятная, но хоть не долгая - на неделю можно растянуть
  46. nfs7379
    Sep 4, 2022
    7
    7/10.......................................................................
  47. DarthJ
    Aug 28, 2022
    7
    Немного не понимаю восторженных отзывов. Геймплей этой игры очень бедный! Головоломки и драки чередуются друг за другом в крайне неуклюжей последовательности. Из-за этого играть становится невыносимо скучно, несмотря на отличный сюжет.Немного не понимаю восторженных отзывов. Геймплей этой игры очень бедный! Головоломки и драки чередуются друг за другом в крайне неуклюжей последовательности. Из-за этого играть становится невыносимо скучно, несмотря на отличный сюжет.
  48. JrDouble
    Aug 19, 2023
    6
    Not a bad experience overall, but definitely not a very video-gamey video game. Very simple gameplay, very empty world, but mostly satisfying combat with somewhat interesting puzzles. The game is held back a lot by it's Incredibly pretentious story and choice to explore psychosis through the protagonist. I understand this is what the developers were going for, but it the incessant chatterNot a bad experience overall, but definitely not a very video-gamey video game. Very simple gameplay, very empty world, but mostly satisfying combat with somewhat interesting puzzles. The game is held back a lot by it's Incredibly pretentious story and choice to explore psychosis through the protagonist. I understand this is what the developers were going for, but it the incessant chatter of voices within the protagonist's head were not an experience I cared to ever revest after completing it.… Expand

Awards & Rankings

50
#50 Best PS4 Game of 2017
17
#17 Most Discussed PS4 Game of 2017
26
#26 Most Shared PS4 Game of 2017

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
81

Generally favorable reviews - based on 68 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 61 out of 68
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 68
  3. Negative: 1 out of 68
  1. Screen Rant
    Dec 20, 2018
    90
    Both proof that small development teams can make great games, and that video games can handle heavy themes in their own way.
    Read full review
  2. Critical Hit
    Dec 20, 2018
    80
    Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice is a prime example for anyone making the case that video games are a powerful art form. Creatively ambitious, it’s exceptionally well-thought-out and implemented – making it striking at both a sensorial and psychological level as it delves deep into an exploration of life with psychosis. It has its gameplay flaws but remains must-experience for adult audiences. An instant classic for this generation.
    Read full review
  3. Jeuxvideo.com
    Jun 3, 2018
    85
    Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice takes us on a long road to hell paved with contemplative yet stressful scenes, and an impressive respect for Norse myths and legends.
    Read full review
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