- Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios , Xbox Game Studios
- Release Date: May 21, 2024
- Also On: PC
- Critic score
- Publication
- By date
- Unscored
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Aug 30, 2024Senua's Saga: Hellblade II is an essential and immersive experience, offering a profound narrative combined with intense, atmospheric gameplay. The sequel builds on the strengths of the original, with stunning visuals and a deep psychological story that grips players from start to finish. It’s a must-play for those seeking a powerful and emotional journey in gaming, pushing the boundaries of what the medium can achieve.
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May 23, 2024There is a layer of kindness interwoven within the cruelty, implying that even the world’s greatest monsters were once human. In an increasingly divided age, this simple message of choosing empathy over hatred feels especially poignant. As monolithic megacorps shutter Bafta-winning studios, a game like Hellblade II deserves to be cherished. Who knows how many more such cerebral epics this risk-averse industry will produce.
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May 21, 2024Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II is an absolutely beautiful game, not just in its visuals, but also the audio and Senua’s actual journey from the original game to what she’s become in this sequel. There’s a famous quote stating video games can’t be art; I’d argue that Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II proves this inaccurate. Artistry across different senses and technology come together to craft an amazing and meaningful tale worth experiencing. Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II is a linear narrative driven action game that is unique, intense and incredibly immersive. With a focus on mental health and illness, there’s nothing quite like Hellblade II, a visual and audio experience unlike anything we’ve experience before, raising the bar of what ‘next-gen’ should mean. Once again, a Hellblade game is going to be in my GOTY contention.
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May 21, 2024Senua's Saga: Hellblade II sets the bar for what a sequel should be. A truly immersive and powerful story experience equipped with graphical and audio prowess never before experienced in a game.
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May 21, 2024Although the original Hellblade was a unique addition to the action adventure genre at its time, it doesn’t even come close to be comparable to Hellblade 2, as Ninja Theory’s latest release is also their best yet. Hellblade 2 improved drastically over its predecessor while offering deep and engaging gameplay from start to finish and arguably the best visuals and sound design we’ve ever seen in a video game to date, making it the best Microsoft exclusive of the last decade.
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May 21, 2024Haunting, confrontational, and deeply cathartic all at once, Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 is a stunning feat of video game art. Ninja Theory doesn't tiptoe around its heavy themes but welcomes them with well-honed empathy, tempered by an even keener creative edge this time around to deliver an unforgettable narrative adventure experience that's hard to watch, yet harder to turn away from.
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May 21, 2024Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II is nothing short of stunning and more than capable of taking your breath away by some of the set pieces.
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May 21, 2024Hellblade 2 continues Senua's story with grace, confidence, surprising brutality and thundering conviction.
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May 21, 2024Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II is a work of art from start to finish. It is a pleasure to play, with intriguing characters, a captivating story, and awe-inspiring creatures to fight. This is certainly one saga I won’t forget in a hurry.
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May 21, 2024Despite the backing of a company as large and as well-funded as Microsoft, Ninja Theory have, in my opinion, nurtured their independent spirit and kept it well and truly alive in every facet. It's brutal. It's breath-taking. It's brilliant. If this is “Independent AAA”, sign me up for more.
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May 21, 2024Senua's Saga: Hellblade II is something of a rarity; a linear, story-focused game of reasonable length for just one player. It offers something different, something thought-provoking, and it is insanely impressive.
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May 21, 2024Whether you’re a fan of the original Hellblade or a newcomer to the series, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 offers a deeply engaging and unforgettable experience. Its blend of realistic graphics, compelling narrative and innovative sound design makes it a standout title of the year.
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May 21, 2024Senua's Saga: Hellblade II is the crowning achievement of a team that has been able, over the last few years, to devote itself to every aspect of its work with particular and affectionate intensity, succeeding in the complex attempt to surpass what has been done in the past and outlining a production of great cultural depth. The production is touching, violent, brutal and physical, complete and brilliant. A must have.
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May 21, 2024Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 is the game that Xbox has been looking for for so long. A masterpiece on par with its predecessor that shines through its sound, its graphics and a memorable performance by Melina Juergens. A candidate for Game of the Year.
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Aug 5, 2024Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 is Ninja Theory's magnum opus. It's a sequel that's ambitious but not overbearing. With this game, the studio has perfected its craft of portraying immaculate cinematic experiences, glimpses of which can be traced back to its earlier games, like 2007's Heavenly Sword. Most importantly, with Hellblade 2, Ninja Theory has created an utterly refreshing AAA single-player experience that is unlike anything Xbox has currently to offer this generation.
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May 21, 2024This new adventure of Senua is somewhat less bleak than the previous game, as she has her demons under control and knows how best to deal with them. That said, her mental state is still problematic and she runs into intense situations in this new adventure in Iceland. The game's structure is the same as the previous installment, so you know exactly what to expect. In that regard the game is an almost perfect execution on all levels: engaging story, beautiful graphics, a strong soundtrack, outstanding voice-acting, and a compelling presentation.
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May 21, 2024Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II is a stunning and immersive storytelling experience that really puts the player into the mind of its titular character. It’s even more narratively-focused than the first game (not to its detriment), with a bigger emphasis on how Senua sees and interacts with the world around her. The whole experience from start to finish has been beyond memorable.
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May 21, 2024Senua's Saga: Hellblade II is a true masterpiece: a deep and highly immersive narrative experience that manages to make us feel all the protagonist's torment within an impressively realistic world. Ninja Theory reveals itself to be one of the most valuable studios in the Xbox stable here, reaching levels of absolute excellence in graphics, audio, narration, and acting. A must-play.
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May 21, 2024Senua's Saga: Hellblade II is, at its core, a short game, but an excellent one. But it's not for everyone. It's a bloody and often disgusting experience based on strong emotions and immersion in a character that just won't let you go. It's more of an artistic experience than a traditional game.
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May 21, 2024Ninja Theory manages to place Senua in the Olympus of videogames with the most visually and sonorously powerful game we have seen so far. A spectacular, stunning and awe-inspiring journey.
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May 21, 2024It’s been a longer time coming than we’d hoped, but Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II manages to live up to expectations rather nicely. Vastly improved (and brutally presented) combat, a captivating story and incredible technical work mean that even the few slower moments can’t bring down what will surely be a jewel in Xbox’s crown for some time to come.
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May 22, 2024Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II is precisely the kind of game Xbox Game Studios head Matt Booty wants: A smaller game (you can finish it in a weekend easily) that is bound to see the company win more prestige and awards. Like Hi-Fi Rush before it, Senua’s Saga is the kind of incredible narrative-focused single-player exclusive that is bound to be on plenty of award short-lists at the end of the year. It’s a well-written adventure with flawless production values that I’m sure endless thought pieces will be written about (I’ve already thought of a couple) because it actually has something to say.
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May 21, 2024To fully appreciate the experience offered by Hellblade 2, you obviously have to agree with the proposal from the English at Ninja Theory, because yes, the game is divisive. With its minimalist, not to say basic, gameplay, its straight line crossing that can be done in 8 hours in the first run, the purists of the classic and basic video game may indeed frown on these precise aspects, and it would be difficult to tell them blame. But it is also fashionable to remember that video games are vast and the experiences different, and this is exactly what the developers of Ninja Theory are offering us, namely an invitation to a journey from which we do not emerge unscathed.
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May 21, 2024Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II is a classic example of the old mantra: get past the start, and you’ll love it. If you have Xbox Game Pass, you have no reason not to try this game.
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May 21, 2024Ninja Theory hits its apex with Hellblade 2, combining decades of cinematic experience with a thought-provoking action drama that you’d never expect to see as a console exclusive.
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May 21, 2024While Hellblade 2 might not set any new standards with its gameplay, from an audio-visual experience standpoint, it's frankly stunning. Hellblade 2 is as close to playing the leading role in a big budget movie as you’re likely to get, and Ninja Theory’s continued coverage on the complexities of severe mental health issues deserves to be commended.
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May 21, 2024Ninja Theory has created an outstanding sequel with Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2. An unforgettable narrative adventure that is brought to life through impeccable sound design, gorgeous visuals, and a story that will stick with you long after the final credits roll. Hellblade 2 is one of the best Xbox games out there and is absolutely worth your time if you enjoyed the original.
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May 21, 2024Hellblade 2 delivers exactly what fans of the first game should expect. A compelling continuation of Senua's arduous journey, with some of the best visuals we've seen, exceptional storytelling, and amazing audio design. It's a cinematic experience at its best.
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May 21, 2024Visceral, disturbing, empathetic... These are the words you'll keep in mind after this grandiose and personal adventure.
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May 21, 2024Senua's saga: Hellblade II breaks the video game frontier by offering an experience unlike anything we've experienced before, including Senua's Sacrifice. Its bravery in making decisions that are initially unpopular leaves us with a terribly personal and unique work in which Ninja Theory once again shows its veteranship by profiling female and male characters whose strength lies in their fragility and in all the flaws, fears and weaknesses that make us human.
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May 21, 2024Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II is yet another arresting, artful chapter in an adventure now two games long. Though it might approach iteration with a very safe hand, only going so far as to correct the original’s shortcomings, Ninja Theory’s clear strengths in story craft, audiovisual design, as well as their care for the dark subject matter manage to shine through brighter than ever before.
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May 21, 2024A game like Senua's Saga: Hellblade II can only be the result of years of passion and talent, captivating you with its unbelievable visuals, impeccable audio design, and powerful thought-provoking narrative. It's a veritable masterpiece, but it's just shy of perfection thanks to an average PC port and some minor criticisms.
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May 21, 2024Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II’s conclusion ends on another strong note, and despite my initial reservations about continuing Senua’s story, I walked away happy to see her conquer new monsters, both literal and metaphorical. I’m pleased Ninja Theory avoided the temptation to blow up this formula into something far bigger than needed – this isn’t Xbox’s God of War; it’s a better Hellblade. The first game is a famous example of not needing to be fun in the traditional sense to be engaging. This sequel sprinkles more broadly appealing thrills while retaining the thoughtful storytelling and artistry few triple-A games possess.
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May 21, 2024Hellblade II is a Celtic-Nordic odyssey that focuses on the issue of working through universal human traumas and on a natural depiction of the world as perceived by a person experiencing psychosis. The sequel is an audiovisual masterpiece with a strong message, even if it still seems very limited on a gameplay level.
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May 21, 2024Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 improves on its predecessor in numerous ways, making it a must-play for fans of dark, cinematic adventure games. Visually it's unparalleled, offering photo-realistic characters and environments, and its audio design is spectacular, too. It's just a shame that its combat gets repetitive all too quickly – but in the grand scheme of things, it's a small price to pay.
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May 21, 2024Some may write off Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II as more of the same, and they’re not entirely wrong. While the experience has evolved and improved in pretty much every way, this certainly feels like a natural follow-up to Senua’s first journey. Yet where it most stands apart is in the way Senua’s personal journey has influenced her world. There’s still inescapable horror, but there’s also great beauty here which is what will stick with me the most.
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May 21, 2024Hellblade 2 is an immersive experience complete with impeccable audio design. Although it won't be to every gamer's taste, it definitely offers a deep narrative and unique gameplay that will captivate those looking for something more immersive and psychologically intense.
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May 21, 2024Senua's Saga: Hellblade II is an amazing gaming experience that drifts into the darkest of places, yet its beauty still shines. Its brutal scenarios do well to break the player, but the determination of Senua's aura guides you forward. Some might say this drifts into the realm of a walking simulator or a game more about art. But I can't put these labels onto Hellblade II because I've never experienced anything like it from a cinematic gameplay experience. This is a game that pulls you in with its imagery but grabs hold of you with its tense narrative beats and the drive to see Senua reach her goal.
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May 21, 2024Horrifying, uplifting, and visually splendid, Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 is a marked improvement over the first title that helps build upon the meaningful and complex concepts presented in the first title.
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May 21, 2024Senua's Saga: Hellblade II is a cinematic masterpiece that raises the bar of narrative games.
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May 21, 2024Regarding graphics and sound, Hellblade 2 is the most visually appealing game that Xbox Series X can have. Its presentation looks impressive, and every sound feels very special while you're playing. But what about the gameplay? Hellblade 2 is an experience with a very intense narrative. It's a journey of no return where you face all kinds of absorbing and grudging challenges. Ninja Theory made a remarkable game.
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May 21, 2024In the end, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II is a firm and safe step. Ninja Theory kept things simple and honored their own idea of creating a sequel for fans of the first game, not someone else. As a work with an indie essence and AAA production values, it fulfills its purpose, and although its flaws and limitations are evident, they do not diminish its concept and the strong potential it has to generate emotions, demonstrating that the medium can take other paths beyond the traditional. Yes, Hellblade II is more than a video game, it is a great audiovisual experience that does not betray itself; a work that deserves your time and your feelings.
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May 21, 2024Hellblade II: Senua’s Sacrifice is an amazing achievement visually. The performances are second-to-none and the music is just as impressive as the visuals. For anyone that loved the original and knows what to expect going in, this will be a treat on so many levels.
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Jun 17, 2024It’s the sheer force of the lead actors’ performances that will lead you through a somewhat laboured tale of a hero whose mental strife overshadows the challenge of her adversaries.
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Jun 3, 2024Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 can be a mentally taxing experience by design, especially if one already has their own litany of mental health struggles. It is a necessary part of a game that explores its themes touchingly and tastefully, a beautiful and astoundingly stylish production. Like its predecessor, the presentation outstrips the gameplay, which suffers from repetition and a lack of escalation or variety. It’s a damn fine thing in totality though, one well worth digging into.
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May 28, 2024If you are seeking an interactive, heavy themed, intense movie this is your game. If you’re after a hands-on player, maybe wait until it drops in price. Unless of course you have already got the Game Pass subscription, in which case it’s yours to try now.
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May 25, 2024Following up a landmark cinematic tale of trauma, mental affliction and grief, without repeating itself or undermining the central character's growth, Senua’s Saga is a stunning, well-paced adventure that pushes the boundaries of human theatrical performance in games while also spinning a riveting tale of power and sacrifice.
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May 23, 2024Ninja Theory really knows how to end a game, and Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II is no different. If you’re looking for a God Of War clone, this is not that game. With its unique presentation, cinematic narrative with amazing storytelling, game-changing visuals, beautiful sound design, and digestible length, Xbox Games Studios and Ninja Theory have a successful franchise on their hands. I want to continue to come back to Senua and go on these adventures. If you have Xbox Game Pass, go download this and Senua’s Sacrifice.
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May 21, 2024Hellblade 2 embraces the cinematic experience and never looks back, which is sure to be polarizing. That approach makes room for a narrative-driven game, and, sometimes, it may seem like you're playing a cut-scene. Surely there will be fans that love this style, while others should feel disappointed with the lack of mechanical complexity.
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May 21, 2024Hellblade II is the absolute pinnacle of visual and audio design which in some part makes up for the lack of gameplay evolution. Depending on how you approach games, like me, you could easily spend 10 hours being fully immersed in its story and tracking down hidden collectibles. Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II knows what it is and that’s a cinematic experience with a rich story that will keep you engaged throughout that strives to not outdo its welcome and it will have you thinking about Senua’s journey long after its completion.
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May 21, 2024Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 is a bleak yet deeply absorbing game - and one I’ve not played anything like before. Combat is a little simplistic, and some parts are pedestrian, but the remarkable visual and audio design, performances and acting, the intriguing narrative throughout, and a beguiling world that has one of the strongest senses of place I’ve experienced elevate the game wonderfully.
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May 21, 2024Senua's Saga is a thoughtful and honest portrayal of living with psychosis. It highlights the good and the bad without talking down to the audience or miscasting mental health as something that needs to be "fixed." The narrative is no longer than it needs to be but is broken up by puzzles that don't challenge the player or reveal more about the character. Combat, while initially striking in its brutality, never evolves and cannot remain impactful for the entire duration. This is a game with a message I believe everyone could benefit from experiencing, but the path through it is not as smooth as it could be.
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May 21, 2024Hellblade 2 sticks to what its predecessor was good at, delivering a technically, visually, and narratively impressive experience, even if it's one that feels a bit too familiar and straightforward from a gameplay perspective.
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May 21, 2024Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 does not have as much emotional impact as the first part, but that is almost impossible. Part two is still quite authentic and Senua remains a special character. It is logical that developer Ninja Theory did not want to say goodbye after just one game. After Senua's Sacrifice we are willing to follow her anywhere, all the way to the impressive Iceland of the 10th century.
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May 21, 2024AAA video game development is in the middle of a serious crisis and I think Senua's Saga: Hellblade II is proof of this. Having been in development for almost seven years tells us that for every year, an hour of gameplay was built. It's crazy. Ninja Theory is delivering a very good product that does justice to the name it bears, but in more than one section, it does leave things to be desired, especially in what has to do with its scope and own ambitions. The use of Unreal 5 is spectacular, but I wonder if going for this technology that is just beginning, did not end up affecting the game, since it is also worth remembering that after being bought by Xbox in 2018, the British studio grew to more than 100 employees; That is to say, we are no longer talking about a small production, far from it.
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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, 2024There isn't the enchantment of the first whisper in Hellblade 2. There is no astonishment of the first revelation. You shouldn't even have expected them. However, there is the dismay of an unparalleled visual and sound framework. There is a witty mix of psychosis, superstition, reality and imagination. There is a wisely different story, perhaps not as powerful as that of Senua's Sacrifice, yet driven strongly by its overwhelming uniqueness. Intimately epic, Hellblade 2 wears out quickly, perhaps too quickly, and once again prevents its playful personality from reaching full maturation. However, it remains a giant of its kind. Listen to him.
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May 21, 2024Though the combat and puzzles didn’t feel new enough to really lift to the next level, and devotees of the original might feel a bit let down by the lack of a real leap forward when it comes to those elements, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II dazzles in the mere existence of a full, well-rounded world – a world where reality and fantasy collide just as often outside Senua’s mind as it does inside.
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May 21, 2024Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II is another Viking-worthy feast for the senses that meets the high bar set by its predecessor, even if it never really manages to clear it.
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May 21, 2024Though I initially worried that Hellblade 2's dark story about psychosis would trigger my anxiety, it's a surprisingly inspiring sequel about perseverance in the face of pain. It tells a story about overcoming what holds us down, and finding solace in others. It doesn't quite reach instant classic status due to uninspired gameplay that's much less creative and ambitious than its stunning presentation, but Ninja Theory's latest is still an absolute must-play for any Xbox Game Pass subscriber and an experience I certainly won't forget anytime soon.
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May 21, 2024When Senua's Saga: Hellblade II hits these high points, it's impossible not to completely indulge in Ninja Theory's bleak vision of the Viking Age. The often unforgettable scenes practically transform it into a visual poem, and in these moments, it couldn't matter less that the game's mechanical components are smoother and more superficial, because it's more of an interactive experience than a traditional game.
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May 21, 2024Senua's Saga: Hellblade II is an intriguing journey that rises beyond its predecessor in multiple areas. Ninja Theory offers a story of growth, acceptance and maturity. The game delights our eyes visually by utilizing the Xbox Series X to its maximum potential. The combat feels good but is quite the same from the original Hellblade.
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May 21, 2024Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II is essentially an interactive arthouse action movie that combines potent gameplay elements with a visceral psychological journey.
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May 21, 2024Senua's Saga: Hellblade II is a very impressive technical showcase for current hardware generation with its varied, realistic visuals and terrific audio. However, not everyone will like Senua's Saga as gameplay elements are deployed to serve the experience here; the puzzles are repetitive and the combat is limited. Story is strong but the game feels darker than what we would've liked. More than feeling a connection with Senua, we felt the game was outright depressing.
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May 21, 2024A short but furiously staged and audio visually impressive adventure that leaves a lot to be desired in terms of gameplay and narrative.
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May 21, 2024Senua's Saga is as strong as its predecessor, if not more, and delivers both in its storytelling and on the technical side. The gameplay, however, has still a lot of room for improvements and boils down to almost-QTE combat and boring puzzles. An experience more than an actual and so-called video game, but an experience worth living nonetheless.
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May 30, 2024Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II is a worthy but familiar follow-up to the groundbreaking original. Incredible visuals and a legendary performance from Melina Jurgens do much of the heavy lifting, but in some ways it feels safe and plodding, with a surprisingly slow pace despite its fairly short runtime. Facing Senua’s insecurities and experiencing her growth remains a defining factor, but it feels less potent now, while simplistic exploration and repetitive combat hold it back from greatness. Hopefully we haven’t seen the last of Senua, because she deserves much more.
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May 22, 2024Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 is an emotionally gruelling game, an unrelenting assault on the senses filled with brutal depictions of psychological and physical suffering. It makes for gripping storytelling, but it also left me drained.
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May 21, 2024As a singular, contemplative experience, Hellblade 2 perfectly fulfills its contract: visually dazzling, Ninja Theory's title can only be fully experienced with a good pair of headphones screwed on your ears. As a "video game", on the other hand, it's immediately more complicated: between repetitive combat from the second encounter and poorly calibrated, uninteresting puzzles, Senua's Saga is easy to follow but never enthralling. There are a few intense scenes, but they don't make up for a conclusion that comes as a bolt from the blue.
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May 21, 2024Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II won’t be for everyone. But if you are looking for a brutal continuation of a fantastic story that feels like you’re actually playing a movie, you’ll have a great time here.
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May 21, 2024Ninja Theory completely forgets about the hands-on experience (which at times is quite boring) and wholeheartedly dedicates itself to the mission of delivering a cinematic spectacle that Xbox Series can boast about from now on. Mission accomplished. Although it makes several sacrifices and tricks to achieve this, on an audiovisual level, it has breathtaking sequences and is a game to be proud of. It's a pity that its narrative, puzzles, and combat haven't evolved in the same way (if they have evolved at all).
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May 21, 2024Senua's Saga: Hellblade II is a good sequel with some excellent acting and gorgeous visuals, but the pacing struggles quite a bit.
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May 21, 2024Where Ninja Theory has placed the majority of its resources, the game delivers in spades. You may find yourself disappointed, wishing for what could have been, but despite that, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II is still not a game to be missed. It’s a technical and artistic marvel for the Xbox platform and a narrative experience that must be explored.
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May 23, 2024If you sincerely appreciate masterful visuals, pitch-perfect audio, and visceral story-telling then Senua's Saga: Hellblade II is about as perfect of a game as you can get. However, those looking for substance gameplay-wise will wish there was much more to it.
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May 21, 2024Senua's Saga: Hellblade II is the greatest graphic marvel that can be found on consoles, but when it comes to playability it doesn't measure up and even falls short of the first. Yes, its "great graphics" are going to leave you with your jaw on the floor from start to finish... It's a shame that the same can't be said about other sections.
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May 21, 2024Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 starts incredibly strong in the first half, but after certain revelations, the story speeds up to a point where the conclusion feels rushed and half-baked.
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May 21, 2024Senua's Saga: Hellblade II is a beautiful but ultimately hollow game. The fantastic presentation props up a story that is less personal and engaging than in the first game, and the gameplay feels like an afterthought. It was great to see Senua again and to see her outside of the grief-misery she was enveloped in during the first game, but beyond that, there's not much to Hellblade II. It's a short and less memorable experience that shows off Ninja Theory's visual craft to its fullest — but it achieves little else.
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May 21, 2024Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 is best experienced for yourself, not spoiled by a friend or watched on a YouTube channel. To fully understand what it's trying to do, you need to hear those voices for yourself, feel that anguish and pain as it happens, and continue to press on through it. It's a powerful game with a powerful message, even if some parts of it aren't as engaging as the rest. Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 requires your patience; if you provide it, you will be rewarded handsomely.
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May 21, 2024While graphically Senua's Saga: Hellblade II offers memorable glimpses and moments, anything beyond the visual impact and the dark and fierce atmosphere is disappointing, especially for a sequel announced five years ago on which Microsoft bet big.
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May 21, 2024Hellblade 2 is truly magnificent, superbly produced, it offers a distressing atmosphere as possible, extremely careful and rarely has the sound design of a game been so impressive. In addition, Melina Juergens' performance is particularly notable and we want to follow Senua's journey. The problem is that overall it's quite boring: the fault of the repetitive puzzles and the long and completely useless fights which weigh down the whole thing. It's sad.
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May 21, 2024Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 is a gorgeous game full of industry-best visuals and cast performances. It is also not terribly fun to play.
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May 21, 2024Senua's Saga: Hellblade II keeps the basics intact, and while a strong lead character, great animations, and simple but enjoyable combat continue to deliver, the poor pacing and performance issues prevent this sequel from breaking free of its past.
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May 21, 2024Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 is the best-looking video game we've ever played. It sounds incredible, Melina Juergens acts herself inside out, and on a purely technical level this is just next-level stuff all round. However, we still don't feel as though extending Senua's plight into a Saga is a good idea. We remain unconvinced, and it's because this sequel feels like diminishing returns, as we had worried it might. It's not as vital or as unique in 2024, and it goes for bombast as a means of smoothing things over, resulting in a good game, an interesting eight hour romp, but nothing that screams must-play. Weak combat and dull puzzles are just more salt in these wounds, unfortunately.
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May 21, 2024If Senua’s saga is indeed what counts for therapy in her blood-soaked world, far too much of Hellblade II feels like she walked out of her sessions with time left on the clock.
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May 21, 2024A nuanced journey that plays it too safe.
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May 21, 2024I just wish it had a little more to say, and gave us a little more to do.
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May 23, 2024Ninja Theory has failed to take a noticeable step forward since the original. In Senua's Saga: Hellblade II, the developers buried the original idea of mixing mythology and mental disorders, giving their own variation of God of War. The sequel turned out to be linear and very colorful. However, the primitive gameplay and absolutely empty ending leave the player exhausted and disappointed.
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May 21, 2024Based on its new naming convention, the use of "saga" in Hellblade 2's title, and Microsoft's acquisition of developer Ninja Theory following the success of Senua's Sacrifice, it seems as if Hellblade is slated to be a series as well as a staple in Xbox's first-party lineup. That said, at this point, I don't exactly understand where the series is headed, if not to the box office. There are plenty of games that prove games can be art, but as some studios lean harder into proving that in one specific way that cribs from Hollywood, we're seeing some games that feel afraid of being games. With too much focus on cinematics and too little on creating an experience that is engaging, Senua's Saga fails to reach the same highs as its predecessor--even if it does look stunning whilst trying.
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May 21, 2024Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 is one of the most visually impressive games of its generation and contains gripping performances from both Juergens and O’Reilly. Unfortunately, repetitive combat, lacklustre puzzles, and dull traversal hamper the experience, as does a lack of focus in the wider story.
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May 21, 2024Though Hellblade 2 has the power to force your jaw open and give you goosebumps, too often the whole project ends up feeling like a very expensive tech demo – an absolute tour de force of technical achievement bogged down in its own sense of gravitas and mystery. Keeping you off the stick for so many of its most impactful moments, and not giving you enough to play with when you do have control, hobbles the potential of this visual and aural masterpiece enough to make the whole experience feel like it was constantly trying to find a foothold on that dread Icelandic scree, and never really getting to its feet until you come staggering over the finish line.
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May 21, 2024By the end of Senua’s saga, however, I was left wishing there was just a bit more meat on the bone of this gorgeous, meticulously prepared piece of mutton.
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May 21, 2024Fittingly for a game where our hero hears multiple voices in her head, Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 is confused about who it is, what it wants, and where it's going. Is it an indie game eager to be unique in the marketplace, or another triple-A hit with the usual trimmings? Is it a peaceful puzzle game, or a mini soulslike? Is it an inwardly reflective tale about the demons of trauma, or a very literal tale of gods and monsters? Is it even a game, or is it an interactive art piece?
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May 21, 2024A joyless slog of barely interactive entertainment and a muddled portrayal of mental illness… that just so happens to have the best graphics ever on a video game console.
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May 21, 2024Until now, I’ve liked each new Ninja Theory game more than the last, and I can never deny the craft on display. Given that this is their first release since the Microsoft acquisition, I credit Hellblade II for not feeling compromised by corporate interests, but that only makes it more baffling that it lacks any real vision that I was able to discern. It’s not an offensively bad experience, and yet I can only offer one of the most damning criticisms imaginable – I have no idea why it was made.
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Edge MagazineJun 13, 2024By turns astonishing and insufferable, there is as much here to make your eyes roll as widen. Even the moments when Hellblade II delivers nigh-unparalleled visual spectacle (see 'Giant steps') are soured by the fact that our involvement in these set-pieces so often feels incidental. For long stretches, it's akin to watching someone else play, only occasionally - and always unwillingly - handing back the controller. We can't help but return to that old chestnut about the interactive experience being a conversation between designer and player; there is an irony that in this, of all games, we're scarcely able to get a word in edgeways. [Issue#399, p.104]
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May 21, 2024A brilliant narrative adventure game that is also the best looking video game I've ever played. Sadly, dull puzzles ruin part of the show. Even so, you need to play it.
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May 21, 2024Senua’s enduring compassion and dedication through a rage-inducing journey of pain left a significant impression on me. Despite dealing with a fantastical world, Hellblade II is often, hauntingly, all too real.
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May 21, 2024The game is short, and I finished it in about 10 hours. But it packs a number of gorgeous scenes and scenarios into that brief span, from battling a monster in a volcano pit to the rhythm of metal music to navigating a Silent Hill-esque forest. This was an exhausting, beautiful experience that shattered me often, built me back up, and constantly challenged what it meant to manage one’s darkness. Senua is a broken person, but because of that, she fits into this broken world.
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May 21, 2024Just like its forbear, Senua's Saga: Hellblade II is an oppressive, powerful and haunting example of the power of video games, and one that sets its own parameters for what a digital experience can be. It is a game that must be experienced, not least because, there’s nothing else quite like it. [Review in Progress]
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May 21, 2024With Senua's Saga: Hellblade II, Microsoft and Ninja Theory have produced a masterful sequel following the first one’s footsteps. The atmosphere is as incredible as ever, the work on the technical and artistic side leaves us breathless, and the graphical fidelity reaches heights rarely seen on home consoles. Regarding the main issues worth mentioning with Hellblade I, they have been toned down but not completely eradicated. These include, for example, the feeling of playing through an interactive film punctuated by slightly tedious puzzles, and a lifespan that is likely to disappoint many. Fortunately, there are other revisions to counterbalance this feeling, such as the more intense confrontations and the adventure’s overall faster pace. There is no doubt that die-hard fans will be delighted, and that the game will find its audience. And for the rest of us, in the worst-case scenario, some of its magnificent landscapes will be fantastic wallpapers material.
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