Bilawal Bashir 
Our review shows that Ninja Theory’s first Xbox exclusive, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2, has the potential to draw players into its meticulously designed and polished world. But is that enough to justify its price tag?
Hellblade 2 is not the big-budget AAA open-world game some fans might expect it to be. It’s a tightly woven tale about a tortured soul looking for solace. Where many developers would have gone with the proven “big sequel” route, Ninja Theory opted for something different. The studio decided to focus on improving visuals and sound design while delivering a generally similar experience.
The Good:
- Amazing visuals that arrest the player’s attention.
- Brilliant sound design that elevates the experience.
The Bad:
- Gameplay and combat feel like an afterthought.
- Storytelling is at times disappointing.
Review Details:
- Platforms available: Xbox Series X/S, PC
- Reviewed on: Xbox Series X
- Official release date: May 21, 2024
Hellblade 2 offers much to see and hear
Sound plays an important role in Ninja Theory’s first Xbox exclusive game. Many other games such as Red Dead Redemption, God of War, and Alien: Isolation have had great audio. Hellblade 2 uses audio to deeply immerse the players in its stunning world.
The binaural audio used here should set a new benchmark for other developers to follow. The game has plenty of run-of-the-mill moments that are elevated thanks to sound. Senua sounds authentic with palpable breaths during intense moments. From the wind to ambient sounds everything sounds real. Our review also found the Hellblade 2 to be impressive.
Hellblade 2 is the best-looking Xbox exclusive this generation. The game looks even better on a capable PC. The facial animations, textures, motion capture, and even the world’s rocks are immaculate. The acting sometimes steers into uncanny valley territory but doesn’t get too distracting. The gameplay is simple with basic attacks and dodge maneuvers.
The game runs at a lower frame rate on the powerful Xbox Series X, but it doesn’t take much away from the experience. The lighting is phenomenal in Hellblade 2. Developers have done a great job of expertly lighting each scene and location. The moss on rocks looks amazing and deserves a separate mention.
Responsive but ultimately shallow combat
Hellblade 2 is focused more on the story and characters than its combat. Ninja Theory didn’t evolve the previous combat formula for this sequel. The combat isn’t necessariliy bad, as it’s highly responsive with excellent animations. It feels more dynamic as well, as unseen enemies push their way through to fight Sauna.
Sauna can perform light and heavy attacks with her sword. She can also dodge attacks or block them. Her berserker rage slows down time and amplifies her attacks. Perfectly blocking during the rage can result in an impressive execution effect. Each battle becomes a solo fight as enemies wait in a line to take a turn, which can seem a bit silly.
The camera work is claustrophobic by design. It gives enough information to counter attacks but not enough to see the whole battleground. The camera also responds well to the blows and mimics weight with each hit. The sense of heft in the weapons is as good as it was with God of War’s excellent ax. But unlike Sony’s action RPG, Hellblade 2 takes too much control away from the player.
Hellblade 2 stood out during our review as a technical showcase for Xbox, but it feels more like a tech demo than a full game. The game’s eight-hour length also reflects that. It’s a short experience that involves plenty of pushing forward without actually doing much. Some occasional movement obstacles slow down the pace, but there’s no meaningful platforming to keep the player busy.
The puzzles in the game could be better. They require players to look at things at a certain angle, move around, and gather orbs. Solving the puzzles does present some cool visual effects, but there is minimal effort required.
gameland. GG’s bottom line: Hellblade 2’s visuals and sound design make it an impressive experience, but it offers a short ride with only serviceable combat and boring puzzles.
