The original Hellblad: Senua’s Sacrifice debuted way back in 2017. In launched as a digital only title exclusively for PlayStation 4, before getting a physical release and making its way to Xbox One. The game was applauded for innovations in storytelling and visual fidelity, while criticised for its uninspired combat. Here in Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II, it seems the apple hasn’t fallen too far from the tree.
The game has more in common with Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons than the likes of Ghost of Tsushima or Elden Ring. There is combat in the game, but it’s a tertiary effort. Simple and easy to understand, there’s no Batman: Arkham Asylum style revolution here. And there needn’t be. It’s a few moments of alternate input to aid the pacing of the game, not a timesink investment that requires new movesets and increased power to be dolled out to keep things interesting. The quality isn’t quite ‘through the roof’, but it’s not exactly terrible, either.
One of the key elements of design that fits in with this lessened complexity in combat is that there is no HUD in the game. There’s no onscreen furniture monitoring your health or ammo. No map or waypoint markers. Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II presents a very clean screen; a design decision undoubtedly chosen to aid immersion, but also one that lets the game show off its environments without distraction. And boy, are they worth showing off.
Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II is the best looking console game I’ve ever had the pleasure of playing. And I’ve played a lot. Not but some narrow margin, either. On Xbox Series X|S, it’s arguably the first truly ‘next-gen’ title we’ve yet received in terms of visuals. The detail and variety of rock formations and the simply stunning quantity and draw distance of said detail is beyond compare. The first two hours of the game will frequently have you stopping to look in awe at the quality Ninja Theory has managed to deliver. It makes you wonder what the likes of Rage or even Red Dead Redemption could be with this visual quality. The difference being, of course, that those titles are open world. Something which Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II is most certainly not.
A wholly linear experience, any opportunity you get to head off the beaten track will surely reward you with one of the game’s collectibles; hidden trees and runes. These are essentially the game’s replay opportunity and, sadly, promote it very little in this regard. During our playthrough for this Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II review, we only missed one rune tower and caught all of the hidden trees. Hardly demanding of a second 10 hour run for completionists.
Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II will undoubtedly be a marmite game. There will be many who complain that it’s little more than a walking simulator. Wondering where the ‘play’ is in this game. And that’s just fine; not every game has to appeal to every gamer. But for those who it clicks with, they will savour every minute of the gorgeous visuals, keen pacing and intricate story weaving. Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II isn’t going to be the game to ‘save Xbox’, but if it becomes a few stitches in a much larger tapestry, it’ll certainly remain a fondly discussed experience many years from now.
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