Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II Review: A Superior Sequel
When Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice was released in 2017, it received plenty of praise for its tense combat encounters, incorporation of Norse mythology, and depiction of psychosis. Now seven years later, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II arrives and is better in every way, from its more interesting puzzles, more fleshed-out world, and incredible set pieces that shine on Xbox Series X. Developer Ninja Theory is doing its best work yet, really coming into its own as a studio.
Senua’s Sacrifice was largely an intimate affair. Besides a few foes, most of the game was an internal battle as Senua talked not with other characters but instead with the voices inside her head, all with their own distinct personality. Don’t worry, they’re still around and constantly chiming in with a mixture of doubt, encouragement, and every feeling in between. However, Senua’s latest journey features her journeying into Iceland, looking for revenge against the Vikings who murdered some of her village and took the rest as slaves, and she winds up coming across many human characters throughout the way, each with their own story of growth to be explored.
We’re proud to present the launch trailer for Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II, featuring ‘Animal Soul’ by <a href=«https://twitter.com/AURORAmusic?ref_src=» https:>@AURORAmusic
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Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II can sometimes be overwhelming from an audiovisual standpoint. Senua’s own voices chiming in while she has a conversation with another person is initially jarring but soon becomes commonplace, as you expect the interjections. One of the most interesting developments was getting a real sense of the character’s thought process, as her own opinions often are formed while listening to the extremes expressed by her inner dialogue. It’s rare to form such a connection with a video game character, but Senua really feels fully formed in the sequel, as I felt like I actually knew her by the end of this nine-hour journey.
While it’s easy to
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