Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 review: "Nothing short of video game sorcery"

GamesRadar+ Verdict GamesRadar+ Verdict TODAY’S BEST DEALSCheck Amazon TODAY’S BEST DEALSCheck Amazon TODAY’S BEST DEALSCheck Amazon TODAY’S BEST DEALS Check Amazon Check Amazon Check Amazon Pros+Photorealistic graphics and binaural sound design creates visceral immersion+Hints of traditional narrative structure adds more depth between varied puzzles+A scarier, tighter, more impressive sequel that elevates both the series and the genre as we know it Photorealistic graphics and binaural sound design creates visceral immersion Hints of traditional narrative structure adds more depth between varied puzzles A scarier, tighter, more impressive sequel that elevates both the series and the genre as we know it Cons-Pacing can feel inconsistent Pacing can feel inconsistent Why you can trust GamesRadar+Our experts review games, movies and tech over countless hours, so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about our reviews policy. Why you can trust GamesRadar+Our experts review games, movies and tech over countless hours, so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about our reviews policy. Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 might be the most unique video game I’ve ever experienced. Where Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice was a grueling character study, its sequel presents that character with a future beyond the trauma of her past. FAST FACTSRelease date: May 21, 2024Platform(s): Xbox Series X, PCDeveloper: Ninja TheoryPublisher: Xbox Game Studios FAST FACTS Release date: May 21, 2024Platform(s): Xbox Series X, PCDeveloper: Ninja TheoryPublisher: Xbox Game Studios Release date: May 21, 2024Platform(s): Xbox Series X, PCDeveloper: Ninja TheoryPublisher: Xbox Game Studios Grappling with that trauma is still integral to Senua’s journey into Iceland, although its purpose here has evolved somewhat since Senua’s Sacrifice. Harnessed almost like a double-edged power, psychosis becomes a lens through which Senua sees the world in both its infinite sadness and secrecy, allowing her to navigate the darkness and find her way toward the light – both metaphorically and literally this time. Mental health, self-acceptance, the sheer effort of survival; developer Ninja Theory doesn’t just broach these themes but actively embodies them. Meaningful game mechanics and binaural sound design work in tandem to achieve pitch-perfect symbiosis between form and function, cementingSenua’s Saga: Hellblade 2as nothing short of video game sorcery worthy of the highest praise. Crafting catharsis (Image credit: Xbox Game Studios) From hearing the dying gasps of a ghostly figure as it chokes on its own blood somewhere on your left to the rumbling snarl of an enemy lurking just ahead, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 has you constantly torn between the world within and without. Ninja Theory does well to make the external world an even harsher place to exist in than the largely metaphorical environs of Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice; photorealistic graphics aid this, with craggy shorelines and snow-capped mountains emerging from the fog as you lock into combat with a slave trader you mean to capture, his eyes glinting with an all too-human menace. (Image credit: Xbox Game Studios) At the same time, her mental state and the unique perspective it grants her has become Senua’s greatest weapon in Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2. We see this reflected in the range of environmental puzzles, markedly varied from those in Hellblade: Senua’s Saga, that turn this dark fantasy adventure into a sophisticated narrative experience. Greater stress is placed on world exploration in this sequel, foregoing the maze-like cyclical pathways of the original game in favor of an interconnected series of villages and locations, each encompassing a chapter in a story that extends far beyond the locus of Senua. She fits into things as a cypher of sorts, but Senua is searching for more than merely sigils in the world around her. The darkness before the dawn (Image credit: Xbox Game Studios) Sometimes Senua has to flip the world around entirely, altering the level design of each individual puzzle to gain access to areas beyond her reach. Other instances call on her to step through time and witness a place from an entirely different perspective, giving her a greater grasp of why and how its inhabitants were forced to seek extreme measures to combat dire straits. The creative application of Senua’s psychosis as both an internal and external framework reinforces Ninja Theory’s commitment to ethical representation, charging Hellblade 2 with meaningful conversations around mental health in a way that feels dynamic, authentic, and structurally fluid in the context of a video game. A masterclass in technical and thematic maturity A masterclass in technical and thematic maturity At its very core, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 is as harrowing as it is immensely important. You will find the smiles few and far between, if at all; this is a game that leans into its atmospheric horrors in an overwhelmingly sensory portrayal of struggle and sacrifice. Still, Ninja Theory does not intend to traumatize the player. Moments of respite can be found following its most emotionally turbulent moments, speaking directly to the player to offer hope for new beginnings. “You’ve earned this,” the Furies soothe as Senua steps into a field awash with golden light. Video games so rarely take mental health aftercare this seriously, and Ninja Theory dares to take that important first step in Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2. Disclaimer Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2: Price Comparison No price informationCheck Amazon No price informationCheck Amazon No price informationCheck Amazon No price informationCheck Amazon No price information No price information We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices CATEGORIESXbox Series XPC GamingPlatformsXbox CATEGORIES More about senua s saga hellblade 2From Astro Bot to Black Myth: Wukong, the best action-adventure games of 2024 made us sweatThe cinematic and survival horror games of 2024 prove that taking risks is keeping the genre aliveLatestI didn’t know how badly I wanted to grill and gobble up monsters until this upcoming survival roguelike made it look so tastySee more latest► More about senua s saga hellblade 2From Astro Bot to Black Myth: Wukong, the best action-adventure games of 2024 made us sweatThe cinematic and survival horror games of 2024 prove that taking risks is keeping the genre aliveLatestI didn’t know how badly I wanted to grill and 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review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure” 4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years” 4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years” 4 Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years” 5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths” 5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths” 5 Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths” 1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show” 1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show” 1 Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted 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that ultimately make up for the misses” 3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist” 3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist” 3 Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist” 4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” 4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” 4 Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” 5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place” 5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place” 5 Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”