It has been seven years of waiting until Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II has come into our lives, but with a different expectation. The adventure of Ninja Theory It does not emerge as the independent title that won so much applause in 2017, but now it is Microsoft’s great workhorse for mid-2024. And it has paid dearly for that showcase.
The debate about the quality, duration and staging of the sequel has taken over the networks since the launch, with positions of all colors. After having traveled hand in hand – and by ear – with Senua Once again, I have been reunited with sensations from the past, which has a double reading with reproaches and praise for the Xbox Game Studios developer.
A simple girl having to confront the divine and the earthly is enough material to create a great story, but the dash of psychosis that was added in Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice made all the difference. An introspective title, with reflections, dilemmas and internal ailments that worked like a charm, since there were no pretensions about a project without great financial backing. For this occasion, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II He has entrusted everything to the visual spectacle.
And it is not a trivial compliment, since it is constantly surprising how good the video game looks, even sneaking in among the technical cream of the generation. There are moments when it is truly difficult to distinguish reality from virtual texture and that sensation is transferred to every inch of what is seen on the screen. The landscapes of Iceland are beautiful, the use of light is frightening – both outdoors and indoors – and the expressiveness of the characters plays in a completely different league.
Fargrímr, Senua or the giant Illtauga have gestures on their faces that I don’t remember seeing reproduced in another title. You notice and perceive every feeling they transmit, even if they don’t open their mouth, and every inch of their face must have more polygons than the entire Nintendo 64 catalog. A milestone fabulous for a studio like Ninja Theory, which puts all the meat on the grill towards the cinematographic experience.
Although there are cuts, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II It is practically a sequence shot that plunges hopelessly into the cold and gloomy experience that Senua is experiencing. The focus of her story moves away from her and, although she would have opted to continue delving into her psyche, the lights are directed towards Scandinavian mythology and a greater threat than the voices that the young woman hears in her head.
The protagonist thought that they were a curse that accompanied her wherever she went and here she barely complains once about their presence. They are a reflection of her fears, her certainties and her ambitions, coming together in two voices that play the role of guide for the player. And they do a fabulous job, especially if she plays with headphones in her ears. Surround sound is a fantasy that runs through the sound field of the player and it is mandatory to play this way to not lose a single detail.
There are sequences worth experiencing like this, especially those that have to do with the Hiddenfolk. The beings from beyond the grave, together with the harassment from the darkness of the draugar, create an absolutely repressive environment that enforces psychological terror at every step. Hell, the moment where Illtauga screams in pain for her baby is one that gives goosebumps, not to mention the traumatic passage through the haunted forest of Járnviðr. A masterful example of how to substitute perspectives and make the rest of the protagonists feel what Senua feels during every second of her existence.
And she must live with the Shadow, the undaunted and suffocating figure of her abusive father who never leaves her alone. She judges her actions, questions her, and gets in her way when she least needs it. You end up feeling pity for Senua and a degree of empathy that leads you to want her life to smile on her and the sky to clear once and for all for her. And you end up admiring her, because she becomes a beacon of hope for others when sometimes she doesn’t even know where to go.
I think it’s clear that I liked the story, without moving me, but it is an interesting common thread that gains momentum with each new stop along the way. I couldn’t like Fargrímr, Thórgestr and Ástríðr better and I felt real pity after the death of the goði’s son. His redemption was practically complete and that’s what each of the giants needed to stop the chaos. They were souls punished by an untamed land and who did not know/could control their impulses in extraordinary circumstances.
And, what about the pure gameplay? Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II It does not fool anyone and warns that it is “a unique experience told through immersive cinematic sequences, spectacular images and surround sound.” There is not a wide range of mechanics, since practically everything is reduced to walking, listening and fighting. Yes, the fights have an important weight during the work and are a good example of how, without any HUD or signal on the screen, we can fight fierce fights against brave warriors.
The limping leg of the table are the puzzles that not only become ridiculous because of how simple they are, but also seem to be a step back from the previous title. The only possible frustration comes from how slow Senua is walking, since it is difficult to meet a challenge up to the task with spheres in her hand and torches to light. Everything is so predictable that it becomes a nuisance that could have been saved. They are the few different notes in a world that offers more narrative food through collectibles in the form of totems or sacred trees, but they have not captivated me.
Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II is too formulaic, not towards industry trends, but towards its past. It repeats the same formula that worked great in 2017 and elevates it to the quintessence of cinematic narrative. Is it enough to give it a chance? If you liked the first one, of course, regardless of the fact that it took you six hours to beat it. There is nothing worse than a game that drags on, an RPG with secondary missions in a tube or a practically unfathomable open world. The good thing if brief twice good.
I want to stay away from any valid element in this issue such as its price or inclusion in Xbox Game Pass. By weight, scrutinizing exclusively its quality, Yes, it is worth diving into., but it feels like a missed opportunity. Seven years of patience for more of the same, even with its successes, causes a certain emptiness. I would have sacrificed some of the visual hypervitaminization in exchange for more mechanical risk and I think the group would have appreciated it. Whether it was a fear of stepping outside the realm of success or a determined conviction about what they wanted to create, Ninja Theory has not raised its sequel to a level that would make it everlasting.
Because generations will follow one another and, in a long time, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II will be obsolete. I believe that the original title will remain more in my memory, and even so I will always want to give Senua that hug that she deserves so much, so much.
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