I‘m going to be honest. Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 is a game that’s not to be taken lightly. That’s not to say it’s as challenging as other titles like Wuchang: Fallen Feathers, for instance, but its Norse-themed narrative takes you to places that you may not be ready to visit.
The sequel to 2017’s Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice may not drastically alter the gameplay loop that Ninja Theory set up in the franchise’s debut, but makes up for that lack of new mechanics by plunging players into a story that serves as a worthy continuation of the harrowed heroines adventures, giving Senua a conclusion to her tale that validates all the pain and suffering she underwent to get there.
“It also helps that the newly introduced Performance Mode maintained a buttery smooth 60fps for the whole adventure with no stutters, crashes,or dropped frames at any point.”
The shores of Iceland are an excellent stage for the cinematic experience that Ninja Theory has crafted as a labor of love, while the new Performance Mode on the PS5 does wonders for how players are able to witness its grand set pieces. However, I truly believe that Senua’s Saga is a game that could have balanced those set pieces with a more engaging gameplay loop to truly let it shine.
With that being said, you must be wondering if the new Enhanced Edition is worth your time – and money. Let’s find out.
From the very beginning of Senua’s latest adventure, the game’s new setting boasts of a visual splendor the likes of which I have only seen in Death Stranding 2. There is a frankly astounding level of detail on offer within the letterboxed presentation of Senua’s attempts to earn redemption after her acceptance of her fragile mental state in the previous game.
The lands she explores are filled with evidence of a conflict that has wrought untold havoc on the environment and its people. The dead are ever-present, serving to balance the ethereal beauty of these islands with the fact that there are forces in them that continue to bring sinister, malevolent consequences due to their actions.
Senua’s own psychosis only serves to exacerbate that contrast, and you never know when her mind is about to throw a curveball at you, the player. I once stopped to take in a particularly beautiful view only to find that Senua’s inner demons soon took control of her eyes, and the camera, plunging my surroundings into a darkness that was almost suffocating to behold.
That moment, along with every other one in the game, was made all the more real thanks to brilliantly designed character models that were very effective at conveying the desperation, panic, and sometimes sheer terror of each character depending on the situation at hand. Every emotion that a character was feeling during this adventure was evident in the weariness in their eyes or the furrows in their brows. It’s a level of realism that had me spellbound, a fact made all the more satisfying thanks to this being my first time playing the game since its release.
It also helps that the newly introduced Performance Mode maintained a buttery smooth 60fps for the whole adventure with no stutters, crashes,or dropped frames at any point. As far as visuals go, Hellblade II is a benchmark, and I truly hope that more studios aim to craft experiences that are this immersive.
The newly introduced Photo Mode is sure to find many takers, considering the breathtaking visual quality on offer in Iceland’s desolate shores.
“Credit must also be given to Steven Hartley for his sinister portrayal of The Shadow.”
Complementing the incredible graphics on offer, the game’s audio design and voice acting were another highlight of the experience. I would go as far as to say that this is the best cast of voice actors I’ve seen in a video game since my time with Baldur’s Gate 3.
Melina Jürgens’ portrayal of Senua is spot-on, effectively conveying her fears and insecurities while managing to convey her determination to see her quest through. In moments of terror, her gasps, screams, and labored breathing make the tension so palpable you feel like you could reach out and touch it.
Abby Greenland and Helen Golan are equally brilliant, returning to their roles as the Furies and just knocking it out of the park. They flit between suspicion, scorn, disdain, curiosity, measured optimism, and pure terror with reckless abandon, making their inner monologue in Senua’s head a reflection of the world she sees around her. They play the role of echoes of Senua’s self-doubt with aplomb, elevating the entire experience as a result.
Credit must also be given to Steven Hartley for his sinister portrayal of The Shadow. He is ominous and sinister, his guttural declarations of her ineptitude serving as a humbling reminder of how her acceptance of her flaws is simply not enough to ensure that he properly heals from the trauma he inflicted on her.
While playing the game on a home theater was quite immersive, I must say that Ninja Theory’s insistence on playing this game with a good set of headphones is definitely the way to experience this adventure. I was able to get a solid audio loop through a pair of wireless earbuds hooked up to my TV, and the difference was evident.
Every other character in the game sells the material they were given to work with, conveying a distinct personality to the NPCs that Senua meets along her journey.
And what a journey it is! If you’re already familiar with the game’s story, you know that it is an excellent take on how one’s trauma could either serve to inspire them to a better path or drown them entirely in their perceived sorrows.
If, like me, this is going to be your first time with Senua on the PS5, know that this is an experience that no other game comes close to matching. Ninja Theory must be commended for its sensitive yet bold approach to presenting Senua’s hallucinations and psychosis. There were several points in the story where I put down my controller to reflect on what had just unfolded on screen, lost in somber reflections on the complex themes that this tale tackles with style and substance.
The stories of the people Senua encounters, as well as some of the antagonists she must defeat, are deeply rooted in poignant histories, their actions being a response to events that left them feeling devoid of hope and powerless to avoid the dark paths that they were forced to take.
“The game’s combat is so absurdly easy that it almost negates the newly introduced Dark Rot Mode.”
Hellblade II’s Nordic inspirations serve as the perfect material to ground this narrative, allowing Ninja Theory to present Senua’s inner conflict as a lens through which we, as players, live through all of the pain she must endure in her quest to end the oppression of the Northmen once and for all.
The story on offer in Senua’s Saga works well with its visuals and stellar cast of actors, and is certainly among its strongest points. However, playing through it means engaging with the game’s most glaring weakness.
That brings me to an aspect of this experience that I’m almost sad to call disappointing. The core gameplay loop on offer simply does not do enough to be exciting in comparison to everything else on offer.
You spend a lot of time guiding Senua from one location to the next, solving fairly simple puzzles to clear obstacles in her path. They do not pose any sort of challenge, simply requiring the intelligent use of the returning Focus mechanic, or perhaps lighting a few torches to dispel pesky shadows blocking the way.
When Senua is beset by enemies hell-bent on bringing her adventure to a premature end, all she needs to do is dodge their attacks, waiting for the right moment to initiate a parry that throws them off balance, eventually using Focus to slow the action down and deal a flurry of strikes before ending things with a finishing blow.
While I do understand Ninja Theory’s aim to present combat as part of a seamless experience, it’s truly baffling to see the action in an action-adventure title fall so flat. There is no variety to enemy types and their attacks, with slightly altered animations requiring you to adjust the timing of your parry to gain the upper hand.
It’s a combat loop that’s so simple, my first real death came at the hands of a particularly memorable monster that incorporated fire into its repertoire of skills, and a poorly timed evade that had me on the backfoot for the rest of the fight since my reflexes failed to keep up with the action. However, my next attempt against that enemy saw Senua swat aside its attempts to hurt her with ease, plunging her sword into its gut almost disdainfully.
The game’s combat is so absurdly easy that it almost negates the newly introduced Dark Rot Mode, a returning feature from the first game, entirely. For those among you who don’t know what that is, think of it as the game’s version of New Game Plus where Senua is touched by Hel’s darkness. It’s a curse that spreads its effects every time she falls in battle. Die enough and you lose all of your progress and will have to begin your adventure anew.
“There’s a lot to love in Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II Enhanced Edition.“
Since that mechanic is designed around dying frequently, its presence in the Enhanced Edition only serves as a reminder to just be more cautious in a fight and master your parry timings. It could have been a lot better if Ninja Theory had tightened up evade and parry windows, adding some real stakes to the equation in order to make dying more impactful with Dark Rot Mode active, but it is what it is.
The gameplay loop could have been a whole lot better, with complex puzzles and a more challenging combat loop being sorely missed in an otherwise stellar experience.
This game was reviewed on the PlayStation 5.
