Senua's Saga:Hellblade II (XSX|S/PC/Game Pass). Out now!! 83% on OC. DF: "The Next Level in Real-Time Visuals".

[Monkey Man]

Headphones Required – Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II’s Binaural Audio Is Like Nothing You’ve Ever Heard

There's also now a team of seven working on Hellblade II's audio design, whereas Garcia Diaz worked alone on Senua's Sacrifice. He admits: "The first game was a massive project with so many details, and I couldn't do everything. There's a lot of places where you can't hear foley or footsteps, I just focused on what felt the most important."

As I move through Hellblade II's incredible environments, I can truly feel and hear the premium approach to even the smallest sounds. During one scene, I lead Senua through an abandoned village, and we can hear the remnants of its fate, echoing from the past. I hear an anguished mother crying intertwined with the harsh buzz of flies orbiting a nearby carcass, so intense and erratic I nearly swat myself a few times. On the calmer, open coasts, I hear the distant crashing of waves and ambient winds landing secondary to the crunch of Senua's feet padding cautiously over loose stones.

Crucially, with headphones on, I can hear where all of this is. This isn't a wash of sound effects, they're placed precisely where they should be. Garcia Diaz and his team have been able to consider acoustics more fully, and how sound moves and reverberates in Hellblade II as it does in the real world, to create that deeper sense of immersion.

"The acoustics play an incredibly important role," Garcia Diaz adds. "For example, if you shout and there's a rock, the sound is going to bounce off that. If a priest is chanting in a cave, you want to hear the sound travelling towards you, or the opposite if something is moving away. All of the sounds work together to create atmosphere and tension, and with this technology, we can achieve that."

https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2024/05/17/ ... ver-heard/

Remember to charge your headphones this weekend.

[Monkey Man]

[Photek]

Ninja Theory’s next game has been green lit so the studio shouldn’t be in peril for the foreseeable future.

[Robbo-92]

While thats good to know, I can't help but think the likes of Tango Gameworks may well have had another game in the works before they got shut down.

Looking forward to playing this tomorrow though, expecting a real visual treat if nothing else, headset charged too

[Photek]

While thats good to know, I can't help but think the likes of Tango Gameworks may well have had another game in the works before they got shut down.

Looking forward to playing this tomorrow though, expecting a real visual treat if nothing else, headset charged too

No they pitched Hi-Fi Rush 2 and it was rejected. Which is strawberry floating stupid, they didnt have a game given the go ahead by Xbox.

[Robbo-92]

While thats good to know, I can't help but think the likes of Tango Gameworks may well have had another game in the works before they got shut down.

Looking forward to playing this tomorrow though, expecting a real visual treat if nothing else, headset charged too

No they pitched Hi-Fi Rush 2 and it was rejected. Which is strawberry floating stupid, they didnt have a game given the go ahead by Xbox.

Thats really poor of Xbox, makes their stance on praising the game, saying they need more games like Hi-Fi Rush, only to then say no to a sequel just really confusing from a consumer's perspective. I thought with Hi-Fi Rush being one of the games ported over to PS5 (maybe Switch 2 as well?), it'd do well on the Game Pass and actual sales front as well, I've not looked how well it sold on PS5, but I'd guess it didn't sell nothing unless it was massively overpriced.

It feels like Xbox are in a really weird situation at the moment, same with Sony as well.

[Monkey Man]

[Monkey Man]

Reviews

IGN - 8

Senua's Saga: Hellblade II delivers a spellbinding adventure packed with cinematic spectacle and story surprises that maintains a surging sense of forward momentum and never wastes a second of its slender run time. Its combat manages to feel consistently intimidating and immediate despite its mechanical simplicity, and its perspective-based puzzles regularly scratch cerebral itches even though they largely rehash or rework concepts from Senua's previous story. A journey as brutal as it is beautiful delivered with hardware-pushing visuals and persistently absorbing audio, Senua's Saga: Hellblade II is another Viking-worthy feast for the senses that meets the high bar set by its predecessor, even if it never really manages to clear it.

https://www.ign.com/articles/senuas-sag ... -ii-review

Gamespot - 6

Based on its new naming convention, the use of "saga" in Hellblade 2's title, and Microsoft's acquisition of developer Ninja Theory following the success of Senua's Sacrifice, it seems as if Hellblade is slated to be a series as well as a staple in Xbox's first-party lineup. That said, at this point, I don't exactly understand where the series is headed, if not to the box office. There are plenty of games that prove games can be art, but as some studios lean harder into proving that in one specific way that cribs from Hollywood, we're seeing some games that feel afraid of being games. With too much focus on cinematics and too little on creating an experience that is engaging, Senua's Saga fails to reach the same highs as its predecessor--even if it does look stunning whilst trying.

https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/senuas ... 0-6418229/

Eurogamer - 5 out of 5

In short, Hellblade 2 is as confident a sequel as any I've ever seen - Ninja Theory has shown tremendous ambition with this game and the result is equally tremendous. A lot has changed since the release of Senua's Sacrifice in 2017, not least in terms of our comfort and familiarity with mental health and mental illness as subject matter but, if there was any doubt as to whether Hellblade could move with the times, it can be safely put to rest now. Ninja Theory has not only proven it can read a changing landscape, but that Hellblade and Senua absolutely still deserve a place of prominence within that space.

https://www.eurogamer.net/senuas-saga-h ... e-2-review

Xbox Era - 10

Despite the backing of a company as large and as well-funded as Microsoft, Ninja Theory have, in my opinion, nurtured their independent spirit and kept it well and truly alive in every facet of Senua's Saga: Hellblade II. It's brutal. It's breath-taking. It's brilliant. If this is “Independent AAA”?

Sign me up for more.

https://xboxera.com/2024/05/21/senuas-s ... -ii-review

Stevivor - 9.5

Senua’s Saga Hellblade 2 is a video game only on its surface. Scratch that away and you’ll see that it’s a deep, thought-provoking, interactive experience proving games are an art form that demands skill and talent. Ninja Theory should be very proud.

https://stevivor.com/reviews/senuas-sag ... e-2-review

Gameinformer - 9

Senua's Saga: Hellblade II's conclusion ends on another strong note, and despite my initial reservations about continuing Senua's story, I walked away happy to see her conquer new monsters, both literal and metaphorical.

https://www.gameinformer.com/review/sen ... old-demons

Purexbox - 7

Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 is the best-looking video game we've ever played. It sounds incredible, Melina Juergens acts herself inside out, and on a purely technical level this is just next-level stuff all round. However, we still don't feel as though extending Senua's plight into a Saga is a good idea. We remain unconvinced, and it's because this sequel feels like diminishing returns, as we had worried it might. It's not as vital or as unique in 2024, and it goes for bombast as a means of smoothing things over, resulting in a good game, an interesting eight hour romp, but nothing that screams must-play. Weak combat and dull puzzles are just more salt in these wounds, unfortunately.

https://www.purexbox.com/reviews/xbox-s ... llblade-ii

VGC - 3 out of 5

Ultimately, Hellblade 2 has to be considered a stumble as Xbox gets its first-party story back on track. The game will likely receive some acclaim during the coming awards season, but this will almost certainly be on a technical basis, and not related to how the game actually plays.

It would have been passable as a launch game, but in the middle of the generation, Hellblade 2 isn't the sequel we'd hoped for. Fans of the first game could perhaps split it across a few nights for a better experience, and Melina Juergens' performance deserves to be seen. It also deserves a more engaging experience, however.

https://www.videogameschronicle.com/review/hellblade-2/

Videogamer - 9

Though uncomfortably bleak and distressing, Helldivers 2 is something truly special.

https://www.videogamer.com/reviews/senu ... -2-review/

Shacknews - 9

Hellblade 2 still does incredibly well. The new story is weighty, the audio is exceptional, the scenery is ridiculously dense and rich, and the combat feels intense and impactful in new and interesting ways.

https://www.shacknews.com/article/13994 ... view-score

God is a geek - 7.5

Senua's Saga: Hellblade II is a good sequel with some excellent acting and gorgeous visuals, but the pacing struggles quite a bit.

https://www.godisageek.com/reviews/senu ... ii-review/

PCGamesN - 9

Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 is an impeccable story of coming to terms with trauma and making difficult decisions, punctuated by moments of outstanding beauty and strength.

https://www.pcgamesn.com/senuas-saga-hellblade-2/review

Metro Gamecentral - 5

A joyless slog of barely interactive entertainment and a muddled portrayal of mental illness… that just so happens to have the best graphics ever on a video game console.

https://metro.co.uk/2024/05/21/senuas-s ... mosaic_tag

Press Start - 9

Senua's Saga: Hellblade II is yet another arresting, artful chapter in an adventure now two games long. Though it might approach iteration with a very safe hand, only going so far as to correct the original's shortcomings, Ninja Theory's clear strengths in story craft, audiovisual design, as well as their care for the dark subject matter manage to shine through brighter than ever before.

https://press-start.com.au/reviews/xbox ... -new-hope/

PCGamer - 58%

Despite its greater scale and visual splendour, this sequel fails to escape the shadow of its predecessor with a muddled tale that Senua herself feels out of place in.

https://www.pcgamer.com/games/adventure ... -2-review/

Windows Central - 4.5 out of 5

Follow Senua through the cliffs, tundras, and forests of Iceland as she seeks to save her people from certain doom. A landmark achievement in visuals, audio, and narrative, Senua's Saga: Hellblade II is one of the best first-party Xbox games I've ever played.

https://www.windowscentral.com/gaming/x ... e-2-review

Currently 81% on MC - https://www.metacritic.com/game/senuas- ... x-series-x & 83% on OC - https://opencritic.com/game/16475/senua ... llblade-ii

[Knoyleo]

Excited for this, but £50 is too much for a video game, and I doubt I'll find much time to actually play this properly any time soon, so will hold off for a sale and when I have a bit more time to enjoy it with headphones.

[kazanova_Frankenstein]

The polarising review scores fill me with hope. Really liked the first one.

[more heat than light]

I genuinely can't get over how good this game looks. It's utterly incredible. Only half an hour in and I'm completely on board, even if it is just more of the same.

[Robbo-92]

Thought it’d get some comments about the gameplay, it was decent enough in the first one, but nothing groundbreaking, with the repetitive puzzles already coming back, I expected the gameplay to be similar too, will be loading this up shortly anyway.

[Photek]

I'll give it a whirl, Still feel like I should finish the first one. Some of the reviews say the puzzles are less frustrating and the New Game + mode is a better way to 100% it.

[kazanova_Frankenstein]

I hope there are no bits like the burning house in the first game. The amount of times she burnt to death whilst screaming horrifically meant it went from harrowing to hilarious to just plain annoying in about 3 minutes.

[Robbo-92]

Just finished chapter 1, combat is better than the first one that’s for sure, although you need to either dodge or parry by reading the hints it gives you, it feels really weighty too.

It looks phenomenal, tied with Plague Tale Requiem for the best looking Series X game so far in my opinion.

[Photek]

Just finished chapter 1, combat is better than the first one that’s for sure, although you need to either dodge or parry by reading the hints it gives you, it feels really weighty too.

It looks phenomenal, tied with Plague Tale Requiem for the best looking Series X game so far in my opinion.

That's quite the high bar.

[Monkey Man]

twitter.com/oliemack/status/1792863152775856343

Stunning it's definitely the word, looks crazy. Gave up for today somewhere in Chapter 2 as a bit too intense for long periods with the audio. Combat is better, only been a couple of easy puzzles so far so can't comment on that yet.

[Carlos]

As a work of interactive artwork it’s brilliant. The sound design is exceptional, reminds me of similar work at the theatre. The 1-1 fights are very intense. It’s also very pretty's in a bleak sense of the word. In many ways it’s akin to Dear Esther with the odd scrap.

But much like the first game I find the puzzles don’t really add anything to the experience and there is zero variety in the enemy design. Supposed unique human Vikings all look identical. 7 years of development and they couldn’t add in a few beards, faces and hairstyles? Strip out the combat and you have a very good short film. It’s pretty but I wouldn’t say it looks any better than Forbidden West.

Oh and whilst the accessibility settings are really in depth they forgot to put in the ability to flip the y-axis. How that went under the radar I will never know.

[Photek]

You can absolutely flip the Y axis. It’s literally the first option under Input in settings.

[Carlos]

You can absolutely flip the Y axis. It’s literally the first option under Input in settings.

I’d like to think I’m just blind but I’m staring at the input settings now and all I see is vibration strength and look sensitivity; there is no y-axis flip. I’ve checked every menu repeatedly.

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