ReviewsIGN - 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-reviewGamespot - 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-reviewXbox 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-reviewStevivor - 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-reviewGameinformer - 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-demonsPurexbox - 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-iiVGC - 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-scoreGod 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/reviewMetro 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_tagPress 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-reviewCurrently 81% on MC -
https://www.metacritic.com/game/senuas- ... x-series-x & 83% on OC -
https://opencritic.com/game/16475/senua ... llblade-ii