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

It’s literally top of my input options. Are you on PC?

I searched online and a few people are talking about this on Reddit. Things are a little unclear but, from what I can tell, there is a y-axis option on console (listed as the first item under Input Settings) but not on PC. This seems odd and hopefully the option will quickly be added to the PC version.

Photek wrote: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.

Do I need to play the first one, do you reckon? I have downloaded both, so happy to give it a go. BUT I got Alan Wake free when I bought Alan Wake 2, and am currently struggling with it (the first game) a little. Most specifically some of the slightly dated gameplay mechanics. Tempted just to watch a YouTube summary and crack on with the newer game.

Would Hellblade fall into that category, do you reckon?

Edit: just saw the Y-axis posts. I'll be waiting for that to be added :lol:

Poser wrote:
Photek wrote: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.

Do I need to play the first one, do you reckon? I have downloaded both, so happy to give it a go. BUT I got Alan Wake free when I bought Alan Wake 2, and am currently struggling with it (the first game) a little. Most specifically some of the slightly dated gameplay mechanics. Tempted just to watch a YouTube summary and crack on with the newer game.

Would Hellblade fall into that category, do you reckon?

Edit: just saw the Y-axis posts. I'll be waiting for that to be added

HB2 has a recap of the first games story at the start so not really. Gameplay wise both of these games are similar, the combat is basic enough but it's more about the atmosphere and tone, as impressive as the visuals in both games are the sound with headphones is incredible.

Worth mentioning that both of these games are pretty short, so it's not such an investment of time. I really like the first game so I'd recommend playing it. This sequel isn't quite hitting the same highs for me so far.

more heat than light wrote:Worth mentioning that both of these games are pretty short, so it's not such an investment of time. I really like the first game so I'd recommend playing it. This sequel isn't quite hitting the same highs for me so far.

As a time-poor dad, that's music to my ears.

I'll try the first one while I'm waiting for the axis issue to be fixed on the sequel.

Photek wrote:It’s literally top of my input options. Are you on PC?

Streaming on a Series S

The very first game revealed/announced for Xbox Series X has finally arrived - Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 is a very specific kind of narrative experience that may not appeal to everyone, but the tightly focused design opens the door to astonishing level of craft and technology in the visual design. Join John Linneman for a deep dive into the exceptional audio-visual accomplishments of Ninja Theory's latest.

00:00 - Introduction
02:27 - What Makes this Special?
03:53 - The Character Rendering
05:17 - Impressive Details
06:28 - Cinematic Effects?
08:26 - Resolution
09:33 - The Full Fat UE5 Experience
12:09 - What about HDR?
14:09 - Environmental Effects
16:26 - The Beauty of Nanite
18:55 - Shadow Quality - VSM in Effect
19:42 - Xbox Performance on Series X
20:39 - Is 60 fps feasible on Xbox? Plus, PC info!
26:02 - The Binaural Audio of Hellblade II
28:53 - Comparisons to Gameplay Reveal Trailer
31:36 - Wrap-up

Ninja Theory has made one of the most technically accomplished examples of real-time graphics we've seen to date and it absolutely should be experienced.

https://www.eurogamer.net/digitalfoundr ... e-graphics

Hmm.

I've played a short amount of this, if you can call it playing that is.

So far I've held forward quite a bit whilst watching some scripted sequences, completed a "puzzle" that involved standing and looking at something, and engaged in some combat that makes Rise of the Robots look sophisticated.

Does the game start soon or is *this* the game?

Jenuall wrote:Hmm.

I've played a short amount of this, if you can call it playing that is.

So far I've held forward quite a bit whilst watching some scripted sequences, completed a "puzzle" that involved standing and looking at something, and engaged in some combat that makes Rise of the Robots look sophisticated.

Does the game start soon or is *this* the game?

You never played the original, huh?

I loved the first, but it's definitely not going to be a game for all.

It's a few years back now but I don't recall having any issues with the gameplay in the first. Yes maybe a little sparse but between the environments, the story, the puzzles and the combat I always felt there was something engaging me.

Jenuall wrote:Hmm.

I've played a short amount of this, if you can call it playing that is.

So far I've held forward quite a bit whilst watching some scripted sequences, completed a "puzzle" that involved standing and looking at something, and engaged in some combat that makes Rise of the Robots look sophisticated.

Does the game start soon or is *this* the game?

If it follows a similar loop to the first one, it’ll be walk/explore, puzzle, voices in head/cutscene, combat, rinse and repeat.

Jenuall wrote:Hmm.

I've played a short amount of this, if you can call it playing that is.

So far I've held forward quite a bit whilst watching some scripted sequences, completed a "puzzle" that involved standing and looking at something, and engaged in some combat that makes Rise of the Robots look sophisticated.

Does the game start soon or is *this* the game?

That’s it. I’ve gotten a bit further into it and the linear pathways kind of spoil any tension the player might feel during sequences like the foggy night rescue; you always know that nothing will happen. And then it’s just cut scene after cut scene.

As an audio/visual artwork it’s quite the experience. There are times where it looks real, like actors on a film set rather than a video game.

But there is less ‘game’ here than what I reckon are similar games like Dear Esther and Rapture because they at least have exploration on their side.

Crucially, Hellblade 2's visual impact is similar across its key platforms. The game heavily relies on software ray tracing on all formats and doesn't seem to scale far above Series X on PC. The Series S also looks quite similar to the X, just with the expected cutbacks to resolution and the removal of Lumen reflections, which doesn't overly degrade the visuals. Weaker machines, like PC gaming handhelds, are also capable of a solid and good-looking experience, though the Steam Deck proves a bridge too far. I'm pretty happy with the state of the game at the moment, and I think a healthy range of systems can achieve enjoyable gameplay. It's definitely a heavy game, but given its exceptional visual quality, performance on lower-end hardware seems perfectly acceptable.

https://www.eurogamer.net/digitalfoundr ... ellblade-2

Got back on this tonight, think the puzzles are even worse than the first game, I just don’t find them remotely fun or engaging. Really liking the rest of it though.

Edit, put another hour or so into it this morning and this would rate a fair bit better if they’d just dropped the puzzles, at this point (I think about 2/3 of the wha through?) I don’t see them as anything but a tool to extend the length of the game by getting you to run around and hold focus till you find the thing you’re looking for within the environment.

Think as it stands I’d give it an 8/10.

Just finished this, another very good game all in all, one that with the omission of the puzzles would be a bit better in my opinion. A visual treat for sure though, the story is as psychosis filled as the first, hard to know what’s real and what is in Senua’s head.

Wonder if Ninja Theory’s next game is Hellblade 3, I hope if it is, it doesn’t take 7 years and drops the puzzles, or makes big changes to them.

Apparently they are making Hellblade 3 and another IP.

Good to know they’re doing a 3rd game in the series, despite my one complaint with the second one, they’ve both been very enjoyable to play through.

They spent 7 years on this?!

And they get to continue while other studios are axed.

Unbelievable

Jenuall wrote:They spent 7 years on this?!

And they get to continue while other studios are axed.

Unbelievable

Yeah…. It is quite ridiculous to be honest, I’d say it’s probably a ten hour game if you take it almost agonisingly slowly as well, so it’s not long either, it’s a very well made game though, but it should be after that long making it!

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

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