It’s a reasonably odd time for Hellblade 2 to lastly be launched.
The sport was initially introduced alongside the Xbox Sequence X, as an indication of issues to return for the console. And but, right here it’s, as Microsoft‘s plans look like shifting considerably.
In some ways, Hellblade 2 is strictly the kind of sport Microsoft and Xbox followers have been crying out for – a third-person, narrative-focused sport with a heavy emphasis on presentation.
Nevertheless, whereas the sport does certainly ship presentational may that’s nearly unchallenged this era, it’s sadly paired with gameplay that may really feel extra at house within the earlier era.
Marry this to a story that hardly fills its already slimline 6-hour size, and it’s troublesome to not really feel disillusioned by Hellblade 2, even contemplating its best-in-class technical achievement.
The sport follows Senua as she grapples with not solely the psychological scars left over from the primary sport, but in addition a need for revenge in opposition to the raiders that destroyed her house.
The character of Senua is way and away one of many sport’s highlights. She is extremely well-rendered, each graphically and narratively, and whereas her arc isn’t as transformative because it was within the first sport, she’s nonetheless a magnetic on-screen presence.
Melina Juergens’ efficiency as Senua is captured completely. She, alongside the sport’s visuals, are the sport’s undisputed highlights. The remainder of the sport’s forged is much less memorable, sadly, due partially to the quick period of time you get to spend with them. The plot can be considerably meandering and feels prefer it’s constructing to the top a number of instances earlier than it truly does.
Iceland, the sport’s setting, is completely breathtaking. On PC at most settings, some sequences are indistinguishable from live-action footage. The panorama is gorgeous, as are the surrealist sequences filled with flash and flourish. The character fashions are additionally among the many finest seen within the medium up to now. There aren’t many, however all of them are astonishingly detailed.
“Melina Juergens’ efficiency as Senua is captured completely. She, alongside the sport’s visuals, are the sport’s undisputed highlights.”
Hellblade 2’s sound design additionally deserves point out. In case you can, use headphones when taking part in via it, because the spatial audio does quite a bit so as to add to the tone and the environment of the sport. The rating is imposing, and the fixed dialogue, each inside and exterior, creates a frantic really feel which fits an extended technique to convey Senua’s psychosis.
Whereas it might look and sound distinctive, nevertheless, the sport stumbles in terms of its mechanics, which don’t really feel like they’ve superior for the reason that final sport. Nearly all of Hellblade 2 is spent strolling via linear ranges, often interrupted by some restricted fight and puzzle-solving.
The puzzles themselves, sadly, really feel plucked out of a sport from over a decade in the past. They’re so easy that the problem usually isn’t fixing them, however being distracted by one thing like your telephone when you do. The one actual saving grace is, once more, the sport’s visuals, which imply that even in case you’re not engaged with the puzzles, the detailed places they’re set in will nonetheless hold your consideration to some extent.

The puzzles could usually be uninspired however the exception is one specific sort of collectable, which has you searching for large stone faces hidden within the rockery round Iceland. These are cleverly hidden and began taking part in methods on our minds, as we began seeing faces within the rocks the place there have been none. There’s no actual puzzle to discovering them, however they’re an ingenious addition.
The fight is equally primary. Senua has two assaults and a stun, in addition to a parry. Whereas it appears unbelievable as a result of absolutely movement captured animations, the precise combating is so stilted and easy that fights can usually really feel like a chore.
Fight is nearly at all times lowered to arenas the place enemies spawn one by one. There are a handful of various enemy varieties, however the resolution is nearly at all times a easy parry and a heavy assault. By the point every enounter had completed, we’d already had our fill of the fight.
Outdoors of its presentational may then, there’s little real evolution between the primary sport and Hellblade 2. Senua continues to be a spotlight, and each screenshot appears like magic, however truly taking part in it doesn’t match that stage of marvel.
Regardless that Hellblade 2 is already a brief expertise, you possibly can simply take one other two hours off the sport’s run time and doubtless find yourself with one thing stronger. This isn’t even a case of “it’s superb for Recreation Go”; there are higher video games on the service to spend your time with.
Hellblade 2 does deserve immense quantities of credit score for its visible, audio, and performing achievements, that are all really unbelievable. Each hour we performed had its justifiable share of “I can’t imagine that is what video games appear to be now” moments. The issue was that every of these hours felt like three, as a result of what gamers are literally anticipated to do on this gorgeous world is kind of uninspired.
In the end, Hellblade 2 must be thought-about a stumble as Xbox will get its first-party story again on observe. The sport will probably obtain some acclaim in the course of the coming awards season, however this can nearly definitely be on a technical foundation, and never associated to how the sport truly performs.
It could have been satisfactory as a launch sport, however in the midst of the era, Hellblade 2 isn’t the sequel we’d hoped for. Followers of the primary sport may maybe break up it throughout a number of nights for a greater expertise, and Melina Juergens’ efficiency deserves to be seen. It additionally deserves a extra partaking expertise, nevertheless.