Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice

I'm not usually the type to play games that intentionally make you feel powerless, weak, not in control .. yet I was drawn to its visuals, its dark atmosphere .. and somehow curious to get a glimpse of what it's like to deal with psychosis. I know very little about mental illnesses, but to me it clearly shows Ninja Theory have treated the subject matter with care and respect. Browsing through other reviews, Senua's Sacrifice can be a love-it or hate-it kind of game. I think it comes down to how much you're willing to put yourself into Senua's shoes, suspend your disbelief, and see the world through her eyes. Objectively, I should give the game a 3/5 .. the actual combat and puzzle gameplay mechanics are very lightweight and repetitive, no doubt .. but I didn't care, at all .. I was so immersed in Senua's mind and how she observes the world around her .. intrigued by how unforgiving, unpredictable and full of illusions her world is, where you don't know what to believe. She often hears multiple voices in her mind that are a mix of casting doubts and encouragement at the same time. I thought those voices would eventually become grating, but strangely enough.. I found it to be the opposite; the voices are the only thing that remain familiar to Senua; they always keep her company in a world that is constantly changing and playing tricks on her. That's what the game truly nails for me, immersion and atmosphere. In just about every sense.. visually, the voicework, the soundtrack, the story. Not the kind of story where everything is neatly laid out, but one that leaves you wondering what it all means, my favourite. Subjectively, an easy 5/5.

I literrally completed the game a couple of hours ago and, having had a singular experience, felt compelled to say a few words about it. The game stands out in so many ways from its contemporaries that - if you truly appreciate the art of video games - you can't pass this up. At the same time, I had a few *really* frustrating experiences along the way that it left a somewhat blemished impression (with some puzzles and some combat encounters). It has to be said that the incredible competence of Ninja Theory's character artists and animators is on full display in this game. Even in 2022 it still stands out as best in class. The music is fantastic and carries you throughout, some of the environments are really designed for effect, and the performance of the main character will affect you emotionally. Combat is quite cinematic and heart pumping, though it is one of the aspects I had some real issues with mid-way through the game. At the end of the day, you may not have the same problems I had with it, and even if you do run into some of the same frustrations it still is an incredible game that ought to be experienced by everyone.

To sum up my experience with Senua's Sacrifice: impressive graphics, lackluster combat, "Match the Rune" puzzles that got old fast and lots of psychological stuff. For me it's a typical "Play once and never again" game, not too bad but also nothing to write home about, would have worked better as a movie.

This game is utterly remarkable. Hellblade offers true immersion into something new and original and is a heavily story driven experience. It is by no means just a walking simulator and has great original puzzles and fantastic combat- which while being nothing like DmC, is hugely satisfying and really works well with the game. It even has some great boss fights! Everything from the graphics, music, effects and atmosphere is just so on point. One of the environments in particular (which I won't describe here for spoiler reasons but which will be obvious when you play) is just amazing and stands out as one of the most memorable game segments in any game I've played. Then on top of that, Senua! She is such a brilliant and well delivered character. This isn't even a game that starts well and drops off or has a weak ending. From start to end this game just gets better and better all the way to the fantastic ending. You won't be able to experience something like Hellblade with any other game. I think one of the main reasons for this is you can see it's a team of people who have been left alone to make the game THEY want to make. They have been allowed to create their own vision. So many developers are sucked into the "AAA" meat grinder studios and essentially have no say in what they are making. They are told they need to make Assassins Creed 43 and Call of Duty 62. I would not be surprised if many people working at these "AAA" studios go home at the end of the day wishing they could be working of something else. Hellblade is the result of a genuinely passionate developer team. They've nailed this one so well. Just buy it.

Usually when the credits roll a good game makes me want to play it again. That's not the case here. After completing Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice I had the overwhelming urge to switch off my console, get up and hug my loved ones. Because it is an outstanding game. The gist of what you have here is a linear walking simulator crossed with hack'n'slash and puzzle mechanics steeped in Norse mythology. Oh, and one of the most accurate and nuanced representations of mental illness in videogames to date. Ninja Theory cannot be praised highly enough for their delicately crafted journey that left me deeply moved and with a sense of life-affirmation that is seldomly encountered in video games. Good games go to Heaven. Outstanding games drag you everywhere and make you like it. As I said: Outstanding game.