Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice

Nice graphics and atmosphere. Actual gameplay is mediocre. Puzzles are rather annoying.

The atmosphere in Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice is absolutely incredible. There hasn't been a low note so far, several hours in. Each new area feels more impressive than the last, and the sense of desperation is palpable. While the focus of this game is not the combat, the fighting elements are done very well. Dodging is fast and responsive, yet limited so that it is not overpowered. Weapon impacts are satisfying, and the game relies on visual cues other than health bars to indicate an enemy's status, There nothing in the way of a HUD, with absolute zero screen clutter. You have to pay attention. The introduction to the puzzles could have been done somewhat better. This was the only problem I had, as the goal is not immediately clear. AFter that first hurdle, however, everything else was intuitive. It is nice to find a game that doens't hold your hand. As for difficulty, on Auto, it seemed quite challenging, although I'm not sure exactly how that difficulty works. The game is technically permadeath, but after dying three or four times, I still don't seem to be in danger of losing my save. It seems like it's something you intentionally have to trigger, as the mechanic is tied into the story itself, similar to Dark Souls, although I haven't died nearly as much here. Overall, I would gladly have paid twice as much, and I haven't even finished it yet.

The scene where Senua met Dilion in the sea of flowers is one of the most beautiful moments in my momerise of video game. She was lonely and shy He was mild and kind They fell in love with each other It makes think Venom Snake and Quiet So pure.So mild.So moving. 赛娜在花海中遇见迪利安是我关于电子游戏最好的回忆之一 她孤僻害羞 他善良温柔 他在坠入爱河 我想起了毒蛇和静静 如此纯洁，温和，动人

If you have any doubt that videogames are art, play this game. Anyone who call themselves gamer, needs to experience this.

I'm not terribly far into Hellblade, but I've encountered puzzles, combat, and a whole lot of atmosphere. I've encountered the hook that is what Hellblade wants to offer, and I like it. The presentation is phenomenal. What I think really stands out though, is Senua's animation. A whole lot of work went into small details. She walks across narrow beams the way a real person inclined to walk across such would do so, and the amount of care she takes crossing such a beam changes with how high up she is. Things like that, and all the other very human ways that Senua does things really go a long way. Combat, so far, seems simple, but feels visceral. It feels weighty, what it has, and the opponents feel like they're actually there when you cut them. The use of Senua's insanity as a puzzle solving mechanism is quite clever and equally well done. Everything seems polished and well done. Well done.