While the main appeal of Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice, – Psychosis and mental instability – was not for me there is still plenty of fun to be had with the game.
Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice
Ninja Theory · Aug 8, 2017
About
Ninja Theory is defined by three things: ninja-class melee gameplay, strong character stories and a unique art vision. On Hellblade, we will double down on what we do best to give you a deeper character in a twisted world with brutal, uncompromising, combat.
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Critic reviews
- Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice is a formidable concoction of beauty and psychological horror that’s often marred with a frequent claustrophobic sense of frustration. The rather cumbersome puzzle feature set in place would be something that I would usually consider as a weak link within a cast iron chain. Yet, to the developer’s credit, they have completely enforced exactly what they set out to do, sending my mind into a kaleidoscope of emotions that metaphorically ride across the five stages of grief.
- Though the puzzles are bland and the combat is stretched too thin, neither of those aspects is bad enough to ruin the incredible journey established by Hellblade’s narrative. I can’t overstate how effective the realistic depiction of psychosis is at making Senua’s journey incredibly intimate and compelling, and a strong attachment to her character kept me hooked right up to the end of the story.
- 9.0Hellblade is a screenshot-worthy game through and through. The environments are beautifully macabre and the character models are simply stunning. The facial emotions Senua displays are downright eerie at times.Hellblade is an amazing achievement in game design. It is something I think everyone should play.
- 9.0Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice’s most riveting achievement isn’t how well it functions, nor how well it’s written and voiced, nor how well it looks, but how well all of that unifies into such a dark and compelling experience. The constant tension throughout the entirety of this unique and engaging journey will disturb you, intrigue you and stay with you, long after the credits roll.
- 8.5Hellblade successfully weaves metaphors of grief and loss into fundamental game mechanics and rich folklore, and through these I felt like I truly was able to understand how someone else sees the world.
Gamer reviews
this was art
this game was art in every kind of way
one of Xbox Masterpieces
This is one of the Xbox masterpieces. I love everything about this game, especially the 3D audio feature. This gives me chills more than any horror games I've played. The immersion is too strong. Not focused on jump scares or anything but will simply make your spine chill due to its compelling narration and the psychological warfare Senua is battling. Hoping to play the sequel of this game.! **VISUALS** _Artistry: 12/12_ _Technical Merit: 8/8_ **SOUND DESIGN** _Music: 12/12_ _Sound Effects & Vocals: 8/8_ **INTERACTION** _Control & Interface: 7/8_ _Player Agency: 6/8_ _Accessibility: 4/4_ **MECHANICS** _Feedback & Fun: 8/10_ _Depth: 3/5_ _Variety: 4/5_ **CHARACTER** _Narrative: 8/8_ _Heart: 6/6_ _Originality: 5/6_
- 7.0
good enough
it is an interesting game that i have ever played. Im usually not into those psychological gams but this one got me so i beat it in a week. graphs are great on series x, story is ok. puzzles are weak as you feel you are beating the same puzzle over and over again. kombat dynamics are weak. there are 3-4 tricks and you do same moves, nothing interesting. ı give a 7 out of 10.
Excellent Emotional Game!
I tried Hellblade several years ago on PS4. It had a game ending bug where I couldn’t progress in the game past the first part. I bought it on the Switch, but I never played it on there. When it came out for Xbox Series X, I thought this was the time. It’s a beautiful game in 4k with raytracing. It’s an intense game experience- especially with headphones on. The 3D audio is excellent. It’s an emotional game- but that’s a good thing. I like games that make you feel something. The only downside was that there were too many rune puzzles- they became kind of tedious. But other than that, I really enjoyed the experience. I’m glad there’s a sequel coming in at some point. I could see playing this game again in the future.
I like it. It was a different kind of experience. Must play!
This game was a huge surprise. I did not have any expectations but once I played it, it really shocked me. The graphics are awesome and the storyline gives out a lot. It is a good experience for everyone who likes a bit of psychological horror games.
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