Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 review - Another tryst with fate and furies

When I picked Senua's Saga Hellblade 2, I wondered how Ninja Theory would surpass what they accomplished in 2017, without exploiting Senua's psychosis or making the tale and the tasks repetitive. A little over seven hours later, I can assure you the developers have created another brutally compelling tale elevated by its performance, in-game atmosphere, and storytelling.

Senua's Saga Hellblade 2 is an often meandering pondering of human psychology, the promise to protect others, and the creeping fear of failure that comes with it. Sacrifice still hangs like a specter over the body of this Saga, with the Furies (the multiple disjointed voices that speak within her) ever-questioning how much she is willing to lose, how much failure she can stomach, and how much she can withstand to sacrifice for the greater good.

A quick recap at the beginning tells you the tale of Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice, the protagonist's struggle with the voices in her head, her lover Dillian dying to Northmen raids, and her resolve to put an end to the latter.

This is where the sequel begins, sitting on a Viking boat as a slave amid a torrential storm.

Looking for Crossword hints & solutions? Check out latest NYT Mini Crossword Answers, LA Times Crossword Answers, and USA Today Crossword Answers

Hellblade 2 takes players on a brutal journey of keeping promises and changing within

A new land (Image via Xbox Game Studios)

Senua's charge into the foreign land with alien threats is fuelled by her promise to put an end to the raids that captured her people. She lets herself be captured as a slave and taken to the Northman's land so she can find out what's happening. The storm topples her boat and leaves her on the beach, disoriented and defenseless.

The central narrative picks up from here as she makes her through this harsh world she finds herself in. She finds a new companion, learns about what plagues the land, and vows each time to help and protect those around her.

Her unique way of viewing the world as what might be instead of what it is allows her to see things in a different light, learn the truth behind the pale, and lighten the darkness.

In Hellblade 2, the journey outside is complimented by the one that continues within her—coming to terms with the marks left by her father, the guilt she carries of being unable to save her people, and doubts on whether she will succeed this time.

The developers shift between these two journeys deftly, blurring the lines between the reality of the land Senua finds herself in and the one populated by her nightmares and visions. This never felt out of tempo during the narrative.

The voices within (Image via Xbox Game Studios)

Peer through the veil within

The game wastes no time in emphasizing what drives Senua forward in this quest: the promise to protect her fellow men and women. As we make our way by the sea after the shipwreck or through the lands during her journey, she repeatedly sees shadows of those who died, those she failed to save, calling out her failure and trying to drag her in.

Apart from these, Senua continues to be haunted in Hellblade 2 by the voices of the Furies and that of her father. But she is not the same as she was in the first title. She seems more accepting of the Furies, and they of her.

That's not to say the Furies have stopped doubting her or questioning her. Their whispers still dance from one ear to the other, reacting to the world around Senua and the dangers she finds herself in. The uncanny feeling of people hovering above your shoulder persists; always seeing, judging, encouraging, and doubting your every move.

No other game in my opinion has managed to bring to life what the reality of having many inner voices might feel like the way Ninja Theory has done in both titles. When I played Senua's Sacrifice, these whispers prancing about my ears often became the primary source of horror. Hellblade 2 maintains a similar sense of ever-present dread, but the Furies seem more accepting and positive of Senua.

I'm thankful the developers didn't choose to portray Senua as completely freed from the voices she considered a curse in the first game or the trauma left by her father's abuses. A miraculous cure from internal struggle, trauma, and psychosis would have trivialized her ordeal. It was, thus, imperative she carried her scars into her new quest, both burdening and informing her journey across the new land.

Combat in Hellblade 2 hasn't changed much (Image via Xbox Game Studios)

A warrior with her sword

The combat largely remains the same in Hellblade 2. You will have to dodge, parry, and attack with your sword. A little into the game you will gain an item that allows you to slow time once a gauge is filled, and you can land a flurry of attacks during that.

Instead of having the enemies wait around you as you fight them one by one, Hellblade 2 takes a more organic approach. As you battle and kill one enemy, the other will arrive through various short actions of stumbling into you, pulling the one you are fighting away, kicking you, and more.

This is exacerbated by the camera work during combat. If a blow lands on you or you block a heavy attack, the camera's movement and the framing add to the impact of the action depicted. Through the visuals, you feel what Senua is going through.

The combat remains as brutal and blood-filled as the first one. The enemy types weren't really difficult. though I did take quite a few blows. Thankfully, Hellblade 2 is quite forgiving with Senua taking damage, as you can even dodge the final blow from an opponent.

My only gripe here would be that Ninja Theory could have done something more to alleviate the feeling that the combat is the same. I suppose the developers didn't want to add too many complications lest it take away from Senua's grounded vulnerability in fighting with just a sword. Nevertheless, it does feel a bit too familiar.

The game's overall aesthetic is top-notch (Image via Xbox Game Studios)

The world is brutal and beautiful

The visceral impact that Hellblade 2 has the potential to leave on its players would not have been possible without the visuals, the soundscape, and the impressive performance of the actors. Utilizing Unreal Engine 5, Ninja Theory has provided an in-game world that is truly a treat to interact with.

Be it combating enemies while surrounded by fire, solving puzzles in dark caverns, or walking in the wilderness of Iceland, I found myself in constant awe of how great the game looked. Each environment is painstakingly brought to life (I urge you to play the game on High, especially to see the moss and lichens) and allows you to feel what Senua is feeling.

The sound design is once again on the mark, elevating the player experience in Hellblade 2. Be it the Furies' voices, the ambient noise, or the beats during pivotal scenes, the audio team behind the game has done an impeccable job. Not only will I suggest playing Hellblade 2 with a headphone but I'll also go as far as to say you won't get the full experience unless you do so.

Much like the first Hellblade, Senua's journey is interjected with various perspective-based puzzles. Water-bubble rings and blue-flame braziers help you solve these. While they aren't particularly difficult, I did feel a sense of completion when I got these correct.

Navigating the treacherous land (Image via Xbox Game Studios)

In conclusion

Hellblade 2 manages to avoid the pitfalls one would've been worried about when the game was announced. The experience hasn't been bloated into a side-mission-filled AAA adventure, and Senua hasn't been miraculously cured or her struggles exploited in a trivialized manner.

Instead, Hellblade 2 provides another visceral experience for players filled to the brim with brutal violence, Norse mythos, and human psychology. The world is both beautiful and frightening. The voices make you question who to trust and who will betray. The run duration of six to seven hours provides a tight-knit story that players can enjoy without feeling too drained.

I do think there might be some complaints regarding the lack of extensive gameplay elements in Hellblade 2. After all, the title only has combat sequences and puzzle scenes, interjected by long walks or runs through linear environments. The emphasis rather is on the story being told through the cinematic experience, which may not appeal to everyone.

Gameplay elements are lacking (Image via Xbox Game Studios)

I assume we will see this game receive quite a few nods and mentions when the award season comes around at the end of the year, especially Melina Juergens' performance as Senua. But for now, I implore you to go experience what Ninja Theory has crafted to the fullest.