“Senua's Saga: Hellblade II” is a PC game work developed by Ninja Theory and published by Xbox Game Studios, which has been distributed on the Steam store since May 21, 2024. It is a story-driven action-adventure game title set in 10th century Iceland, depicting a protagonist who survives a world of myth and suffering.
The game is characterized by its must-see, gorgeous game graphics that are generously infused with the latest technology, a world mixed with mythology and suffering seen from behind the protagonist in a third-person view, a frightening in-game production that embodies the protagonist's nightmarish mental world, and clever storytelling elements that captivate those who play the game.
This new game is recommended for those who became fans after playing the previous game, “Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice'', which was released in 2017 and created many fans around the world, those who like playing games with realistic in-game graphics, and those who are looking for a game with a mysterious and eerie worldview.
- A long-awaited sequel for fans
- Graphics drawn by UE5
- A profound worldview and story
The long-awaited sequel is now available on Steam
“Senua's Saga: Hellblade II”, which is currently being distributed on the PC game portal site “Steam” store, is a recommended new work that is the long-awaited sequel to the action-adventure game “Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice”, which was released in 2017 and has since created fans all over the world.
The game is set in 10th century Iceland, and its development was inspired by Viking culture and Norse mythology. In recent years, it seems that there has been an increase in the number of game titles set in the Viking Age, such as the Assassin's Creed series with the release of Valhalla, a title with a Viking Age motif.
Players descend into the game world as Senua, the main character from the previous game Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice, and face a fierce battle to overcome the darkness within and the darkness outside in order to save those who have fallen victim to the horrors of tyranny. Definitely recommended for those who have already played the previous game.
The existence of “Senua's Saga: Hellblade II” was revealed in December 2019. After that, various trailers that expressed the world of the work with beautiful graphics were released in stages, increasing the expectations of fans who had played the previous work. It is also fresh in my memory that they announced that they would be co-creating digital characters with Epic Games.
Developed by Ninja Theory, the same company as the previous game.
The game was developed by Ninja Theory, a studio based in Cambridge, UK, and published by Xbox Game Studios. The previous work, “Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice,'' was created by a development staff of only 15 people, but the key point of this work is that the number of development teams has steadily increased.
Ninja Theory, which was founded in 2000, had the studio's goal of “creating AAA titles for major publishers and establishing its own position,'' but as the publisher's intentions gradually restricted its creativity and creativity, the studio shifted its direction to “publishing AAA-level titles on its own into the gaming scene.''
The relationship between development studios and publishers with financial advantages is extremely delicate, similar to the relationship between musicians and publishers in the music industry. Developers' original ideas are often rejected due to “commercial concerns'', which can be a “severe test'' for those with truly unique ideas.
Ninja Theory was acquired by Microsoft in 2018 and is now under its umbrella, but the relationship between the two seems to be good so far (though the truth may lie somewhere we can't see), and the sequel to Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice, which delves deep into the human psyche, is now on track to be completed.
The work has received 3,192 Steam user reviews at the time of writing, and the overall rating is “very positive,” showing a solid start. The game has been well received for its state-of-the-art game graphics that immerse many users, and the visual effects of the dark side of the mind seen by the main character, Senua, and has been praised as a work that raises the standard of expression in games.
Game features
In order to save those who have fallen victim to the horrors of tyranny, players will control the main character Senua as she faces a battle to overcome both inner and outer darkness. The work is characterized by the story of a “harsh journey'' to survive a world of myth and suffering in Iceland, where the Viking culture is set around the 10th century, and the portrayal of the world of severe mental illness is also a major point.
The 3D game graphics with next-generation quality are the biggest appeal of this game, and the play scenes, which sometimes give the illusion of real people moving, are amazingly finished. This new game features an “exquisite experience'' told through immersive images, beautiful visuals, and enveloping sounds, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in Senua's “next chapter.''
Among them, the point is that the “hallucinatory world of being tormented as a Celtic warrior'' is reproduced with impressive production and graphic technology, and you will witness a number of “seamless shocking scenes'' that are difficult to distinguish between reality and hallucinations, so you will be satisfied after playing. This is a must-see new game that envelops players with an overwhelming worldview.
The game's system itself follows the concept and gameplay elements of the previous game, “Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice'', so users who have already played the previous game should be able to play the game without any discomfort. As you progress through the game while dealing with puzzle elements and rune elements, let's delve into Senua's mental state.
A dynamic weather system and realistic physics that affect both battle scenes and exploration play are also major features of the work, and dangerous steep terrain also affects play, so you're sure to have a thrilling experience. Play the game to your heart's content while feeling the “breath'' of the harsh natural world recreated with elaborate 3D graphics.
The battle system has been improved since the previous game, and you can now enjoy heavy battle scenes with an emphasis on fluidity and strategy. Senua is also able to perform quick attacks in battle scenes that include time-deceleration elements, and you will be immersed in playing while analyzing enemy characters who have their own unique fighting styles and skillfully assembling attacks.
The play system, in which you use your brain to decipher the puzzle elements integrated into the environment, and the exploration element, in which you progress through the story while acquiring various collectibles, have succeeded in creating a sense of “rewarding'' that is different from games that simply advance battles, and the puzzle-solving and careful collection play will greatly arouse the player's curiosity.
On the other hand, it has a completely different flavor from a game that gives you complete freedom, so if you buy it as if it were a role-playing game where you can freely move around the open world and do whatever you want, you will definitely end up being disappointed. It is a PC game that has one goal to pursue, and sacrifices freedom to enhance the narrative.
The previous work “Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice'' was developed using Unreal Engine 4, but this work uses the latest system “Unreal Engine 5'', which is also a high point. This point also gives rise to a major drawing advantage in the Xbox Series X|S version, which was released at the same time as the PC game version.
Although it is displayed in English on the Steam store, this game contains some fairly extreme depictions of murder, including some gore, so players who can play the game will need to be able to tolerate such depictions. Additionally, there are some strong words used in the game, so it is not a game for all ages. Those who are not good at violent expressions should keep this in mind.
Notes on “Senua's Saga: Hellblade II”
(Warning text regarding games listed on the Steam store)
Gameplay consists of realistic violent combat, and narrative scenes sometimes showing extreme gore. Enemies react realistically to wounds, and are dispatched with intense killing animations involving blood and vocalizations of pain.
Some strong language is used, and partial nudity can be seen during some sequences.
(Japanese translation of the above English text)
Gameplay consists of realistic violent combat and story scenes that show extreme gore in some cases. Enemies react realistically to wounds and are attacked with intense murder animations accompanied by blood and sounds of pain. It contains strong language and some scenes show partial nudity.
Supports Japanese interface
The selling price on the Steam store is 7,040 yen, and the game comes standard with a Japanese interface and subtitles (audio is only in English). The lack of dubbed audio may limit the number of sales in Japan to some extent, but it is expected that there will be many overseas game fans who like the world view and system of this work, so it will not actually have much of an impact.
The game is a solo-only title and does not support local or online co-op elements. In terms of operations, the game fully supports play with an Xbox controller in addition to a keyboard and mouse, so even people who usually play games with a controller should be able to enjoy the adventures of the main character, Senua, with confidence.
There are a total of 11 Steam achievements that can be unlocked, which is rather modest. Since this is a full-priced game that is not cheap, I think it would be better to include more achievements to encourage more players to play the game, but since there may be a difference between the values of achievement collectors and the developers, I will not discuss this matter in depth.
As for compatibility with Valve's portable game console “Steam Deck,” there is currently no indication on the store. With a AAA title like this, it would not be surprising if the compatibility judgment was made on the day of release, but the high system requirements described below may be a bottleneck. This is a new game for high-spec gaming PCs.
System requirements
The system requirements for “Senua's Saga: Hellblade II” are somewhat high. The graphic boards presented in the recommended requirements are NVIDIA's RTX 3080 class or AMD's RX 6800 XT class, and these two types of parts are PC parts that fall into the “middle-high class” position one generation before the current one. The barrier to entry seems to be a little high.
The minimum requirement for the graphic board is NVIDIA's GTX 1070 or AMD's Radeon RX 5700 class parts, so even if you set full HD and the image quality to the minimum, it can be said that it is a difficult work unless you have a suitable gaming PC. On the other hand, users with high-end gaming PCs will be able to bring out the full potential of this work's visual beauty.
The recommended CPU requirements are Intel's i7-10700K class or AMD's Ryzen 5 5600X class, so it may be said that the game requires a certain threshold in terms of processor. In particular, people who are still using older model processors should be careful, and should also take into account that the minimum OS guaranteed by Valve is Windows 10.
The installation size is 70GB, which is one of the heavier PC games. Since it is a work that features rich game graphics, it probably uses a lot of memory in terms of graphics. Users who are usually tight on storage should check the available space before downloading this work, and if it is insufficient, organize and increase the space.
“Senua's Saga: Hellblade II'', a story-driven action-adventure game about a protagonist who survives a world of myth and suffering set in Iceland, is currently available on the Steam Store. This is a must-see new work with highly realistic graphics. Visit Steam now to find out more.
[Recommended points]You can play the long-awaited sequel!
flow of play
From the game's home screen, you can access items such as “Continue,” “Chapter,” and “Settings.” When you start a new game, an opening movie will play that lets you experience the game's spectacular worldview and story elements, increasing the player's excitement. Experience the potential of the ultimate 3DCG tool “Unreal Engine 5”.
The actual play begins with a scene in which the main character, Senua, is battered by a freezing storm and desperately clings to the ground as she moves. The world of this work, which was recreated after the development staff went to Iceland and conducted interviews, has a very convincing finish, and combined with the drawing power of Unreal Engine 5, it is also quite realistic.
Overwhelming graphics are the most distinctive feature of this series, and it can be said that the quality has reached its “peak'' in this work. This is definitely a work that is recommended for users who are very interested in the overwhelming graphic rendering pursued by the latest AAA games, and are sure to be overwhelmed by the power and reproducibility of heavy-duty 3DCG rendering.
In this scene, the composition of the “mental illness'' that the main character Senua suffers from appears, and a “voice'' that comes from nowhere acts as a narration and tells the player about the situation. It's an important scene that was realized as a result of interviews with university professors and patients suffering from mental illness, so be sure to immerse yourself in it while paying attention to every corner of the production.
Drawing with improved reality
The third-person view, where the camera is fixed behind the main character Senua, perfectly reproduces her physical expression and gives the player a visual impact. The digital humans created using motion capture move exactly like real humans, and you'll feel like you're watching a scene from a live-action movie.
Analyzing the gameplay screen from a technical perspective, the quality of the depiction of the costumes waving randomly in the strong wind is amazing. I get the impression that adding physical movements to human hair is not done well in any current game, but in this game, Senua has her hair tied up, so I get the impression that this unreachable area has been successfully avoided.
Looking at the movement scene, when Senua passes through a narrow rocky area, there is a unique motion, and the camera also moves a little closer to Senua. This effect is also used in the rebooted Tomb Raider, and has the effect of increasing immersion by seamlessly reproducing movements that are different from normal motion. The flawless performance is spectacular.
Although the player is able to freely move the main character, Senua, to a certain extent, it is a title that takes a different approach from games that allow players to freely move around an open world, so it is less stressful to play with the understanding that this is a “story-following role-playing game movie with interactive elements.''
The quality of the battle scenes definitely surpasses that of the previous game, with the animation and animation being more focused on reality than gameplay. Scenes where swords exchange their lives with each other create a sense of tension in a good way, and you'll naturally feel a sense of strength in your hands as you operate them. Let's fully experience next-generation drawing and movement.
On the other hand, however, the more realistic the portraits are, the more dilemmas arise, such as “swinging a large sword without causing any visible damage,'' which gives us a glimpse of the predicament of being caught between age restrictions and freedom of expression. Personally, I think that the studio put the brakes on it because excessive gore would hurt sales.
Users who value freedom may criticize a system that “moves as the developer intended,'' such as in some scenes where the viewpoint is forced back. If I were to compare this work, it would have the feeling of “entering someone's dream and being able to control that person more or less freely,'' and the one-track aspect of the result cannot be denied.
Therefore, the people who can recommend this game are those who want to experience the rare high-quality graphics technology of a next-generation game, and those who can tolerate a one-track game with little freedom. It can feel like you're watching a grand technology demo, so it's probably not a new game for people who are looking for more hands-on control.
[Recommended points]Experience Senua's life!
Overall review: Can it surpass the tragedy of the sequel?
“Senua's Saga: Hellblade II” is actually a game work that was completed through a strange turn of events. After Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice was announced in 2017, development studio Ninja Theory was acquired by Microsoft in 2018 and became a subsidiary of Xbox Game Studios.
It is a phenomenon that major companies are actively purchasing promising indie game developers all over the world, but as mentioned above, being under the umbrella of a major company can sometimes take away the free thinking of an indie game, which is a cause for concern for serious game fans. In exchange for securing an abundant source of funds, it appears that freedom has been lost.
Freedom of expression and innovative ideas in games are now the exclusive domain of indie game developers, creating a great legacy that continues to connect gaming culture. Because major publishers only focus on ensuring that sales exceed development funding, the ideas and hopes of sensitive developers are often left far behind in their priorities.
The reason he uses such harsh words is because there are no shortage of cases in various sectors of the entertainment industry where acquisitions of major companies continue to produce negative results. In an article with a different title, I have previously written about how sequels are considered a “devil'', but in general, “sequels'' tend to fail because they cannot maintain the initial concept.
I have personally seen companies “selling their souls to the devil,'' giving up their own identity in exchange for large sums of money. Without a doubt, it is the “end users” who support the entertainment industry, and changing one's position with easy conditions without regard for their support is no different from slowly strangling one's own neck.
What I don't want you to misunderstand here is that this article has no intention of degrading or criticizing the position of Senua's Saga: Hellblade II. However, it is true that Ninja Theory, which was original and had the power to create its own AAA titles, was acquired by Microsoft, and I feel sad about that.
It is the sad fate of “capitalism'' that large companies achieve growth through power games and various small companies are sacrificed in the process, and there is no intention or element to cherish and nurture the game culture. I think I'm fully aware of this, but as I watch the industry shrink in various fields these days, I can't help but feel a kind of “emptiness.''
Let's get back to Senua's Saga: Hellblade II. The idea for this work is said to have come about when Tamim Antoniades, co-founder and creative director of Ninja Theory, took a vacation to Iceland. It seems that he came up with the idea for this work here.
However, shortly after that, Tamim Antoniades left the studio, and the idea was brought to fruition by the remaining staff. Ninja Theory has become a subsidiary of Xbox Game Studios, and the number of employees has increased dramatically, but it is sad that the development work on this game proceeded without a vital creative director.
I'm not doubting the skill of the other staff members who led this game to completion, but the irreversible question that crosses my mind is whether the game would have had the same content if the person who had the original idea had been involved in its production until the end. The game has been completed, but the dilemma is what is its essence?
Whether or not “Senua's Saga: Hellblade II'' is a game that will satisfy players as a sequel is up to the users who have actually played the game to decide, and there is no room for dispute. However, since this is a title that was created through the process described above, it is true that the more you know about the circumstances, the less you can honestly be happy about it.
In terms of development, in order to accurately recreate the world of Senua's mental illness, the game's creators had to interview actual university professors and people suffering from mental illness. Also, the game's animators underwent military training for motion research, so it's definitely not a compromised sequel game.
If you think about what would have happened if Microsoft hadn't acquired the studio, or if Tamim Antoniades hadn't left the studio, the surprise and admiration for the above-mentioned “developing attitude with plenty of funds'' would be somewhat reduced by half. What determines the fun of a sequel is the idea, not the funding, and the more users who sympathize with that idea, the more centripetal force there will be.
The above considerations are the author's subjective opinion, and I do not mean to say that this is the correct answer. Even if the game had not been acquired by a major company, or even if the main members had not left, it is very possible that this game would have had the same content and system. Once again, the people who evaluate the game are the users who have actually played the game, and their opinions will determine the future.
The tragedy of the sequel is a “fact'' that has been repeated many times throughout history. What kind of judgment will be passed on “Senua's Saga: Hellblade II'' will have to be seen from the future sales and global user evaluations. It's definitely a much-needed sequel, but time will tell how it's evaluated.
[Recommended points]If you are interested, check it out now!
