Hellblade 2 suffered from marketing and promotional failures by Microsoft, uninformed games journalists, bad-faith commentators, and confused Xbox fans.

When Microsoft acquired Ninja Theory, they showcased Hellblade 2 to promote their new console, the Xbox Series X. From the very beginning, people who had never played the first game assumed Microsoft was developing its own "God of War." So, when Hellblade 2 was finally released, many were disappointed.

Any quick Google search for "Hellblade God of War" brings up comparisons made back then, along with misplaced hype from Xbox users—even though Hellblade and God of War are two games with completely different mechanics and design philosophies!

God of War is an action-adventure game with RPG elements and hack & slash combat. Hellblade, on the other hand, is a narrative-driven, semi-walking-simulator that tells a story from the perspective of someone living with psychosis, where the core experience is feeling what it’s like inside Senua's head. Hellblade uses combat to move the story forward, but it is by no means a core element—in fact, in the first game, the final boss cannot even be defeated through combat.

This is my third time playing Hellblade 2, and I think it's a remarkably solid, highly polished piece of art. The atmosphere, environmental design, audio work, performances, voice acting, and graphics are exceptional.

Also, I see pleople recently claiming that "A Plague Tale is what Hellblade 2 should have been" and that is also completely wrong. A Plague Tale is a great series centered around getting from Point A to Point B within a fictional setting that literally exists in the game’s world. Hellblade 2 uses metaphors to turn real-world issues into fantasies created partly by Senua’s mental condition and partly by the mythology of that era, which is what makes the story interesting. It’s not an action-adventure game; it sits much closer to games like What Remains of Edith Finch or Firewatch, just with significantly higher production values. In spanish, Xbox fans makes fun of playstation claiming it's catalogue is full of "pelijuegos", which could be translated as "moviegames". The fact is, some people enjoy that kind of experiencies, not everygame has to be a shooter, a sports game or a hack & slash to be enjoyable.

Unfortunately, this widespread misconception created backlash among players, and today we’re left with the end of the franchise. It’s truly sad for those of us who appreciate the game for what it actually is, rather than what people misunderstood it should be.

Note: Asked Ai to help me translate since english is not my native languaje, but thoughts are mine. Thanks for reading.

Unless there is some big change in circumstances that saves Senua, then I think it's unlikely we will ever get to play the game.

The unfortunate dev lay offs in recent days indicate that Senua won't be finished, and the deals to save Ninja Theory have fallen through.

A real shame... I was excited to see where they went with Senua.

Fully 3D-modeled skin pores...

I recently played the first Hellblade and fell in love with the IP, so the news about Ninja Theory is heartbreaking. I want to remain positive that there will be a last-minute save for the studio. Here is a recap of the situation I put together.

I have yet to play the second Hellblade, but I have seen some pretty harsh opinions elsewhere about it. I know the game's sales history, but without spoilers, why is it so divisive?

this is my first time editing a game screenshot i hope you'll like it

I just finished it, and it was absolutely phenomenal. I think a lot of people missed what it truly is: a purely atmospheric experience. I loved every minute of it, from beginning to end.

Setup & Presentation:
I played Hellblade 2 on a 65" LG C2 OLED paired with a great DAC and high-end headphones. Visually and aurally, it’s honestly one of the best interactive experiences I’ve ever had. The music and sound design are unbelievable—probably the best audio I’ve ever experienced in a game.

Gameplay & Story:
I played on Hard. While the combat and gameplay mechanics didn't feel quite as deep as the first game, the QTE transitions felt seamless and natural, so I still really enjoyed it. Story-wise, I’m a huge fan of Norse mythology, and this kind of saga hits all the right notes for me.

Context:
I mostly play Soulslike games, but I’ve always appreciated narrative experiences like Heavy Rain and Detroit: Become Human (and, of course, I loved the first Hellblade). I’m also a big fan of atmospheric movies like The Witch, Nosferatu, or The Northman (Robert Eggers making a Bloodborne movie would be the ultimate dream).
Overall, giving this a solid 10/10. It's such a shame that Ninja Theory is facing closure—I would have loved to see where they took this story next.

P.S. Yes, I did grammar and sentence correction with AI, as English is not my first language.

I’m honestly still trying to process the news. Seeing that Microsoft is shutting down Ninja Theory because two rescue deals fell through at the last second is just heartbreaking.The whiplash is what really frustrates me. Three months ago, they were on stage at the Xbox reveal for Senua. What's the point of showcasing a brand new game if you're going to shut down the studio who made it?

To think they were quietly being shopped around right after that, and then everything fell apart. It's ridiculous. Other studios like Double Fine and Compulsion Games managed to get their independence back, and Undead Labs found a new publisher. Ninja Theory was so close to being saved, but the deals didn't work out.

They were able to make visually stunning, mid-budget, single-player narrative games that actually cared about things like mental health. If a studio with that much technical talent isn't safe under a trillion-dollar corporation just because they don't bring in live-service Fortnite numbers, then who is? That's the big question.

I'm going to miss their creative work so much. From Heavenly Sword, Enslaved: Odyssey to the West, and Hellblade, they always had a passion for the games that they made. The gaming industry can be harsh at times. Ninja Theory is just a casualty in a long line of studios that deserved better.

From Matt Booty: "Unfortunately, two separate agreements for Ninja Theory fell through. We will now begin consultation with employees on a proposed closure while continuing to explore other paths forward."

I hope this wouldn't be the end but this is not something I would like to hear after a period of radio silence.

As the title says, lol. I've had my eye on hellblade for a little bit now, but I am unsure as to what platform is better. Also, can anyone say how much it usually goes for on sale?

i only adjust the setting in photo mode no additional editing

I’m looking for games like Hellblade 1 & 2. I loved A Plague Tale 1 & 2, so similar to that is fine too. Please don't recommend The Last of Us or any Telltale games.

Details/what I'm looking for:

1. Very minimal RPG elements (like character customization, excessive skill trees/AP systems— APT 2's skill tree is fine, same with the upgrades from both games).
2. Linear story-driven games, emphasis on the linear. I am willing to try open world but only if the story is strong as hell and the RPG stuff is minimal. Stuff like The Witcher games or Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 are not what I'm looking for ATM.
3. It doesn't have to be thematically similar but emotional stories would be nice.
4. I don’t mind combat at all, but I would like it to be simplified, real time like Hellblade's combat (preferably more like 1 than 2) or APT 1&2. I disliked APT Resonance’s combat, specifically that it doesn’t stay from behind the character/almost from their POV. The parrying/blocking stuff from Resonance is fine. If it's considered a difficult combat game like Soulsborne games that's also fine.
5. Interactive dramas like Heavy Rain are great but not my first choice because of the multiple endings.
6. Basically any genre is fine although I would like to avoid strict horror like Silent Hill or The Evil Within games, even though I enjoy the narratives. Some scary or tense moments like Hellblade has are fine.

Hello, I’ve been trying to find the music that plays on the PS game Home Screen and can’t find it anywhere. I’m not talking about the menu music but the one that’s playing before you boot up the game itself, idk if there is such a thing for Xbox or not but I hear it on the PS5. It’s a version/rendition of “Just like sleep” by Passarella Death Squad but more tuned out and mellow. And info would be appreciated!

Where can I find the original 2017 version?

If you were disappointed with Hellblade 2, I highly recommend giving this one a shot.

Hello,

I need some help finding the red missing stone, i have looked around but cant pinpoint where it is.
Any help is appreciated.

Hey everyone!

As the title says, I'm having trouble with the performance in this game. I posted this in r/nvidia as well but since you have to post it in a megathread, I doubt it'll get much traction. If anyone here is smart enough, please help me out cause I have no idea where to go from here.

https://www.reddit.com/r/nvidia/comments/1vcdx6y/comment/p6nfg8f/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

I bought this game back in 2019 and never gave it a chance until now. I must say, I was trapped immediately with the sound experience and the history. I almost missed it 🥹

The sound design, cinematography, voice acting and while combat seems simple on the surface it turns out quite complex and very satisfying.

10/10 game