The sequel to the award winning Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice, Senua returns in a brutal journey of survival through the myth and torment of Viking Iceland. Intent on saving those who have fallen victim to the horrors of tyranny, Senua faces a battle of overcoming the darkness within and without.
Genres
Director(s)
Writer(s)
Cast
Trigger Warnings
I absolutely loved the first game in the Hellblade series, Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice. It invited us into the mind of a woman with psychosis—a condition that would have been viewed as witchcraft during her time period (or “darkness” as its referred to in the games). It’s one of the few games I’ve played through multiple times simply because I enjoyed it so much. So, you can imagine my excitement for the sequel!
I Loved
Acting
Melina Juergens’ performance is absolutely stunning. While she was impressive in the first Hellblade, it’s evident she’s undergone a lot of training and done some soul searching for this sequel. She really is the main center for this game and one of the reasons it works so well.
The rest of the cast shines as well. Chris O’Reilly gives a compelling performance as Thorgestr, portraying a journey from enemy to friend—as well as his character significantly contributing to Senua’s later growth. Gudmundur Thorvaldsson as Fargrimr almost echos Druth from the first game with his wisdom, yet grappling with his own inner demons and failures. Aldis Amah Hamilton as Astridr also gives a wonderful performance as a woman who has lost everything yet fiercely protects what little she has left.
Story Continuation
Initially, I wasn’t sure if I’d like Senua interacting with others in this game, since the lonliness and anxiety from the first game stemmed from her being alone with her own monsters and darkness. But all the characters were likable, and the interactions helped Senua’s character grow by letting people in, leading to some pretty emotional moments near the end of the game.
Sound Design and Music
The audio is one of the best things about the first game, and somehow it feels even better this time around. Of course, they have a bigger budget and technology has improved since the first game’s release in 2017, but overall the audio sounds crisper and each voice in Senua’s head feels like your own, creating an immersive experience that’s hard to match.
I won’t spoil, but there’s also an amazing gameplay scene with a giant character that heavily involves the audio. You’ll know it when you come across it, but it was probably my favorite scene in the game.
Graphics and Visuals
This game is a feast for the eyes. The graphics are gorgeous, and the environment, with its craggy mountains and grassy hills, feels both cold and adventurous to traverse, even with the game being pretty much all linear.
I Liked
Fighting Mechanics
The fighting in Hellblade II is a bit different and more stripped back from the first game, but it’s still tight, can be challenging, and ultimately satisfying when you slice through a draugr.
I Disliked
Fighting Mechanics
But wait, didn’t I just say that I liked the fighting? Yes I did, but while I appreciated parts of it, I really do wish they’d added more to it instead of stripping away. It felt a bit limiting to be locked onto one enemy at a time, instead of taking on multiple with the Furies giving you warnings and having your back in each fight like the previous game. I feel like there was a lot more potential here that could have been explored and unfortunately wasn’t.
Overall
This sequel delivers a powerful continuation of Senua’s journey, with beautiful visuals, immersive audio, and a captivating performance by Melina Juergens. If you enjoyed Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice, you’ll most likely enjoy the sequel. Just keep in mind that the combat is more simplified. If you’re primarily interested in the story and the performances, you’ll find what you’re looking for in Hellblade II: Senua’s Saga.