Senua's Saga: Hellblade II, sequel to Ninja Theory's acclaimed interactive journey, is nearing completion and in this article we will explain what to know before playing it
The development of Hellblade II has been a long undertaking for Ninja Theory and a lot of water has flowed under the bridge since its announcement. In recent years the British team was taken over by Microsoft, went through a global pandemic and saw the departure of its famous founder: Tameem Antoniades. Yet, after almost seven years, the highly anticipated sequel to the dazed journey into Senua's psyche is finally on its way. In this guide we will explain how to prepare for the release and know what awaits you within the title. We remind you, before leaving, that the game will only be available on Xbox Series
The narrative | Hellblade II: what to know
Ninja Theory has revealed very little about the events we will experience in this sequel but has let a few small details leak. The work will be set in frigid Iceland and a renewed Senua will follow compared to that of the previous title. The warrior has now become accustomed to the games of her own mind, to the voices that incessantly disturb her order and now, strengthened by new certainties, she is preparing to save her land. In fact, a new dangerous threat looms, consisting of the Vikings who have invaded the island and are preparing to plunder it. There will be no shortage of fantastic creatures, as we have seen in the presentation trailers and the focus will remain on the troubled psyche of the protagonist.
New characters | Hellblade II: what to know
Senua's journey has always been lonely, if we don't consider the voices that afflict the delicate balance of the woman's mind as companions of fortune. This sequel too it would seem to focus mainly on the heroine from which it inherits the name but there will be some supporting characters aimed at enriching the adventure. To repel the invaders, the heroine will need companions and one of the sequences narrated on Xbox Wire mentioned precisely this circumstance. The interview talks about how we will find ourselves saving one of our companions by wandering around inside a camp, presumably enemy. Although Senua will remain at the center of the narrative we can, therefore, hope for a hint of chorality.
The fight | Hellblade II: what to know
Hellblade I was a resounding success with critics and audiences, but still received harsh criticism due to the weakness of its combat system. More was certainly expected from the DMC developers, but instead the players found themselves faced with slow, imprecise and limping mechanics, devoid of feeling; in short, insufficient. This sequel does not promise to make sparks in this area but it aims to improve, at least, the situation. The available moves have been increased and the dodge and parry timings have been slightly refined. Furthermore, every battle will be one on onea choice that might make people turn up their noses, but which at the same time lightens the burden of Ninja Theory and avoids the proliferation of fights that are too confusing.
Full motion capture | Hellblade II: what to know
Where the British studio excels is certainly in the management of animation through motion capture. The increased budget granted by Microsoft allowed it to perform a remarkable feat and use performance capture to create all the combat movements. In an interview for Xbox Wire, Ninja Theory president Dom Matthews revealed how the search for truth has always been the studio's primary goal. Expect, therefore, a highly realistic experience where every single gesture echoes the acting skills of the brilliant cast assembled for the title.
Variety of enemies | Hellblade II: what to know
Xbox has promised a notable increase in the variety of opponents that will stand in Senua's way. The profound repetitiveness of the clashes had, after all, been widely criticized within the first title and it is understandable that the developers want to change the situation. We will encounter Draugr, giants, archers, brutes and looters on our steps which promises a multiple series of approaches and possibly a greater complexity of the gaming experience. Obviously the hope is that things don't end here and that several other creatures will appear in the final release, however, they have remained tight-lipped about this.
The puzzles | Hellblade II: what to know
The limited combat of the first Hellblade alternated with some puzzles, to be honest, rather basic, the purpose of which was to add variety to the experience. Even on this front there would seem to be little news and the puzzles of the new title should follow the mechanics already seen previously. These were generally the search for some repetitions or patterns in the environment, or the unveiling of objects necessary to overcome some inaccessible locations. The hope is that new typologies will be added, perhaps more complex and interactive, but at the moment this is merely speculation on our part.
Longevity | Hellblade II: what to know
Ninja Theory has revealed that the title will last more or less the same length as the previous one, therefore approximately 8/9 hours. Dom Matthews revealed to IGN that he did not want to water down the title in order to increase its duration at all costs. He also added that fans of the British studio do not want or enjoy excessively long experiences and that in a market saturated with titles lasting hundreds of hours it is sometimes necessary to take a step back. We will therefore find ourselves faced with a brief narrative experience which we hope will be as memorable as that of the previous work.
The 30 fps | Hellblade II: what to know
Hellblade II won't hit 60fps on Xbox Series We could have expected it by noticing the incredible graphic quality of the title but only recently did it become official. Console players will be forced to settle for a fixed resolution and just thirty frames per second. The studio revealed that it made this choice in order to provide a more cinematic experience. The reality of the facts is presumably different but the gist does not change. Ninja Theory must have considered the sacrifices necessary to double the frame rate excessive, especially in a title based on the atmosphere. PC players will have nothing to worry about, as provided they have sufficiently powerful hardware they will be able to choose the desired fluidity at will.
Edition and price | Hellblade II: what to know
Xbox has decided to release one of its most anticipated exclusives in a digital-only format. This only underlines Microsoft's strategy that is increasingly distant from traditional publishing in physical format. For this reason and perhaps also for the short duration, the Redmond publisher has decided for a lower price compared to their usual releases. Hellblade II will therefore not cost the usual €80 but will presumably be sold for €49.99 in our shores.
This concludes our guide but before closing we advise you to stay updated on the latest gaming news on the techgameworld.com website, while for your purchases we refer you to Instant Gaming.