Hellblade 2 is such a cinematic journey that it will change the way you think about video games

Border dividing movies and video games are becoming increasingly nichej. Feedback between both worlds occurs more frequently, and in many cases the second serves as a source of inspiration for the first and vice versa. A phenomenon that has exploded over the last decade with the seventh art re-creation of iconic sagas such as Fallout, The Last of Us or The Witcher, to name just a few examples.

The next one could very well be Hellblade 2, game that Ninja Theory published last Tuesday and which is a sequel to the epic about a young Scandinavian girl named Senua from 10th century Iceland.

And I emphasize the following because never before, after finishing this video game, have I felt so strongly that I lived, communicated and suffered as much as if it were a movie. Senua’s journey of redemption, her journey to put an end to the slavers who devastated her people, as well as her journey of acceptance, adaptation and overcoming her problems of psychosis, becomes a de facto a multisensory experience so intense that it can only be understood if enjoyed in complete darkness and, above all, with good headphones. You do not have? Well, you already need time to get them in good condition because the sound quality is worth it.

Returning to your cinematic aspect, I still clairvoyantly remember the film “1917”. His amazing sequence, which keeps the viewer on edge throughout the film’s nearly two-hour running time, created a stir in the media and society in 2019 due to its exquisite craftsmanship. Senua’s Saga Hellblade II now takes up the baton and controls Xbox and PC (this is one of the greatest Microsoft exclusives of 2024).) forces us to repeat this experience, but yes, extending it by about eight hours. The milestone counts itself. Senua’s third-person adventure begins after a shipwreck and ends after unraveling the mystery of human sacrifices to imposing giants in a single cameo shot. There are no loading screens or breaks between chapters. Everything flows amazingly naturally: our heroine, tormented by the voices accompanying her, struggles and makes her way in a world so realistic that at times you will think you are watching a movie. As it is.

And if there’s one thing that makes Hellblade II stand out from everything else, it’s its audiovisual section. I’m not exaggerating when I say that there is currently no game as cutting-edge, transgressive, and stunning as Ninja Theory.

Covering the latest and greatest sector graphics engine Unreal Engine 5, the title suggests an insane degree of photorealism. The way Senua and other characters are portrayed will often make you question whether what you’re seeing on screen is actually a video game or an action movie.

The same feeling applies when depicting scenarios dominated by detailed orography, ranging from cliffs and rocky areas to meadows and dense forests. Everything looks so organic and natural that even inclement weather like rain or wind seems almost real.

Will this test your PC? In our case with the Ryzen 5700X3D and RTX 4070Ti, we played the game at maximum detail on a 21:9 ultra-wide monitor with a 3440×1440 resolution and it never dropped below 80fps. In addition, when played in this format, the horizontal black bars that are present on 16:9 monitors and Xbox Series consoles disappear.

And a prime example of how incredulous this left me during the adventure is the fact that I used photo mode to capture beautiful scenery and visceral combat in the middle of a fight or narrative moment. You have a sample of it here in this photo gallery. Needless to say, they don’t do the title justice as the game looks impressive in motion and without any subsequent drop in image quality.

to the one, that an overwhelming technical section that leaves every other current-gen game in its infancy without any consideration., has added a sound section that was already cutting-edge in the first part, and now reaches perfection by relying on a binaural system in which the perception of everything that happens is mixed with the voices that accompany us, creating a unique experience, at times claustrophobic and suffocating, that combines perfectly with the path of cruelty, anxiety, rage and restlessness with which Senua moves through her story. Now do you understand the need for good helmets?

And after this wonderful audiovisual section, the guys from Ninja Theory secured their place much more organic and direct plot than the original, in which the participation of secondary characters stands out, giving it more logic and with whom it is easier to empathize.

The story and its execution through a sequence filmed in 1917 gives Hollywood an adaptation on record.

Relatively playable mechanics, the title isn’t all that brilliant. Here he is more conservative and favors the first formula, which alternates sections in which we have to use our perceptions to solve puzzles that, yes, are somewhat more varied than the first, with others in which the action takes control. Here again, the visuals set the pace and showcase visceral and heart-pounding combat. Dodges, blocks, light and defense-breaking attacks are interspersed in a dance to the rhythms of Nordic sounds, which reach their climax when the ability to stop time and unleash even more savage attacks is activated. Pure adrenaline.

conclusions

So, while we feel intoxicated by its hypnotizing audiovisual piece, trapped by its suspenseful plot and distraught by its intense combat and speculative puzzles, we reach the end and realize that they have achieved their goal: to completely immerse us in a contemplative adventure that introduces Hollywood to superb writing and direction.

And along the way, it delves into a little-explored niche in a sector dominated by experience with hundreds of hours (many of which are filler) and little relevance. Senua achieves her long-awaited redemption and, in the process, allows those of us who accompany her to be left with the pleasant feeling of having lived through an intense adventure, full of unique moments and with a stunning personality. Hellblade II is a unique game that plays in a different league. It’s the best breath of fresh air in 2024 and obviously a game that will be remembered by many players for its diabolical way of connecting with us. If you have a PC or Xbox Series, it would be a sin not to put yourself in Senua’s shoes and accompany her on this special and colorful adventure.

We were able to carry out this analysis thanks to the PC and Xbox Series key that Xbox Spain sent us.