Summary
Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2is the direct continuation of Senua’s story from the 2017 game. Being a sequel to one of the most beloved, praise-worthy, and award-winning games that set a new benchmark for mental health and cinematic storytelling is no easy task, but Hellblade 2 delivers an equally stellar product.
But will it be Senua’s Saga or Senua’s Sacrifice that carves out the best path for the titular protagonist? That’s the main question we set off to answer here, just as Senua sets off into uncharted territory to deal with all the new foes Iceland has in store.
8Story - Tie
The story is a clear tie here because Senua’s Sacrifice and Senua’s Saga offer two different but equally fantastic experiences that feel like an Alien vs. Aliens toss-up, even though it’s still made by the same studio.They’re both rooted in Norse mythologyand are designed as interactive narrative games that teeter on walking simulator, with added combat and puzzles. But it ultimately comes down to which genre you prefer.
The first game is a slow-burn psychological thriller following Senua on an intimate and emotional journey in the underworld through her grief. The sequel is Senua’s journey in tenth-century Iceland, which becomes more like an action-adventure narrative with a higher focus on visuals, camerawork, companions, and set pieces.
7Combat - Hellblade 2
The combat will go to Hellblade 2 because it’s truly what makes the game. Ninja Theory has worked some wonders and outdone itself with all the new enemies and combat sequences that are so expertly crafted with their animations and choreography. Every brutal attack animation and stab looks seamless and realistic,each fight feels like one immersive continuous shot from a film, and the graphics drive it home.
The combat in the first Hellblade game felt like an afterthought, with enemies spawning predictably in rooms just so there’d be some fighting to extend your playtime, with fewer animations and no cinematic quality. Plus, here you have so many different enemy types, like Draugar axe-throwers, fire-spitters, heavy Draugar, feral cave creatures, shattered memory Northmen, slavers, and Borgarvirki knights, which all feel like they belong.
6Puzzle, Environment Design, And Collectibles - Hellblade 2
Another big criticism of the first game is that the puzzle design was very repetitive and tended to break the immersion at times, especially with the constant backtracking of rooms and the same formula for them. There was also nothing to collect around the environment besides the occasional Lorestone, which isn’t that hidden, and the game could quickly start to feel like a slow, walking simulator design.
The sequel crafts its environments in a way that makes exploration more worthwhilewith all the extra hidden collectibles. You now also have Hidden Faces in rock formations and Yggdrasil lore trees, in addition to Druth’s Lorestangir. Rune puzzles feel more organic and tie better into the narrative, while other area puzzles now include mechanics like igniting blue flames and altering your environment with orbs to make things even more unique and mind-bending.
As a hidden detail, if you collect all the Lorestangir in Hellblade 2, you’ll have the option to change the game’s narrator to Druth for your next playthrough.
5Bosses - Hellblade
Sadly, one area where the sequel falters is the boss battle gameplay. They feel like a complete letdown for a sequel, especially after the experience you got in the first Hellblade, and leave you desiring more. The length of the game already gives it an Unreal Engine 5 tech demo-like feel, and the bosses don’t help in that department.
There are fewer of them, and the two boss fights with the giants are copy-and-paste versions of each other, with the same formula of you timing your sprint and taking cover from either lava or heavy waves. The regular main bosses like Thorgestr and Godi don’t feel any different from the typical enemies you’d fight, and you definitely won’t be left with the same awestruck feeling you get after fighting Surtr or Valravn.
4Worldbuilding And Characters - Hellblade 2
One of the biggest changes in Hellblade 2 is the characters Senua has with her on the new adventure in Iceland. Since it’s not just the confined environment of Hel anymore with only the Furies, Dillion, and narrator voices, there’s a whole supporting cast of well-developed characters that all have something of value to offer in the story, with just as compelling performances as Senua.
Everyone here is great. You go from despising Thorgestr in the beginning to seeing how he’s redeemed himself and grown closer to Senua. The Shadow has new torment for Senua in an Alan Wake-style dimension. You get the Hiddenfolk narrating the giants' backstories and lore. Astridr is another brilliantly portrayed female character who joins Senua in the series, and Fargrimr has intriguing knowledge.
3Visuals - Hellblade 2
Probably the main aspect that draws you to Hellblade 2 is the stunning and photorealistic visuals, with those scenic flyover shots in between chapter transitions really showing off what the team was able to achieve. All that terrain and mountains make you feel like you’re in actual Iceland, and the character designs and animations are stunning; it’s just jaw-dropping to think games have made it to this point.
Even though Senua’s Sacrifice was a marvel of graphics quality in 2017, Unreal Engine 5 trulymakes the sequel the best-looking game out there. The environment lighting, colors, and art direction are reminiscent of cinematography you’ll see in a beautifully shot film (and there are definitely more award nominations in Hellblade’s future). Ninja Theory’s perfect balance of capturing the beauty in the light and dark environments also touches on the game’s central motif.
2Binaural Audio Design And Music - Hellblade
Now, for the most important element of a Hellblade video game experience – the binaural audio and game soundtrack. This is one of the tougher categories to decide, but the first game’s audio choices ultimately have the upper handfor the haunting atmosphere and aesthetic it was trying to achieve. It’s chilling, overwhelming, and makes you uncomfortable, which is the main factor setting it apart from the sequel.
The Furies in the original game work betterthan how conversational they sound in the sequel, eliminating any sense of unease you’re meant to have. While the music and audio continue to be more than outstanding in the sequel, especially when it cues during the combat sequences, it’s more intense to listen to and sounds more nuanced in Senua’s Sacrifice.
1Verdict - Hellblade 2
It’s no easy decision in the end, but Hellblade 2 just has a slight edge over its predecessor. Yes,it may be a disappointingly shorter experience than even Senua’s Sacrifice, which is already under eight hours, but it’s one of those games that’s so effective with its pacing that it can still showcase all the new changes, expand on its worldbuilding, and keep you invested despite the length.
The best parts of Hellblade 2 are the epic scale of cinematic quality and rich visuals, which are enough to convince you that you’re in a well-shot interactive movie. The combat design and narrative progression only further add to that feeling. Finally, the better incentives for exploration, along with the new characters Senua gets to interact with, is what seals it.
