RATH'S REVIEWS: Senua's Saga: Hellblade II

Every once in a while, you come across a game where you have to call it like you see it. I generally play those games far after they release and thus, don't review them much. But in the case of Xbox's Senua's Saga: Hellblade II, I was able to complete it within a week-ish (probably your first clue) and it's available Day 1 on Gamepass for subscribers or $50 via purchase.

I played the first game several years back and generally enjoyed the dark, psychosis-based Nordic actioner. It was free because of Gamepass and I had less expectations because I knew it was a smaller game that tried new things. With the sequel, being seemingly marketed by Xbox as a core, AAA, exclusive, I expected more. And frankly, there needed to be more.

Unfortunately, Senua's Saga: Hellblade II is a massive disappointment, and that comes from someone who was genuinely excited for it. And before you @ me as a "Sony fanboy", check yourself with my absolute adoration for this Xbox exclusive from last year.

The visuals are gorgeous...

And combat can be intense...

Aside from lots of pretty pictures, I'll keep this shorter than many of my other game reviews because, well, there's not a whole lot to review here. For starters, the game is shockingly short for a game touted this highly and in production for nearly 7 years. I was able to finish it in 5-6 hours which is just odd for a game that's supposed to be a major exclusive.

That said, it's perhaps a blessing it was that short because of the complete lack of gameplay featured within. A few times along the way, I almost wanted to protect my own time and skip this completely. Walking is the name of the game, often slowly. Many games have this issue and it usually bothers me there too. But there's a difference between games that feature a small walking/jogging interlude to deliver some story vs. a game where it's the core gameplay mechanic 80% of the time. Sometimes that is shaken up with some jogging-based environmental puzzles that are forgettable and not all that clever. There's not a whole lot of defense for this as it makes the whole thing come across like a tech demo for the Series X, as opposed to being a game.

And if you go the route of: "Oh well it's supposed to be more like a film, or an experience." I also have issues. It's boring. The story is dull and less interesting than the first and if I'm being honest, I didn't even know what my objective was half the time. Sure, it continues to explore Senua and her psychosis and self-doubt further, but not really in any meaningful ways. Melina Juergens turns in a fantastic performance - probably the highlight of the game - but the script feels repetitive. When you combine that with the mostly-walking gameplay, Senua's Saga feels like not only a chore, but a step backwards for this series.

...but they're not enough to save a dull game

There is combat gameplay sprinkled throughout however that makes up ~20% of the total experience. By and large combat is simplistic, but captivating. I tended to grow frustrated with the awful dodging mechanic that seemed to dodge more into the enemy attack than away from it, but otherwise the combat is the single high point in the gameplay. It pits you against enemies 1:1 for tense encounters where disposing of them and moving to the next one feels organic. By no means is it enough to save the game - and at best the combat is "good" - but I did feel a thrill each time a new encounter started.

It's obvious to me now that this whole thing was created to push the boundaries on graphics and audio design, both of which I'll give credit where credit is due: the game is perhaps the best looking one I've ever played and the audio design is top notch, especially with headphones (though, related to my earlier script point - the constant voices whispering gets old quickly). The graphics in particular are stunning at every turn with vistas, character models, and lighting effects all feeling so real it borders on photorealistic.

I haven't been kind to Senua's Saga in this review because it's not a good game, nor is it a captivating experience. It's a tech demo that gets boring after 1-2 hours. And while Microsoft spends its focus and money on things like this, while it closes studios responsible for gems like Hi-Fi Rush, it's truly frustrating. Senua's Saga should have been an evolution in gameplay and pushed the story forward in meaningful ways. It had the potential to be a standing Xbox series, but with this sequel, they've all but guaranteed I won't return for a third one.

CONS

Incredibly short. Thankfully it was free via Gamepass. Insanely overpriced if purchasing
There is minimal gameplay and 80% of what you'll be doing is walking. Slowly
Environmental puzzles are dull and unimaginative
The story is just as boring as the bulk of the gameplay. Repetitive script too
Combat dodge mechanic is clunky
Whispering voices get old and repetitive
A step backwards for this series. I wouldn't play another one

PROS