Despite Microsoft’s mismanagement of the pre-release marketing for Hellblade 2, the game still garnered an overall positive reception thanks to its excellent presentation and narrative. One thing that particularly drew a lot of attention was the game’s non-romanticized representation of Norse mythology and culture.
It is all thanks to Ninja Theory’s foresight and experience with the backdrop. The developer seized this opportunity before all the major publications and studios recognized the potential of Norse mythology in gaming, thereby setting a trend that many games would follow.
Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice Beat All Other Modern AAA Titles in Using Norse Mythology
Although Hellblade 2 may not have performed well in terms of sheer sales numbers, seeing its low sales on Steam and 23rd rank among Game Pass’ most-played games. However, none can deny the indelible mark the game will leave on its players once the credits roll.
Senua’s Sacrifice, however, holds a particularly poignant place in many players’ hearts. It was, after all, a game that tackled themes of mental health and grief in a way never seen before. It also had one of the most authentic depictions of Nordic folklore and its culture, leaving a lasting emotional imprint on fans.
The latter part stands out, though, as, surprisingly enough, no other major game studio had yet released a game that used Scandinavia’s bloody and gruesome stories to its advantage. Given this, it is pretty fascinating how many Norse-centric video games such as God of War, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, and Valheim came right after the release of Senua’s Sacrifice.
Now, one may argue that a few titles loosely based on Norse mythology did come out before Senua’s story began. The Banner Saga, Viking: Battle for Asgard, and even Thor: God of Thunder can be contended for the title. However, these titles took heavy creative liberties in the culture’s portrayal to the point of only being tied in name, and, as a result, cannot truly compare to games like Senua’s Sacrifice or God of War.
Where Does Hellblade 2 Stand in a Post-Senua’s Sacrifice and God of War World?
With all the great video games we’ve got set in Norse mythology after the release of the first Hellblade, it begs the question of whether Ninja Theory’s baby still has the same charm it once did as an independent AAA project.
To put it simply, Senua’s Saga continues to depict the darkest and most viscerally realistic depiction of 9th-century Scandinavia to date. Its portrayal of that era’s culture haunts players in a way no other game may ever successfully do. It is a tragic world, brought to life beautifully by the geniuses at Ninja Theory.
Though Hellblade 2 has its fair share of issues, including a non-personal narrative, short length, and a largely unchanged game design, the creative vision on display here more than makes up for it, the same way its predecessor once did.
What do you think of the Hellblade series’ depiction of Norse Mythology? Do you consider it better or more realistic than others? Let us know in the comments.
