Hellbade is known to be a very violent and graphic game. The game also shows Senua struggling with mental illness after her village is destroyed, and her lover is killed. The gameplay takes players on a physiological horror experience, with the motive of saving Senua’s lover’s soul from Hela.
The game has been part of many studies, which focuses on the understanding of life with psychosis. For the unknown, psychosis is a psychiatric disorder that leads to hallucinations and a distortion of reality. These elements can be seen very often throughout Senua’s journey in the game.
Hellblade 2 actor talks about Senua’s saga
These elements bring new and exciting things to the table for the players. However, they might also have severe psychological effects on the people behind these games. This is because games like Hellblade, and Hellblade 2, push for making themselves as real as possible.
Therefore, while developing games like Hellblade 2, it is also important for the company to provide mental health support services to their team.
A PCGamesN journalist had a conversation with Dom Matthews, the head of Ninja Theory, and Senua actress Melina Juergens. They spoke about the effects of developing games like Hellblade 2, and how the company takes care of the mental health of its team.
Dom Matthews adds,
“We have mental health advisors within the team and we also offer external counseling that we have on hand for everyone in the studio.”
According to him, this has been very helpful during developing games like Hellblade and Hellblade 2. Senua had psychosis and a prolonged state of mental distress. Therefore, this presents added emotional pressure on the performer. This is where Melina Juergens talks about how she put her character to life.
“I put a lot of my own real-life trauma into the character.”
Juergens clarified that she suffered from psychosis during her early twenties. She also added that she suffers from anxiety, and other things even today.
Hellblade 2’s Senua was cathartic for the actor
Melina had previously added that the motion capture scenes in the game were her real emotions, real tears, and real screams. From her comments, it is obvious that her role was physically and emotionally challenging. Her role also set an industry benchmark, as it required her to inhabit the character to a degree that very few others have done.
She clarified that the game offered her the opportunity of “catharsis” by saying,
“I see it as an outlet. It gets things off my chest rather than traumatizes me even more, so I see it as a very positive thing for a person.”
According to her, this is her unique way of helping others who suffer from the same problems. Fans will get to see Juergens in Hellblade 2 as she continues her story.
The sequel will come out on 21st May and will be available on PC and Xbox Series X/S.
