With 2017’s Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice, Ninja Theory showed they weren’t afraid to push the boundaries of storytelling and mental health representation. And now, with Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2, they’re pushing them even further.
They’re not just amping up the graphics, but the immersion as well. They want players to feel like they’re right in the middle of the story. Studio head Dom Matthews recently spoke about their philosophy of maximum engrossment in an IGN interview.
Ninja Theory Wants You To Be In Senua’s Sandals
Matthews says the whole game is built around the idea of immersion. They want players to feel like they’re living Senua’s story, not just controlling it. This means more than just fancy graphics and flamboyant effects – it’s about making a world and characters that you really connect with.
This focus is more than evident with how Ninja Theory approached Hellblade 2‘s development. The team travelled to Iceland and used advanced photogrammetry to accurately simulate real locations, making the in-game world feel more lifelike.
They also built a bespoke stage for filming actors so they could have more people acting in a scene at once, as well as build bigger sets. Melina Juergens, Senua’s actress, even went to Iceland to experience what it’s like to be there, in order to aid her acting process and make it more realistic.
Hellblade 2 Obsesses Over Every Single Detail For Immersion
Graphics may not have been the main focus, but they sure do help when it comes to immersion. That’s why Hellblade 2 is built on Unreal Engine 5, the most powerful and advanced game engine out there. In fact, the game was the first to debut the engine’s capabilities, back when it was first revealed in 2019.
The obsessive attention to detail doesn’t stop there. The developers also studied real Viking and Celtic artifacts to make in-game items look period-accurate, further enhancing the players’ sense of being in that world during that time.
What’s most crucial, though, is a deep, well-written story. Several AAA games these days focus most of their attention on flashy visuals. While amazing graphics are great while you’re playing, they often don’t leave a lasting impression. Ninja Theory knows that a good story and characters are what really immerse players the most.
We saw this in the first Hellblade game as well. Players didn’t just see Senua’s struggles, they felt them deep inside. The studio’s stellar audio design also deserves credit, as it accurately portrayed what it’s like to have psychosis, helping players connect with Senua on a core level.
With Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2, Ninja Theory is building on their strengths. They haven’t just made it look gorgeous, but they’re making the way you experience the story even better. It’s a reminder that fancy graphics and tech are simply tools, but the most important thing is the story.
Hellblade 2 wants to shoot above its station as a game, aiming to be an experience that puts you right in Senua’s head and heart. We don’t know yet if it’ll succeed, but there’s no denying that Ninja Theory on the right track.
