Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2, the sequel to Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice from Ninja Theory, is all set to release next month. The previews of the title suggest that it will deliver a much more thrilling and immersive experience than its predecessor. The first game is highly praised for its portrayal of psychosis and how uniquely the developers approached the condition.
Ninja Theory used real-life references and consulted with clinicians and people who suffered from this condition to make sure it portrayed psychosis correctly, and the developer is again fully committed to getting things right and showing Senua’s struggles with the condition and how players can feel right there with Senua.
Hellblade 2 Will Show Senua’s Struggles in the Greatest Way Possible
Senua suffers from the most severe form of psychosis, and Hellblade 2 will showcase Senua’s struggles in the best ways possible, as per developer Ninja Theory. GamesRadar+ got a preview of the game, and at one point, the protagonist struggles with noises in her head from all around.
The voices argue against her beliefs and put her in an unpleasant situation, filled with anger and frustration. The audio team at Ninja Theory pulled off the whole sequence by using binaural audio that makes players feel like they are with Senua at that moment.
The game’s audio director, David García-Diaz, stated that they have tried to use sounds to achieve the sensation of hearing other voices. García-Diaz said:
We’re trying to create a sense of depth and space with our sound. This is the closest we can get to replicating the sensation of having other voices in your head.
This seems to be done better than what is seen in the first game. In Hellblade, there are times when things get scary because of the game design, as Senua hears voices accompanied by camera movement, several voices atop one another, and other elements.
Ninja Theory Wants Players to Be with Senua on Her Journey
Ninja Theory has taken its learning to another level with the use of more sound and fewer movements to fine-tune the experience and story. David García-Diaz also said that the team is trying to create an experience with the sounds that will make players feel like they are with Senua.
He added that the most important thing to get that outcome comes from the performances. “It’s a very fine line, but it all comes down to the magic that sparks from the performances,” he said.
The Furies are the voices in Senua’s head that she hears, warning her against any attacks and assisting in battles. Furies also react when she takes damage and represent how much damage she can take when in combat, but they are not always reliable.
Hellblade 2 is shaping up to be one of the most immersive titles of recent times. From its immersive visual and audio style to its art design and character-focused narrative, the game will surely impress gamers.
Are you looking forward to Hellblade 2? Let us know in the comment section below.
