Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II has finally been released for Xbox and PC gamers to enjoy and immerse themselves in. The long-awaited narrative adventure title developed by Ninja Theory is heavy on its dark lore and combines action and graphical beauty.
While it’s a great game, many players are disappointed with its overall length and feel that a game that has been developing for over four years should’ve offered a bigger storyline. Today, when a new trailer for Elden Ring‘s upcoming DLC dropped, some gamers took their frustrations against Hellblade II to the next level.
Gamers Believe Shadow of the Erdtree DLC Will Be Long Than Hellblade II
We’re just a few weeks from the launch of Shadow of the Erdtree DLC. The brand-new trailer from the developer gives us a closer look at the expansion’s story, which is set in the Land of Shadows, where players will discover the dark secrets of this land. In response to the trailer, Xbox’s official X/Twitter account said, “Tell us what you see with your golden eyes.” However, things took a turn when people smashed Xbox for Hellblade II’s release.
One of the biggest criticisms Hellblade II currently faces is its short runtime. The game took more than four years to develop and still clocks in around 8-9 hours of playtime, which is shorter than the first game. Despite being shorter overall, it’s still priced high, frustrating many in the community.
Many in the community have also compared Hellblade II to Elden Ring‘s upcoming DLC because they fall in the same price range ($50). Despite being an expansion, the Shadow of the Erdtree is expected to be three times bigger than Hellblade II. This is quite sad because we’re comparing a DLC with a fully-fledged game.
One player said it’s not Hellblade II that’s watched being with those “golden eyes.”, showcasing their frustration with the game.
Many players also shared their concerns regarding Ninja Theory’s future. In the last few weeks, we’ve seen Microsoft shutting well-established studios due to financial issues and their games not reaching targets.
Although Elden Ring’s DLCs and Hellblade II‘s cost the same, it’s crucial to remember that both games fall into different categories and appeal to different audiences.
Why Does Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II Have a Short Run Time?
Since it was revealed that Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II will be roughly 9 hours long, players have complained non-stop. These complaints aren’t without a reason: the game lacks replayability, and no one would pay $50 for a title that’s destined to rot in their game library. Even though the initial reception is positive, players are still skeptical.
Ninja Theory’s Head, Don Matthews, once explained that they decided to refine the story by only focusing on aspects “they care about.” Although the experience may feel shorter, it’s designed like that on purpose. Matthew believes the game won’t feel like a cash grab since they focus on storyline, wording building, graphics, and other aspects. However, it’s clear that the gaming community is disappointed and expected more due to the game’s price tag.
