It’s been a long time coming, but with every passing day, we’re getting closer to the sequel of one of the best-looking video games of 2017, and even today, Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice. Seven years later, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 is on the horizon finally.
Developed by Ninja Theory and an Xbox exclusive, the sequel has taken its time getting here, with delays, radio silence on its progress, and a worry from fans that it may have been canceled, but fear not, after a big showing at the Xbox Developer Direct conference, we have every faith this is the sequel the first in the franchise deserves.
Xbox Exclusive Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 Looks Set to Carry on the Story (and Underlying Motifs) of the Original
The original was released to near-universal acclaim, with many critics and fans alike astounded at how incredible the game looked, as well as the refined gameplay and the story that had multiple layers other than just the obvious.
Well, after years of waiting, we finally have a proper look at the sequel, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2, and it looks like it’s going to follow in the same footsteps of its predecessor, and quite possibly push the envelope of what’s possible on an Xbox Series X|S at the same time.
Anyone who watched knows that the Xbox Developer Direct was more than just a few trailers, but more in-depth developer diaries for each game, and Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2’s was a doozy. It was revealed during the video that there are many new areas and locations to visit, with more of a heavy emphasis on the ‘Psychosis’ side of Senua’s story, with entire areas and locations only there for her to see.
A new combat system has been introduced that ‘feels very different than the first game’, which is ‘very brutal’ and whilst Senua ‘isn’t a superhero, she’s fighting for survivor’, she is indeed an incredible character that very much inhabits the world she lives in, for better or worse.
As many will know, the original was immersive in every second of its gameplay, with a complete lack of tutorials or Heads-Up Display, instead, the game’s audio was used to clue the player into what and when to do something. This looks set to continue in Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2, but whilst storywise elements are unknown, we now know more about the deeper mechanics at play. Whereas the first game had a heavy emphasis on the audio surrounding the player, the developer looks to have doubled down on this, with a whole new spate of technology being used to increase the specificity and spatial side of the sound on offer. Many developers forget that audio is as big a part of game development as everyone else, so it’s nice to see one going above and beyond.
Ahead of the Xbox Developer Direct conference the release date for the sequel seemed to leak, and after that showing at the conference, it looks like it was correct. In a day and age where games are given release dates months and years in advance before delays hit them and they’re pushed back anyway, it makes a nice change for a developer to wait until closer to the time before committing to one, as has been the case here with Ninja Theory.
With just over five months to go until the sequel drops on May 21st, we don’t have long to wait to continue the story of Senua and her struggles within her head, and her world.
Follow us for more entertainment coverage on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
