In many, perhaps, they expected a natural evolution towards unpublished intellectual properties devoted to the action genre, but the boys of Cambridge had different plans: content development team – about 20 people – title published without external funding, sales price halved compared to the classic triple A, but guaranteeing a few hours of play of the same value.
Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice is an unsettling title if it is approached with the above expectations, since it puts the gameplay at the service of a theme rarely treated in such a complete manner within video games, that of psychosis.
Precisely for this we immediately dissolve a couple of curiosities that in the case of this title become secondary: as anticipated it costs 30 euros and we have completed it in about 8 hours. In the next paragraph, therefore, we will focus on the aspects that led to our judgment, which should be taken into account, for better or for worse,
PLAYSTATION TROPHIES 4
Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice is one of those titles that falls into the “very easy” category with regard to obtaining the much desired platinum. By completing the game we have in fact unlocked 90% of the total trophies, obviously leaving only a handful of inscriptions that tell stories related to the Nordic mythology. The rest is obtained by continuing naturally in the adventure and winning a good amount of fights.
THE TORMENTS OF THE MIND
Psychosis is a disorder of the mind little known by most, which has no particular physical manifestations compared to other diseases and is therefore difficult to understand by those who are not affected. Usually the symptoms are hallucinations and delirium, with the impossibility of discerning what happens in one’s mind from objective reality, with respect to which contact is lost.
Be careful not to confuse it with the psychopathy, which adds to it the lack of empathy and remorse, but also attention to approach it with lightness, we will limit ourselves to doing it in relation to this game: it is a delicate theme, about which the Ninja developers Theory have turned to study groups and scientists
in order to learn it to the end and reproduce it in the video game in a credible and above all honest. In the form of an adventure in the world created by the mind of Senua, a Celtic warrior who suffered a series of traumas as a child: the father who isolated her at the first signs of imbalance, the violent death of her beloved, the beliefs of Nordic mythology in which the leaders of the subjugated tribes were sacrificed as a gift to the gods.
A constant struggle with the inner darkness that can exist only if the light is present: the greater the projected shadow, the greater the danger. We do not want to reveal further aspects of the “plot” because it is right to be experienced in the first person by the player; what we can tell you, however, is how the torments of Senua have been reproduced from an aesthetic and gameplay point of view.
Let’s start with the latter, set in the third person with a close up view moved to the right; like Resident Evil 4 and the new God of War, so to speak. The progression is completely linear except in a couple of moments that can be dealt with in reverse order, based on a series of fights – representing 20-30% of the experience out of the final part – and the resolution of environmental puzzles,
always with a high symbolic value integrated with the narration. Often we meet doors barred with above represented some runic symbols, which are sought by exploring
the setting perhaps from specific angles. At other times the protagonist faces the illusions generated by her mind, and then we must find the way by looking through “portals” that reveal passages. And again, relive the fire of your village, with the flames to represent the danger to overwhelm. setting maybe from specific angles.
At other times the protagonist faces the illusions generated by her mind, and then we must find the way by looking through “portals” that reveal passages. And again, relive the fire of your village, with the flames to represent the danger to overwhelm. setting maybe from specific angles. At other times the protagonist faces the illusions generated by her mind,
and then we must find the way by looking through “portals” that reveal passages. And again, relive the fire of your village, with the flames to represent the danger to overwhelm.In these situations it is a question of solving puzzles that are basically simple, exploring environments that are fairly large as a dimension but linear as articulation , using R2 (on PlayStation 4, the title is exclusive console but also available on PC) to reveal the next step.
The combat system is associated with Senua’s will to defeat their fears, which manifest themselves in dark creatures with disturbed aspects; usually clashes happen one by one, but you have to be careful of attacks from other monsters on the battlefield.
The scheme of the commands includes the parade with R1, the dodging with X, light and heavy attacks with square and triangle; finally the circle to kick in order to break the defenses of shielded opponents. Everything is quite simplistic by following the classic script in which the timing and counterattack at the right time count, with a small sample of available moves.
A last possibility is given by hurling a beam of light that can slow down time, available following a certain number of slashes avoided or brought to sign. About thatyou can choose the level of difficulty at any time – without affecting the achievement of the trophies – with the unprecedented “Auto” option
that is adjusted according to your performance and the number of strokes: we suggest you to play immediately Difficult, in such a way as to obtain a satisfactory level of challenge.
THERE IS NO DARKNESS WITHOUT LIGHT
Everything here, neither the general gameplay nor the combat system can be compared to the best expressions in adventures or action titles, but what struck us is how they were integrated into the narration and visual reproduction of the world created by
Senua, or in a manner to say the least masterly. This is thanks to a double work done by Ninja Theory, who has created a little gem with Hellblade from an audiovisual point of view.If possible arm yourself with good headphones or a positional stereo system, because the whole adventure is accompanied by an exceptional dubbing –
in English – and by the many voices inside the protagonist’s head, which come from very precise directions and help to increase the overall involvement. Too bad for the lazy work used in the subtitles in Italian, which often propose whole lines of characters anticipating dialogues which are instead recited with pauses and emphasis: they deserve a better synchronization with the written text.
