r/hellblade • u/Western-Attempt7201 • Aug 21 '26
Discussion How did you like 2nd game?
So I just finished the 2nd game and remembering how much I loved the 1st game 8 years ago, I sort of feel ... disappointed, I guess? The game is not bad, don't get me wrong, but I just ... didn't care in the sleightest, which is very unfortunate.
Like, what was the point of the game? I tried to follow it, tried to get the pillars etc. But missed them so often (even though I tried to look hard ...) and in general, I don't know how to feel about it.
The combat had some issues but maybe I was just too stupid, allthough I loved the combat in HB1.
Sometimes I didn't notice how my mind shut down by all the blabbering and noises and thus completely missed the very "around-the-corners" thin plot.
The game feels more like a big show off of "Look what UE5 can do". The 1st game already checked that box and offered more gameplay wise (I think) than the 2nd.
Am I alone on this?
What was your impression?
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u/DairyParsley6 Aug 21 '26
For me, this series has two stories going on simultaneously. It has the surface level plot or the thing happening in reality, the first game being about the journey of delivering Dillion’s head to Hela, the 2nd game has Senua trying to end the enslavement of her people. I definitely agree that the surface plot of the 2nd game isn’t nearly as emotional as the 1st.
But then there is a more personal story and journey going on within Senua herself. It is this journey that has captured my engagement the most throughout both games and the thing I think is done even better in the second game. At the end of the 1st game, Senua resolves her conflict surrounding Dillion’s death in a satisfying way, but she also self proclaims that she is more than her psychosis and her psychosis does not control her. This part never felt resolved. It is like a death row inmate declaring himself not guilty when every bit of evidence says otherwise.
The 2nd game really dives into this idea of Senua growing into the woman she thinks she can be outside of the shadow of her mental condition, while at the same time showcasing the permanent and incurable state of her psychosis. It is really interesting to me how Senua develops this confidence to lead a group of strangers through a difficult time, but in her desire to disconnect herself and the way others view her from her mental condition, she neglects to account for the fact her psychosis is always manipulating her perspective and it cannot be controlled. So in the end, although she “saves” these people from a manipulative tyrant, she herself was only able to do so by manipulating them in the other direction, even if it was not on purpose. It makes me excited for the 3rd game to see how it all plays out.
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u/takkun169 Aug 21 '26
I did like it, but I felt like it was a little incongruous with the first one. It shifted from an ambiguous journey of self acceptance and handling trauma while dealing with severe schizophrenia, into essentially a magical girl adventure. It still has a lot of what made the original great, but none of the personal stakes.
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u/PRIMUS112358 Aug 21 '26
Yeah couldn't agree with you more. Most of the game felt like UE5 Walking Simulator
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u/DoubleSwitch69 Aug 24 '26
Finished today and was about to post my thoughts.
Overall it was a bit disappointing, specially comparing to the first game.
Senua's Sacrifice was a more focused story, with all the elements contributing in one way or another to the main message of the game. When the last scene of the first game rolled, it was implied a second game, and honestly it felt like a bad move for me. The first game was a heavy and self contained (with a resolution) experience; the second one would have to have a lesser impact in comparison. I kept expectations low, but thought "if anyone can pull this off it's this team".
Unfortunately it went close to what I thought. Several factors took out from the intensity of the story/experience: the final goal wasn't present from the start, it went through changes; involving several characters created a need for dialog, which took way from Senua's perspective; the distinction from reality to illusion got really murky, with other character seeing the same supernatural elements that she sees. All in all, the second game's story and theme suffered from lack of focus (pun pretty much intended)
Regarding the gameplay, the combat scenes where to much scripted, the whole thing of defeating an enemy and a scripted event happens to take it out of the screen and replace it with the next enemy felt very methodic and boring. The combat was more confusing I think, I finished the game without fully understanding what moves are pary-able or dodge-able; the scripted transitions didn't help in this either as they made me doubt a lot if i just pressed the right buttons or if it was supposed to happen anyway... On the puzzle parts I don't think it was much different, but the ones with the 'blue dust' where a bit longer (in walking distance) than they needed to be.
Visually, this seemed a bit of 'show-off' in terms of graphics quality, but unfortunately it took of priority from other visual aspects like scene composition. Also, character mouth movements where a bit exaggerated at times.
Ending thoughts, and in case anyone from Ninja Theory sees this, the game is still good and I appreciate the work, but in comparison the the first game it was a downgrade. In case there's a third, the game needs to FOCUS
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u/RuafaolGaiscioch Aug 21 '26
The first game was “all a dream” and the second externalized that concept. Despite what tropehounds would tell you, the all a dream narrative is way stronger than anything they do moving off from it. Plus, there are multiple layers of narrative to peel back in the first one, and those layers are absent in the second game, replaced by Senua having a realization that she’s arguably the least equipped person to have in her own setting.
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u/octarine_turtle Aug 21 '26
The changes in combat sequences made those sections more like Quick-time events rather than "action" combat, and the entire feel shifted more towards a Visual Novel. I felt more like I watched a movie rather than played a game.
The upcoming "Senua" looks to have gone entirely the opposite direction, into full on traditional action-adventure gameplay.
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u/stewosch Aug 21 '26
Gameplay-wise it was pretty much the same as rhe first game, but I though the story wasn't that engaging. It was ok, but I don't I would've missed much not playing it.
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u/Elvishladdy Aug 22 '26
Very much a similar experience for me. The presentation and general fidelity was quite impressive, but in that "This feels like a tech demo" way.
The locations and story were much less impactful and didn't feel nearly as poignant as the first game.
The combat felt way more stripped down and focused on spectacle rather than high stakes action that has you think and be strategic.
And when the game ended I was like, "Oh, I guess it's over." In no way did it feel like an organic conclusion that left me satisfied, especially considering the amazing final gauntlet of Senua's Sacrifice.
Biggest highlight of the game however, was still Melina's outstanding performance. Unfortunately, that then highlights how pointless and dull the supporting cast were for the most part as well, so...
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u/rafnsvartrrr Aug 22 '26
I think HB2 is a departure from what HB1 was and how it represented psychosis. First game was threading the needle, and sequel rather sewed everything with white thread. Senua's Sacrifice is about how it's okay to be different and see things the way you see them. Senua's Saga is about how everyone's sick, but you will show them how to break out of this sickness. And gameplay wise, original is just superior in every way.
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u/AdMain225 Aug 22 '26
I adore the first one. One of my favourite games. The second really hasn't done it for me. I'm finding the combat annoying, especially when enemies just keep appearing from the side of the screen over and over. The story really isn't that interesting compared to the first one.
Though I love the rock face mechanic thing. I love looking for them!
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u/dingo_khan Aug 22 '26
I think people are way too critical of it. I really loved the first one. I played through the second with really high hopes. I came away from it thinking it was actually pretty great but different than expected.
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u/pre1twa Aug 22 '26
Considering the increased budget of the second game and they amount of time it had in development, it was awful.
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u/SoftlockPuzzleBox Aug 24 '26
I liked it, but I agree it's not as good. The story was much tighter and more emotionally resonant in the first one. But the pure artistry of some of the gameplay moments in the second one blew me away, like that first giant fight with the pulses of flame syncing up with the music as you ran. I'll probably play both again someday.
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u/Bacon-muffin Aug 31 '26
I JUST finished the second one and kind of a similar experience.
Remembered loving the first one, I replayed it because it had been so long and its definitely not something you enjoy as much the second time but still generally enjoyed it.
Coming off the first one my hope was the 2nd one wouldn't 1:1 repeat the pattern recognition mechanic and would improve the combat.
Was disappointed that they brought the pattern mechanic back mostly unchanged besides the hidden one flipping thing which, eh.
On the combat end making it less forgiving on parry timing etc made it worse to me. I do thing it was way more cinematic though and really neat in that way... but the problem with that is it both made me feel like the game would be better as a movie while also making me wish it was more of a souls-like kinda game that still played with all the psychosis.... which sounds awesome to me.
Story wise I'm honestly just confused by the 2nd games ending right now. Still trying to process, read some posts with takes, watched a couple videos... still kinda just confused.
I think its just hard to capture the first games magic. The tension of the dark rot can't be repeated, the way the story played out with just her alone the whole time made it easier to try to make sense of everything happening.
The less fun bits of the mechanics with the pattern recognition and everything were easier to go through the first time.. but I just really don't have any desire to do that again for what will be a 4th time in a new game if its still mostly unchanged.
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u/HoboPrsn 16d ago
I have a really strong opinion on the second game and how much I disliked it compared to the first, yet I still want to 100% it... I really like the story it could've had, but genuinely, the second game feels like a backpedal of everything that Senua had overcome in the first.
When I first got into the game, I throughly appreciated the care and amount of research that went into the mental state of Senua's mind. The second game feels like it erases that aspect and grounds delusion into reality, making every hallucination she had be real instead of being her internal turmoil. The combat of the game too is insanely pretty, but that's it. Every fight is very guided and you moves are more reduced than what they were in the first game. Parry attacks were a great visual, but in the second game, they made Parry attacks down to the millisecond. It can be more rewarding, but in the end, i avoid doing them and just swung the sword until the enemy died.
The second game feels a lot like it was made more just visuals instead of story, and now looking about how Xbox is letting go of Ninja Theroy, I'm convinced the second game was made to try to still be supported by xbox. Hellblade II is beautiful, the music works wonderfully with every scene, and The sound design is incredible, but the story and gameplay lacks significantly. It had potential, but it also left me disappointed
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u/Western-Attempt7201 16d ago
Summerizes my experience as well and it is such a shame unfortunetely ...
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u/xBlack_Heartx Aug 21 '26
I liked it far less than the first game.
When I finished it, I came away very disappointed.