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Summary

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Takeaways

• 😀 The combat system in *Hellblade II* is overly simplified, with no progression, new abilities, or real challenge, making it less engaging than the first game.
• 😀 The sequel's story lacks the emotional depth and psychological complexity of the original, turning into a more generic adventure narrative.
• 😀 The game's visual quality is impressive, with high-quality facial animations, but the visuals feel disconnected from the gameplay and narrative.
• 😀 The unique, deep exploration of loss and psychosis in the first *Hellblade* is watered down in the sequel, which struggles to maintain the same narrative depth.
• 😀 The game offers a cinematic experience, but it sacrifices gameplay complexity and emotional engagement for style over substance.
• 😀 The voices in Senua's head, which were key to the atmosphere in the first game, have been reduced to mere gameplay hints in the sequel, diminishing their narrative role.
• 😀 The lack of creative vision and leadership, especially after Tameem Antoniades left, is a major flaw in the sequel, leading to a less cohesive game.
• 😀 Despite being shorter than the original, *Hellblade II* is priced higher, which the reviewer finds problematic given its perceived lack of substance.
• 😀 The original *Hellblade* had a clear, passionate creative drive, but the sequel feels like a business decision trying to replicate the first game's success without fully understanding why it worked.
• 😀 The game feels like a missed opportunity to delve deeper into the themes of the original, and the emotional resonance is lost in the process.
• 😀 The review ends with a plea for the return of Tameem Antoniades, suggesting that his absence has left the sequel lacking the unique creative direction that defined the first game.

Q & A

What is the main issue with the combat system in *Hellblade 2: Senua's Saga* according to the speaker?

The speaker criticizes the combat system for being overly simplified and casual, with only two types of attacks and no depth. They express disappointment that the combat lacks the development and variety seen in the first game, with no new moves or progression throughout the game.

How does the speaker feel about the puzzle mechanics in the game?

The speaker finds the puzzle mechanics to be simplistic and not particularly engaging, comparing them to those in the first game, which they found to be more challenging. They describe the puzzles as not offering much emotional or intellectual involvement.

What is the speaker's opinion on the game's cinematography?

While the speaker acknowledges the high-quality cinematography and animations, they believe that it is used as a disguise for a lack of gameplay depth. The focus on cinematic presentation seems to take precedence over developing a deeper, more challenging gameplay experience.

What impact did the sale of Ninja Theory to Microsoft have on *Hellblade 2*?

The speaker mentions that after Ninja Theory was acquired by Microsoft, the creative vision behind *Hellblade 2* shifted. The game lost the strong, focused direction from the original creators, particularly from creative lead Tameem Antoniades. This change in leadership is seen as one of the reasons for the weaker narrative and gameplay in the sequel.

Why does the speaker think the game's narrative is weaker than the first one?

The speaker believes the sequel lacks the deep, original narrative seen in the first game. The emotional depth and the exploration of complex themes like grief and psychosis were more powerful in the original. In contrast, the second game feels more generic, with less thematic weight and a less cohesive storyline.

What does the speaker say about the new types of enemies in *Hellblade 2*?

The speaker notes that there are more types of enemies in *Hellblade 2*, but they believe that this is not enough to compensate for the lack of gameplay depth. The combat still feels shallow and the enemies' attacks are not varied or challenging enough to make the battles interesting.

How does the speaker feel about the game's visual quality compared to the original?

The speaker praises the game's visual quality, describing the animations and character models as highly impressive. However, they feel that the visual improvements do not compensate for the game's overall lack of depth and originality when compared to the first *Hellblade*.

Why does the speaker believe the game was simplified for a broader audience?

The speaker speculates that the simplification of the combat system and narrative was likely done to appeal to a larger audience. They suggest that the developers aimed to make the game more accessible, but in doing so, lost much of the unique and challenging aspects that made the original *Hellblade* stand out.

What was the role of Tameem Antoniades in the development of the first *Hellblade*?

Tameem Antoniades was the creative lead for the first *Hellblade*, and the speaker credits him with bringing a unique vision to the game. His leadership and personal drive were instrumental in making *Hellblade* a success, both creatively and commercially.

What is the speaker's overall assessment of *Hellblade 2*?

The speaker is generally disappointed with *Hellblade 2*, feeling that it lacks the creative spark and emotional depth of the original. They describe it as a beautiful game visually but ultimately weaker in both narrative and gameplay. The lack of a clear vision and direction is seen as the main downfall of the sequel.