Released today for PS4 and PC, Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice is the much-anticipated new game from the guys at Ninja Theory, known previously for their work on the likes of Enslaved and DmC: Devil May Cry.
Independently published while retaining a AAA flair, Hellblade retails at half the price of a standard “big” game – that’s not the only thing it does differently, either. Hellblade is also available through digital outlets only and has a surprising permadeath system that deletes your save after one too many deaths. Yikes.
With the embargo now lifted, reviews for Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice have been pouring in and the outlook is mainly positive, though some reviewers share some similar sentiments of frustration. Here’s the consensus so far:
Push Square – Sammy Barker – 8/10
[Full Review]“Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice is not going to appeal to all tastes, and nor does it try to. As a character action game, it has decent if underdeveloped combat and a mixture of some excellent and some overplayed puzzles. But it’s the way that the title utilises the unique attributes of the medium to raise awareness of mental health that elevate this release beyond the sum of its parts.”
Gamespot – Alessandro Fillari – 8/10
[Full Review]“At its heart, the story is about Senua’s struggle to come to terms with her illness. In the process, she learns to find the strength within herself to endure, and to make peace with her past. And in a profound and physical way, we go through those same struggles with her, and come away with a better understanding of a piece of something that many people in the world struggle with.”
Game Informer – Joe Juba – 8/10
[Full Review]“Given the heavy subject matter, calling Hellblade “entertaining” feels inappropriate. However, it is undeniably memorable, telling a compelling tale that explores subject matter many consider taboo.”
Destructoid – Chris Carter – 7/10
[Full Review]“Solid and definitely has an audience. There could be some hard-to-ignore faults, but the experience is fun.”
Eurogamer – Johnny Chiodini – Essential
[Full Review]“Hellblade is a remarkable game. Despite some frustrations in execution and some design decisions that are likely to drive some players away, Hellblade is a superb exploration of mental illness told with poise and poignancy.”
VentureBeat – Dean Takahashi – 95/100
[Full Review]“It might have been madness for a small studio like Ninja Theory to take on such a herculean task of self-publishing this game, but I’m glad they made the effort.”
Trusted Reviews – Stuart Andrews – 4.5/5
[Full Review]“Hellblade triumphs equally as action game, mythic quest and psychological character study, bringing together some amazing visuals, great performances and ingenious design. It’s short-lived but perfectly paced with a blend of action and puzzles that grows in richness and complexity as the game goes on. While some might prefer Enslaved or the DMC reboot, I’d call it Ninja Theory’s best work yet.”
Some of the coverage you find on Cultured Vultures contains affiliate links, which provide us with small commissions based on purchases made from visiting our site. We cover gaming news, movie reviews, wrestling and much more.
