Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice Critic Reviews

My expectations have never been so thoroughly exceeded. As I said, I have a great deal of difficulty putting in words just how much I love Hellblade. It’s just that powerful.

Despite a bug that forced my first playthrough to end prematurely, Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice is an incredible game that will continue to linger with me as a singular and emotionally affecting experience. For its audio and visual design alone, it is stunning, but for its ability to use the video game medium to bridge our understanding of mental illness while also telling a personal and powerful story, it is a masterpiece. If you feel capable of withstanding the emotional strain it requires, a dark and fulfilling tale awaits.

Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice is beautiful and terrifying at the same time. Its combat mechanics and puzzles are strong, but its true strengths lies with its ability to tell a story and craft a world that differentiates itself from other titles out there. Together, we're offered an adventure that is equally horrifying and brilliant - a true masterpiece of a game.

It might have been madness for a small studio like Ninja Theory to take on such a herculean task, but I’m glad they made the trip.

All considering, I must admit this game is not for everyone. A prospect which saddens me, but one I must unfortunately accept. I play games for all kinds of reasons, not just for fun, and Hellblade is not fun – it’s emotionally brutal. An emotional inferno, worth your suffering.

An unsettling and deeply disquieting experience at times, Hellblade is like nothing else.

Hellblade approaches psychosis in a videogame in a mature and original way. The game has a perfect balance of combat, puzzles and exploration, with great sound and graphics, but it fells too short, clocking in at about 8 hours in length.

A masterclass of atmosphere, storytelling, and the marriage of mechanical and conceptual design. While there are moments that feel shoehorned in to remind us we’re playing a videogame, the care and attention Ninja Theory has clearly poured into Senua and her story has created something amazing. This is a game everyone should play, and I’m thankful for the opportunity to have lived inside the mind of Senua, however briefly.

One of the most inventive games of the year, showing that time and patience can be behind a challenging, smart, and incredibly interesting game.

Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice is a complete experience for a bargain price. Struggling through life as a psychosis sufferer is an alarming experience, and Hellblade provides an illuminating glimpse into the lives of those afflicted by such terror.

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.

Hellblade overcomes very minor hiccups with incredible presence, immersive design, and an overall package that truly leaves an impression, not to mention the fact that it’s only $29.99. If this is Ninja Theory stepping away from mainstream gaming, may they permanently inhabit this “Triple-A Indie” space they’ve carved for themselves and usher in a new era that strikes the balance between creative risk and high-quality production values.

Ninja Theory, you moved me. Hellblade’s gameplay is polished, the writing is fantastic, the acting is superb, and the ending managed to make me cry. But even then, all of this pales in comparison to everything this art piece truly represents. What you’ve built, what you’ve accomplished here, is extremely important. It’s probably the most realistic portrayal of mental illness I’ve yet seen in a video game, and it works its magic without being patronizing, without stooping to exploitation or condescension.

Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice is an interesting action game that, aside from its enjoyable gameplay and great combat mechanics, offers an interesting premise that could easily delude your perceptions. Simply put, it is a game that defies any expectations that gamers can have of it.

Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice offers an unparalleled ambiance that is impacted by the character's mental illness. With a few imperfections, this games is one to play because you will ultimately remember it, unlike most AAA games.

Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice is beautiful, discomforting, and compelling. It might challenge what you like about games, but challenge is good. You're doing yourself a disservice if you don't try it.

Hellblade Senua's Sacrifice is a unique and special proposal whose core is in the treatment of psychosis and its masterful recreation. Set in the Viking era with interesting mythological stories and legends. The graphics are more than remarkable and the sound effects and music are excellent, recreating the voices that the protagonist listens to in his head. Playability is based on the combination of puzzles based on illusions and perspective, in addition to various challenging combat sequences that will not make things easy for us. It's not a game for everyone, but it will please and amaze those willing to live a different story and to delve into the deepest darkness that can harbor a sick mind.

Hellblade is one of my favorite titles this year. Its incredible use of sound and visual manipulation to completely immerse you in its experience is a credit to Ninja Theory. Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice is a prime example that you don’t need a massive budget to create something extraordinary.

Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice is a unique achievement in interactive storytelling. An engaging combat system and rich mythology serve as backdrops to a profoundly emotional tale. Stepping into the mind of Senua and playing a small role in her life is an inspiring experience that leaves a weighty impression.

Mental illness is a seldom discussed and often misunderstood topic. While Hellblade is far from a direct and immediate exploration of psychosis and how it affects people, it uses a powerful narrative mixed with symbolic gameplay elements to weave a tale of horrific trauma and unsettling experiences. Hellblade is easily one of 2017’s very best games, and the best game I’ve played all year that isn’t Zelda.