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[GymWolf]

If a walkthrough is taking 5 hrs then a normal play through will certainly take longer than that.

I am simply exploring everything, trying to find as many rock faces/shrines as possible.

But I do take longer than normal to finish games, so there’s that.

I also take my time with games if there is something worth to find, but just collectibles aren't my thing because i don't care for trophies\achievements.

 

[vaibhavpisal]

I also take my time with games if there is something worth to find, but just collectibles aren't my thing because i don't care for trophies\achievements.

Its like, when you are playing Uncharted, you try to walk all pathways, even if there wouldn’t be anything there.

Its similar here. Sometimes you get a good view of a landscape. Sometimes you find a rockface, they are always cool to find.

 

[GymWolf]

Its like, when you are playing Uncharted, you try to walk all pathways, even if there wouldn’t be anything there.

Its similar here. Sometimes you get a good view of a landscape. Sometimes you find a rockface, they are always cool to find.

I think we are repeating the same thing over and over here

I don't explore in unchy because i don't care about artifacts, but i explore in tlou because what you find help you to survive or to get stronger.

 

[adamsapple]

• Added a warning prompt when selecting 'New Story' as this option resets the current save's story progress.
• Fixed the large text size option, which was causing UI elements in chapter selection to go out of bounds.
• Animation sync issues during some enemy executions in combat have been adjusted and fixed.
• Adjusted the combat events during the Thórgestr battle at the end of Chapter 1
• Several localization fixes.
• Tree collision fixes in Chapter 2 settlement puzzle.
• Fixed the crash when closing photo mode after extended gameplay.
• Fixed a few cases of memory leaks game-wide.
• Ultrawide fix during Chapter 3 cinematic to prevent Fargrímr from disappearing.
• Indoor rain inside the broken house in Chapter 1 is fixed.
• Ghosting issues fixed when running Frame Generation.
• Added missing SFX during Chapter 3 puzzle and Chapter 4 combat
• Fixed missing captions in several areas across the game.
• Missing facial animations in Chapter 5 cinematic after village battle.
• Misaligned peach fuzz around Senua's neck and face has been corrected.
• Goði combat crowd push events have been adjusted for a better combat experience.
• Improved FSR3 artefacts.
• Fixed the case of some animated objects were invisible during gameplay.
• Fixed instances of black marks appearing on faces around beards and fine hairs on Low preset.

 

[UltimaKilo]

I just finished the game on a Series S and was really impressed at what the machine was able to do.

It’s also baffling why the game received so much hate; I really enjoyed it. Short, incredible visuals, awesome sound with headphones and engaging story.

Verdict: 83/100

After playing this game, I’d love to see Ninja Theory take a crack at Ryse II and visit the Roman Empire with Hellblade 2 graphics.

 

[Fredrik]

After playing this game, I’d love to see Ninja Theory take a crack at Ryse II and visit the Roman Empire with Hellblade 2 graphics.

I just want more of the same but combat focused, Hellblade Arena, no puzzles. Microsoft needs to write these guys a blank check and just let them keep doing their thing.

 

[Balducci30]

Just beat the game. A visual masterpiece. Really a testament to how far incredible visuals can take you. I finished it almost solely because of how good it looked.

I think they should make the photo mode into its own type of movie making simulator game

 

[Agent_4Seven]

I think I am at the final stretch and almost done. It's a pleasant surprise to see how NT decided to present the Giants, explain what they actually are and for Senua to find a way to deal with them, not to mention that it's different for each of them when you learn about their origins and stuff and calm them down by learning their names. What's also great about the sequel is that there's way more characters than just Senua this time around, not only the main cast by others as well and it's really cool how NT showing their involvement in the story and what's going on around Senua, which is absolutely and never a thing in other AAA action games where everything is just on the background and you don't even see what's happening cuz you always move forward, but here people (and the main cast) act constantly around Senua, be it by helping her in the fight, or Senua helping them to stay alive, kill enemies together etc. etc.

​

This kind of thing helps the immersion a lot and I hope more devs will take notice. The writing and acting is also astounding and here's where this game shines as well, unlike something like Horizon: Forbidden West where acting and mocap is great, but the writing and emotions is just not there, not to mention kind of a one note characters which are always on good terms with Alloy, and the story,... well, you know, it's not terrible, but not great either and almost completely lacks emotional aspects where they absolutely must be and cuz of this reason a lot of events in the game fall flat and not triggering emotional response from you. Hellblade II on the other hand feels and looks like a more compact, extremely well directed, written, shot and presented norse saga with more memorable characters and story.

​

I don't want this game to end and obviously I haven't finished the game yet, but I really hope that it's not the last we see of Senua and maybe in the next game we can help her get rid of the voices and let her live a normal life with someone who cares about her, like before the events of the first game. I mean, after so many terrifying events, emotional hell and all sort of other shit, the story of Senua must end on a positive and optimistic note

 

[Fart Knight]

So Im seeing the credits roll... Liked it. Game looks and sounds great but combat still sucks and the pacing can be off sometimes. Also, why does it take her so much energy to climb a simple ledge or go down a ladder. The Hiddenfolk chapter with the caves was my favourite section. Loved the Descent vibe and sparkley shit. Still, I prefer the original. Feel like this game was unneccesary as it barely adds any story or gameplay. Its just a graphics showcase.

Oh yeah, ofcourse theres another skrong woman!

 

[Rockman33]

Wooooow this game has incredibly stunning visuals and a few moments that really had my jaw on the floor.

Having said that there are many stretches that were incredibly boring and uninspired. The beauty of it got me through it though.

Glad this game was made as it pushes the boundaries in at least one or two areas. Audio and visuals. Hoping if they do another they take in the feedback and make it more of an enjoyable game to play rather than just look at.
Probably a 7/10 for me.

 

[Bumblebeetuna]

Went through and wrapped up the collectibles. I hadn’t played in like a week since I’d beaten it, almost forgot how incredibly gorgeous the game is. Play time is almost 9 hours, easily longer than the first for me.

The extra narrators are cool but I wonder if their dialogue is any different or do they say the same stuff?

 

[Punished Miku]

Went through and wrapped up the collectibles. I hadn’t played in like a week since I’d beaten it, almost forgot how incredibly gorgeous the game is. Play time is almost 9 hours, easily longer than the first for me.

The extra narrators are cool but I wonder if their dialogue is any different or do they say the same stuff?

I went through it a 2nd time and it's very minimal differences. 1 detail is definitely interesting that you learn early on, but it doesn't seem like they did much with it.

Spoiler

Thorgestor also hears voices. Kinda makes sense since he also had the darkness on his arm, but they confirm it briefly but don't really do anything with it.

I'll wait a while and play it a 3rd time later this year after some space. The narration is barely different, just a minor thing for people.

 

[Bumblebeetuna]

I went through it a 2nd time and it's very minimal differences. 1 detail is definitely interesting that you learn early on, but it doesn't seem like they did much with it.

Spoiler

Thorgestor also hears voices. Kinda makes sense since he also had the darkness on his arm, but they confirm it briefly but don't really do anything with it.

I'll wait a while and play it a 3rd time later this year after some space. The narration is barely different, just a minor thing for people.

Wow that’s very interesting.

 

[Punished Miku]

Wow that’s very interesting.

Yeah, I was hoping they did more with that but it wasn't used for anything in the plot.

 

[James Sawyer Ford]

Tried booting it up this weekend and can’t even muster the will to make it another two hours to beat the game

The very definition of a terrible slog

 

[Bumblebeetuna]

Thanks for that update, Lost guy, we were all on the edge of our seats waiting to see your final judgement. Imagine our surprise when you didn’t like the game. Not since Judas have we had such shock in our hearts.

 

[mortal]

---

Concept art by Marco Teixeira​

 

[adamsapple]

 

[Punished Miku]

I'm surprised I'm not on there. My 10/10 score shook the internet.

 

[Kilau]

Finally had the chance to finish. Loved everything. Seems doubtful we will get more but I hope we do. Took me about 10 hours and missed a few totems and faces. I love a game that tells a story and isn’t afraid to be an experience. The graphics are truly amazing, in awe at moments.

 

[DaGwaphics]

I'm going to try and get started on this tomorrow. The reviews in here have me pumped for it.

Would have given it a go today but I had never opened the game after downloading it and it wouldn't start (some clown from the lawn service went and cut my cable line, had my broadband offline for a minute).

 

[saintjules]

I played for about an hour or so last night. The visuals showcased here is kind of what I was expecting for this generation.

Feels like we're getting closer to the fidelity of the UE5 tech demo from a few years ago when you compare it to HBII and Callisto Protocol.

 

[DaGwaphics]

Just started this one last night. The screenshots don't do it justice, wow, this is what "next-gen" visuals really look like. Incredible amount of detail they've managed to include in there.

 

[Agent_4Seven]

Rolled the credits just now. I kinda don't like what they did with Thórgestr and killed him off, but then it all played out so fuckin' heartwarming (especially when you look back at where it all started at the beginning of the game), that it was somewhat easier to accept. Also, Senua's dual personality they showed is so fuckin' cool and could be goddamn amazing as a narrative and choice driven tool (similar to Gollum in the LOTR trilogy) for the next game. Melina Juergens deserves the highest praise and as many awards as possible for what she's done for the game (and IP as a whole) and for bringing Senua to life without any fuckin' acting experience before Hellblade was even a thing. Anyway, JFC what a game!

​

The ending is clearly hinting at the sequel and that the story of Senua is not finished yet, which is great cuz I'D LOVE to play the 3rd game and will buy it instantly as soon as pre-orders go live, just like I did with the second game. But if MS will shutdown NT for whatever reason and won't let them end Senua story and continue making games for those of us who love them, I WILL FUCKIN' NEVER buy ANY MS games or any of their shit, NEVER!

 

[FoxMcChief]

So I think I’m half way through the first game. All the people complaining about the gameplay in Hellblade 2, what’s the difference?

All the first game is holding the stick up and a barebones combat system.

I appreciate the game’s storytelling, visuals and most importantly the audio. I’m playing using Dolby Atmos headphones and it sounds incredible.

 

[calistan]

Just finished it after setting it aside for a couple of weeks. That was gruelling but good. Great ending too.

Never felt like I really got to grips with the combat though. I understood that red attacks mean dodge, other attacks can be parried, then you attack. But I often couldn't tell if I was doing damage or just missing my cue and having to repeat the same sequences until I hit the right button. Particularly the final boss - eventually he went down, but I was getting frustrated by not knowing if I was getting anywhere for several minutes.

I wanted to hear the side story in the runes, but as soon as I missed a rune it was like I'd skipped a chapter. After that I just walked away from them and left the guy talking.

 

[Agent_4Seven]

But I often couldn't tell if I was doing damage or just missing my cue and having to repeat the same sequences until I hit the right button. Particularly the final boss - eventually he went down, but I was getting frustrated by not knowing if I was getting anywhere for several minutes.

There's fights in the game you can't win without using focus even on Hard. The last boss has 3 combo attacks you can dodge or parry + he's resistant to your strong attacks and it's not that easy to break his guard unlike regular enemies. The combat wasn't meant to be super deep, just like in the first game, but it was improved and is way better now. I hope that in the next game they'll give Senua a shield so we could use it in combat as well - hide from fire attacks for example, block throwing spears which will eventually break the shield if you'll be using too much which'll add even more tension and danger to the combat. There's a lot they can do in terms of combat in the next game without making it into super complex.

I wanted to hear the side story in the runes, but as soon as I missed a rune it was like I'd skipped a chapter. After that I just walked away from them and left the guy talking.

I think I haven't found one totem and a few trees in total, even though I looked hard for them.

 

[Agent_4Seven]

 

[FoxMcChief]

I’m about 2 hours in. I think I’m done. While its visuals and animations might be the best released on consoles, holy smokes is it a chore to play. I shouldn’t have played and beat the first game. I just don’t think I want to do this type of gameplay anymore.

Combat also felt better in the first game. Yeah, I think I’m good.