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[Robb]

This is sounding pretty much as expected. Very disappointed hearing they seemingly haven’t done much with the environmental puzzles and exploration.

Combat sounds fine, but that wasn’t a very exciting part of the first game to begin with imo. Sound design seems to be top notch at least, which is great.

 

[Bumblebeetuna]

Nonsense, there are numerous other Xbox IPs people would be way more excited to see.

No-one said it was a bad thing that Microsoft has enabled NT to make a sequel. You appear to have completely missed the point. The point was that Phil Spencer purchased NT due to their ability to produce a well received AAA game cheaply and in a timely manner. Am I missing something here? Senuas Sacrifice released in Summer 2017, the sequel has been almost 7 years in development, has cost multiple times what the original cost and is questionable, due to the games fringe appeal, whether there is enough interest to justify the investment. Again, this is exactly the kind of poor decision making that is sinking the Xbox brand.

I'm certain there will be a lot of fun to be had in exploring just how messed up Senua is in the sequel.

Where did Phil say they specifically acquired NT because they can make quick cheap AAA games? There’s nothing wrong with expanding a studio and allowing them to branch out.

Keep grasping for straws though.

 

[BigLee74]

Oh no, bad people talking against hyperbole!!! Who is going to save us from these wretched pc gamers?

Touchy! Feel free to stick your oar in though. Oh, you have done

 

[YOU PC BRO?!]

Where did Phil say they specifically acquired NT because they can make quick cheap AAA games? There’s nothing wrong with expanding a studio and allowing them to branch out.

Keep grasping for straws though.

You must have missed that, don't you recall the entire 'Indie AAA' thing that NT coined to describe Senuas Sacrifice? I'm amazed that you are arguing with me about this given how ignorant you appear. I've heard Phil Spencer talk about NT in a video praising their approach to the development of Senuas Sacrifice when discussing the acquisition. I don't have time to scrub through old videos right now but here is a quote from Matt Booty (Global head of Xbox Studios) touching on the same points...

"I think the main thing with Ninja Theory, is that it is getting more difficult to maintain a studio of that size - of about 100 people - making games that take between two/two and a half years. It's tough. The push for those studios is to orient toward very high production values, and they actually end up in a sphere where they're being compared to AAA. But they're clearly bigger and have more substantial funding needs than a typical small indie." He goes on to say that he wants to help them focus own creating great games without worrying about where the next project is coming from.

If you care to look there was plenty of chatter surrounding all these points at the time of acquisition. That good enough for you?

 

[HeWhoWalks]

A handful at best. Lastgen looking games with higher framerate and res don’t count, sorry.

Nah, definitely more than a handful, but live how you want.

 

[djjinx2]

Nah, definitely more than a handful, but live how you want.

Go on then, next gen games please, more than a handful. Next gen graphics? AI? Physics?

 

[HeWhoWalks]

Go on then, next gen games please, more than a handful. Next gen graphics? AI? Physics?

So you can nitpick and disagree? I’m good. Like I said to him - live in your world. It’s not something that is objective (at least, not in this context).

I have a better idea - define what next gen SHOULD look/play/perform like. Then if games don’t make the cut for you, roll wit it.

 

[semiconscious]

IGN

'everything was immersive'...

 

[djjinx2]

So you can nitpick and disagree? I’m good. Like I said to him - live in your world. It’s not something that is objective (at least, not in this context).

I have a better idea - define what next gen SHOULD look/play/perform like. Then if games don’t make the cut for you, roll wit it.

You answered plenty of games look next gen without actually giving an example though.

Your comparing how this looks to others as in they all look next gen but won't name "more than a handful"

Anyways I'm not shitting up the thread anymore

 

[adamsapple]

Let's fuck up some vikings !

 

[HeWhoWalks]

You answered plenty of games look next gen without actually giving an example though.

Your comparing how this looks to others as in they all look next gen but won't name "more than a handful"

Anyways I'm not shitting up the thread anymore

Sure, to me, more than a handful of games look better than the best of what I saw last gen. If I name them, we’re needlessly going to remain off topic to prove nothing but people have opinions — and I don’t mean that as a slight to you.

On the flip side, there is no question that Hellblade II will be another one of those games!

 

[Bumblebeetuna]

You must have missed that, don't you recall the entire 'Indie AAA' thing that NT coined to describe Senuas Sacrifice? I'm amazed that you are arguing with me about this given how ignorant you appear. I've heard Phil Spencer talk about NT in a video praising their approach to the development of Senuas Sacrifice when discussing the acquisition. I don't have time to scrub through old videos right now but here is a quote from Matt Booty (Global head of Xbox Studios) touching on the same points...

"I think the main thing with Ninja Theory, is that it is getting more difficult to maintain a studio of that size - of about 100 people - making games that take between two/two and a half years. It's tough. The push for those studios is to orient toward very high production values, and they actually end up in a sphere where they're being compared to AAA. But they're clearly bigger and have more substantial funding needs than a typical small indie." He goes on to say that he wants to help them focus own creating great games without worrying about where the next project is coming from.

If you care to look there was plenty of chatter surrounding all these points at the time of acquisition. That good enough for you?

That’s a lot of words for zero substance. Feel free to @ me when you find Spencer or someone literally saying they bought NT because they can make cheap AAA games and that they never intend to expand the studio or grow beyond that. I have a feeling you won’t find any but you’ll type up more novels anyway.

And that’s ignoring the fact that as I already said, if they slapped NT on some beloved Xbox IP and had them churn out some “cheap AAA game” then you and others would just criticize that. There’s plenty of valid criticism you can toss at MS. “oh no, they’re expanding their studios, investing in them and allowing them to make whatever they want!!” is just a dumb take. Maybe find a safe space where you won’t get called out for such a dumb take if it bothers you that much

 

[Negotiator101]

Let's fuck up some vikings !

 

[evanft]

So seven years after the first one and it's basically the same simple game, but with better graphics.

GG Microsoft, GG.

 

[djjinx2]

So seven years after the first one and it's basically the same simple game, but with better graphics.

GG Microsoft, GG.

So 25 years after the first one and Mario is basically the same game.

GG Nintendo, GG.

What the fuck are some of the comments around here!

 

[Negotiator101]

So 25 years after the first one and Mario is basically the same game.

GG Nintendo, GG.

What the fuck are some of the comments around here!

Circus comes to town when an Xbox game is up for critique.

 

[djjinx2]

Circus comes to town when an Xbox game is up for critique.

I was going to use Uncharted as the example but didn't want to #SonyToo

 

[YOU PC BRO?!]

That’s a lot of words for zero substance. Feel free to @ me when you find Spencer or someone literally saying they bought NT because they can make cheap AAA games and that they never intend to expand the studio or grow beyond that. I have a feeling you won’t find any but you’ll type up more novels anyway.

And that’s ignoring the fact that as I already said, if they slapped NT on some beloved Xbox IP and had them churn out some “cheap AAA game” then you and others would just criticize that. There’s plenty of valid criticism you can toss at MS. “oh no, they’re expanding their studios, investing in them and allowing them to make whatever they want!!” is just a dumb take. Maybe find a safe space where you won’t get called out for such a dumb take if it bothers you that much

They literally bought NT so they could make cheap AAA lite games for GamePass. Whats not to get? Matt Booty said it clearly in multiple interviews like the very one I quoted if you'd care to look. Phil Spencer also said much the same thing at the time in interviews - again if you would care to look. It's well established that Senuas Sacrifice was developed cheaply with an extremely small team - if you would care to look. It was also stated clearly in multiple interviews with co-founder Taneem Antoniadas (the one that recently left) - if you would care to look. You are so belligerently ignorant that it's difficult to actually converse with you.

What you call a 'fact' I call meaningless assumptions. My personal belief is that historic Xbox IPs should be distributed across first party studios. That first party studios should have to earn the right to work on some of the classic IPs left gathering dust. 'dumb take' - you must be American, I get it now. All you have done is put words in my mouth. I never criticised Microsoft investment, I critiqued whether it worth the investment for an unproven unappealing IP. You have no discernment skills whatsoever, go back and actually read what I said. You have misinterpreted almost everything.

 

[Topher]

Circus comes to town when an Xbox game is up for critique.

Got a circus of folks taking shots at a new Astro game so as always, it ain't just Xbox.

 

[semiconscious]

okay, somewhat off-topic, but what in the hell's with this phenomenon of one person writing the video preview/review, & another person reading it? are these websites actively attempting to encourage the hiring of mute critics/journalist? or are these critics/journalists so busy obsessively writing shit that they can't spare the 6-7 minutes involved in reading it aloud? i mean, I could see if you were using 'readers' like christopher walken, or morgan freeman, that this might be sorta cool:



but otherwise? I just fail to see what this's all about?...

 

[Stuart360]

Sounds like more of the first game with better graphics.
Def a 'wait for a sale' for me, or Gamepass.

 

[clarky]

It certainly looks fantastic, but more of the same basically.

Not really my cup of tea, but its on gamepass and short so I might actually finish it.

Not sure why some people are "disappointed" in the news that Hellblade 2 is more Hellblade. What else were you expecting?

 

[Sacred]

No thanks. Gameplay looks about as basic and uninteresting as the first game. I see why this is a discounted title.

(Did anyone else find the previews as laughable as I did? Like Microsoft’s marketing team straight up wrote a script for these so-called journalists and played their audio files over top of what are the most uninteresting gameplay videos I’ve seen in a long while.

I actually checked once to make sure I hadn't scrubbed backwards a few seconds to the same footage of slow, boring, Senua sword swings, followed by some slow, boring absorbed damage, followed by a dodge, followed by slow, boring sword swings.)

I'm actually kind of shocked that this is what a 1st party Xbox team is capable of with 5+ years and loads of Microsoft cash. This still feels indie-AF. Ninja Theory sucks.

Who hurt you, this a hyperbole at it's finest.

 

[HeWhoWalks]

Got a circus of folks taking shots at a new Astro game so as always, it ain't just Xbox.

A man of balance!

 

[SF Kosmo]

This one is 7 hours.

Nothing has been confirmed on length except that it is broadly comparable to the first.

 

[FalsettoVibe]

Yes PS owners deserve what looks to be a great game that has actually achieved next-gen visuals.

2/10

 

[Negotiator101]

2/10

You didn't.

 

[FalsettoVibe]

You didn't.

Then again....I should have ignored the trolling, but I took the bait so oh well.


Anywho, I'll give the game a shot on GP.

 

[Negotiator101]

 

[djjinx2]

Got a circus of folks taking shots at a new Astro game so as always, it ain't just Xbox.

I see nothing but love for Astro, Bloober on the other hand...

 

[Perrott]

You do realize you're watching it on a compressed youtube stream. Of course you do, you're just salty whaa..

If anything, compression should hide the visual artifacts, but they're still there.

 

[Oppoi]

I can already see people forgetting about this mundane fodder of a game. Takes some work to keep it relevant.

 

[Topher]

I see nothing but love for Astro, Bloober on the other hand...

I would not call these posts "nothing but love".....

A cute platforming sequel to a PS4 demo that showcased controller features and remake to a beloved horror game being made by a subpar studio with a horrible track-record are Sony's heavy-hitters for the rest of 2024?

SH2 will unfortunately be rubbish because of Bloober being a terrible studio. Surely they have a summer Showcase planned? SOP are OK but I want to see new stuff from Naughty Dog, Sucker Punch etc

So a third-party timed exclusive and a minor AA first-party game? So exciting.

I guess TYYD remake and Elden Ring DLC may really be it for me this year. Dang

I mean....it is fine if folks are not excited for those games (or HB2 for that matter), but let's not pretend they are getting universal praise here.

 

[adamsapple]

I would not call these posts "nothing but love".....

I mean....it is fine if folks are not excited for those games (or HB2 for that matter), but let's not pretend they are getting universal praise here.

One of them is already banned

 

[Punished Miku]

I would not call these posts "nothing but love".....







I mean....it is fine if folks are not excited for those games (or HB2 for that matter), but let's not pretend they are getting universal praise here.

"A cute platforming sequel to a PS4 demo that showcased controller features."

Thats just literally what it is. The only opinion in there is calling it cute. And he got permed shortly after and youre still dragging him.

What did the other guy call it. A minor AA game. Is that really hurting people's feelings and outside the bounds of polite society? Apparently the PS CEO also doesnt call it a major IP.

If only Xbox criticism was this polite. That would be amazing.

 

[Topher]

One of them is already banned

He had a lot more to say than what I quoted unfortunately.

 

[Beechos]

Damn only 1v1 combat is kinda disappointing but we see how visceral this combat it.

 

[Neolombax]

It looks great but very bland gameplay wise.

 

[FlyyGOD]

So seven years after the first one and it's basically the same simple game, but with better graphics.

GG Microsoft, GG.

So is Spider-Man and GOD War for that matter.

 

[Fredrik]

This is sounding pretty much as expected. Very disappointed hearing they seemingly haven’t done much with the environmental puzzles and exploration.

Combat sounds fine, but that wasn’t a very exciting part of the first game to begin with imo. Sound design seems to be top notch at least, which is great.

Sounds great in my opinion. The narrative and combat is what I liked in the first game but the combat while okay became samey fast so better and more challenging combat is exactly what I was hoping for. Puzzles were filler content.

 

[Robb]

Sounds great in my opinion. The narrative and combat is what I liked in the first game but the combat while okay became samey fast so better and more challenging combat is exactly what I was hoping for. Puzzles were filler content.

I’m in the opposite camp. In general I wish they’d done more with this. The first one was fine as a indie game and proof of concept, lots of potential. I feel it got a lot of goodwill just because of that.

This just looks like more of the same. I expected there to be more thought behind it and to evolve in some way given the budget and time they have now.

 

[T0minator]

So is it really a design decision for 30fps when HellBlade 2 is upgraded to 60fps on a Pro console or the PC version?

It's not a design decision it's a hardware limitation

 

[adamsapple]

So is it really a design decision for 30fps when HellBlade 2 is upgraded to 60fps on a Pro console or the PC version?

It's not a design decision it's a hardware limitation

It's a design decision to not compromise on their visual target to have a 60fps mode, if future hardware or 5x more powerful PC's can brute force it to a higher frame rate, that doesn't change their design decision for when the game was made.

 

[Loope]

Touchy! Feel free to stick your oar in though. Oh, you have done

Me huh. You went all hyperbolic, when people confronted you, you just rolled to the floor and started pointing fingers. Fact is it's not as straight forward as console gaming and it's not what you and others are trying to make it seem. I'm the one touchy? ok...

 

[Topher]

It's a design decision to not compromise on their visual target to have a 60fps mode, if future hardware or 5x more powerful PC's can brute force it to a higher frame rate, that doesn't change their design decision for when the game was made.

Won't Xbox Series S have a compromised visual target in comparison to Xbox Series X?

 

[adamsapple]

Won't Xbox Series S have a compromised visual target in comparison to Xbox Series X?

 

[Represent.]

this will be my GOTY

 

[Pancakes and Sausage]

This game has been in Xbox shows for years and the only thing they have shown about this game is motion capture footage.

IDK but this screams BEWARE to me. You market and hype your game through motion capture over and over again?

Why haven’t we seen a stretch of actual gameplay? The last time they showed the game, we saw a few seconds of “gameplay” that included walking up a hill. That’s it and nothing else.

 

[mckmas8808]

So seven years after the first one and it's basically the same simple game, but with better graphics.

GG Microsoft, GG.

Well.......what did you want? It's Hellblade. That's the game.

 

[FireFly]

So is it really a design decision for 30fps when HellBlade 2 is upgraded to 60fps on a Pro console or the PC version?

It's not a design decision it's a hardware limitation

They're one and the same. You design around the capabilities of the hardware.