Developer: Ninja Theory
Publisher: Ninja Theory
Release Date: August 8, 2017
Platforms: PC, PS4 (reviewed)
Many games try to depict mental illness, but few succeed in providing an accurate portrayal. We get occasional glimpses- the soldiers in Spec Ops: The Line, the FBI agent in Heavy Rain, the bereaved husband in Silent Hill 2. But mostly we get psychotics and megalomaniacs, be it Trevor in Grand Theft Auto 5 or Pagan Min in Far Cry 4. Some games get closer, like The Cat Lady or The Town of Light. But never have we gotten such an accurate portrayal and a game that arouses such empathy as the latest from Ninja Theory (Heavenly Sword, Enslaved: Odyssey to the West), the brilliant mix of madness and mythology that is Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice.
Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice follows a quest undertaken by the titular Senua, a Celtic warrior who suffers from psychosis. She carries with her the head of her beloved Dillion, and is determined to free his soul from the clutches of the Norse goddess Hella. To do so, she must pass through the land of the Northmen and pass through the gates of Helheim, the Norse version of Hell. Along the way, she is guided by voices and visions of various people from her life, including her mother Galena, her father Zynbel, and the curious Druth, all in addition to Dillion. She faces dangers and feral gods, with the ever present threat of the rot taking over her should she fail at any point. The game moves us through twelve sections over a journey that can take anywhere from 7 to 10 hours (my first playthrough finished at 9 hours, 50 minutes). While much of this could be likened to a “walking simulator” with collectibles (lorestones) to find, you will also engage in combat and solve puzzles, both of which are implemented terrifically.
Combat consists of quick, heavy, and melee attacks. L1 is used to run or leap from enemy to enemy in combat. R1 is used to block. A well timed block will stun an enemy, allowing you to do major damage. R2 is your focus, which is used to solve puzzles as well. In combat, it slows down time, allowing you to dispatch foes before they can get the better of you. There are three difficulties you can set for combat- Easy, Normal, and Auto, which adjusts to your skill level. One on one is easily dealt with (save for bosses, which have varying attacks), but when surrounded spatial awareness is essential. Aiding you are the voices that guide you on your quest. The voices warn you of impending attacks from behind or implore you to get up if you’re knocked down. You do receive a warning on screen after your first battle: Fail too often, and the rot will overtake you, thus erasing your progress. It’s been debated if this threat of permadeath is real (if so, you would have to restart your journey from the beginning) or a bluff. Most will not find out, as once you get the hang of the combat you should make it to the end with only a few deaths. The rot never got beyond my shoulder, and I died several times, so how often you would have to fail is uncertain. It’s been reported that one player purposely failed 50 times with no permadeath, so take that as you will. Real or not, the implied threat serves the game well, as every fight feels fraught with tension. The threat meshes in with Senua’s delusions, and just adds to the overall atmosphere of the game.
Occasionally Senua will come upon doors with runes on them, and this is where the game’s puzzles come into play. You’ll use your focus to highlight the runes or a symbol, and then you’ll need to search the surrounding environment to find the corresponding figures. It’s a clever mechanic that often has you finding a particular perspective. Passing through gateways can make passages appear that you couldn’t see previously. At times you’ll have to focus on shattered bridges or staircases. By reaching the proper perspective, Senua can repair the structures, thus opening up access to other areas. The puzzles can sometimes pose real challenges, and if you get frustrated I’ve found taking a little break often helps makes things become clearer. Again, the mechanic suits Senua’s psychosis, with her altered view of the reality around her. A couple of areas have you solving puzzles under pressure. Other areas are labyrinthine puzzles, where you need to seek out the proper path. These were among the most frightening in the game, and outshine most recent horror games in terms of making you feel afraid.
The lorestones found throughout serve as the game’s collectibles. Each lorestone imparts a bit of a tale from Norse mythology, and often the tales are pertinent to Senua’s situation. Again, you need your focus to trigger the lorestones. Many are often right along your path, but some are tucked out of the way, making exploration a good idea. There is no skill tree or multiple weapons/armor sets to choose from, which feels right for the character. Enemies do increase in difficulty as you get deeper into the game, with larger and more powerful foes being mixed in with earlier common enemies. You’ll also have to often deal with waves as you get farther in instead of just one or two at a time.
Hellblade looks beautiful, and is all the more impressive as it was created by a small team of 20 people. Environments are suitably varied, from forests to caverns to ancient castles. Some places are suitably horrific. The beginning is one of the more horrific opening sequences, all while also being very serene as Senua paddles her log canoe along a river. Things appear peaceful at first, until you look around and notice the bodies in the water, hanging from trees, or impaled on large wooden spikes. It’s a chilling introduction, and sets the tone immediately for what’s to follow. Fortunately, the game comes equipped with an excellent photo mode, that allows you to pause and capture these images in screenshots.
In addition to gorgeous visuals, the sound design here is truly superb. The game itself recommends using headphones to truly experience the 3D sound. But don’t despair if you don’t own a pair of headphones, as the sound through the regular television speakers is still excellent. The voices come in and out, and the game even feels as if it’s breaking the fourth wall at times. It feels like the voices are speaking directly to you, and even Senua herself seems to speak to you. It makes for a fantastic immersive experience, and it helps immensely that Ninja Theory took the time to do research and invite mental health experts to lend their expertise to the game. As a result, this is one of the more realistic depictions of mental illness in any medium, let alone gaming. It also makes you truly empathize with Senua, as we experience her fears, hopes, and delusions as we make our way to Helheim. It these voices that will stick with you, even after you shut off the PS4, and it makes Hellblade one of the more unique gaming experiences to come along in some time.
In all, Ninja Theory has crafted a superb and unique action/adventure game with Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice. It’s a near perfect blend of hack and slash, puzzle solving, and a psychological character study, marred only by the occasional glitch in the gameplay (I fell through the world on two occasions) and a sometimes wonky camera angle during close combat. The visuals are beautiful and at times horrifying to look at. Combat is generally smooth and well implemented, with each battle carrying weight due to the implied or real threat of permadeath. The puzzles make clever use of the environment, and put to test your observational skills. The voice acting is terrific, especially Melina Juergens in her debut as Senua. Juergens delivers a powerful and impassioned performance that makes us feel all of Senua’s conflicting emotions and uncertainties, and places us square in her mind as we witness the reality she has created around her, never truly knowing what is real and what is imagined. The sound design is superb, with its haunting voices swirling around your head along with the natural sounds of the world around you.
HEllblade is one of the most unique games you will experience this year, and it is an experience that will stick with you after the credits roll. As a bonus, check out the featurette on how Ninja Theory implemented mental illness into the game once you’ve finished your initial playthrough. Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice truly is a dark trip into Hell and madness, and it’s one gamers truly need to experience for themselves. This is certainly one of 2017’s best. Don’t miss out.
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