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Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice |OT| The Mid-Tier, in Limbo
- Thread starter Wozman23
- Start date
Peotical Injection
Member
This game has me hooked. Playing this with headphones, and high, holy fuck. Just beat the first boss. Can't wait to finish it tonight.
Mr.Fletcher
Member
Finished it around half an hour ago - an incredible game. After a good, but not particularly special opening third, it really ramps up into a very memorable experience.
Ninja Theory deserves an immense amount of credit for this game.
Ninja Theory deserves an immense amount of credit for this game.
thetruth1983
Banned
This game is only 30 bucks? What's the catch?
It's six to eight hours long. It's fairly linear too.
Finished it and loved it but nearing the end I had enough of those battles and rune puzzles, there was a lot of backtracking and walking back and forth and some battles dragged on for too long, messing with the pacing.
Also big props to Senua's voice actress, she was phenomenal.
Also big props to Senua's voice actress, she was phenomenal.
Humdinger
Member
Digital only, so no resale value if you don't like it.
I hesitated on that point a little, but it's been well worth it to me. The game is so unusual and well-done, I wouldn't want to pass it up.
I Feel Like im living in a parallel universe everytime I see a six to 8 hour long singleplayer campaign mentioned as short or a catch oO God of War, Uncharted (excluding 4), DmC, enslaved...most of These are about 8 hours Long. A fully realised single Player Game of this length for 30 bucks ist an incredible steal IMO.
This game doesn't have HDR.
Yes. And then if you reload, Global Illumination might break for you. To fix it you need to find a previously opened surt gate (those wicker doors you have to burn through) and it will reset the lighting.
I used just a stereo headphones and it was just as great, audio placement was great.
HueyFreeman
Banned
My understanding of binaural audio is it's very much designed for headphones, due to the two microphone recording set-up. It really is a different beast as well compared to conventional listening due to the game's unconventional sound design with all of Senua's
inner voices.
//ARCANUM
Member
aw dang. thanks!
I think at that point
you are supposed to die
But later in the game
you press R2 to focus and make them vulnerable
And then even later in the game
you hold triangle to do a charge attack to make them vulnerable
Mr.Fletcher
Member
You've got to counter them before you can do damage, unless I'm mistaken. Block at just the right moment to parry them. 
Edit: The person above me has owned me with knowledge. Will spoiler up too.
d00d3n
Member
You've got to counter them before you can do damage, unless I'm mistaken. Block at just the right moment to parry them.
Edit: The person above me has owned me with knowledge. Will spoiler up too.
Thanks!
Loving what I've experienced so far. Defeated what was the first boss to me,
, and I'm really liking the bleakness of it all.
Initial few encounters combat was both tense yet with a hint of frustration as it throws you right into it with no tutorial (thankfully). The added pressure/promise of perma-death is keeping me on my toes but I'm enjoying the simple tactics and brutality of it which I couldn't say of earlier Ninja Theory games I played.
A very serious interactive journey, having a breather now. Narrative wise this feels completely original.
Surtr
Initial few encounters combat was both tense yet with a hint of frustration as it throws you right into it with no tutorial (thankfully). The added pressure/promise of perma-death is keeping me on my toes but I'm enjoying the simple tactics and brutality of it which I couldn't say of earlier Ninja Theory games I played.
A very serious interactive journey, having a breather now. Narrative wise this feels completely original.
Also, it doesn't overstay it's welcome and have just the right amount of time, it's perfect.
BlazingDarkness
Member
Oh wow
I think GAF impressions are even better than the reviews. And a Ninja Theory game no less.
I'm so pleased for them. Can't wait to buy and play this weekend
I think GAF impressions are even better than the reviews. And a Ninja Theory game no less.
I'm so pleased for them. Can't wait to buy and play this weekend
Oh wow
I think GAF impressions are even better than the reviews. And a Ninja Theory game no less.
I'm so pleased for them. Can't wait to buy and play this weekend
Enjoy, and play with your headphones
dragos495
Member
GOTY candidate imho.
Its the perfect blend between "god of war" combat and "journey" feeling.
I want the next god of war to have the exact same style combat but with more animations and enemy variety.
I really liked the boss fights, all of them have memorable move sets and music. The second part of the game was incredible. The gold ps4 headphones have never been so used as in this game. Reaaaaaaly creepy and spine tingling moments, i think my gf had some nightmares about the
.
Really loved the simple puzzles, the illusions the enviromental part of them.
The ending was jaw dropping! Im not tthe type but i can imagine there were a fair amount of people with watery eyes when the moment came.
It took me ~8 hours to finish it, and another 4h speedrun to platinum it!
10/10
Its the perfect blend between "god of war" combat and "journey" feeling.
I want the next god of war to have the exact same style combat but with more animations and enemy variety.
I really liked the boss fights, all of them have memorable move sets and music. The second part of the game was incredible. The gold ps4 headphones have never been so used as in this game. Reaaaaaaly creepy and spine tingling moments, i think my gf had some nightmares about the
blindness challenge and the creepy crawlers and the hands reaching out in that hell area
Really loved the simple puzzles, the illusions the enviromental part of them.
The ending was jaw dropping! Im not tthe type but i can imagine there were a fair amount of people with watery eyes when the moment came.
It took me ~8 hours to finish it, and another 4h speedrun to platinum it!
10/10
Frozone
Member
What an incredible suprise of a game! I just found out about this on IGN and was like, no way is this GOTY contender with all the great PS4 exclusive hits out there. Boy was I wrong. An incredible looking game (especially the lighting and character design) and wonderful story so far!
Just finished it a couple of hours ago. Games like Hellblade are why I love video games, because I think it's the perfect medium for portraying something like this. I can't really imagine it working nearly as effectively as a movie, TV show, book or audio experience, because of the combinination of visuals(which are absolutely gorgeous), audio and storytelling, which makes for quite a unique experience.
It also got me thinking about how some people actually deal with stuff like this every day. The game did a great job of making me feel the tension and some of Senua's fear, but of course, being a video game, you can always just take a break and quit, if it's too much. Can't really do that in real life, which must be utterly terrifying, having to live with.
It also got me thinking about how some people actually deal with stuff like this every day. The game did a great job of making me feel the tension and some of Senua's fear, but of course, being a video game, you can always just take a break and quit, if it's too much. Can't really do that in real life, which must be utterly terrifying, having to live with.
What about the visuals, audio and storytelling wouldn't be just as effective in movie format?
I keep hearing about this fear stuff but what kind of of anxiety and depression does the game deal with? I want to know if it's something I would be able to relate to before I throw my cash at it.
Glass Shark
Banned
I remember hearing a binaural audio clip years ago that was supposed to simulate what it's like to hear voices in your head, and I am actually shocked at how on the nose Hellblade got it. I know a lot of talk has been made about their mental health advisors, but it's clear after finishing the game that stuff wasn't just talk. They actually put their money where their mouth is.
Started playing this today and it's fantastic so far. The audio in this game is incredible! I wouldn't call the game scary, but it really gives me a uncomfortable and eerie feeling that is unlike anything else I can think of. Gameplay is basic enough so far, but the story, graphic, and sound are really making this game something special to play through.
ArkhamFantasy
Member
Theres a few times in the game where you're suppose to die and they dont do a good enough job of killing you, so i was surviving for 15 minutes wondering what to do next, thats my only complaint about the game.
This was one of the most intense games ive played in years and the story telling is astonishing, Ninja Theory is a really awesome developer and i really hope the game does well.
This was one of the most intense games ive played in years and the story telling is astonishing, Ninja Theory is a really awesome developer and i really hope the game does well.
I am very happy with my HyperX Cloud Headset.
It's the combination, really, I think is why I think it's so effective as a video game. Like, as an example, the binaural audio. The voices in Senua's head activate at specific points during the game and at varies depending on what you're currently doing or where you're heading. Because it's an action you take, it feels much more intimate(to me, anyway), that it would, if I was watching a character in a movie go through some inner struggle, because of the passivity.
Another point is the visuals. There are several points during the game, where you screen gets messed up in one way or another. This affect the gameplay, because it sometimes makes it harder to see or dodge enemies. So it plays directly into the gameplay portion of the game.
So basically, it's the interactivity, I'd say.
Regarding what kind of mental illness it deals with. It deals heavily with psychosis, as in hearing voices, not being able to tell what's real and what's not, experiencing flashbacks, seeing visions and so on. Not really with anxiety or depression, though Senua's struggle isn't an easy one for her to deal with.
Definitely. I'm so glad I read a few of the reviews before I bought it(a day after release), where I read that it was absolutely essential to play with headphones.
This makes much more sense. Thanks for explaining your opinion.
So I guess this won't be the kind of anxiety I go through every day. I'm still very much interested because of the stuff you've been explaining. Might bite on it soon.Succinct Verbosity
Member
Very. It handles it in a way only video games can.
D
Deleted member 30609
Unconfirmed Member
i got up to what seems like the final gauntlet and died after, like, seven waves of enemies and I was put back at the start. i know the game has adaptive difficulty, but I rage quit and I can't see myself going back to it.
it's cool.. I like the premise but (for lack of a better way of saying this) the pacing was kind of all over the place for me. i really like ninja theory and am happy to have bought this, but it isn't quite there for me. i admire the effort more than the result.
it's cool.. I like the premise but (for lack of a better way of saying this) the pacing was kind of all over the place for me. i really like ninja theory and am happy to have bought this, but it isn't quite there for me. i admire the effort more than the result.
WheelHoss1
Member
Souls fans in the thread: thoughts on combat or anything else?
Don't trust any others opinions
Don't trust any others opinions
ArkhamFantasy
Member
Souls fans in the thread: thoughts on combat or anything else?
Don't trust any others opinions
Its a combat system built to last for 6 hours. It wouldnt last for a long rpg like dark souls but it does its job.
My friend said it's like Infinity blade on ipad, dull and simple, I guess he was thinking something like Heavenly sword combat
Frozone
Member
What aspects are you seeing it as "dull".. Simple in what way? Lack of animations?
Souls fans in the thread: thoughts on combat or anything else?
Don't trust any others opinions
Stop being a snob. And stop expecting everything to be Dark Souls.
Humdinger
Member
I'm not sure anyone will fully "be able to relate," unless they have experienced a psychotic break themselves. It's not garden variety anxiety. It's the anguish and confusion of a person with psychosis. The anxiety has to do with a number of things -- like being attacked "from the outside," which is actually the inside. Think paranoia. Think trauma. Then multiply that several-fold and add hallucinations and the sense that the world is dark, grey, and out to get you. There is no safe ground. Your sense of self is disintegrating. You've always seen the world differently, but now something has cracked.
For me, it's not so much about "being able to relate" as it is about trying to understand (very partially) what it must be like.
Sounds interesting. The thing about relating is, that I am suffering from anxiety disorder myself and have had other diagnoses like depression and stuff earlier (not anymore thankfully) and would find it very intriguing if I could relate on any front. But it seems I won't be able to but that's no concern of me now since as you say, it's just as interesting getting to understand what it's like, especially since I've been close to so many people with different and serious diagnoses like we are in this game.
Humdinger
Member
I probably overstated things. I do think you'll find things to relate to. Anxiety, after all, is about perceiving too much danger where there is none (or where there is less danger than imagined). She certainly experiences that, so there will be common ground there. The difference will be that the "perceived danger" here will be so extreme, it takes the form of enemies that want to kill you and voices that laugh at you. Oh, and that last bit reminds me -- you might be able to relate to some of the 'inner critic' voices, too.