Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 doesn’t have a release date yet, but it’s expected to be the first big AAA exclusive coming to the Xbox platform this 2024, battling against the likes of The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, which are coming out on PlayStation 5 on January 19 and February 29, respectively.
While Xbox fans have no idea when to expect Hellblade 2, rumor has it that Ninja Theory’s upcoming title is earning a ton of praise internally, possibly positioning itself as a rare Game of the Year contender for Xbox.
According to Nate the Hate, the internal mock reviews place Hellblade 2’s score in the low 90s. If this translates to the real life reviews, Hellblade 2 will be Xbox’s best game, at least critically, in years.
Acquired by Microsoft in 2018, Ninja Theory has been diversifying its portfolio with various projects, with a keen focus on returning to the Hellblade franchise. The sequel is poised to be a key title for the Xbox Series X, showcasing Xbox’s capabilities in visuals and performance. More importantly, this sequel to Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice is crafted to take audiences on a deeper exploration of mental health themes, hoping to achieve this with sensitivity as the series evolves. It follows the protagonist Senua in her battle against mental and physical demons, drawing from Norse mythology for its setting and characters.
Announced at The Game Awards 2019 alongside the Xbox Series X, Hellblade 2 has garnered attention for using Unreal Engine 5. Trailers have displayed impressive environments and visual fidelity, heightening expectations for an official release date. Ninja Theory, known for transparency in its development cycle, has shared updates and behind-the-scenes looks, including costume design through photogrammetry and intense combat training for Melina Juergens, the actor portraying Senua.
The decision to set Hellblade 2 in Iceland, utilizing cloud-forming technology for atmospheric effects, is a reflection of Ninja Theory’s commitment to creating an immersive and authentic experience. The expectation is for a more elaborate combat system, building on the simpler mechanics of the first game.
However, while the internal mock reviews set high expectations for Hellblade 2, it’s important to exercise caution. It isn’t unusual for a game to score high internally only to fall flat on its face at launch. Redfall, in particular, was a critical darling within Xbox before its release, although there are conflicting reports regarding this claim.
Nevertheless, one thing that Hellblade 2 has going for it is it’s a cinematic, story-driven game. The original Hellblade, in spite of its simpler combat and puzzle elements, was lauded for its narrative and visual appeal, even considered a compelling headphone experience.
If Hellblade 2 can build on that, the sequel could enjoy better scores than the original did with critics.
Ultimately, the enthusiasm within the Xbox community for Hellblade 2 is evident, as it promises to deliver a thought-provoking story with cutting-edge graphics and an immersive gaming experience.
Whether or not it will be a strong contender for Game of the Year 2024 remains to be seen.
Xbox is coming off a surprisingly strong year buoyed by the commercially successful release of Starfield and the Game Pass. However, with Activision Blizzard now under the Microsoft Gaming umbrella, the expectations are even higher. It’s believed that Microsoft is well aware of this and plans to address the curiosity of concerned Xbox owners with an Xbox Direct planned for this January.
