Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice
Release Date: August 8, 2017
Developers: Ninja Theory, QLOC
Publishers: Ninja Theory, Xbox Game Studios, 505 Games
Genres: Puzzle, Indie, Action-Adventure, Hack and Slash
Platforms: PlayStation, Xbox, PC, Nintendo Switch
My Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox Series S
Difficulty Levels: Easy, Normal, Hard
My Level: Normal
Game Difficulty: 3/10
Game Rating: 9/10
Time To Beat: 8hrs
Platinum Difficulty: 1/10
Difficulty Related Trophy: No, game can be played on easy
Time To Platinum: 9hrs
WARNING
THIS GAME CONTAINS REPRESENTATIONS OF PSYCHOSIS. PEOPLE WITH EXPERIENCE OF PSYCHOSIS AS WELL AS PROFESSIONALS IN PSYCHIATRY HAVE ASSISTED IN THESE DEPICTIONS.
SOME MAY FIND THESE DEPICTIONS DISTURBING. INCLUDING THOSE WHO, THEMSELVES, MAY HAVE HAD SIMILAR EXPERIENCES.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT PSYCHOSIS AND MENTAL HEALTH DIFFICULTIES VISIT:
THIS GAME ALSO INCLUDES VIOLENT SCENES THAT SOME MAY FIND DISTRESSING.
This is one of the first things you see, when you start up the game. I was already interested in this one due to the psychology aspect of it. But after seeing this, I could not wait to get started.
The game is already a few years old. But since I recently bought an Xbox Series S, and with the Summer Game Fest/E3 hype about this games sequel. I just had to play this one again!
The Story
Since this game is already a few years old. I will talk about the ending, in this paragraph. So if you haven't played this one yet, keep reading at your own risk.
Set in a dark fantasy world, inspired by Norse mythology and Celtic culture. The game follows Senua, a Prat warrior who must make her way to Helheim. By defeating otherworldly entities and facing their challenges. In order to save the soul of her dead lover, Dillion, from goddess Hela.
The game starts with Senua rowing on a tree trunk. You are surrounded by multiple voices. Which sets the tone for the rest of the game. It is highly recommended that you play this with a 3D headset. It will make the game even more immersive. Even to the point that it will freak you out! It did me, multiple times.
You have to find your way through multiple settings, all with their own challenges. In every chapter you have to solve some puzzles and then fight some enemies. I really like the puzzle side of this game. They are not that difficult, but they are fun to do. And yes also creepy! Due to the main theme of this game, creepiness is all around you, all the time.
Even tough the chapters become repetitive, the puzzle solving and fighting enemies. This game has a way to keep you on your toes. So the repetitiveness is not an annoyance at all.
Throughout the story you learn more and more about Senua's condition. And that she is not the only one in her family, who suffered from it. Because of the pre-game warning, you already know it has everything to do with psychosis.
This is the definition of that symptom: 'A severe mental disorder in which thought and emotions are so impaired that contact is lost with external reality'.
A mental or physical illness, substance abuse, extreme stress or trauma can cause it.
This is something you will learn while you are playing the game. It will become clear that Senua's mother, Galena, also suffered from this condition. And Senua watched her mother get burned alive. Which of course is a very traumatic experience for her.
Nearing the end of the game, you will learn that you have been inside Senua's psychosis all along. Which means, in my interpretation, that she has been fighting herself from start to finish. Including Hela. That last part is not just my point of view, but that is what you actually see in the game.
While you are full into the psychosis, the voices are loud and demanding. Sometimes during the game, I was like 'can these voices shut up for a second? I am trying to concentrate'. And I am only playing a game. I can't even begin to imaging how frightening, annoying and frustrating it must be, to suffer from this in real life. Especially since you don't know that it is happening, when it is happening. Because for the person who is suffering from psychosis it is and feels all real.
During your last big fight, against Hela. Senua comes to realize that Dillion's soul can't be saved. And as long as she keeps fighting, this will never end. When she realizes this, the voices move more to the background. They are still there, but Senua is regaining control.
Chapters
- The Journey Begins
- Intro
- The Road To Helheim
- The Gate To Helheim
- Surtr's Domain
- Valravn's Lair
- The Bridge To Helheim
- Shipwreck/The Beach
- The Warrior Trials
- Labyrinth Shard Challenge
- Blindness Shard Challenge
- Tower Shard Challenge
- Swamp Shard Challenge
- The Sea Of Corpses
- Fenrir's Lair In Helheim
- Hela's Sanctum In Helheim
- Creating Bridge To Hela
- Final Battle & Ending
As you can see, there are not many chapters. It is indeed a short game. It will take about 8hrs from start to finish. If you go for the platinum, it will take you a bit longer. The build of the game is perfectly done. You get sucked into this story, straight from the start. The mechanics feel a bit slow, but it fits with the purpose of this story and how it is told.
Trophies
If you want to go for the platinum or all achievements. You don't have to go through too much trouble. There are only 15 in total, and 14 of them are story related. So not missable.
The only not story related trophy in this game are the Lorestones. But if you don't keep your eyes open and go to every corner you can, this one is missable. There are 44 of these stones to collect. They represent Senua's friend Druth, and his teachings of the Northmen.
This game does not have chapter select or free roam after finishing the story. So make sure you find them all in one go. Or you will have to play the game again.
Final Word
This is the only game I have ever played, that dives so deep into a mental disorder. And I think that is a shame, because so many people are suffering from mental illnesses/chemical imbalances. You can break every bone in your body, or any organ can get sick. But as soon as that happens to a brain. We stop talking about it. The stigma is still very much alive. Which makes things unnecessary harder, for the people who are suffering. Of course gaming is all about having fun, escaping reality, becoming someone else for an amount of time. But that doesn't mean you can't learn something more about the most complex organ the human body has, the brain. And the way this is told, is perfectly done. Not in a teaching kind of way, that makes you feel like you are in school. But it sucks you in. Takes you on this scary journey in someone else's brain. And see the world through their eyes, well through their brain, for a few hours. Which makes this game a special one. And learning about the Norse mythology is always an awesome aspect in any game. With Helheim, which means 'House of Hell' in old Norse, at the center. The opposite of that is Valhalla, where every warrior wants to end up. How I see it? When Senua is in her psychosis, she is in Helheim. When she finally finds her way out, that is her Valhalla.
I can not wait to get my hands on the sequel 'Senua's Saga: Hellblade II'. After the Xbox Extended Showcase, it is clear the game won't be ready for at least a couple more years. My guess it will be released somewhere in 2023, at the earliest. And this time, the game will be an Xbox Exclusive. Which is kind of a shame, because everybody should be able to play this game. On whatever platform they like. But it is what it is. The long wait continues. But I know, it is going to be worth it!
At the very end of this blog I will leave you with a quote from the game. It just stuck with me, even after replaying this game years later.
That is it for this blog! Thank you so much for reading it, I really appreciate you taking the time. Feel free to let me know what you think, good or bad. It is all very welcome. If you want to get notified when I drop a new one. You can subscribe to my blog, at no cost at all. Just click on the three stripes at the top left, and you will see what to do.
Game on and I'll catch you on the flipside!
"...Even in darkness, the wonder and the beauty of this world never leaves us. It is always there...waiting to be seen again"
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