Even four years after its release, Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice's graphics still hold up against modern game releases. Now, gamers have finally been given a look at the sequel, Senua's Saga: Hellblade II, and it seems developer Ninja Theory is doubling-down on the series' visuals, offering one of the best-looking games to date. However, graphics alone aren't what made the first Hellblade special, and, thankfully, the sequel seems to understand that.
Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice was a surprise hit from Ninja Theory, which previously released drastically different games like DMC: Devil May Cry and Disney Infinity 3.0. The team's dedication to accurately represent mental health issues, on top of a compelling and unique narrative, made the game stand out against typical hack-and-slash titles. Being narrative-focused and linear in terms of level design meant Ninja Theory was able to focus on Hellblade's graphics, but despite the impressive looks, what truly sets the first game apart is the incredible audio design.
From the moment the game begins, multiple voices whisper into the player's ear as if they were really there. This is more than just a gimmick, as it immerses the player into Senua's struggles, using technology to authentically represent mental illness. Senua likely suffers from psychosis, and the developers consulted with numerous mental health experts to portray that accurately and without perpetuating misinformation and stigmas that are all too common when dealing with such topics.
Throughout Hellblade, the voices both mock and encourage the player, often creating a sense of disorientation and frustration that also makes it feel like Senua isn't alone through her journey. Although she seeming got better control over her inner voices by the end of the first game, the trailer for Senua's Saga: Hellblade II makes it seems like they will always be with her, something that the new game will likely be able to take even further with its impressive audio and next-gen hardware advancements.
During the trailer, Senua is seen with actual people for the first time, as she appears to be a part of a warrior clan. As the clan enters a cave, they are attacked by a giant monstrosity who resists their spears. The giant continues to pursue the group as they flee the cave, throwing everything they can at it, until the trailer ends as it reaches their fortifications. Although it looks like a cutscene, Ninja Theory claims the entire trailer is gameplay footage, showing its dedication to the cinematic approach.
While visually stunning, the audio work stands out once again. As soon as the camera reaches Senua's perspective, the familiar voices in her head start talking. They warn her of the approaching giant and tell Senua she will die. The voices add delusion and disorientation to an already tense moment. Plus, the voices aren't the only impressive pieces of audio, as all the chaos inside the cave sounds natural and give a heavy impact. While it will be a while before fans get to see the final product, Senua's Saga: Hellblade II's trailer proves that Ninja Theory understands what made its previous game so special.