Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice reminded the gaming industry that there is still an audience for single-player, middle-market experiences. In a world where multiplayer games are becoming more prominent, and battle passes and microtransactions are becoming more important, the fact that fully single-player titles such as Hellblade 2: Senua's Saga are coming to next-gen devices is an ease on many gamers' minds.

Self-described by British developer Ninja Theory as an "independent AAA game," the original Hellblade game blended many genres, including hack and slash, puzzle solving and psychological horror, with the latter specifically being praised by fans for creating an eerie experience by mixing strong voice acting and audio editing when the protagonist Senua hears the voices of "Furies" in her head. The game was met with a positive reception with many anticipating Hellblade 2, which was announced at The Game Awards in 2019.

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Flash forward two years later to The Game Awards 2021, with Hellblade 2 again showing off some new game footage. On this occasion, fans were so impressed with the graphical fidelity that was shown off in the gameplay reveals, that one user decided to compare the original game's graphics, which were impressive to many, with the graphics players can expect to see when the game is finally released.

The gameplay footage for Hellblade 2 shows Senua and some other unknown characters around her in pursuit of a giant troll, which looks spectacularly gruesome with a missing leg and large flaps of skin hanging from its chest and gut. The larger-than-life beast was created in collaboration with Canadian visual effects team Ziva Dynamics. At the showing, fans were more than impressed with the graphical fidelity on display, which showcased the visuals that can be powered by Unreal Engine 5.

The graphical realism of Hellblade has often been a key aspect of its gameplay. Realistic faces, monsters and visuals help developer Ninja Theory in creating the dark, and gritty world of Hellblade, alongside allowing for a more pragmatic look at something which gaming rarely touches on: mental health. Senua's anxieties and self-doubts take centre stage as the player takes control of her in the quest to save her dead lover from Hela. Psychosis has since become a core aspect of what fans can expect from Hellblade's experience, and will no doubt play a role in the sequel as well. As Ninja Theory's first self-published title, Hellblade was a departure from previous games such as 2013's DmC: Devil May Cry and now many are hoping Hellblade 2 will live up to the success of its predecessor.

Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 is in development for PC and Xbox Series X/S.

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