Senua's Saga: Hellblade II: XBox Series X Review

Developed by Ninja Theory
Released by XBox Game Studios
Platform: XBox Series X

The sequel to Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice is a thrilling piece of cinematic gaming that makes brilliant use of the hardware offered by the console.

Meshing action-adventure and hack-and-slash, this is the sequel that sees Senua finally tackling her physical and mental demons head on as she faces off against the Northmen marauding and attacking her land.

But what makes Senua's Saga: Hellblade II the game it is is the soundscape that's been created by Ninja Theory. As the voices inside her head nag at her and pick away at her confidence or boost her, the game makes an excellent fist of its use of sound and creates an unsettling atmospheric around its heroine.  It's deeply unsettling in parts and is probably not a game to be played late at night alone in all honesty.

Fostering gameplay that involves puzzles and combat make Hellblade II feel like more of an experience than a full game - but that's not to belittle what transpires.

This is perhaps the most cinematic looking game that has ever made it to the Xbox.

Lightning flashes, skies glower and waves crash as the mud sploshes all around Senua. While she is unable to go off the beaten path and it's a very linear experience rather than an open world one, and there are portions of Senua's Saga: Hellblade II where it does feel like all there is to offer is the conflict of the literal with the Northmen and the conflict of the internal with her demons.

There is a nagging feeling too that this is a little too cinematic in parts - and the game level play is somewhat missing. Most of the Senua's Saga: Hellblade II gameplay consists of puzzles, walking and fighting - and while it's all excellently executed, there is an argument to be had that perhaps there should be more to create a sense of introspection.

Yet with visuals that stun and sounds that compels, Senua's Saga: Hellblade II is a different kind of experience for the gaming world - and one that offers both the fantastic and the frustrating in equal measure.