It's amazing. My 2017 game of the year. Gameplay and story and these characters all contributes to the experience. Even the music fits so perfectly. It's so great.
@@isaiahdavis9486 it takes several years (about 5 years) for hollow knight to come out, and it was made by 2 programers and 1 musician or something. But as you can see, if ppl trully spend time, effort and love into their shit, that shit will be amazing. And because it was made by mainly 2 ppl so the price is cheap
It was just funny because I was looking at BestBuy and they had the physical game, but then, in the same store, you have the download code for $20 less. But Hollow Knight definitely is worth $60 not even including the DLC. If it wasn’t already a Kickstarter, it should’ve been illegal to buy the game for that low of a price despite it’s quality compared to Triple A Titles who pale in comparison. And I got it on sale for $10, even!
This game is... cathartic. I ended up with tears just streaming down my cheeks at the end, and refused to pick up my phone or talk to anyone for atleast 30 minutes, so that I could sit with the pain and the release of it all. Holy crap is this an experience.
I was pretty much in a similar bend. But, I have my own mental demons and the game spoke a lot to them. I think he's right, perception is the main theme here, mental illness is the vehicle through which you experience perception.
Some people are more emotionally sensitive than others, and this can be an incredible ability. Speaking of catharsis, pain can be extremely rewarding because at one point it transforms into beauty and bliss (if you allow it). It's the strongest emotion I've ever felt. Period. It charges gratefulness, compassion, hope and inner power - and for me there lies the true wisdom of being alive. It doesn't mean you're unstable but sensitive enough to feel subtle emotions (whatever they may be) through empathy and connection with your own self and others. It's not an issue, but a gift of inner perception. I understand perfectly what Kelly is talking about cause I've been there myself. It's awe-inspiring. What I love most about any kind of story is how emotionally engaging it is, how well does it connect with me and how deep does it go. For me, the story of Senua is about walking through the valley of shadow of death and confronting inner demons in order to become free of chains that were bounding her entire life. It's about facing your worst nightmares and transcending them. It's about understanding and accepting our traumas... about releasing the pain. It has a healing effect. Many people have actually taken psychedelic drugs and went through similar experiences. I know because I've done it (although you don't need any mind altering substances to go trough such processes - it's safer if you don't actually). Long story short, Hellblade has moved me to tears too, and that's perfectly ok. :)
Same, been planning to buy since it came out but only got around to it during this quarantine we having in 2020, just finished few days ago. Was awesome!
Eh, I’d give it a 9/10, while the gameplay, sound, graphics, music and the main character were all amazingly done. The puzzles could have had a bit more variation and some of them felt a bit too ambiguous leading to frustration when I played through it in one sitting yesterday. And the combat (imo) felt like the Witcher 3 without the sign usage, which imo isn’t a bad thing but it still needs to be said that if your expecting something akin to DmC: Devil May Cry then your not going to get that here...and I agree about the difficulty, the enemies can get a bit chunky and take longer to kill on the auto difficulty.
@@Qballiz2kool just need to be creative or intelligent, i passed the game without any guide and when i took the puzzles i hurt my brain thinking as if i were Senua. Lights... Angles... Shadows... Everything is a shape.
Wow, this is without a doubt the best Hellblade review I've seen so far. You really out did yourself on that one. I've been waiting to hear someone do it justice and you definitely have. Keep up the good work dude.
Can confirm. Just watched it, and I've been replaying the parts where he whispers deprecation in your ears. No, not because I'm masochistic (Thought I am slightly masochistic), but because I've had self-insulting thoughts in the past. I'm over it now, but it's nice to know how far I've come, and how I beat back my old self.
Leonardo da sidci's video on the game is easily the best one by far. Not only is it cohesive and articulate but also comes from someone who actually lives with Senua's condition and can fairly compare how realistic it was on that front. That being said it does spoil so dont show it to someone who has not yet played it
Definitely me. I didn't even realize this game was a thing. I'm hoping it holds up in VR as that's how I'll first try to tackle it, but this video has convinced me if VR sucks I should just play it regularly.
Dude I saw this video long time ago but after that disturbing and beautiful trailer I had to check it out again. Saving up money for a new console and that Xbox game pass to play this
I finished the game today.. Idk why i am watching this now lol... I always wanted to try this game but after watching the trailer for hellblade 2...i found my motivation... It's a hell of a ride! An amazing game.. Good job ninja theory
It blows me away that such a small studio managed to make a game with high-fidelity graphics as visually appealing as The Witcher 3 which was made by a huge studio
Im not a girl but If I was I would conisder Senua the most empowering female character that Ive played in a video game specifically because shes weak and very flawed, the game is constantly framed like an uphill struggle and that makes it actually matter when she overcomes adversity rather than getting handed a victory on a silver plate like most "Bad ass" power fantasy girls.
It's the 'Requiem For a Dream' of video games. I had no idea what I was in for going in and it took me for an emotional ride from beginning to end. The fact that the game never tells you what's going on is brilliant as you and Senua both discover what she is capable of. And the way she delivers some of her lines straight to the player, breaking the 4th wall - wow! You start thinking "am I one of the voices inside of her head?"
It's a common misconception this game breaks the 4th wall. It some scenes she looks directly at the camera but that is when we're viewing her from the eyes of another character (usually one of the voices she's hearing). Really the camera could have been placed anywhere during those scenes but it's much more impactful when we're looking directly into her eyes as she's reacting to the voices. Make no mistake, though- she's not addressing the player.
Breaking the 4th wall is exactly that tho. When u look into the camera. That’s what it means, irrelevant the context or narrative device. It’s origins are Filmmaking and for decades the one thing you didn’t do was look near the lens whilst delivering a performance.
I really don't think it breaks the 4th wall personally. But I do like your analyses. And this game is a lot of different things to a lot of different people. If it breaks your 4th wall then who the fuck are we to say otherwise.
I remember the sentence that elevated this game for me. Because I knew the paranoid schizophrenic thing before playing I was afraid the game would lose its impact, since It would pretty much be a gigantic dream sequence. And then the narrator voice hit me with the phrase that took me about 4 min to wrap my head around "What does It matter If its real or not when its allways here" This is Senuas reality, this is her world. The nightmares are as real to her as anything else, there is no escaping this "dream sequence".
A few days ago this review sold me on playing it and honestly it’s one of the best video games I’ve ever played. I think the one moment that stuck with me the most was the first encounter with Hela, that scene shook me to my core and I had to pause the game to put myself back together. I. Loved. It.
there was one part that I loved, the masks, when you switched to the gold light world the voices would whisper sweet memories of Dillion but when you went back to the silver dark world they would tear you to verbal shreds. The ending handed me my ass it was so powerful. Senua is a complete bad ass.
People often learn use the label "thinking" when their mind wander off in meditation. When I was new to meditation, I usually had those voices whispering "focus" as my label for when my concentration faltered. Still do sometimes, so yup this game sure stuck in my mind, lol.
It's funny because the game is mentally REALLY exhausting and draining, you hear all the voices in your head all the time, hear war stories, combat monsters and solve puzzles, but at the same time you're so so invested in it you can't stop! It's really a binge worthy game if you're up for it mentally
I just finished this game last week......OMG what an amazing game, I dont have enough time to play the entire game in one go but it's still amazing. My first play through I tried head phones but the horror aspect was a bit much for me when you didnt know what was coming.....so I played without and now I have gone back to play again with as you have some sort of idea what was is coming. 2 terrifying parts of the game are the maze with fire demon.....Omg I started trying to play that and I was like nope... The dragon dungeon worse part of this was that I not had long done the fire maze, then I was sent to hell and then the dragon. I had to have a sit down after it all.
4:24 "There is a whole puzzle that is near impossible if you are hearing impaired". Me (unilaterally deaf): Sooooo you're telling me there's a chance? 😅😅😅
Yes, you can probably solve that puzzle too, even without audio, with a lot more of trial and error. But if I were you I'd check if there's a way to play in mono audio. Several times there are voices whispering something in one ear while another one says the opposite in the other.
That one puzzle where you run through a disentigrating wooden maze finding runes while a fire demon hunts you is literally the most tense I've ever felt playing a video game.
Games that don't get overhyped are most of the times amazing. Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice Metro franchise Dead Space Assassin's Creed Desmond's Trilogy A Plague Tale: Innocence Titanfall 2 Sunset Overdrive etc.
I didn't like plague tale, the finally was terrible in my opinion and that ruined the game as a whole for me. Overall, I agree with your other games though.
@@asajjmonika1991 It can be subjective. Amicia is the main protagonist of the game. Yes, you do control Hugo for a better part but Amicia is the one fighting the despairing and mournful environment of the game. The Inquisition is brutal and will not serve to pass any transgression in honor of a dying king especially when you are carrying a ticking time bomb that is Hugo. Amicia is of age where she is not able to deal with this responsibility forcefully given to her. She not only has to protect her brother but herself too. Being a teenager she was never meant for this. When you play the majority of the game getting her through all of the events and toughing her up. One must want her to face the final boss. Asobo was really wise here. They knew that Amicia going against someone who controls an army of rats will be too impractical. To go around this, they made the last sequence in such a way that both Amicia and Hugo fight him off. With Amicia knowing when should Hugo should use his power and with Hugo being the only one bearing it. After all, they both went through the hellish story of this game. Hugo being a kid doesn't know what the hell is going on. I like the ending. I absolutely adore this game. It's up to you, why you don't like it.
@@dan_ariyaene_2005 I guess I really liked the game up until Hugo controlled rats. I liked the fantasy element of the rats but wish it was toned down significantly. The finale boss felt like one from a lego game like the big ant boss in lego Indiana Jones. I was also disappointed in Ser Nicholas' death, I don't know what I expected but his death was under whelming to me for how menacing he felt. (He gave me Darth Vader vibes) The game is probably like Helblade where some people love it and some people hate it.
2 years ago I watched this video and was entirely persuaded to play this game, and now it’s one of my favorite ever made. I like to come back and watch this from time to time to remind myself what I love about it so much. Terrific video that completely served its purpose, thank you.
I watched this video about a year ago and it prompted me to add Hellblade to my Steam wishlist. I finally picked it up recently, and finished it a couple days ago. I was utterly floored. What an absolutely amazing game. Thank you for the recommendation.
Not schizophrenia, but psychosis. Quite different. But yes, it does a great job of putting you in the shoes of someone with that condition. I recommend watching the Hellblade Feature that's included in the game, to everyone. It includes info on how they consulted real experts and people, and included some of their symptomatic experiences in the game. I think it's great they did that for a stigmatized illness and it's one of the best representations I've ever seen, though some people never understood what it was about. But above all, it's just a great game and story.
as someone who's struggling with depression, anxiety, and other stuff, i think senua's mental illnes is more like depression (the darkness) and anxiety (the voices making fun of her, telling her to go back, or saying that she'll fail). yes, it may also be paranoid schizophrenia, but i would not limit myself to that. but i'm no psychologist. i can only tell by my personal experience. i don't have voices in my head, telling me to do or not do something, or laughing at me, or whatever. but i have these thoughts, keeping me from doing something, because "everyone" will make fun of me if i fail. it's a constant fight with myself inside of my mind. and so is senua - fighting to get through the darkness. and i loved watching her rise. she's been through so much shit in her life, causing so much trauma. and still she finds her way back to the light and refuses to give up. i absolutely enjoyed this game. i wouldn't recommend anyone struggling with mental health to play it alone (i played it with my boyfriend, who is mentally fine), but i really recommend playing it with a safe person. maybe they'll even learn something about your mental illness ;)
Das Mugsch as someone else with mental illness (bipolar type II, generalized anxiety disorder, and PTSD) I think most who struggle with these kinds of things can relate. It was a very emotional experience just watching a let’s play. In the documentary they did say that it’s meant to portray psychosis and people who hear voices and see hallucinations. It’s an interesting watch.
I actually experience psychosis myself and I can confirm from my own personal experience that it is incredibly accurate to psychosis, even going as far as relating to her delusion of the rot not being allowed to reach her head as when I was at my peak of my psychotic breakdown at 17 (24 now) I believed i had parasites inside my arms that i would have to physically cut out or they would reach my head and steal my thoughts. The people who worked on the game actually worked alongside psychologists and people experiencing psychosis themselves. For psychosis it is a VERY literal representation of the mental illness. But if it speaks to you on a metaphorical sense then that's amazing and is just a further testament to how powerful and important this game truly is for those suffering with any kind of mental illness. But i will say I am particularly happy that those of us suffering with illnesses that cause psychosis are finally being represented in a compassionate, realistic light for once instead of being represented as violent, dangerous, unintelligent maniacs and psychopaths.
@@gloomybats4583 It's important for those of us who don't necessarily struggle with severe mental illness to understand it. Exaggerations are fun. I personally don't mind exaggerations or stereotypes of depression, though I do periodically suffer from it. I think it creates a curiosity and fascination that the truth won't otherwise do. However, at some point, that fascination has to mature and realistic depictions have to be brought out. Otherwise it becomes stigma and prejudice.
@@TheRisky9 Oh of course, of course, I honestly didn't intend for my comment to discredit anyone and if it came across that way then I sincerely apologize. Also just to clarify, I don't think depression is 'less severe' than psychosis in the slightest, I don't think any mental illness is less or more severe than another as we are all affected by our ailments in different ways, all of which are valid, all of which cause us some kind of pain, to say one or the other is more or less severe is to discredit someones pain and show a lack of empathy. So if I made you or anyone feel that way, please know it was not at all my intention. As i said in my original comment, if the games general representation of mental illness as a whole is able to create a sense of understanding and comfort to anyone suffering with any kind of mental illness, be it literal or not, then its done a fantastic job and that fact only lends itself to why this game is so incredible. I feel I may have come across as defensive in my original post; I read the original comments; "I think Senua's illness is more like depression" as discrediting and in my head it came across as saying "Its not about psychosis, its actually about depression." I probably felt possessive if i'm being quite honest, considering how i relate to the games intended subject matter. However taking a step back; i can certainly see that i was hasty with my reply and I don't think that was what the original comment was trying to say at all. I apologize if I offended anyone
This game was incredible. As someone who has overcome server mental illness this game really accurately portrays and makes you feel what that is like. At the end of the game I actually cried because I was reminded so much of when I overcame my own auditory and visual hallucinations. This game is brilliant and really a work of art from every aspect. I played on auto and found it to still be pretty easy. I know people hate the combat style but I agree with this video, when you attempt to learn it there are so many layers and you find the actually depth in the game. I have been gaming for 28 years and this has become one of my favorite games.
I played this game through and thought that the puzzles were predictable and the combat straightforward. However, the second time through, like Uncle Cosmonaut, I found that there are so many hidden extras that playing it only once would be a big mistake. Then I got a Rift VR headset and the game became just jaw-dropping. This is what the game should be - complete immersion. Not just surround sound, but 3-D action. Look around at a stunning world. Combat becomes personal, no longer just a game. The VR version is free (on Steam) when you buy the 2-D version. I realise that Rift or Vive are not an option for many gamers, but if you ever get the chance to play Hellblade in VR do so - it's quite the best of all the VR games I've played, although Lone Echo and Fallout 4 (Vive only) have good or better graphics.
This game opened my eyes to real mental illness. I found myself in shock at the way they suffer internally. I also thanked God that I was blessed with a clear head compared to this. I was determined to find her voices and exterminate them! She fights and that made me want her to win so, so badly! I have never been so on board with a character in my life! I could not stop playing until the end. Eagerly looking forward the the sequel, (which looks amazing)!
"I was determined to find her voices and exterminate them!" That's the thing about mental illness. You are _always_ fighting, and Hellblade communicates that really effectively. You don't win. Mental illness isn't something that you cure (at least not yet), it's something you manage. Best case, medication, therapy, lifestyle, and a combination thereof let you get much closer to a healthy equilibrium; but it's always there, in the dark parts of your mind, just like those creatures in the level where everything is darkness. Yes, speaking from experience.
Yeah i think you kinda missed the point there. Even people with hearing voices Schizophrenia get relief and reprisals from voices but the voices are guaranteed to come back.
Senuas madness is very familiar to me and I find her comfortable to be around. If that makes sense. It's her strength and ability to overcome failure that really blow me away. I was already a fan of Metroid. I love female protagonists in games. Not just so I can look at there ass either. Doesn't hurt though. But. I feel like they tell better stories. I saw the trailers for this game that really put it on a pedestal and didn't believe a word of it. Now. It's my favorite game of all time. Can't wait for the sequel. I do hope Senua takes a shower first though.
One of the best games I've ever played. And I went in with zero info about it. I just realized I'd bought it at some point when it was on sale, so I tried it out. I didn't stop playing until I'd finished it. Damn, it's good
This review is 2yrs old, and this is literally the first time I've ever seen or heard of it. It looks like a game that would be released this year. Holy shit. This looks fucking amazing.
Shows hot GOTY is hard to define, when you compare this to Nier:Automata or Night in the Woods it's hard to make the call on which one is the best. And then you look at 2018 and don't see any great one's.
Willem Kuiper lmao commenting on a 2017 GOTY comment ok 2019 But yeah I agree, for me it would probably be between nier automata and prey but this is definitely fighting for that spot as well
The fact you added in my favorite movie of all time, There will be blood, I'm sold. I don't know how I missed this game but I'm going to play it next week.
I played this game on a whim last night playing about an hour-ish before getting off after deciding that I'd be playing the shit out of it today. I love that it never tells you anything at the beginning about the combat and that allowed me to to figure out my shit on my own, by the end I was a beast and after learning that I can block that tomahawk guy instead of just dodging him is when the game opened my eyes and that no enemy was too hard for me anymore. I also really love the attention to detail about the fatigue in the game, it made each blow feel like the end of the world which forced me to really strategize how I fought. It did get really annoying when it was throwing a bunch of enemies at me but I felt that added to the story and the way that Senua feeling too as we were both annoyed and just wanted to get this over with. I also feel like I would be doing a disservice to the game if I didn't talk about the psychosis, it really felt at times that I was doubting myself whenever I was playing, really puts me in the mind of Senua. There were times that I felt that I could trust the voices but I quickly hated them and it was a constant back and forth between me and the voices, they honestly did it so well. Overall 10/10 game and easily my favorite game so far this year..... five years after release apparently..... and the sequel is coming out next year.
It is not just "a game" to me, it goes beyond what a game normally brings to the table, this was so much more, only Art in it's most pure sense can transport you this way, not only entertain your senses, but feed them, truly unique, closer to a good book than to a "video game".
Hi there. This video played in the background while I was cleaning dishes... lol I sat down and watched it. Never heard of this game. After watching this review, I showed my husband. He surprised me with this game a week later. I have to say if I didnt watch this I never would've heard of this game. Thank you! We beat it within a week (between work and raising kids we stayed up past nine to play this 😂) like you said in the video, it's one of those games where it stays with you. After two days I'm still thinking of it!! I showed this video to my friends and shared it on my Facebook. It's a powerful game and without your video review I probably would've never played it.
I found this game to be so unique, I found it took me a week to finish it when a game this length I could usually do in a day or two but it was just so intense and emotional I needed regular breaks
Thanks for this video. I have OCD and have just finished therapy for depression. I liked everything about this game but knew when it first came out it probably wouldn't be 'good' for me as someone with his own anxiety problems. I've just picked it up in the PSN sale and am going to play it this weekend at my parents house I'm looking after this weekend - 4K TV, surround sound, gonna do it in one session and honestly can't wait.
Taking Marcus' words to heart and not starting this tonight but committing to playing this in one sitting tomorrow since I have the whole day available. This seems like something special.
This is one of my favorite games, one game i will remember forever.. it carved itself into me, its just insane.. if you have not tried hellblade yet you have one hell of a story to experience.
As someone who finds a lot of the whole behind the shoulder story based games kind of boring, is the gameplay entertaining enough to hold the experience. (I'm not saying I don't appreciate a good story in a game, it's just without interesting gameplay to hold it in most cases, I just get bored.)
Duncan Buchan the combat is extremely basic and the puzzle elements (whilst varied in design and concept) do feel very samey at times. I'd compare this to games like ico or the last guardian in that respect so If you enjoy games like those this may be worth a look. Otherwise if you feel in any way unwilling to get into a narrative like this one you would be missing the whole point of the game and as a result would not recommend it despite my love for the experience.
The gameplay is not enough IMHO. It's puzzles and combat are good and very polished, but not as deep as in other games. If you do not like the story or the way it is presented, the game probably isn't for you.
Dude I Stumbled on that band HEILUNG then read some comments about Hellblade and you fueled my interest on this and THIS IS probably my first non openworld game to play THANK YOU
I finally picked this game up and played straight through it. Just... wow. What a singular experience. It was one of the few games that changed my perception of what a game could be.
The Game helped me through a very dark time. I‘m diagnosed shizoprenia simplex. I‘m not hearing voices, but i know the feeling if your Head „have his own mind.“ A feeling of Chaos in your Head. I had a traumatic experience a while ago. I was mentaly ill before it Happens, but since then, my thoughts derail on a Daily basis. The Game capture this feeling very very well! My fury‘s doesen‘t Talk directly to me but they are still there. This Game educates on That. It replicates this illness very well. It helped me realising, That i‘m Not „crazy“, That i’m Not an evil, worthless being like my shadow still tells me i am. My illness is still here. But so am i! Senuas sacrefice is not „only“ a beautiful masterpice in Storytelling, Soundtrack, Script, etc. (the List is looooong), but also a try to replicate the inner conflicts of a mentaly ill person. To emphatise with people like me. Like senua, i got „exiled“ for my constitution and i‘m very very curious to see what the People behind the Game will do with this topic in senuas saga! I Love this Game! Its obvious, that it will forever Stay in my favorites! Thanks for the help! Take care of you Folks and don‘t give up, Even your shadow is a suicidal dickhead sometimes! Keep going and try to get a Break sometimes if you can!
i played for a solid hour. unpopular opinion: it sucked balls. and before you all start bellyaching about how i didnt understand the mental health theme and expected a classic slasher, i had benzodiazepine withdrawal induced psychosis and the fucking powerdrill rammed into my ear being on nonstop for 24/7 and melting my brain to pieces made the psychotic voices in this game sound like an aesthetically pleasing breeze. its a mainstream game for a mainstream audience - oh its so edgy, it deals with mental illness, lets take an attractive woman, put on some neat lookin dreadlocks and make her panic attack a little bit while button mashing in combat and tediously opening every door for 20 minutes to artificially extend the playtime
@@aagh8714 during the acute phases one isnt really able to, but in post acute withdrawals when seizure risk is greatly reduced it can keep the mind occupied
Make sure you don't forget to pick up the torch that one time or the game will auto save behind you leaving your torchless self physically unable to complete the game. It's a game save killer and of course this one makes you use a single forced auto save slot.
Thank you for actually taking your time to fully understand the game. Thank you for not simply rushing out another game review like all the other fools. Thank you for a REAL review. You are awesome.
tried playing it for an hour, got bored pretty fast =/ the fighting is so repetitive and uninteresting.. the puzzles were predictable and felt lazy, not creative.. feels like people praise this game just because they got emotionally moved by the story, but that's not enough to make a good game.. it's lacking in the gameplay department quite a lot
So true. I think people praise it because they treat it like a movie and not as much as a video game. It feels like they ignore the poor gameplay mechanics, the repetitive enemies, the eternal walking simulator feeling, the fact that the majority of what you do in the game isn't real (in Senua's mind). I just beat it yesterday and while I thought the story was decent, I couldn't wait for the game to be over.
I like how such an impactful image of how powerful the emotions this game can make you feel are is directly followed by a shot of Mei's ass. But I bet 300 people have already told you this already.
Hellblade was such an intense emotional and gaming experience, like it left my brother and I just staring at the tv as the credits rolled. Like it felt like watching a really good movie in terms of story but also like getting through the same journey as senua Literally one of the best games I’ve ever played in my entire life
You can see where you need to go very easily in that part of the game. If you're playing with a controller, it will rumble when you're walking in the right direction
If you play with a controller the section, that mainly relies on hearing, is also helped along with the vibrations of the pad. So you would still be able to play but, to be honest, you won't get most of the experience and probably be disappointed. :/
If you use the focus function during that part, you can see them at a distance and when you stay still using it, the image of where you're looking will clear up
I'm mostly deaf in one ear so I was not able to play with headphones, but I was still able to enjoy the game GREATLY. The "blind" level is just one level, and if you are playing with a controller, it vibrates to help you, so I was able to get through it fairly easily even being hard of hearing. I would not pass this game up if you are hearing impaired, there is still so much to get out of it.
4:25 Years ago, I watched this video and this one line stuck with me. I realised I'd probably never play the game but the line still stuck. Years later, by chance, I bought and played the game. And when I chanced upon the dark place with no voices, that's when I went- OH THATS THE GAME HE WAS TALKING ABOUT
Do you think it's still possible to complete that puzzle and by extention the game, even if hearing impaired, I'm half deaf (left ear drum damaged) and this concerns me I usually have to play games in mono. Ty for any response
I listened to his advice and played through it in one go. And I gotta say that he's right; it can be exhausting at times but it is so rewarding in the end. And when "Passarella Death Squad - Just like Sleep" started playing in that final fight, I was floored. That was the moment that made feel truly inspired and moved. At that point, I was ready to walk and fight with Senua to the very end. Which is what made the ending really devastating and powerful.
Accurate, brave vid, with no particular spoilers, nice move. Prob the best game experience i’ve had in a very, very long time. I was enlightened for a good few weeks after that.
Hvem skal synge meg i daudsvevna slynge meg når eg på Helvegen går og dei spora eg trår er kalda, så kalda. Who shall sing me into deathsleep sling me when I walk on the path to Hel and these tracks I tread are cold, so cold.
TheNoice Sven it is "old norse." The text is taken from the band Wardruna with the song helvegen, A band that focus on authentic norse themed music and atmosphere. The song is about death.
Perfect balance of combat and puzzles. And amazing depiction of the torment mental health can have on a person. And I agree that you should go through the whole game in one sitting which can be emotionally draining but so is the character you're playing...I knew the game wasnt long going in so I set a whole day aside. And this is the best description video of the game I've seen.
Aaaaah.....what can happen when a team isn't rushed to finish a product.
We could like... End capitalism to make video games better...
socially inept spider-man okay
Maybe like not being able to finish the game without forcing dx10 for the second half of the game if you have an AMD card lol sigh
@@sociallyineptspider-man2366 yeah, end capitalism to not have videogames at all
@@sociallyineptspider-man2366 oh look an anti-capitalist. Guess you're aptly named at least.
I have never heard him so serious. Like wow...he adores this game. Welp, gotta see what the hype is about.
sadly it wasnt as much as i thought
It's amazing. My 2017 game of the year. Gameplay and story and these characters all contributes to the experience. Even the music fits so perfectly. It's so great.
Yes. One of the best story games I've ever played with awesome combat. And an easy Platinum too.
Name of the outro song? I loved it while playing the game but i dont know the name
@@ginochingolletti.6320 just like sheep- passarella death squad
Seriously, a team of 20 people created this masterpiece. Big developers no longer have an excuse for their games sucking ass.
Big studios can be with 0% talent and indie studio can be 100% talent.
Cough cough COD
Cap
60*
What? 20 people??
Amazing game: $30
Semi-ok game that's overhyped: $60
Then there was Hollow Knight. $35 dollars physical release.
$15 dollars digital.
Why?
@@isaiahdavis9486 it takes several years (about 5 years) for hollow knight to come out, and it was made by 2 programers and 1 musician or something. But as you can see, if ppl trully spend time, effort and love into their shit, that shit will be amazing. And because it was made by mainly 2 ppl so the price is cheap
Rods’ Vidjas I think that was because it was a limited run
It was just funny because I was looking at BestBuy and they had the physical game, but then, in the same store, you have the download code for $20 less. But Hollow Knight definitely is worth $60 not even including the DLC. If it wasn’t already a Kickstarter, it should’ve been illegal to buy the game for that low of a price despite it’s quality compared to Triple A Titles who pale in comparison. And I got it on sale for $10, even!
Why are you complaining about that
This game is... cathartic. I ended up with tears just streaming down my cheeks at the end, and refused to pick up my phone or talk to anyone for atleast 30 minutes, so that I could sit with the pain and the release of it all. Holy crap is this an experience.
I was pretty much in a similar bend. But, I have my own mental demons and the game spoke a lot to them. I think he's right, perception is the main theme here, mental illness is the vehicle through which you experience perception.
I hear voices myself this made me emotional
hmmm, so i am sure you will like this song 😃 search on youtube "Passarella Death Squad - Just Like Sleep"
Some people are more emotionally sensitive than others, and this can be an incredible ability. Speaking of catharsis, pain can be extremely rewarding because at one point it transforms into beauty and bliss (if you allow it). It's the strongest emotion I've ever felt. Period. It charges gratefulness, compassion, hope and inner power - and for me there lies the true wisdom of being alive. It doesn't mean you're unstable but sensitive enough to feel subtle emotions (whatever they may be) through empathy and connection with your own self and others. It's not an issue, but a gift of inner perception. I understand perfectly what Kelly is talking about cause I've been there myself. It's awe-inspiring.
What I love most about any kind of story is how emotionally engaging it is, how well does it connect with me and how deep does it go. For me, the story of Senua is about walking through the valley of shadow of death and confronting inner demons in order to become free of chains that were bounding her entire life. It's about facing your worst nightmares and transcending them. It's about understanding and accepting our traumas... about releasing the pain. It has a healing effect. Many people have actually taken psychedelic drugs and went through similar experiences. I know because I've done it (although you don't need any mind altering substances to go trough such processes - it's safer if you don't actually).
Long story short, Hellblade has moved me to tears too, and that's perfectly ok. :)
I hope I experience something similar
I finally got around to buying, installing, playing and finishing Hellblade yesterday....
12/10
What else can I say...
Same, been planning to buy since it came out but only got around to it during this quarantine we having in 2020, just finished few days ago. Was awesome!
Eh, I’d give it a 9/10, while the gameplay, sound, graphics, music and the main character were all amazingly done. The puzzles could have had a bit more variation and some of them felt a bit too ambiguous leading to frustration when I played through it in one sitting yesterday. And the combat (imo) felt like the Witcher 3 without the sign usage, which imo isn’t a bad thing but it still needs to be said that if your expecting something akin to DmC: Devil May Cry then your not going to get that here...and I agree about the difficulty, the enemies can get a bit chunky and take longer to kill on the auto difficulty.
I got it for free on gamepass, im excited to try it out
@@Qballiz2kool just need to be creative or intelligent, i passed the game without any guide and when i took the puzzles i hurt my brain thinking as if i were Senua. Lights... Angles... Shadows... Everything is a shape.
Wow, this is without a doubt the best Hellblade review I've seen so far. You really out did yourself on that one. I've been waiting to hear someone do it justice and you definitely have. Keep up the good work dude.
Watch Worth A Buy's review...even better
Can confirm. Just watched it, and I've been replaying the parts where he whispers deprecation in your ears.
No, not because I'm masochistic (Thought I am slightly masochistic), but because I've had self-insulting thoughts in the past. I'm over it now, but it's nice to know how far I've come, and how I beat back my old self.
Na the critique by Micah Edmonds was the video that bests covers this game.
Leonardo da sidci's video on the game is easily the best one by far. Not only is it cohesive and articulate but also comes from someone who actually lives with Senua's condition and can fairly compare how realistic it was on that front. That being said it does spoil so dont show it to someone who has not yet played it
I'm a bit partial to Raycevick's video on the same though.
ua-cam.com/video/7e2zNsfvtUU/v-deo.html
Who is here after Hellblade 2 announcement?
Literally everyone.
Definitely me. I didn't even realize this game was a thing. I'm hoping it holds up in VR as that's how I'll first try to tackle it, but this video has convinced me if VR sucks I should just play it regularly.
@@Gaveno112 It sucks in VR trust me. Just play it normally
Dude I saw this video long time ago but after that disturbing and beautiful trailer I had to check it out again. Saving up money for a new console and that Xbox game pass to play this
I finished the game today.. Idk why i am watching this now lol... I always wanted to try this game but after watching the trailer for hellblade 2...i found my motivation... It's a hell of a ride! An amazing game.. Good job ninja theory
Hellblade: Celtic ASMR
Psychotic asmr
My favorite
Used this to sleep better 😴❤️
Ha! That's perfect.
@@Javo_Non the original comment was much better. Sometimes its what's implied, you don't need to say it.
Graphics, when she stares at you for the first time, are mindblowing.
It blows me away that such a small studio managed to make a game with high-fidelity graphics as visually appealing as The Witcher 3 which was made by a huge studio
Hellblade is a great example of what can happen when you give a female protagonist a personality instead of D cups.
Btw. Almost zero pandering camera through whole game.
f-king exactly.
Im not a girl but If I was I would conisder Senua the most empowering female character that Ive played in a video game specifically because shes weak and very flawed, the game is constantly framed like an uphill struggle and that makes it actually matter when she overcomes adversity rather than getting handed a victory on a silver plate like most "Bad ass" power fantasy girls.
@@sernoddicusthegallant6986 Perfectly said.
D Cups don't hurt though...
It's the 'Requiem For a Dream' of video games. I had no idea what I was in for going in and it took me for an emotional ride from beginning to end. The fact that the game never tells you what's going on is brilliant as you and Senua both discover what she is capable of. And the way she delivers some of her lines straight to the player, breaking the 4th wall - wow! You start thinking "am I one of the voices inside of her head?"
It's a common misconception this game breaks the 4th wall. It some scenes she looks directly at the camera but that is when we're viewing her from the eyes of another character (usually one of the voices she's hearing). Really the camera could have been placed anywhere during those scenes but it's much more impactful when we're looking directly into her eyes as she's reacting to the voices. Make no mistake, though- she's not addressing the player.
Breaking the 4th wall is exactly that tho. When u look into the camera. That’s what it means, irrelevant the context or narrative device. It’s origins are Filmmaking and for decades the one thing you didn’t do was look near the lens whilst delivering a performance.
I really don't think it breaks the 4th wall personally. But I do like your analyses. And this game is a lot of different things to a lot of different people. If it breaks your 4th wall then who the fuck are we to say otherwise.
I remember the sentence that elevated this game for me. Because I knew the paranoid schizophrenic thing before playing I was afraid the game would lose its impact, since It would pretty much be a gigantic dream sequence. And then the narrator voice hit me with the phrase that took me about 4 min to wrap my head around
"What does It matter If its real or not when its allways here"
This is Senuas reality, this is her world. The nightmares are as real to her as anything else, there is no escaping this "dream sequence".
You know you're hooked on a game when you finish it in one sitting, but not because you want to, but because you have to!
I regret not completing it that night man so much
I have never been more inspired to play a video game. And I LOVE video games. Thank you.
HOW HAVE I NEVER EVEN HEARD OF THIS GAME
THANK YOU
doopmachine nigga wut?
It was available (and featured) in every VG subscription plan...
the music is perfect for this game, my favorite part.
ioryogi It’s beautiful
All of the fight music was on POINT
This game was on a whole different level for me. My god I loved it.
I just got 3 Hellblade videos in my subscription box in the last 10 minutes
Unknown Error Wow
CJAdams97 I do subscribe to quite a few gaming analyses channels but even still it's kinda crazy
Bad sign. Simultaneous hits means marketing push, means they were all paid.
Jetson George that's not always the case. It does depend on the creator. I've seen this one and one from Rags and he doesn't take paid promotion.
Mac _ to be fair this game is quite good. Whether it's paid for or not, it is deserving of praise.
This game is currently $9.99 on Steam right now, until January 2nd. I'm gonna buy it thanks to this video!
$5 CAD right now until July 13th for anyone watching now!
this game makes you FEEL like and ancient paranoid schizophrenic
She's not a paranoid schizophrenic... It even states at the start of the game that she suffers from psychosis... which is not schizophrenia.
@@MetalHeadReacts Psychosis is a symptom not a disease, and Schizophrenia causes psychosis. All of her symptoms point to schizophrenia
If you watch the dev diaries, you will see it has nothing to do with schizophrenia. Hearing voices is not exclusive to schizophrenia.
A few days ago this review sold me on playing it and honestly it’s one of the best video games I’ve ever played. I think the one moment that stuck with me the most was the first encounter with Hela, that scene shook me to my core and I had to pause the game to put myself back together. I. Loved. It.
One of the best experiences I’ve ever had in a video game
there was one part that I loved, the masks, when you switched to the gold light world the voices would whisper sweet memories of Dillion but when you went back to the silver dark world they would tear you to verbal shreds. The ending handed me my ass it was so powerful. Senua is a complete bad ass.
I played this simply because of this video.
My life and view of video games has changed completely.
Thank you.
People often learn use the label "thinking" when their mind wander off in meditation. When I was new to meditation, I usually had those voices whispering "focus" as my label for when my concentration faltered. Still do sometimes, so yup this game sure stuck in my mind, lol.
It's funny because the game is mentally REALLY exhausting and draining, you hear all the voices in your head all the time, hear war stories, combat monsters and solve puzzles, but at the same time you're so so invested in it you can't stop! It's really a binge worthy game if you're up for it mentally
just with Psychological part of the game alone makes me want to play it
That Guy no one cares about
that was my only reason when I first knew about it a year ago ,it's Soo rare to experience something like that.
this game is honestly the best experience with any game i have ever had
You must be new..
@@nisher15 definitely not
@@salbrouwer8864 With a comment like that.. yeah right..
@@nisher15 so... Ure saying that it's really weird that hellblade is my favourite game
@@salbrouwer8864 Very much, if you are as experienced as you say.
I just finished this game last week......OMG what an amazing game, I dont have enough time to play the entire game in one go but it's still amazing. My first play through I tried head phones but the horror aspect was a bit much for me when you didnt know what was coming.....so I played without and now I have gone back to play again with as you have some sort of idea what was is coming.
2 terrifying parts of the game are the maze with fire demon.....Omg I started trying to play that and I was like nope...
The dragon dungeon worse part of this was that I not had long done the fire maze, then I was sent to hell and then the dragon. I had to have a sit down after it all.
Dragon? You mean Garmr?
After I finished this game it gave me a feeling i never had before and thats what important about any media
YESSS. I was hoping you would review Hellblade!! Great video as always!
peachy tooru Is it good?
Oh that ending song sent chills up my spine hearing it again for the first time since finishing the game. Truly an amazing game
I’m only maybe like an hour in and...i find it compelling that this is the only game that lowkey DEMANDS my full attention. It’s surreal.
4:24 "There is a whole puzzle that is near impossible if you are hearing impaired".
Me (unilaterally deaf): Sooooo you're telling me there's a chance? 😅😅😅
Yes, you can probably solve that puzzle too, even without audio, with a lot more of trial and error. But if I were you I'd check if there's a way to play in mono audio. Several times there are voices whispering something in one ear while another one says the opposite in the other.
You can solve that puzzle by paying attention to the immediately close visual cues. That's what I did.
LOL...its all you Loyd 😉👍😁🧚♀️
If you still haven't played it by now there is a very slight bit of controller vibration which helps a bit, but not a lot.
That one puzzle where you run through a disentigrating wooden maze finding runes while a fire demon hunts you is literally the most tense I've ever felt playing a video game.
Games that don't get overhyped are most of the times amazing.
Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice
Metro franchise
Dead Space
Assassin's Creed Desmond's Trilogy
A Plague Tale: Innocence
Titanfall 2
Sunset Overdrive
etc.
I didn't like plague tale, the finally was terrible in my opinion and that ruined the game as a whole for me. Overall, I agree with your other games though.
@@asajjmonika1991 It can be subjective. Amicia is the main protagonist of the game. Yes, you do control Hugo for a better part but Amicia is the one fighting the despairing and mournful environment of the game. The Inquisition is brutal and will not serve to pass any transgression in honor of a dying king especially when you are carrying a ticking time bomb that is Hugo. Amicia is of age where she is not able to deal with this responsibility forcefully given to her. She not only has to protect her brother but herself too. Being a teenager she was never meant for this. When you play the majority of the game getting her through all of the events and toughing her up. One must want her to face the final boss. Asobo was really wise here. They knew that Amicia going against someone who controls an army of rats will be too impractical. To go around this, they made the last sequence in such a way that both Amicia and Hugo fight him off. With Amicia knowing when should Hugo should use his power and with Hugo being the only one bearing it. After all, they both went through the hellish story of this game. Hugo being a kid doesn't know what the hell is going on. I like the ending. I absolutely adore this game.
It's up to you, why you don't like it.
@@dan_ariyaene_2005 I guess I really liked the game up until Hugo controlled rats. I liked the fantasy element of the rats but wish it was toned down significantly. The finale boss felt like one from a lego game like the big ant boss in lego Indiana Jones. I was also disappointed in Ser Nicholas' death, I don't know what I expected but his death was under whelming to me for how menacing he felt. (He gave me Darth Vader vibes) The game is probably like Helblade where some people love it and some people hate it.
2 years ago I watched this video and was entirely persuaded to play this game, and now it’s one of my favorite ever made. I like to come back and watch this from time to time to remind myself what I love about it so much. Terrific video that completely served its purpose, thank you.
I watched this video about a year ago and it prompted me to add Hellblade to my Steam wishlist. I finally picked it up recently, and finished it a couple days ago. I was utterly floored. What an absolutely amazing game. Thank you for the recommendation.
i genuinely come back and rewatch this video just because i love the style and gameplay you show and it's so pretty
Not schizophrenia, but psychosis. Quite different. But yes, it does a great job of putting you in the shoes of someone with that condition. I recommend watching the Hellblade Feature that's included in the game, to everyone. It includes info on how they consulted real experts and people, and included some of their symptomatic experiences in the game. I think it's great they did that for a stigmatized illness and it's one of the best representations I've ever seen, though some people never understood what it was about. But above all, it's just a great game and story.
I've watched so many videos from this guy, mainly about superhero movies, and this is the one that made me subscribe.
as someone who's struggling with depression, anxiety, and other stuff, i think senua's mental illnes is more like depression (the darkness) and anxiety (the voices making fun of her, telling her to go back, or saying that she'll fail). yes, it may also be paranoid schizophrenia, but i would not limit myself to that. but i'm no psychologist. i can only tell by my personal experience.
i don't have voices in my head, telling me to do or not do something, or laughing at me, or whatever. but i have these thoughts, keeping me from doing something, because "everyone" will make fun of me if i fail. it's a constant fight with myself inside of my mind. and so is senua - fighting to get through the darkness. and i loved watching her rise. she's been through so much shit in her life, causing so much trauma. and still she finds her way back to the light and refuses to give up.
i absolutely enjoyed this game. i wouldn't recommend anyone struggling with mental health to play it alone (i played it with my boyfriend, who is mentally fine), but i really recommend playing it with a safe person. maybe they'll even learn something about your mental illness ;)
Das Mugsch as someone else with mental illness (bipolar type II, generalized anxiety disorder, and PTSD) I think most who struggle with these kinds of things can relate. It was a very emotional experience just watching a let’s play. In the documentary they did say that it’s meant to portray psychosis and people who hear voices and see hallucinations. It’s an interesting watch.
I actually experience psychosis myself and I can confirm from my own personal experience that it is incredibly accurate to psychosis, even going as far as relating to her delusion of the rot not being allowed to reach her head as when I was at my peak of my psychotic breakdown at 17 (24 now) I believed i had parasites inside my arms that i would have to physically cut out or they would reach my head and steal my thoughts.
The people who worked on the game actually worked alongside psychologists and people experiencing psychosis themselves.
For psychosis it is a VERY literal representation of the mental illness. But if it speaks to you on a metaphorical sense then that's amazing and is just a further testament to how powerful and important this game truly is for those suffering with any kind of mental illness.
But i will say I am particularly happy that those of us suffering with illnesses that cause psychosis are finally being represented in a compassionate, realistic light for once instead of being represented as violent, dangerous, unintelligent maniacs and psychopaths.
@@gloomybats4583 It's important for those of us who don't necessarily struggle with severe mental illness to understand it. Exaggerations are fun. I personally don't mind exaggerations or stereotypes of depression, though I do periodically suffer from it. I think it creates a curiosity and fascination that the truth won't otherwise do. However, at some point, that fascination has to mature and realistic depictions have to be brought out. Otherwise it becomes stigma and prejudice.
@@TheRisky9 Oh of course, of course, I honestly didn't intend for my comment to discredit anyone and if it came across that way then I sincerely apologize. Also just to clarify, I don't think depression is 'less severe' than psychosis in the slightest, I don't think any mental illness is less or more severe than another as we are all affected by our ailments in different ways, all of which are valid, all of which cause us some kind of pain, to say one or the other is more or less severe is to discredit someones pain and show a lack of empathy. So if I made you or anyone feel that way, please know it was not at all my intention.
As i said in my original comment, if the games general representation of mental illness as a whole is able to create a sense of understanding and comfort to anyone suffering with any kind of mental illness, be it literal or not, then its done a fantastic job and that fact only lends itself to why this game is so incredible.
I feel I may have come across as defensive in my original post; I read the original comments; "I think Senua's illness is more like depression" as discrediting and in my head it came across as saying "Its not about psychosis, its actually about depression." I probably felt possessive if i'm being quite honest, considering how i relate to the games intended subject matter. However taking a step back; i can certainly see that i was hasty with my reply and I don't think that was what the original comment was trying to say at all.
I apologize if I offended anyone
This game was incredible. As someone who has overcome server mental illness this game really accurately portrays and makes you feel what that is like. At the end of the game I actually cried because I was reminded so much of when I overcame my own auditory and visual hallucinations. This game is brilliant and really a work of art from every aspect. I played on auto and found it to still be pretty easy. I know people hate the combat style but I agree with this video, when you attempt to learn it there are so many layers and you find the actually depth in the game. I have been gaming for 28 years and this has become one of my favorite games.
I played this game through and thought that the puzzles were predictable and the combat straightforward. However, the second time through, like Uncle Cosmonaut, I found that there are so many hidden extras that playing it only once would be a big mistake.
Then I got a Rift VR headset and the game became just jaw-dropping. This is what the game should be - complete immersion. Not just surround sound, but 3-D action. Look around at a stunning world. Combat becomes personal, no longer just a game. The VR version is free (on Steam) when you buy the 2-D version.
I realise that Rift or Vive are not an option for many gamers, but if you ever get the chance to play Hellblade in VR do so - it's quite the best of all the VR games I've played, although Lone Echo and Fallout 4 (Vive only) have good or better graphics.
Phill Birch FALLOUT 4?
Oh, okay.
Would you recommend the VR edition for a first playthrough? I just bought the game but I'm not sure which version I should play.
This game opened my eyes to real mental illness. I found myself in shock at the way they suffer internally. I also thanked God that I was blessed with a clear head compared to this. I was determined to find her voices and exterminate them! She fights and that made me want her to win so, so badly! I have never been so on board with a character in my life! I could not stop playing until the end. Eagerly looking forward the the sequel, (which looks amazing)!
You are sick
Seek doctor
"I was determined to find her voices and exterminate them!"
That's the thing about mental illness. You are _always_ fighting, and Hellblade communicates that really effectively. You don't win. Mental illness isn't something that you cure (at least not yet), it's something you manage. Best case, medication, therapy, lifestyle, and a combination thereof let you get much closer to a healthy equilibrium; but it's always there, in the dark parts of your mind, just like those creatures in the level where everything is darkness.
Yes, speaking from experience.
Yeah i think you kinda missed the point there. Even people with hearing voices Schizophrenia get relief and reprisals from voices but the voices are guaranteed to come back.
Facts
Senuas madness is very familiar to me and I find her comfortable to be around. If that makes sense. It's her strength and ability to overcome failure that really blow me away. I was already a fan of Metroid. I love female protagonists in games. Not just so I can look at there ass either. Doesn't hurt though. But. I feel like they tell better stories. I saw the trailers for this game that really put it on a pedestal and didn't believe a word of it. Now. It's my favorite game of all time. Can't wait for the sequel. I do hope Senua takes a shower first though.
This scares me those clips of senua in the dark truly gives me dread
%100 agree, it's an excellent experience. Also I'm binging old Cosmonaut videos this morning, love ya Markus
i played this game after eating the best acid in my life and watching IT in theaters... what an experience...
I was just thinking how crazy this shit would be on acid
One of the best games I've ever played. And I went in with zero info about it. I just realized I'd bought it at some point when it was on sale, so I tried it out. I didn't stop playing until I'd finished it. Damn, it's good
i just finished hellblade and i tell you its an underrated rare gem, a must play for everyone who enjoys storybased games
This review is 2yrs old, and this is literally the first time I've ever seen or heard of it. It looks like a game that would be released this year. Holy shit. This looks fucking amazing.
Very easily my GOTY
travisz11 same!
Shows hot GOTY is hard to define, when you compare this to Nier:Automata or Night in the Woods it's hard to make the call on which one is the best.
And then you look at 2018 and don't see any great one's.
Willem Kuiper lmao commenting on a 2017 GOTY comment ok 2019
But yeah I agree, for me it would probably be between nier automata and prey but this is definitely fighting for that spot as well
@@w.kuiper316 what are you saying? Both god of war and red dead redemption 2 released in 2018.
The fact you added in my favorite movie of all time, There will be blood, I'm sold. I don't know how I missed this game but I'm going to play it next week.
I have nerve damage in my left ear... so it was a struggle with that darkness level... but I beat it in a few tries
@@FluffyBunniesOnFire it's worth it.. I just stayed kinda close to camp fires...
I played this game on a whim last night playing about an hour-ish before getting off after deciding that I'd be playing the shit out of it today. I love that it never tells you anything at the beginning about the combat and that allowed me to to figure out my shit on my own, by the end I was a beast and after learning that I can block that tomahawk guy instead of just dodging him is when the game opened my eyes and that no enemy was too hard for me anymore.
I also really love the attention to detail about the fatigue in the game, it made each blow feel like the end of the world which forced me to really strategize how I fought. It did get really annoying when it was throwing a bunch of enemies at me but I felt that added to the story and the way that Senua feeling too as we were both annoyed and just wanted to get this over with.
I also feel like I would be doing a disservice to the game if I didn't talk about the psychosis, it really felt at times that I was doubting myself whenever I was playing, really puts me in the mind of Senua. There were times that I felt that I could trust the voices but I quickly hated them and it was a constant back and forth between me and the voices, they honestly did it so well.
Overall 10/10 game and easily my favorite game so far this year..... five years after release apparently..... and the sequel is coming out next year.
From the clips I’ve seen, the game looks very similar to Dad of War. And I love Dad of War. I’ll consider picking this up
They are not really similar at all, they’re both great though.
It is not just "a game" to me, it goes beyond what a game normally brings to the table, this was so much more, only Art in it's most pure sense can transport you this way, not only entertain your senses, but feed them, truly unique, closer to a good book than to a "video game".
Dude, how are so convincing with everything you talk about, with literally fucking everything. There's so much I want to play/watch because of you...
Hi there. This video played in the background while I was cleaning dishes... lol I sat down and watched it. Never heard of this game. After watching this review, I showed my husband. He surprised me with this game a week later. I have to say if I didnt watch this I never would've heard of this game. Thank you! We beat it within a week (between work and raising kids we stayed up past nine to play this 😂) like you said in the video, it's one of those games where it stays with you. After two days I'm still thinking of it!! I showed this video to my friends and shared it on my Facebook. It's a powerful game and without your video review I probably would've never played it.
I found this game to be so unique, I found it took me a week to finish it when a game this length I could usually do in a day or two but it was just so intense and emotional I needed regular breaks
Yeah, I get really exhausted playing. It's so intense.
Thanks for this video. I have OCD and have just finished therapy for depression. I liked everything about this game but knew when it first came out it probably wouldn't be 'good' for me as someone with his own anxiety problems. I've just picked it up in the PSN sale and am going to play it this weekend at my parents house I'm looking after this weekend - 4K TV, surround sound, gonna do it in one session and honestly can't wait.
You and Raycevick BOTH recommended this game... I am definitely going to play!
Taking Marcus' words to heart and not starting this tonight but committing to playing this in one sitting tomorrow since I have the whole day available. This seems like something special.
Wanted to inspire my friend to play this game by sending him this video, Ended up inspiring myself to play it again. :D
This is one of my favorite games, one game i will remember forever.. it carved itself into me, its just insane.. if you have not tried hellblade yet you have one hell of a story to experience.
As someone who finds a lot of the whole behind the shoulder story based games kind of boring, is the gameplay entertaining enough to hold the experience. (I'm not saying I don't appreciate a good story in a game, it's just without interesting gameplay to hold it in most cases, I just get bored.)
Duncan Buchan the combat is extremely basic and the puzzle elements (whilst varied in design and concept) do feel very samey at times. I'd compare this to games like ico or the last guardian in that respect so If you enjoy games like those this may be worth a look. Otherwise if you feel in any way unwilling to get into a narrative like this one you would be missing the whole point of the game and as a result would not recommend it despite my love for the experience.
The gameplay is not enough IMHO. It's puzzles and combat are good and very polished, but not as deep as in other games. If you do not like the story or the way it is presented, the game probably isn't for you.
The Fucking Puzzles brought this game down so Much for me.
Another thing I liked about the game is you may be one of the voices fallowing her
Dude I Stumbled on that band HEILUNG then read some comments about Hellblade and you fueled my interest on this and THIS IS probably my first non openworld game to play THANK YOU
Most of puzzles are impossible without walkthrough. Needed different bosses and enemies.
I finally picked this game up and played straight through it. Just... wow. What a singular experience. It was one of the few games that changed my perception of what a game could be.
just casually has a hot girl around the office that can star in the game
That "hot girl" has a career and worked her ass off to help make a good game. Show some respect.
Yeah? Normal people have jobs. Who would’ve thought.
The Game helped me through a very dark time. I‘m diagnosed shizoprenia simplex. I‘m not hearing voices, but i know the feeling if your Head „have his own mind.“ A feeling of Chaos in your Head. I had a traumatic experience a while ago. I was mentaly ill before it Happens, but since then, my thoughts derail on a Daily basis. The Game capture this feeling very very well! My fury‘s doesen‘t Talk directly to me but they are still there. This Game educates on That. It replicates this illness very well. It helped me realising, That i‘m Not „crazy“, That i’m Not an evil, worthless being like my shadow still tells me i am. My illness is still here. But so am i! Senuas sacrefice is not „only“ a beautiful masterpice in Storytelling, Soundtrack, Script, etc. (the List is looooong), but also a try to replicate the inner conflicts of a mentaly ill person. To emphatise with people like me. Like senua, i got „exiled“ for my constitution and i‘m very very curious to see what the People behind the Game will do with this topic in senuas saga! I Love this Game! Its obvious, that it will forever Stay in my favorites! Thanks for the help! Take care of you Folks and don‘t give up, Even your shadow is a suicidal dickhead sometimes! Keep going and try to get a Break sometimes if you can!
i played for a solid hour. unpopular opinion: it sucked balls. and before you all start bellyaching about how i didnt understand the mental health theme and expected a classic slasher, i had benzodiazepine withdrawal induced psychosis and the fucking powerdrill rammed into my ear being on nonstop for 24/7 and melting my brain to pieces made the psychotic voices in this game sound like an aesthetically pleasing breeze. its a mainstream game for a mainstream audience - oh its so edgy, it deals with mental illness, lets take an attractive woman, put on some neat lookin dreadlocks and make her panic attack a little bit while button mashing in combat and tediously opening every door for 20 minutes to artificially extend the playtime
playing games while withdrawing sounds like a terrible idea
@@aagh8714 during the acute phases one isnt really able to, but in post acute withdrawals when seizure risk is greatly reduced it can keep the mind occupied
You know it's a good game when you're still thinking about it weeks later.
The voices whispering were easily the best part for me. I always played with headphones as suggested and it fucking rocked. So fucking genius
It's a schizophrenic viking, *BUYS IMEDIATELY
Senua suffers from psychosis lol
And she's Irish not a viking
@@evannesbitt7852 Shes actually from Orkney
Absolutely cannot wait for the sequel
Thanks for review! I have been wanting to play this game on my channel so perhaps I will now!
The voice in her head becomes the voice in your head, the voice is the HUD......such a great audio design.
Make sure you don't forget to pick up the torch that one time or the game will auto save behind you leaving your torchless self physically unable to complete the game. It's a game save killer and of course this one makes you use a single forced auto save slot.
They patched that out after Jim Sterling cried about it
Now, now. When your car refuses to start because of a manufacturing failure, complaining to the dealership is not "crying about it".
Thank you for actually taking your time to fully understand the game. Thank you for not simply rushing out another game review like all the other fools. Thank you for a REAL review. You are awesome.
Is the song at the end of video from the soundtrack of the game? If not what is it called?
It's called "Just Like Sleep" by Passarella Death Squad, dope track
One of the biggest surprises of 2018 for me. Just epic
tried playing it for an hour, got bored pretty fast =/ the fighting is so repetitive and uninteresting.. the puzzles were predictable and felt lazy, not creative..
feels like people praise this game just because they got emotionally moved by the story, but that's not enough to make a good game.. it's lacking in the gameplay department quite a lot
So true. I think people praise it because they treat it like a movie and not as much as a video game. It feels like they ignore the poor gameplay mechanics, the repetitive enemies, the eternal walking simulator feeling, the fact that the majority of what you do in the game isn't real (in Senua's mind). I just beat it yesterday and while I thought the story was decent, I couldn't wait for the game to be over.
This is my favorite computer game of all time. Thank you so much for doing it justice
I like how such an impactful image of how powerful the emotions this game can make you feel are is directly followed by a shot of Mei's ass.
But I bet 300 people have already told you this already.
Hellblade was such an intense emotional and gaming experience, like it left my brother and I just staring at the tv as the credits rolled. Like it felt like watching a really good movie in terms of story but also like getting through the same journey as senua
Literally one of the best games I’ve ever played in my entire life
The combat reminds me more of the new God Of War game but didn’t this come out first?
I loved this game so much that I can't even put it into words. But somehow, you kind of managed to do that
Rip :) guess I can't play this game 😭 (Hard of hearing)
You can see where you need to go very easily in that part of the game. If you're playing with a controller, it will rumble when you're walking in the right direction
If you play with a controller the section, that mainly relies on hearing, is also helped along with the vibrations of the pad. So you would still be able to play but, to be honest, you won't get most of the experience and probably be disappointed. :/
If you use the focus function during that part, you can see them at a distance and when you stay still using it, the image of where you're looking will clear up
I'm mostly deaf in one ear so I was not able to play with headphones, but I was still able to enjoy the game GREATLY. The "blind" level is just one level, and if you are playing with a controller, it vibrates to help you, so I was able to get through it fairly easily even being hard of hearing. I would not pass this game up if you are hearing impaired, there is still so much to get out of it.
Man I'd play this game if I was blind, it's just too good to miss...
4:25 Years ago, I watched this video and this one line stuck with me.
I realised I'd probably never play the game but the line still stuck.
Years later, by chance, I bought and played the game. And when I chanced upon the dark place with no voices, that's when I went-
OH THATS THE GAME HE WAS TALKING ABOUT
Do you think it's still possible to complete that puzzle and by extention the game, even if hearing impaired, I'm half deaf (left ear drum damaged) and this concerns me I usually have to play games in mono. Ty for any response
TheDark1Runner I know the struggles :'(
Should be solvable in mono, but it will be harder.
If you have a controller, it'll be easy. The rumble feature really helps
If you're hearing impaired, using the focus mechanic will help you see the environment and dangers much easier. Hope this helps
I listened to his advice and played through it in one go. And I gotta say that he's right; it can be exhausting at times but it is so rewarding in the end. And when "Passarella Death Squad - Just like Sleep" started playing in that final fight, I was floored. That was the moment that made feel truly inspired and moved. At that point, I was ready to walk and fight with Senua to the very end. Which is what made the ending really devastating and powerful.
1:50 Isn't that Eredin from the witcher 3?
Steven Hartley is his name, and yes it is!
Andreas Herodotou DAMN. Nice ass. I mean voice.
Accurate, brave vid, with no particular spoilers, nice move.
Prob the best game experience i’ve had in a very, very long time. I was enlightened for a good few weeks after that.
Hvem skal synge meg
i daudsvevna slynge meg
når eg på Helvegen går
og dei spora eg trår er kalda, så kalda.
Who shall sing me
into deathsleep sling me
when I walk on the path to Hel
and these tracks I tread
are cold, so cold.
Is that actual old norse?
I'm swedish and I can actually kinda understand that and see similarities especially when I pronounce the words in my head
TheNoice Sven it is "old norse." The text is taken from the band Wardruna with the song helvegen, A band that focus on authentic norse themed music and atmosphere. The song is about death.
Perfect balance of combat and puzzles. And amazing depiction of the torment mental health can have on a person. And I agree that you should go through the whole game in one sitting which can be emotionally draining but so is the character you're playing...I knew the game wasnt long going in so I set a whole day aside.
And this is the best description video of the game I've seen.
I'm really interested in the game but i need to ask, are there jump scares?
No jump scares, but it does have some really scary moments
More like extremely intense horrifying moments. Besides that no actual jumpscares
No real jumpscares but the game is scary as shit still. Lots of anxiety and atmospheric fear
Hell yeah
What about the illusions guy?