Hellblade 2 is okay
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 21 พ.ค. 2024
- Senua's Saga: Hellblade II (Xbox Series X/S, Steam) was a game I'm really looking forward to. How is it? Let's chat.
check out my new Friends Per Second Podcast: linktr.ee/friendspersecond
Yell at me on twitter: bit.ly/3gdkPqD
Instagram: bit.ly/3uUh9Ot - เกม
!['Hellblade II' is bafflingly disappointing… [REVIEW]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/x2PAhL9UCyg/mqdefault.jpg)
![[Watch Party] RoV APL 2024 Bacon VS Earena](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/I5XAoIs-r6o/mqdefault.jpg)
I commend the gaming industry for making strides in storytelling that rivals movies and tv, but I think they've forgotten video games are still supposed to be played and not watched.
This game is a perfect example of that.
It’s amazing any studio is still leaning this hard into this form over function game design. I’ve been avoiding self-indulgent, embarrassed to be a video game direction since MGS4.
Yeah, if storytelling is quite literally all you have to offer in your "game", you should've made a movie instead.
Yet when Death Stranding did it, most people didn't mind it.
Where was all this outcry about gameplay when sony makes those shitty movie wannabe games? 😂
But why has this never been a problem before? It'd seem reviewers were perfectly okay with walking sims and calling them masterpieces (including hellblade 1)
I wonder what's changed their minds all of the sudden for hellblade 2 to get punished for a whole genre of games. Could it be the xbox tax?? Nah, ofc not
As someone who suffered from psychosis in my past, I couldn't play the first game for very long. Probably one of my biggest fears is slipping back out of reality, like a dislocated shoulder always being more prone to coming out again. I had the same experience with cyberpunk edgerunners, but worse. It's a goal of mine to one day be able to play these games without the fear of the voices not stopping when the headphones come off, but I can tell you they do recreate that experience pretty damn well from what I experienced the first time.
One thing I appreciate about video games now is the willingness to tackle those hard to look at features of humans and make a triumphant story out of them, while also having the technology to reproduce a decent facsimile of the experience to convey the weight of the burden. It's a beautiful thing.
Wow, did you ever play the first game later on?
@@umerkha no, I also never finished cyberpunk edgerunners lol
@tonyl9636 wish all good things for you mate. Hope you get to play the game one day without any issue!
Hearing someone else mention they loved the order 1886 is so refreshing!
What ever happened to that developer? They did the GOW psp games I think
@@peteparker22Meta bought them. They've been VR developers for awhile now
God damn right. Really wish we got a big sequel
@@JakeBaldino Same! I'd love a sequel
1886 is a better game than this.
The devs of heavenly sword, dmc, bleeding edge should know better about gameplay
Feels like deja vu all over again. And not in a good way
@@kadosho02the game was OK you guys complain about everything
I mean all those games are mid so it’s not like they’re experts at anything
@@kenroyforrester156 we all have a right to speak up about our experiences with games. If we enjoy it, or dislike it, plus it helps others make a decision.
Ninja Theory does not have the best track record with their titles.
@@50086gt Coping is hard
Ok, but is Jake ok?
I AM, thank you for asking!
Jake has nice hair
@@kulawdotv2674fr, bro got blessed with great hair
Jake is awesome
@@JakeBaldinojakey are you okay, are you okay, are you okay jakey?! 🎶🎵
i don’t care what anybody says. i loved this game as much as the first one. people speak about being a walking simulator, idk… i took everything at a slow pace and got myself lost into the world details and the voices that helped me get into senua’s shoes again. and the story is amazing, touching a lot into the human nature and small teachings. for me, not a single bad thing to say about it.
These days people don't have the attention span to play story heavy games. I have noticed those who took their time in this game, enjoyed it and got the story. Those thst tried to skim through the game felt dissapointed
I love Iceland and it's folklore and think it's so cool we get a game which showcases it. Those who rushed the game or blindly follow reviewers that did will appreciate none of it. Their loss.
@@shifterzx i think its mostly because developers throw in all these open world games with all these repetitive quest lines and side quests that simply get players on the auto-pilot grinding… sometimes you just have to sit back and enjoy the games you’re playing. like i was deeply touched by the details of each giant story. there was some really amazing story telling and if you’re really immersing into the game you sort of empathize and understand their injustice and grief. i feel like the game was never about big bosses and huge cliffhangers, it was more about Senua grasping her inner darkness that was surrounding her and learning to cope with the fact that its there and only we as individuals can change our surroundings with the actions we make. as for the voices, it felt like she was more aware of herself this time, as the voices were not so chaotic ad in the first game. for me, its a masterpiece and i’m happy to see some people actually feeling the same.
Fr, i don't get it how people hate this game so much
I loved the first one, I did not like this one. First, it's a glorified walking simulator. Combat literally has 4 moves. By the time you "kill" the first giant, you're 75% of the way through and the next 2 giants are rushed through. I felt absolutley no connection to the guy you save at the ritual or the girl you run into before the 2nd giant. Playing with headphones, the voices were WAY overdone this go around. The story was considerably weaker than the first. In my opinion, this is the poster child for graphics don't make a game - the first one had something this one just didn't quite nail. I think it was the mechanic that tricked you into thinking that if you died too many times, the rot would eventually take you over and you wouldn't be able to progress, but in actuality it NEVER did that. It had you "going" the whole time. Every death in the first one had an unknown impact on your own pysche and the second didn't even attempt to do this at all.
This game actually made me think of The Order 1886.
Best hair ever.
Senua or me?
@@JakeBaldino you man. Always you.
@@jamesclark7448🤣👍👌
@@JakeBaldino Senua
@@JakeBaldinoboth.
I would've been disappointed if I'd paid $50 for this one, but it's perfect as a weekend "rental" from Game Pass.
now, if xbox would have more than 1 niche game per year.. their game could truly have a lot more sub... last niche game was hi fi rush 18 months ago...
Always impressive to see someone who loves and knows games sit in front of a camera and talk naturally and candidly without a script. That is real talent. It is so rare on youtube, as most are reading from scripts and spend more time editing their videos with gimmicky graphics and distracting video memes. Jake does none of that. He may be somewhat old school, but he is the real deal!
All scripts are are ways for people to correct any grammar or punctuation mistakes and to formally wrap all their thoughts together don’t know why you’d see that as a bad thing. You don’t want a script though check out Luke Stephen’s although you’d probably dislike his style since he doesn’t sugar coat anything and actually considered every aspect of a game while reviewing it
@@Wonderbrut get off your high horse
@@Wonderbrut I occasionally watch Luke's videos. But he does tend to be too much on the negative side. I know his shtick is being a skeptic about everything. I prefer Jake's positive personality more. Yes scripts are not always bad. But my main point about them is that Jake has an exceptional talent to speak naturally without them. Luke is pretty good at it too though despite his skeptic complex.
One of the problems with the gameplay is the constant switch back and forth between controlling senua and cut scenes where the beginning and end of the cut scenes are less clear and the cut scenes are unnecessary, it feels like the gameplay is being very micromanaged and it disconnects us when we are expecting to not be able to control senua at any point. Also the variation in senuas attacks makes it unclear that we really had control over what she is doing because it is unclear when our actions start and end and when a battle would be conplete, it is dissatisfying, disconnecting and it gets rid of the anticipation.
There are parts of this game that is wonderful like you said. The showdown fights, where there is banter, great animation, drama, and the fear you might just lose. It felt like a good mixture of a TellTale game with a little bit more control; which is what i enjoyed from the first one. New and outdated all at once, still a good time. I wished the nostalgia carried over.
I would be curious to know what it is like for someone with fresh eyes who hasn't played the first one.
jake's hair has better jiggle physics than stellar blade.
Next gen hair
Anyone ever wonder where that pizza Jake promised us is?
One time he came to my city and my friend and I tweeted at him joking about how he was visiting us and then he invited us to pizza the next day. True story
Am I the only one that was waiting for this vid after the before you buy
Thanks for the pizza 😁🍕
thanks for coming around for additional thoughts. that's cool and i appreciate it
Of course man
Really thanks for taking time out of your day to engage with us
no you weren't buddy :D
When will some game companies understand that Gameplay MATTERS just as much as story. You can do both...
They spent years developing this game forgetting that aspect.
Stories can carry games. Hellblade 2 does not have a story that can carry unfortunately.
Games should be about the gameplay first and foremost. Saying they shouldn’t be is like claiming a book can be good without good prose, or a movie without good cinematography and good movie.
gameplay is still gameplay, even if its simple. Which I dont think anyone understands. Not everyone wants to play high action games all the time. Or spend half of the game looting crap
@@theatheistbear3117 This is absolute BS. Assassins creed, super fun series to play. But also some of the worst games I've ever played in my life, with dreadful, soulless stories and characters. Gameplay means nothing if I'm not as all involved in the story or characters. Gameplay should only be priority in online games.
The type of game where you watch it on TH-cam. Enjoy it like a movie, unless you got gamepass it’s not worth full price but sadly it’s getting to the point where owning an Xbox is pointless all together
As someone who likes xbox and wanted them succeed it sure feels this way. Especially after the closing of studios. Just got a stram deck too. With playstation games and xbox games being on pc and able to pirate nintendo games. I dont feel like i need a console now.
Gamepass is essentially a failure. It takes away day one revenue. Also, Xbox seemingly is destroying every IP they acquire. It's only a matter of time before Halo, Gears of War, and other Xbox classics make it to PS5
😂😂😂menos aún ps5 ,2 años sacando mierdas
Xbox has been a DISASTER for awhile now, once gamepass subscribers peaked it’s been all down hill, mid exclusive after mid exclusive, third parties are abandoning the system in droves… heck it even seems like Microsoft is abandoning it’s own system, but if you like the system I would play as many games on gamepass as you can before they cancel that too
@@antoniocastanoleon6470deja de ser un fanatico deserebrado, sony ha lanzado buenos y malos titulos, mas buenos que malos , titulos bastante extensos, completos y disfrutables que de paso también terminan llegando a pc y la gente los disfruta a partes iguales. Xbox lo está intentando, pero parece que no sabe como, primero halo infinite, luego starfield, ahora hellblade 2 cada que intentan con un nuevo exclusivo sale o un desastre o un juego mediocre.
Ojalá encuentren el camino correcto para sus juegos, mientras mas juegos buenos tengamos todos, mejor.
Jake. I like your reviews and you always describe games in the way I view them while playing. Still haven't tried Pacific drive yet though.
its nice that you can interview a dev from the game and still be able to give your honest opinion
If anyone is wondering about the black bars well it helps cut down on gpu usage
I enjoy the game a lot I just wish the pacing had better momentum rather than so much walking. I enjoy the quiet walking sections here and there but it's like 70% of what you do. I dug the combat but it would have been great if they kept a way to fight at least 2 ppl at once. Like direction + parry if the second person is coming at you from the side or rear.
Especially with how cinematic it was, that implementation would have been sick
I don't know what category to put games like these in, but the AA/AAA focused, story-centric games like Hellblade and the Plague Tale games, and the Order 1886 like Jake mentioned -- I'm such a sucker for that archetype of game. Even if this one is flawed, I'm really looking forward to playing it.
Some, like Hellblade, I'd consider to be an immersive, interactive "experience" or a immersive, game-like experience.
It's very good. Different style of gameplay than I'm used to but I enjoyed it even though I don't normally play games like that
Just watch it on TH-cam and youd get the same experience man or at least if you have gamepass. The only two viable options. Even then, the narrative is spaghetti compared to the first game, which is surprising cause of how little meat there is to the game youd think the story would at least be more coherent and refined. With side characters that are just shallow cutouts. Everything superficial like the sound, acting, visuals, all great, but when it comes to substance, it lacks heavily.
Same genre as Dragons Lair, walking simulator maybe?
I call them Sonyma games (combination of "Sony" - for the Playstation - and "cinema"). Third-person camera, possibly stealth mechanics, shooter mechanics similar to Gears of War, focus on a narrative driven by cinematic cutscenes, possible crafting system, etc.
I know that exact battle sequence you were talking about. It made me feel so cool playing it.
I am one of those people who loved the first game and had a profound experience with it. This was due in part to, where I was in my life while I played it and also that it was $20 on steam. Which is essentially the price of a movie ticket. I've seen some streams of Hellblade 2 and even having enjoyed the first as much as I did, I have no reason or motivation to pay $50 for this.
Genuinely so glad we have people like Jake doing Video Game Media, almost every other outlet just goes for big headlines and harps on controversy, and it's really nice to have someone who just wants to talk about what they do like about a medium we all want to enjoy! Thanks Jake
You know that we've come to where we are now because people were pretend praising games/movies and media as a whole instead of being critical of it when it needed that harsh criticism? All the shills and sellout journalists have contributed to the shitshow that is the current day media.
In this economy, it’s just not worth the money unless you are well off.
even if it were cheaper, it's STILL too short imo
@@JakeBaldino Me personally I feel it's gamepass cheap.
Is it not on gamepass
@themangastand8475 yes, it is 😂
Or really like this type of game.
That big battle had my jaw on the floor
I just finished hellblade 2 today after playing the first a couple of weeks ago, and to be honest it was a perfect sequel to the first game, I didn’t expect a 10 hour game, I expected a 5 hour cinematic game, I believe there was to much expectation from the Xbox and PC audience
I'd love to watch a "spoiler talk" about this game
same dude
The quote the devs put out just before launch sounded like they know they are going under after this. Really sad, xbox has become the new EA woth how they bring these studios behind the barn.
i sure hope not. there are reports a new game from them was greenlit so we shall see. Even if i'm mixed on this one, i'm a huge fan of all their previous games
I really hope you're right, would love for them to run this back and do the first game justice. Also BRING BACK TANGO!!
Nah, I didnt get that vibe from the head-dev.
His statement was more or less expressing how proud he is of his team at the end of their development for a major project. & those aren't that unusual.. people are just reading into it how they like.
Hey Jake! sorry if it was already asked is the deco of your room inspired in a modern victorian style?
I’m wondering how the hell i had a profound reaction to the first game and just could not get into the story this time around. I had to force myself to finish it. I felt zero emotional attachment to what we were doing. I’m annoyed that i see people saying they loved it and i didn’t love it because i really really wanted to. I played it because i wanted to feel something from the story just like i felt something amazing from the first and i was let down
i'm playing it right now and feeling the exact same way
You're not alone. They didn't really fix what was barely working in the first game, and the script feels really padded for six hours. Some reviewers really love the pacing in this; I found it moved in fits and starts and didn't keep me engaged.
Me too mate, me too. Though I will play a second time for the extra narration.
The cringe I am bearing witness to on twitter is making me want to remove my eyeballs, there's no nuance in the conversation.
If you criticise it's shortcomings, you're a Sony fanboy and are invoking the "xbox tax" even if during that criticism you're praising what they did right, these people are insane lmao
Bolt I definitely agree what your saying but the problem is both sides you lose brain cells. I’ve seen this guy named Griffen I’m not calling him a Sony fanboy or anything, but his way describing games is just sickening wishing people in ninja theory to just lose their jobs and such is just horrible the developers had their vision they went for it with passion. I will be honest I love how unbiased this guy is he gives you the good and the bad you make your choice from there.
I'd stay off twitter if you want nuanced anything lmfao and I agree about the Xbox tax stuff that is some tinfoil hat nonsense all I'll say on Hellblade 2 is to me it felt half baked when it comes to Story and just overall lacking when it came to Level Design, Combat and Puzzle Design, it's selling point is it's one of the best looking and sounding games on current gen along with probably Alan Wake 2 but it's not much more than that in my opinion, it will no doubt find it's audience and I hope they have a great time with it.
On the bright side, at least Ninja Theory seems to be safe for the time being with their next game being greenlit, fingers crossed for Enslaved 2?
Enslaved 2 would be fkin awesomee
@@JakeBaldino There are tens of us asking for it, maybe even dozens!
I wouldn't be too sure. I hope Ninja Theory sticks around but just because a project has been green lit doesn't mean they can't go the way of the dodo especially if the said title is just in pre-production phase.
@@mintyone Welp let’s pray those Game Pass numbers meet expectations, we’re overdue for some good news in the industry
@@TheFanatic33 agreed, as someone who worked and still works in the industry we’ve taken quite the beating.
I haven’t played any of them but it reminds me a lot of ryse son of rome and I love that game. Just a simple classic good looking single player experience . Y’all are allowed to have countless multiplayer games that die within a year. These games are going to still be talked about for a long time
Ive noticed the books on the table in the background of your recent videos, what you reading?
Jake. You're awesome. Keep up the good work.
that is very kind. thank you!
You want to know why they swapped the title of the game around Jake? You really want to know? It's because fuck me for trying to alphabetize my library, that's why
That's why I organize my game in order of release but I feel your pain 😢
That's why I hate the format of the ps5.
I love Ps4 with the custom folders, being organized however you'd like. Ps5 took a step back.
@@Miasaint10They valued simplicity more than functionality. Every company is going this direction now.
Gameranx and Jake’s channel are the only 2 gaming channels I take seriously when deciding what games to play. I really appreciate you guys a lot, Jake our game taste is exactly the same and I really enjoy this life hack where a different me is playing games and telling me if I’d like them 😂
Love hearing your take on games. Always end up having similar feelings. Game coulda used just a bit more time in game and development to flush it out a bit more.
I loved it
Its not a game
Its experience
U just plug in headphones
N chill
It is a game though so it has to be critiqued as one. I get what your saying though. I felt like that with Alan Wake 2 at points.
@ModestPavement i feel like these linear games are like in their own categories
Just AA linear games
But i think expectations getting higher cause of quality of these games but price wise these cost less thn AAA or in ubisoft case AAAA games
Touché my friend, the same for me. I really feel this game is mostly judged for what others wanted it to be. Sounds like a lot of people rushed through the game not taking the time to truly experience it 'looking' for something 'to do'. I liked the fact that There was no stupid puzzel are game mechanic distracting me from the journey and the experience unless it is was relavent narative wise.
@florisbackx1744 exactly
Ppl don't understand that not every game needs to be GAME game
For example
Im not into jrpgs n all that
I don't enjoy games where there are dialogues in certain situations thn its just written subtitles
But i just accept them as it is
N avoid
Instead of whining n bitching
Oh lazy devs didn't even complete voice actings
How do you chill when it's all gore and dismemberment and cannibalism and human sacrifice?
Love u Jake. You and Falcon are the best on Gameranx.
Thank you ❤
That gameplay scene with your allies is something I'm glad i got to experience. Is it worth $50, no. They probably could have charged $40 and gotten away with it but it didn't effect me that much because i paid $1 for a free ultimate trial pass to experience this game. Would I recommend the $15/month to play this, all day long. Pay the $15 and experience this gem!
You can never really get that kind of magic from HB1 again. Simply because they weren't really trying to do what they did. It just happened. It was so random and unexpected for that game to be as good as it was. Now they are trying to replicate that and that's just hard. RDR2 did it after RDR... but how many games can really do that.
For the first half of the game I understood a lot of the lukewarm takes. After rolling credits I feel like I'm taking crazy pills because I found it to be one of my favorite experiences since the first game. It's odd to me that the game can set a new standard for graphics, have another awesome audio presentation, have a good story, and the combat be serviceable and still catch so much shit. Ninja Theory should be really proud of an awesome follow up that seems the be exactly what they wanted to make.
Same here. Strange thing is, people like Soma so much, and you could technically call that a walking simulator as well for the little purpose gameplay serves, or you could say that it's a better movie than a game. My hope is that about five years down the line, people will look back on this game and think, "Might not be a masterpiece, but it's an engaging experiment with the medium nonetheless." Better than any Quantic Dream game, that's for sure.
If because it’s only 5hrs. 10hrs and it wouldn’t be the same criticism. People who played the first should’ve known what to expect.
people that hate this game are the same ones that goes crazy over games that requires cutting branches to craft arrows and break chests to earn coins. mindless grinding just for the sake of it.
What a low bar…”new standard for graphics”? Give any studio 7 years and a 5 hour game and anyone can meet those graphics, and with better gameplay, and not actually being a walking simulator…smh, some people just like to take it for the cope
Well said!
I didn't play the first one and have no desire to play this one either. Happy to watch another person describe their experience though. You are more kind than many others in your impression.
The original was amazing, finished it at least 3 times already, one of which recently to go through the experience again before the sequel and was even surprised of how well it held up (even on the graphics side). Finished the sequel today and I don't think I'll ever feel like playing it again. It is a beautiful enviroment, great looking game, but there's just something missing and imo it's in the plot. While in the first game you get caught in from the start - hero's journey to save the loved one, not knowing if she'll manage to do that or not, only to get by the end and understand it's Senua's way of coping with the trauma and tragedy that happened to her, eventually being able to let go, at least partially. It's a very deep experience.
Now in the 2nd story I didn't feel that at all, if anything it wasn't at all clear what her motivation is, helping random people that weren't even developed as much along the way (literally people she just met, one of which even enslaved and sacrificed her own people on a daily basis). I kinda get that it's about overcoming yourself and empathizing with even the worst people to make a real change in the world - at least that's the way I see it - but still something didn't connect, maybe because it jumped too quickly between characters and we never really got a taste for their story to care.
Just wanna say it's nice to see such a nice and positive comment section. Jake you attract the good ones.
I loved the order 1886 too!! I always catch flak
It’s awesome and needs a sequel. Imagine how real it would look on ps5
@@retrogamer64007 I’m with you bro! I’d play that so fast!
Im toward the end and I did enjoy my time with it thus far. Mainly because it looks AMAZING on a super ultra wide hi def monitor with 3D sound. It does a great job sucking me in. But I can definitely tell this game is basically a tech demo that is filled with basic quest fillers. This should have been a launch title to show off the power of the next gen. The fact it took so long to come out it kind of made me wonder why.
In the end it’s definitely worth a play through.
spiderman miles morales 5 hour game R and clanck 5 hour game they did noot say nothing about that trust me if hellblade 2 50 hour game they will still hate on it becuase xbox game
@@lofi1598You cant even compare them man. I didnt even care for Miles Morales, but it had a lot more going for it than Hellblade (Gameplay for one) and as for Ratchet and Clank, I won’t even dignify a response on that.
Even then speaking on Hellblade 2 compared to Hellblade 1, it’s lacking. Youd think with so little gameplay, the narrative would be stronger but its not and now it has side characters that just waste time because they lack any depth. Not saying you can’t enjoy regardless, but dont cope so hard into making straight up making ignant comparisons.
@@r.e.z9428 hellblaade 2 gameplay mix with cinimatic thats how is next gen tech great gameplay great story great game i dont care what any hater says if it was 50 hour game they will hate on it no matter how the great game is because its xbox game that's why XBOX TAX
@@lofi1598 Is english your second language or something? Cause I can’t really get what you’re trying to say.
The game is such a hallway and “gameplay” is too strong a word due to how much of a hallway walking sim it is. Which would be fine is the story wasn’t incoherent spaghetti. Like I said, you can like or love the game, but don’t cope so hard you blame everyone but the devs. The first game did well enough, the only thing about Xbox you could say was that they made NT make a sequel when there was no need to.
@@r.e.z9428 The best graphics of this generation, and I don't care what you say, the game is amazing, and many players say the same thing as me. Those who haven't played the game say negative things about it, I don't care about the opinion of private journalists and their negativity, because their credibility is at rock bottom.
Great to hear your thoughts! i’m still looking forward to playing it for myself, although i’m not sure if I can. I played the original Hellblade on Steamdeck and I doubt it would be capable of handling to sequel. Did you have a chance to try out Hellblade 2 on Steamdeck Jake?
Another good video man. I haven’t played either of these but I agree as someone completely outside of the intended market for this game that it looks less substantial than the first.
Ps have you seen rooftops and alleys? It’s pretty cool
So far, I really like this game. I wonder if I wasn’t playing on large oled tv with a nice set of headphones, if I would have the same positive experience.
Ninja Theory won't make the Call of Duty numbers so I wouldn't be surprised if they are next to go away. If Tango isn't safe, then neither is Ninja Theory.
yep, n i hope this studio already start making plan B
They made a flop time to close em down
Their next project has already been greenlit so they're good for now.
Didn't they spend like $100 million to acquire Ninja Theory though? They're gonna burn the original cost of acquisition, plus the beefed up budget they spent on this game..... I would think it makes more sense to keep the studio open, get them to spend the next 3 years developing an AA level hack n slash, something they've proven they can do well, on a modest budget, so that we can actually get a good game. Shutting down the studio on the tail of a $100 million acquisition, would truly make Microsoft lost.
@@anshuman6923what you're describing here is the sunk cost falacy, this happens when you have invested so much on something that even if that something is impacting you negatively, in your mind , it is a loss to let it go just because of your previous investments, but in reality , is a bad idea to keep it.
Its so refreshing to see someone be positive about this game. Thanks Jake. I was waiting for you to talk about this game.
jake, what makes the combat in this game feel like rinse and repeat but the combat of stellar blade fun, making you excited for each encounter in combat? they both use souls like ish combat right? so im curious
I agree with all of this. Finished this game last night and thought "hmm, that was good, I won't play it again but it was definitely and experience". The sets/graphics/audio were absolutely fantastic. One of the most beautiful games I've ever played. I actually liked the slow pacing of say the climbing at the beginning and the crawling when she's on her back. It felt more "human" and how someone would really move in that situation. There were many times I felt as if I was playing a movie and I don' think I've had that feeling before (maybe parts of RDR2). Unfortunately, there wasn't enough substance to really set this apart from the original. While the combat looked amazing, the actual mechanics of such were odd. I'm not sure if I never got the hang of timing or what, but I found myself just mashing buttons for what I wanted to do (evade, strike etc). I got it right most of the time but there were times I had no idea what I did different if I got hit or something? Also, the puzzles were really easy and again, although they looked great, the substance just wasn't there. Agree though, I liked this game. I wouldn't bash on it as I thought it was a job well done but it's not better than the original unfortuantely.
This game was beautiful and gripping to me
For me a walking simulator is acceptable when you have a great story and writing to show for it.
xD good dev dont listen this bullshit and create game not fcking movie
Especially when it's 5+ years in development... right?
@@djkidii Play some good walking simulators and come back.
Genital Jousting, Stanley's Parable, Little Nightmares 2.
Just as well Hellblade 2 has a good story. But if all you're going to do is listen to reviewers more interested in speed running the game and missing the story then wonder why they didnt get it, then you'd never know either
@@djkidii devs plz don’t listen to this bs not all gamers are children. This take is so moronic it’s not even funny. It’s like saying “why are there jokes in this movie? This is a movie not a stand up!”
I'm not going to criticize anyone for an opinion, certainly not Jake on his own channel. I just want to say that these two games have been important. I know plenty of people don't or won't care but its felt nice to see psychosis represented properly in a video game. They absolutely nailed voice hearing in both games. They nailed not trusting what you see. The first game did it so well that ive recommended it to healthcare professionals and had positive feedback over the years.
Im not trying to say this in some kind of worthy, everyone should play this kind of way. If the games aren't for you fair enough. I've seen some reviews saying they don't like the fact that you aren't stuck in the full on voice hearing but the second game feels like a journey after accepting your voices exist. Something that everyone who hears voices has to come to terms with is nothing will get rid of them.
Again I'm not going to argue someone should play it who doesn't like these kind of games, or try convince anyone they should like it.
Just thought I'd add a slightly different perspective.
jake, what will you do when this channel becomes bigger than the main channel?
From someone who has never played the first game, and just seeing some fight scenes, I can appreciate the level of designed and mechanics used to make that specific scene come alive. BUT I can also see why some gamers that play games regularly are so used to game designs that basically becomes numbing.
Bro why do people even take this angle where “if it’s not for you it’s not for you” not one of those people say that about God of War cause it’s simply a good game albeit with its own issues but this category of game is so niche that I’m convinced the people that love it would’ve loved it regardless the positive reviews I see on this game are from people who almost sound like they’re coping not once do people bring up the lack of combat or gameplay changes or even the fact they took out an attack mechanic in the form of dodge attacks they made it a 1v1 format which completely clashes with the combat of the first game and we got a 5 hour experience where walking and clicking a single button makes up 4 and half out of those 5 hours after 7 years of wait? Jeez even telltale games weren’t this barebones every time I hear people who love this game out I have a hard time figuring out why they don’t just play tech demos or watch real life movies all day 💀
@@Wonderbrut
Because, it’s very niche and was literally designed to be cinematic based…lol
It’s supposed to be a unique experience, not some action packed rpg that can be played for years over and over again…
the order 1886 still holds up to this date
Love your background :-) It feels almost dark academia in a way ^^
I feel like it isn't as well written as it is presented. I wouldn't mind walking around so much if my steps were motivated and grounded in character. After the mid-point or so I felt I was just pulled along towards the end, and many beats didn't feel earned or honest, but plotted and contrived.
PS: A couple of gameplay as well as creative choices felt off as well. Too many invisible walls and the diverging from the organic towards a more technological sound design broke immersion a few times too many for me.
I thought it was a very beautiful game. The story of the giants is pretty interesting
For a guy with a family and young child 6 hours is plenty enough since my free time is limited. I absolutely love how beautiful this game is.
Not his point. He wasn't saying "oh people with children and little free time will be happy with this short game." He was saying the story ends abruptly after what feels like an introduction and some wandering through caves.
@@VramsGamingChannel never said he made that point. That’s a point I’m making that the length of the game suits me as a casuals gamer who has a family.
Single father here, I appreciate the time as well, but this was a glorified walking simulator. I loved the first one. I disliked this one.
Played the first chapter earlier today on my phone. It’s playable via touch controls, which is cool, I suppose. My parry timing suffers a bit. Should be priced 3.99-9.99 at the most. This could be the best phone game ever
I am absolutely with you there....finished it yesterday and it was really good....but the ending. I really got invested like....we know who the enemy is now and how to deal with them and then it just ends.
Also I think they could have made more out of the "woods part"....that just set up things and got nowhere.
When you mentioned “walking simulator” my first thought was Death Stranding which also being a Kojima game had gorgeous visuals and extensive mocap and was STILL waaay longer than HB2… plus it was that studios first game.
I don’t get how 7 years results in 5 hours , truly boggles the mind
and DS has a lot of gameplay inside it, not just only cinematic experience.
DS is heavily based on gameplay systems though. This doesn’t seem to be the case with HB2.
It wasnt 7 they made another game before this. It took 4 years
I haven't played it, but from watching the first one and your Before You Buy I think I'm with you, I don't feel like I missed out too badly.
dont listen to this guyy play it its great game
@lofi1598 just my opinion friend
It could be longer. But for what it is, I loved it. It takes you into the world of senoa, it literally feels like you're a character in a movie.
Jake…. Your review of these games was spot on! It got me to play and beat both titles in the series and I enjoyed them immensely! It was waaaay more than a walking simulator, but I would have enjoyed more combat tasks.
Where we differ was I found HB2 to be even better. It was waaaaay darker, and the psychosis was way more profound. At times I found myself not wanting to even stop and look for the extras…. I just wanted the hell out of there! 😂
But alas…. Got to 100% games this… so I stuck it out and it was terrifying at times.
I did find the Perry in HB2 to be difficult as well. I never did figure out the timing. Would welcome someone explaining it. I’d block when I saw the glimmer on their blade but that never seem to work.
Block, block, block, block, block, block and the focus would eventually charge and from there it was cake to take em down!
So when’s HB3 release? 😂
So I bought the game for 50 bucks. I finished the 1st one and liked it . I'm about half way through this one and I like it so far. Bought it for the graphics and sounds not really for the story. This isn't an uncharted or last of us type of game. It's is a very cinematic game with some of the best videogame technology. I say if you have game pass for sure play it just to experience what modern day technology in gaming can do. If you don't have game pass but you have the money to buy it then I say do it. There is really nothing else like it out there.
Bro just play tech demos for free or watch a movie😭 better yet just go outside on a walk (which is what you’ll be doing 92% of the time anyways) how’s that for realism
@@Wonderbrut lol
That’s cool that you supported the devs, mate. The fact that it’s a day one Gamepass title may hurt the sales….especially since most people won’t buy it at full price. I’ll get it once it comes to PS5 and once it’s on sale.
Haven’t played this yet but definitely will, even with its mixed reception. Very much with Jake in that I’ve loved everything Ninja Theory has done and am happy to be mildly disappointed if it means we get something bigger and better later.
I never finished the first one, I’m keen to smash them both out soon. Let’s hope the studio makes it through all the Xbox drama. Much love Jake ❤
Love you Jake! ❤ The "cinematic" black bars they added on the screen are a bit annoying! I felt like I was watching a movie and occasionally interacting with it.
I did enjoy the first Hellblade for what it was, but I have no interest in playing more of it. I hope they find success, but I will spend my money on «gameplay» games.
I prefer diversity in the types of games that exist rather than every game in the world being similar copycats of each other. Hellblade 2 is great.
Well said
I enjoyed it quite a bit, but it’s far less challenging and more of an interactive movie. I really got stuck in a few places in the last game. This one I blazed through.
I love Hellblade 2. I played it on the series s and I was still blown away by the visual quality and visceral nature of the combat. It really is a technical feat and Xbox's crowning achievement so far this generation. It finally gives people a reason to get a series x or x for the graphics alone. I don't there is a more visually impressive game than Hellblade 2. The game in my opinion is a masterpiece. I played the last game and the puzzles drove me nuts and I dipped out a few hours in. With Hellblade 2 I feel like the philosophy is less is more. You have less puzzles, less combat, and less overall filler I feel like. One critique I had over the first game was how slow the intro was. With this game I feel like you get right into it and are introduced to her first ally in the game early in a captivating way. It was unique the first time they told this story, and the game still remains to be unique and in a class of its own. I can't think of any other game that commits to this level of cinema and that's a good thing. Where at the point where games can be a lot of different things and one thing that's bugged me about the discourse about this game is the overuse of the term walking simulator. This game really exposes a problem some gamers have in just being immersed in a world. Not everything has to be a 75-hour massive rpg with tons of crappy side quests. It's nice having something that commits to its vision but like with the order 1886 and now with this game I feel like it's a hard thing for a lot of gamers to grasp. We should be celebrating what our medium is capable of and I'm excited to finally have a game that actually feels like a true next gen experience. We have had lots of great games these past few years, but nothing is really on the level of this game in terms of giving you that feeling that this experience you're playing definitely was not possible on the previous generation. I just wish more people would take a relaxed approach to games more often and be more mindful to different game genres. You're going to get another massive action rpg this year but I know for a fact we are not going to get anything quite like Hellblade 2 in some time and that alone deserves recognition.
I just love how The Order 1886 was raked over the coals before that game even launched, being accused of being too short with no gameplay and too much focus on graphics and cinematic. Hell, it even had the same widescreen aspect ratio! Yet that game got destroyed in reviews, and this one gets overall good reviews. 🙄🙄🙄
Reviews can't be trusted. This game is a journalists wet dream. The voices in Senua's head literally tell you how to solve every single puzzle if you stand around for too long.
Xbox really badly needs a win right now. Taking a crap on this game would be like beating a dead horse really. It's pity points.
I've only seen ACG try to say it's a good game and ignore all the issues. It should have been extremely obvious the game is a fucking turd when Xbox did the literal least amount of advertising for it out of any major release for them. I remember seeing more ads for that bullshit gears funko game than I did for this.
Games journalism, very ethical
They both seem like glorified interactive movies.
I loved The Order flaws and all. And ive seen so many people compare it to that. But it actually just makes me want to play through The Order again. (Deep down I still hope The Order will get a sequel)
That game was terrible.
@@GForceIntel I know. And I loved it.
I loved the order
I love how these new popular horror games are coming out while the actual good horror games are under the radar
4:47 Heres a fun fact. I replayed some of the combat scenes and the transition animations to next characters attacking you is actually different each time even within the same battle. It seemed scripted at first like its the same scene every time but its not. Some scenes are scripted and are always the same but others play out differently when you replay the same battle. I dont know if its random or if it depends on your position. For example when the Draugrs attacked the village one time when I was fighting the big guy with club before I even killed him the guy with spear charged at me mid fight with the other guy and turned into quicktime event when Senua struggled on the ground holding the spear to not kill her until other villager eventually saved me but this scene did not happen the other times when I replayed the same battle. Or senua finishes off the guy with shield then uses the shield to block spear from the next guy but again this didnt always happen other times. Or using shield to block the fire breath or cover behind the guy from the fire. Sometimes the next guys come from behind slapping you, other times you see hem finishing off your allies first. Sometimes your allies attack them mid battle but they always get instantly killed but this also doesnt happen always. These are just examples but these scenes play out differently even when you replay the same fights.
As a long time Playstation guy I am really rooting for this game. Even if I never get to play it, I love what these guys do and have a lot of respect for their work, and I really want to see Microsoft get some solid wins under their belt and remember how great being loved by their gamers feels like again.
As a company, I have always considered Microsoft to be trash for several decades, but I do not want to see people's investments in the Xbox platform squandered in any way, and I certainly do not want to see a Sony/Nintendo duopoly in this business. Xbox guys, I am really hoping you all come out and support this game. At least they deserve the same kinda love you all showed Starfield.
The game is bombing. It will probably be on PS5 sometime next year
@@mikeh4818The steam numbers show that it not bombing like you said. Go look at it, concurrent players was higher then I thought it would. With that said, it’s definitely not a smash hit.
@@mikeh4818
More like you want it to bomb, its audience ratings are pretty good overall…
@@Nitroscion It has a lower peak CCU count than Redfall, by a good margin too. Ghost of Tsushima is outselling it and its a 4 year old PC port that has been out for over a week. Catastrophic numbers
@@mikeh4818 I just checked and you obviously didn’t. The highest player count this week was 13k and 24hrs it was 8114. Redfall hasn’t got past 50 people in the last week. Ghost of Tsushima is #4 in sales on steam. It seems like it’s a better game than most games.
Agreed, it makes me worried about Ninja Theory.
I replayed 1 every year since it released. I love it. I wont be playing 2 like that. The combat never felt natural. I still dont know the feel/timing of the parry. 1’s combat was very satisfying
Agreed, the combat was off and more limited. The attacks in the first one made sense for me, running and kicking shielded opponents etc. This one I just waited for my slow mo to engage and just hit enemies.
@@JayTheDodo yo same! 🤣 tbh even after beating the game I thought I hadnt figured out the sprint attack. Normally you keep or add attacks in a sequel, not remove them..
@@AV_of_SoCal Yeah, this one seemed to be more style over substance.
A question I always ask myself before buying a game is "Would that be fun to play through and worth the asking price, or would I be better watching a playthrough/cutscenes on youtube?" This is an instance where I will save myself €50.
I loved the first one, I did not like this one. First, it's a glorified walking simulator. Combat literally has 4 moves. By the time you "kill" the first giant, you're 75% of the way through and the next 2 giants are rushed through. I felt absolutley no connection to the guy you save at the ritual or the girl you run into before the 2nd giant. Playing with headphones, the voices were WAY overdone this go around. The story was considerably weaker than the first. In my opinion, this is the poster child for graphics don't make a game - the first one had something this one just didn't quite nail. I think it was the mechanic that tricked you into thinking that if you died too many times, the rot would eventually take you over and you wouldn't be able to progress, but in actuality it NEVER did that. It had you "going" the whole time. Every death in the first one had an unknown impact on your own pysche and the second didn't even attempt to do this at all.
There’s a worrying trend happening of Xbox acquiring studios and then their next game being underwhelming to an extent. Redfall, Starfield, Hellblade… I hope they turn it around
Can’t help but notice that there is an upward trend on those games in terms of quality, of course when you’re starting off with Redfall pretty much any other game will look good by comparison lol
you forgot bleeding edge as well
@@TheFanatic33oh yeah I meant compared to their previous games. They’ve equally had some gems like Pentiment and Hi-Fi Rush! But their big exclusive titles haven’t lived up to their full potential
@@Zonixar lived up to their "full potential" , yes, I'd agree with you on that, but your previous statement, I wouldn't agree with.
"Fine, I'll do it myself" - Beffnos
Just going off the clips shown in this video are the fight scenes locked to that camera angle. It seems repetitive? Doesn’t feel like you have much control on the players movements.
Got the first game for like $2.99. Literally just beat it yesterday for the first time. Thought it was a visually amazing game. Really cool stuff going on. That being said, don’t think it was game that needed a sequel. I might pick up the new one on a deep discount down the line but it’s not a rush pick up for me. Also, dont really do game pass so I don’t see it being played any time soon. Still, looks damn amazing. Good insight Jake.
Yeah, I'm past the point of caring about graphics in games. I just want a game that is FUN and feels FANTASTIC to play. Yes, I get it. It's one of the most amazing high fidelity, highest graphically games ever made. I get it. But at the end of the day, it's not fun to play. And it's made worse by the fact that this game took about 7 years to make for what is essentially a 5 hour game. This isn't sustainable. This is not how games should be made. 7 years for one 5 hour game.
I really want to be excited for this title and support it, but I am also over photorealism. I still highly value high production values and presentation, but I don't need a game to look realistic. I am at the point I need more evolution in gameplay. Hellblade 2 doesn't have "next gen" gameplay that I can tell and that clashes with the visuals. I love narrative heavy games but this just feels like it should have been a limited series on a streaming site.
Ultimate game pass game.
$50 is a bit wild for a 5hr movie...
But 30$ for a 1.5 hour new release movie is ok? I’d rather pay 50$ for this 5hour movie
I've always been one to evaluate a game based on what it is rather than what we expect it to be. I was absolutely blown away by the first one. So far i'm only a couple hours into this one and I'm enjoying my time so far. Senua's character story and experience for the player is so engaging on its own that it keeps me coming back for more. Would more gameplay be nice? Sure it would, but does it ruin what the game is for me? Absolutely not. This game, like the first, is an experience.
Thanks! Loved the first one, wonder how my PC would deal with this one. Fwiw, just starting another run of YMBAB which I discovered on your recommendation! So thanks again😁
I smell another studio going under
i hope not. Even if i'm mixed on this one, i love all of their previous games.
Gameplay always mattered more than story no matter what they say, *gameplay* is the reason we play videogames
Hard disagree. If the story is bad, i´m not gonna carry on no matter how good the gameplay is.
That´s why i love Hellblade because the story is amazing so i mind less about the basic combat.
If gameplay matters more, then why is assassins creed one of the worst series of all time? Its suuper fun to play though!
@@Brandon-bc5um If story matters more why do games like monster hunter sell like hot cakes? This street goes both ways, bub. Assassin's Creed games are fun to play, but the gameplay is overall pretty shallow, and every one of them is the same and follows a tired and worn out formula, that's why they get dunked on. Almost everyone really likes the first AC game they play, after that their opinion sours cause it's the same shit game after game every couple years with zero innovation or even refinement. If anything they seem to be getting worse at making them.
Thank you for the video and your opinion Jake. It seems like this is the general consensus for Hellblade 2 and that is really unfortunate.
I'd argue that watching someone whose skilled at a game play it can be mesmerising and so fun (i suck at Soulsborne but watching good players play it is such an experience, although, i'd love to be good enough to play them myself)