The topic of Norse mythology is gaining traction in the gaming industry, with a string of AAA games dedicating their plot lines to exploring ancient folklore. The most recent entry, God of War: Ragnarok, brought Santa Monica Studios so much success with its release - and the category of mythology-based action RPGs should see an explosion of content soon thanks to the efforts of the field's trailblazers like Assassin's Creed. Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice preceded the foray of the superstar franchises into Norse mythology and laid solid groundwork for the sequel, Hellblade 2, to follow. However, God of War: Ragnarok is a tough act for Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 to follow, as the bar has been raised by several degrees thanks to Ragnarok's performance. Developer Ninja Theory could look to the groundbreaking God of War entry to improve elements of Hellblade 2 to meet up to fans' new standards.
Despite its release late in the year, God of War: Ragnarok swept across the world like an angry storm as it became a hot topic across every social media platform. Within mere hours of its arrival, gameplay reactions were making the rounds, and the quality of graphics and combat mechanics from the onset had gamers on the edges of their seats hooked to their screens. A flurry of near-perfect scores from the most respected critics in the industry followed, and the release generated record-breaking sales for Sony. With the feverish hype, the revolutionary title was rewarded for its phenomenal performance with 10 nominations at The Game Awards 2022, taking home a whopping six awards. God of War: Ragnarok has left big boots for any successors to fill, and Hellblade 2 could borrow more than a few ideas on how to execute a mythological release.
Hellblade's Slow Development Could Be a Necessity
Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice narrated a powerful story of mental illness and psychosis, and Ninja's Theory presented these real-life issues beautifully, earning glistening reviews from fans and critics for its moving plot and compelling gameplay. As is custom with successful titles, a sequel was announced shortly after Hellblade's release, and although the years have rolled by since the confirmation of Senua's tale returning exclusively to the Xbox console, gamers continue to anticipate a new edition. Precious little information on the story contents is available, with Ninja Theory essentially keeping mute on developmental details except for a few trailers.
The trailers mostly revealed details of gameplay mechanics, which aren't straying too far from what gamers came to love in Senua's Sacrifice. The only clues to the story are that Senua still hears voices in her head, and the world set in the medieval period is as dark as ever, with her tribe under siege from supernatural enemies. Hellblade 2 has found itself in a bit of an odd position thanks to the extended developmental period, but many still have faith in Ninja Theory and Microsoft's abilities to produce a blockbuster. After the exploits of God of War: Ragnarok, new entries into mythology need to be near-perfect to measure up, so the additional developing time could be a positive for Hellblade 2.
Ragnarok Should Be Hellblade 2's Benchmark
Ragnarok followed what was widely considered Santa Monica's best project, God of War, in 2018. With the reboot already acclaimed by some as one of the best video games ever created, the developer crafted a work of art that superseded any expectations, and in the eyes of many, surpassed the lofty standards of the 2018 revival. Ragnarok started on a slow footing, with the devs preferring a gradual story buildup to fully immerse gamers into the world of ancient Scandinavia and its unique spin on the lore of Norse gods.
The slow start was worth the wait, however, as Kratos continued his arc of character reformation, changing from a bloodthirsty villain to a more mature presence. Several other characters benefited from Santa Monica's approach, creating a well-paced storyline for players to enjoy. Hellblade 2 could explore a similar dynamic, building the tale of Senua and her clan from the ground up, carefully weaving relationships through plot advancements.
Open-world games can often feel very distracting due to the number of quests for gamers to try their hands at. Santa Monica instead broke the trend by keeping its gameplay focused, and the decision impacted God of War: Ragnarok's success in a big way. Upon completion of the main objectives, players were rewarded with areas to explore side quests, keeping the experience linear and even-keeled. Hellblade 2 can avoid the double-edged sword of open-world gameplay by employing Ragnarok's approach, directing players' focus to tasks that are essential to story progression instead of supporting endless roaming on the map.
God of War: Ragnarok's combat system was perhaps its most distinct feature. From simple objects like trees to his Leviathan Axe, Kratos' swinging leveled all who stood before him like all other God of War titles, and the effortless combination of combat elements would serve Hellblade 2 well. The gameplay trailer for Hellblade 2 depicted a fiery conflict with a giant creature, and the visual brilliance on display gives many Ninja Theory fans hope for what is to come in the next edition of the franchise.
Despite no official release date available at the moment, expectations remain high for the next edition of Senua's story. Senua may have given up on her quest to bring her lover back from the dead, but Hellblade 2 could be a revenge-charged story, presenting an exciting prospect for players. Ninja Theory's unique approach to handling mental health challenges in the Medieval Era is intriguing to say the least, and the partnership with Microsoft should bring good things to a franchise with a well-beloved first entry.
Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 is in development for PC and Xbox Series X/S.