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Ninja Theory says the game is presented in anamorphic 2.39:1 on displays with an aspect ratio of less than 21:9. There goes any interest for the game I had out the window.
https://x.com/NinjaTheory/status/1786088681159250363
https://nitter.poast.org/NinjaTheory/status/1786088681159250363
Apparently Microsoft imputes gamepass revenue share by the hours the game is played. Given that this is a relatively short game I wonder if it would be considered a success or evaluated by a different metricDespite our issues with the game, it’s worrying to think what might happen to Ninja Theory in the future, given Microsoft’s culling of developers that make anything other than hyper successful triple-A games.
Yes approximately same duration, slightly more. Immersion is better in the new game. Maybe you can trial gamepass & unsubscribe later, if you like the game ?The first game was great but very short at 6-7 hours. Appears its the same for this sequel but for $50??
Having tested Hellblade 2 on the Steam Deck OLED, I recommend sticking to playing this title on a gaming PC for now. Despite being the best handheld gaming PC, the Steam Deck struggles to handle Senua’s latest adventure, and the compromises needed to get the game running at 30fps aren’t worth making.
Even with AMD FSR enabled, the image quality of Hellblade 2 on Steam Deck is poor. This is especially noticeable given that I’ve moved between the Steam Deck and PC versions frequently.
At one point early in the game, you’re following what is effectively the outline of a human figure in the distance, and the outline is unclear on Steam Deck. While the game is very linear in its approach, it’s still easy to get lost if these little details that Hellblade 2 relies on can’t be identified.
https://www.pcgamesn.com/steam-deck/hellblade-2
The game runs at 30 FPS with a 21:9 aspect ratio on console. They had to do that for the same reason The Order: 1886 did: They couldn't hit their performance target at a full frame resolution. The excuse that it's "cinematic" is pure bullshit.If Hellblade 2 achieves only one thing it is to act as proof that there is absolutely no need for a new generation of consoles, despite rumours of Xbox planning to start one as early as 2026. It also proves that modern games don’t need hundreds of people to make amazing looking graphics, since it was made by a team of just 80. Hellblade 2 is probably the best-looking video game to ever appear on a console and yet it’s still almost the only first party title on the Xbox Series X/S that isn’t also on Xbox One – hinting at how much more the hardware still has to give.
https://metro.co.uk/2024/05/21/senuas-saga-hellblade-2-review-best-console-graphics-ever-20874219/
Microsoft cuts 3 studios from its portfolio of 40 developers (each with their own slate of studios) and all of a sudden the press is call for a forecast of cats & dogs falling from the sky at Microsoft. Microsoft isn't "culling" their developers, they're simply trimming the fat as everyone else in the industry now needs to do after their spending spree during COVID.Despite our issues with the game, it’s worrying to think what might happen to Ninja Theory in the future, given Microsoft’s culling of developers that make anything other than hyper successful triple-A games. But what Ninja Theory has done with such a small team should be celebrated and used as a template for the future, at least terms of the visuals and production.
Whether on console or PC, I encourage every Hellblade II player to wear headphones in order to fully enjoy the binaural audio.
That was my impression and maybe it is more common that I thought, but not with this level of rendering, the seemless cutscene to play is quite something.There’s no additional rendering, dip in quality, or janky animations when you transition from cutscene to gameplay. I could not tell which I was in,
And it sound like a complete misunderstanding on how you feel a gamepass game library, imagine only using giant AAA title to do so....Microsoft cuts 3 studios from its portfolio of 40 developers (each with their own slate of studios) and all of a sudden the press is call for a forecast of cats & dogs falling from the sky at Microsoft. Microsoft isn't "culling" their developers, they're simply trimming the fat as everyone else in the industry now needs to do after their spending spree during COVID.
Same.even the trailers for the game had some great positional discreet audio coming from the right/left channels...more developers should work on the audio aspect of their games...I never play games with headphones, always at least 5.1 audio
This is what I wanted to hear, though I almost feel like a title of this sort would be fine without them entirely.The puzzle side of things has been overhauled in a lot bigger way. The weakest moments in the first Hellblade were when you were forced into environmental puzzles which simply didn’t feel good to engage with. They often required you to stand in a very specific spot and see some minor detail of the background, which felt pointless. There are still some environmental puzzles in Senua’s Saga, but they’re better incorporated and feel a lot more fair. They’re also mixed with new areas that require you to manipulate the environment in fascinating ways. These areas progressively get more challenging as the game goes on, and I found them a lot more interesting than any of the puzzles in the previous game.
https://www.heypoorplayer.com/2024/05/21/senuas-saga-hellblade-ii-review-xbox-series-x/
Not sure about the conclusion in this article, the world seem to be quite empty of life and action limited for a reason, while running at 30 fps already.If Hellblade 2 achieves only one thing it is to act as proof that there is absolutely no need for a new generation of consoles, despite rumours of Xbox planning to start one as early as 2026. It also proves that modern games don’t need hundreds of people to make amazing looking graphics, since it was made by a team of just 80. Hellblade 2 is probably the best-looking video game to ever appear on a console and yet it’s still almost the only first party title on the Xbox Series X/S that isn’t also on Xbox One – hinting at how much more the hardware still has to give.
.....
And yet, as astounding as the graphics are the game never really finds anything interesting to do with them and a large percentage of the game is just slowly walking forward while listening to the Furies and/or your various companions. It’s not quite a walking simulator but it’s not far off.
Despite our issues with the game, it’s worrying to think what might happen to Ninja Theory in the future, given Microsoft’s culling of developers that make anything other than hyper successful triple-A games. But what Ninja Theory has done with such a small team should be celebrated and used as a template for the future, at least terms of the visuals and production.
https://metro.co.uk/2024/05/21/senuas-saga-hellblade-2-review-best-console-graphics-ever-20874219/
Imagine that level of graphic fidelity in a vast expended fully lived in and action rich the Witcher 4, going into cities, to taken boats, to hundreds of people riding horses on the screens...
Exactly the less you render the better it can be (and that what more would rise staff size I would imagine, coding shaders to make a few things look really good take few really good people, building world, complicated interaction, asset list, take a lot of them).I think that's the reason the graphics are so photorealistic...because it's a very controlled linear environment...this is almost like one of those tech demos or 3DMark benchmarks except in a live game...it's not possible to have that level of fidelity in a huge open world game
This is what I wanted to hear, though I almost feel like a title of this sort would be fine without them entirely.
Judging from the reviews, those who enjoyed the first game will probably find plenty to love about Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2.
All accurate, and depict how I feel about the first one!a masterful example of an immersive gameplay experience
level of immersion is something I’ve never experienced in any other video game.
Someone on Steam figured out how to get rid of the letterboxing on 16:9 displays.