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This year's Xbox Developer Direct delivered big - with huge deep dives for Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, Avowed and Ara: History Untold. However, only one of the show's titles feels like it's truly within touching distance, and that's Ninja Theory's Hellblade 2 - bound for Xbox on May 21st.
In truth, we feel that the upcoming Hellblade sequel went under the radar a little bit during the showcase, so we want to talk about why we're so excited for it. We're only four months away from launch, folks!
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From minute one, Hellblade 2 has looked like a proper showpiece for Xbox Series X and S - so it's fitting that the game was revealed alongside Microsoft's new-gen consoles. Sure, 2019's reveal trailer was 'in-engine', but we'd argue that the team has lived up to this teaser in its more recent gameplay showcases. Seriously, the game really does look this good!
Moving a little further down the PR pipeline - Hellblade 2 also showed up in a big way at The Game Awards two years later, in 2021. Now, we'll admit that at the time we thought the game would be closer to launch than it's ended up being, but 2021's huge gameplay blowout was our first taste at what this game is going to deliver on Xbox. As Ninja Theory calls it: "a brutal journey of cinematic immersion".
Ever since 2021's gameplay debut we've bought into the team's vision, even if we've been a little impatient for the game's arrival at times. Waiting almost five years to play Hellblade 2 hasn't been easy after the excellent Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice, but we're almost there now - we can almost taste the cold Icelandic air of Senua's next saga.
Xbox hasn't always managed to deliver on games that feel truly 'AAA' and 'cinematic' in recent times, but Hellblade 2 looks like it's about to buck that trend. After this year's Developer Direct finally dropped the release date, we've only gotten more excited to try this game out, and it's very nearly time to experience it on Xbox Game Pass this May.
Are you excited that Hellblade 2 is right around the corner? Tell us your thoughts down below.
How Excited Are You For Hellblade 2? (162 votes)
- I can't wait for it! Bring it on!
- It should be good, looking forward to it
- I'll probably like it, but not "hyped" yet
- I don't think it'll get my interest to be honest
- I actually think it looks bad so far!
Comments 12
The Xbox really needs that masterpiece game. Not sure if this is it but I hope it is.
Not a fan of cinematic games to be honest, that's why a have an Xbox and not a Playstation. And I haven't even played the first one. That being said, I liked Enslaved: Odyssey to the West, so I'll be willing to give both games a try. Not a priority though.
If its anything like the 1st game it's going to be amazing I can't wait for this
This looked like a death metal music video - or just a mickey take of the genre 🤣🤣
Have to admit the game does look damn good though. Can't wait to give it a try, although will have to try getting back into the first again so I know what the hell is going on with the second one.
@Lup sort of interested in what you mean by cinematic games and why it stops you buying a PS? I googled best cinematic games of 2023 and the results on gamerant are:
Avatar, Assassins Creed, Starfield, FF16, Europa, Wo Long, Zelda:TotK. I don't really understand what cinematic gaming means? Just high quality cuts scenes? Lots of cut scenes?
@Lup well hellblade is nothing like enslaved ,the first game was a lot of walking with the occasional puzzle and combat scene ,the sequel graphically looks fantastic, and as its only the length of some demos at 4hrs ,why not give it a go.
Should have got them on an DMC action game and not Hellblade 2, that will no nothing for Xbox really.
As a MH and CD provider at a major hospital it was such a surreal moment to play from her point of view, it will be pretty fascinating to experience this again with a "new" set of internal and external stimulus affecting her
I'm a big fan of NT but Hellblade was the only game of theirs I didn't like. I remember it was really slow not even taking into account you could not run in the game, plus a small amount of combat and pretentious story about mental health.
Despite my negative first paragraph I want this to be successful so they can do something else more fast paced, would definitely take a DmC sequel or a spiritual successor.
Said it before. This might be my GOTY. The first game was great although combat got stale. During the dev they said they have improved combat so I dont think I will have anything to complain about this time around. Senua is such a top tier character too. Can't wait to get lost in her crazy world.
It’s an 8 hour game!!! People moaned that Spiderman 2 was a 25 hour game!!! I guess Playstation are held to a higher standard than Xbox as Playstation make the best games!!
Another game that's all about looks and not enough action. ***** trend. What happened to DMC type games? I swear we just keep going backwards in terms of action. ***** "immersion."
@Romans12
I don't disagree with your comment. But to me it is more about the number of games I want to play and where can I play them. To me XB is building a large diversity of games. They have a very diverse set of game studios now. And a lot of these studio make great quality games. They may not all be masterpieces but they provide a lot of diversity in gaming experiences.
To me, Sony has become a bit of a one trick pony. Sony makes the ultimate action-adventure games. Also, Sony gets a large portion of Japanese releases. Nintendo has some diversity but unfortunately they haven't been as good at releasing powerful gaming hardware.
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