GAME REVIEW: (NO SPOILERS)

How does one begin to describe Hellblade to someone who hasn't played it before? Firstly, calling it just a game somehow doesn't do it justice. Its an interactive experience, where the player is taken on a journey through Senua's mind; a mind that has gone through a lot of suffering and pain; a mind which is forced to constantly question the nature of reality... what is real and what is just in your mind? At the end of the journey you are still left yearning for more answers. The game draws inspiration from Norse Mythology and the overall setting for the most part is peaceful yet dark mirroring the conflict that constantly rages within Senua's distant mind. The game takes you on journey as you see Senua fight her inner demons.

Mechanically the game is very simple and straightforward. The game only has a limited number of mobs with very straightforward move sets. The combat is simplistic, using a parry / block, light / heavy attack and thrust. However, when put in context with the rest of the game, the simplistic combat takes a back seat as the sensory overload from the visuals, sound direction and narrative takes the front foot. The passion, love and dedication poured into the game is very evident as you play through your experience.

PERFORMANCE REVIEW:

I have included my specifications below for easy reference. The game ran smoothly (60 fps - limited by a 1080p monitor) and I did not encounter any crashes in the 7 hours of playtime it took me to finish the game.

CPU : i7 - 8700
RAM : 32 GB
GPU : NVIDIA GTX 1060 6GB

FINAL THOUGHTS:

Definitely a must play for those who are passionate about video games and are yearning for a unique gaming experience to escape the micro-transaction hell that plagues the industry. A simple game that sells you whats on the tin. A good gaming experience. Ninja Theory have clearly delivered a great video game to the point were Hellblade : Senua's Sacrifice can be likened to a piece of art.