When the original Hellblade unsheathed, it cut me deeper than expected, due its sharp audiovisual presentation and on point exploration of mental illness. Hellblade II then arrived on Xboxes everywhere in mid-2024 with a darker, more immersive, and more mechanically robust journey. It’s now finally landed on my PS5 Pro today with even more polish and more than a few tricks up its fur-lined sleeve.
Before we begin, a recap is required. This part deux continues the story of Senua, once again plunging us into a grim and unflinching world shaped by her psychosis and the violent realities of the Viking era. The narrative is deeply personal, weaving trauma, loss, and perseverance into an unrelenting tapestry.
This time, however, the scope feels broader. While the opening salvo kept Senua largely isolated, this sequel allows her to interact with a wider cast. Fortunately, I found these interactions do not dilute the intimacy of her journey. Instead, they enrich it, providing moments of tension, mistrust, and fleeting camaraderie.
Cinematic presentation still remains one of the strongest aspects of the game. Ninja Theory employs a dynamic camera system that seamlessly shifts between gameplay and cutscenes, ensuring there is no jarring break in immersion. Combined with the binaural audio design, every whispered voice and guttural scream feels as though it is pressing directly against your eardrums. In short: it’s a pretty unique third-person slashfest that’s sharper than your average.
Mechanics Sharpened
The whetstone has been applied to key areas of Hellblade II‘s gameplay. The OG’s combat, rightly dragged for being mechanically thin, now features more variety and depth (though it’s still no God of War Ragnarok).
Senua can chain light and heavy strikes into fluid combos, and timing blocks precisely opens up devastating counter opportunities. Enemies are more varied, with distinct attack patterns that encourage adaptability rather than repetition. Positioning matters too. The smaller arenas demand that you read enemy movement and use Senua’s evasive roll intelligently to avoid being cornered.
Environmental interaction is another area that has seen improvement. Puzzles feel more integrated into the world, relying less on spotting specific symbols and more on manipulating the environment in creative ways. This keeps the pacing balanced between intense combat, exploration, and quieter investigative moments.
Lastly, the moments where you solve things with two feet and a heartbeat (read: traversal) also feels richer. Senua can clamber over uneven rock faces, squeeze through narrow crevices, and balance precariously across beams, all without breaking the cinematic flow. So yeah, everything is certainly improved over the OG, but that was paper thin in all departments to begin with; set your expectations to “status quo achieved” rather than “makes interesting, huge steps forward.”
How Enhanced Exactly?
I’m happy to report that the “Enhanced” in Hellblade II: Enhanced for PS5 Pro is not just a marketing flourish. On the upgraded hardware, the game takes full advantage of the console’s increased GPU and CPU capabilities. Resolution and texture detail receive a noticeable boost, allowing environments to display with exceptional clarity. Iceland’s rugged landscapes, from black sand beaches to snow-capped peaks, are rendered with lifelike fidelity, while character models exhibit intricate facial animations and skin textures that are remarkably realistic. This level of detail enhances immersion, making each scene feel more tangible and emotionally resonant.
Beyond visuals, the PS5 Pro upgrades bring a smoother, more stable performance. Frame rates are more consistent, reducing motion stutter during intense combat or cinematic moments. Ray tracing technology further improves lighting and shadow accuracy, enriching the game’s moody atmosphere. Coupled with near-instant loading times thanks to the SSD, the Enhanced version ensures a seamless, uninterrupted flow between gameplay and story beats. These refinements make the PS5 Pro edition not only the best-looking version of Hellblade II, but also the most technically polished, delivering a more fluid and engaging experience from start to finish.
Visuals Worthy of the Gods
Hellblade II is now one of the most visually impressive games on the market (Naughty Dog levels of gorgeous, and I don’t hand that one out often). Dynamic weather is the biggest head-turner here, with sudden snow squalls and roaring winds not just changing the scenery but impacting visibility and atmosphere in a tangible way.
Facial animation is astonishing, too. Senua’s expressions convey complex emotion in a way few games achieve. Pain, fear, determination, and fleeting moments of peace are communicated with subtle, almost imperceptible muscle movements that speak volumes without dialogue. Lighting also impresses when fires crackle with warm, believable glow, shadows stretch and waver with unsettling intent, and the interplay between natural and artificial light feels entirely authentic.
Likewise, the sound design continues to be a defining element of this franchise. Played with headphones, the binaural audio surrounds you with voices that taunt, guide, and confuse. Combat strikes land with visceral impact, while the environmental soundscape is rich with subtle detail: distant waves breaking against jagged cliffs, the creak of wooden beams in an abandoned settlement, the muffled crunch of boots in snow.
A Journey Worth Taking
Hellblade II is not a game to be rushed. Its pacing is deliberate, its tone often suffocating. But for any saint-like punter willing to immerse themselves, it is an experience that will reward your patience in equal measure. The improved mechanics, expanded narrative, and technical mastery all combine to create something undeniable out of the ordinary.
It is not simply a sequel, but a refinement and deepening of everything the bold original set out to achieve. It would be a mistake to leave Hellblade II ignored in the scabbard. I say draw and be drawn in.
This review was made possible by a no strings attached code provided by the publisher.
