| Jaicee said: I just wanted to take a moment to recommend Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice this morning. I've just completed it and found it to be an exceptional game! I went in expecting a standard-issue Dynasty Warriors type hack n' slash game with a generic revenge plot, but instead found myself playing what was primarily an atmospheric exploration game about navigating psychosis. Hellblade treats the mental illness it addresses with a surprising amount of sensitivity and seriousness, with the game play mainly revolving around deciphering what's real and what isn't. Honestly, the combat and puzzle elements are secondary and frankly feel shoe-horned in to me just to make the experience feel more traditionally "gamey" than it's really meant to. For my part, I think this would've been an even better game without those elements. It's still really powerful though! The world needs more highly creative, independently-developed games with strong and poignant stories to get these kinds of budgets, to which end I really hope this game gets rewarded with success. Just thought I'd give it my formal recommendation. |
Yup. And indeed that is how it looked to me from the Jim Sterling review.
To experience a linear story, I would watch a movie. That is why I am likely never "playing" this. To have a game tell me a story, I will play Bloodborne or Persona 5. I frankly do not understand what do people find in these hyper-linear, barely-game experiences.
