Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice Critique - Fear Unmasked

[@datguyuno98]

I was really late to it but I just wanted to say your Alan Wake 2 video is probably the best critique of a work ever made and has legitimately reframed how I think about video essays as a genre of KZbin videos, becoming the gold standard of what I think of when the idea of "best video essay ever" get floated around. A sentiment that was hammered home the moment "Still" by Jayden Wark was introduced

[@MontyZander]

Thank you!

[@Xehanort10]

I can't wait for the AW2 Lore Dump.

[@kyddkreature9801]

R.i.p. to the glorious haggis. This creature will never be forgotten, and damn you Margaret Thatcher!!

[@HelloThere43229]

“…the journey they took her on is so intimate, so loving in its cruelty, and beautiful in it’s madness” What a line

[@richardsamuels6023]

I played this whole game in one go while I was in a holding platoon. All the guys there sat around and watched me play on the hardest difficulty. Thx to that I was in a constant state of locked in and didn’t die once. I never got a chance to realize the prema death was fake.

[@glizzygoat]

LETS GO! btw i love the little countdowns before the start.

[@breaking180podcast]

Dude, this is wild. I discovered your channel back in the day because I had just achieved 100% in this experience…lo and behold I found your original critique!

[@Lilbee730]

I really needed this today Monty, I've had a bit of a rough emotional day and getting to relive my experience of this game through you, this piece of art that I treasure so deeply and carry with me, was exactly what the doctor ordered. Thank you, as always, you're just wonderful and I hope you're doing well 💕 xo

[@Lilbee730]

"You don't have to fight anymore." I wish you'd referenced that line, or put it in the edit.. That's my only complaint :3

[@JarethS]

The original Senua video was actually where I stumbled into your channel in the first place, it's neat to see how much your style and storytelling have grown since then. While I'll always be biased against Ninja Theory over the DMC fiasco, even I can't help but admit that this game and it's message are beautiful in their own ways. I can't wait to hear you dig into the sequel!

[@rayumbo]

Oh Monty, my pookie, my love. How I’ve missed your voice telling me the ins and outs of games. But fr though excited about this one!!!

[@Xehanort10]

20:18 One of the worst portrayals of autism was Shane Black's Predator film where the Yautja wanted a boy's autism.

[@theroofcat]

The ending genuinely made me cry, the mention and the journey ending in acceptance, holy shit you make it a rollercoaster and I haven't even played it

[@MrWmHobbs]

I always enjoy your critiques. I love this revisit as well. I don’t have the means I once did to reach for my my escapism of games anymore… and it’s a shame …I would pull them apart and chew the marrow after the credits roll. I’ve always found the thoughts and emotions they give me too grand for words, especially while trying to explain how and why a piece of art like this resonates with me. I appreciate you being able to put wind behind the words like I never could while explaining my love for the medium (to myself and others). Please never stop. You continue to get better with every video

[@limbobilbo8743]

If I had a dollar for every scottish gaming video essayist whos used still wakes the deep as an example of good scottish voice representation i would have 2 dollars.

[@MontyZander]

If you want a laugh, watch Limmy react to it!

[@louisvictor3473]

They not using viking as a term makes it more linguistically and historically accurate. Back then, viking refers to Scandinavians seafarers specifically (often their pirates), but when talking about them as a collection of peoples, they were refered to as Northman, or Danes (because that was the invaders' tribe's name). It would be a tad anachronistic to have her talk about their culture and lands and their people as simply viking as lay people do today.

[@MontyZander]

Agreed!

[@thelvadam2884]

Holy damn ! that Whitelight Joke killed me, i never saw that one coming but it's so real xD

[@breaking180podcast]

I gotta drop a second comment now that I'm at the end of your remaster. Your content is so rich, so detailed, that of course it would be incredible to see you cover just about anything. Seriously dude, this type of video essay almost feels like an antidote to the overbearing (and often artificially inflated) grifter content piggy-backing on the new hate trend of the week. But, that being said, I think there are a couple of series you might want to check out in between whatever incredible deep-dives you're already cooking. -- The Mafia trilogy (soon to be quadrilogy with 'The Old Country'). -- A Plague Tale [Innocence & Requiem].

[@dincanpierson]

I still fall asleep to Whitelight, but I never "allow myself" to fall asleep the first time I watch your videos, I don't want to miss a single second of them. I never played Hellblade, never even watched a trailer, and learning about it from your critique makes me want to play it myself even more! (And, it's selfishly so satisfying to be one of the last names in the Patrons list)

[@ryanmckm7368]

Lol straight up I was scrolling through your videos last night and when I saw this I thought "I gotta watch that again"... Thank you for the mind read sir!

[@omniarch8078]

So is Margret thatcher like a the universal constant for hate because we’re not a fan of her across the pond either

[@tamagothchic]

So many people ignored this game, it's still my favorite example of a thoughtful, inspiring AA game and it's unfortunately difficult to find a copy of it or it's sequel now. Can't wait for the follow up video!

[@schoolgamer501]

I’m starting to think he may not like the sequel

[@RevenantPoet]

Oh man, it was great coming back to this one!!! I loved your first video on this, and I loved this version as well :D

[@Doccymad]

This might be the first of your videos I've seen so close to release. Been binging your videos and Loredump for a couple of weeks now. Just wanted to say you do great work!

[@learnerofknives]

I want an entire multi-hour critique in that Scottish drawl that happens at 14:00

[@RaptieFeathers]

The tech they used for the performance capture absolutely revolutionized all media today. Watching the old dev blogs and seeing the tech that would later go on to be used everywhere is such a mindtrip.

[@RobinSpellbinder04]

Excited to watch another Monty Zander banger!

[@ianmurphy7460]

Hellblade came at the perfect time in my life. It humanized a character with a serious mental illness and helped me better understand my own symptoms. Psychosis is weird and scary, but Hellblade made me feel understood. Many games that tackle mental health are doing so on a level that is much less severe than what I face, and while that's not to say those games aren't important, they absolutely are, they just can't speak to me in the same way Hellblade does. It's a special game I hold dear to my heart because it was able to make the most difficult moments of my life a little bit easier. AND THATS ALL TO SAY FᴜCK HELLBLADE 2 THE DISAPPOINTMENT LITERALLY CRUSHED MY BODY LIKE A SODA CAN AND I WILL NEVER RECOVER. Anyway, my favorite moment of the game happened well after the credits have rolled. It's when I went on the internet to look up how many lives you get before the permadeath kicks in, and learned it was never a mechanic in the first place. Surprise! This was huge for me, but the moment didn't seem to hit for a lot of people. The general response I've seen in reviews, including this one, is that the permadeath scare was a cute ploy to make players paranoid without the risk of frustration, but I saw this moment as saying so much more than it's given credit for. I believed, both for myself and Senua, that the rot would spread throughout my entire body and eventually reach my head. Past some unknown threshold, the rot would reach my brain and I would cease to function. But it won't. It just won't. You'll keep living as long as you choose to. It's a message that leverages the interactivity of video games as a strength, and I hope that players can connect to it on a deeper level than as an artificial way to elicit emotion. Side note: In the video, it's mentioned how Senua's hyper-awareness and other abilities plays into harmful stereotypes about people with mental illness having superpowers. I would like to give Hellblade somewhat of a pass for this, since my version of psychosis can occasionally be useful. Subconsciously searching for hidden patterns in the world does give me more awareness than most, and I sometimes receive helpful advice from nonreal people. Hellblade does present a heavily exaggerated version of this effect, but at least it's rooted in reality and not romanticized as a double-edged sword.

[@MightyShakaZulu]

Wake up babe! New Monty video just dropped! I still have yet to play this game, though I doubt I ever will. Nonetheless I still enjoyed the original essay. Time to watch the remaster 😝

[@jakebailey5834]

I loved your Original Critique of this Game!

[@creecher1118]

Okay, that's crazy. I JUST rewatched the original, now I get to watch the new one! You're spoiling me, Monty! While you're at it, if you want to cover the sequel...👀

[@PenelopeNaomi]

YO I'VE JUST BEEN BINGING TOUR CONTENT.

[@DrDoggoat]

Cheers Monty! Hope you can make Sonic: Beyond the Hedgehog which examines all the projects made by creators after. and the insider trading.

[@dhruvsingh2882]

Idk if I'm the only one who does this but when you upload a video, I try to play and finish the game you're reviewing before watching the video. Its fun to compare my thoughts to yours

[@trevorturkaly3980]

always appreciate ur vids

[@jonathandear4914]

i remember when i first played senua's sacrifice, it was just before the release of the second game, as it was on gamepass for free i figured i'd give it a try, found my self incredibly immersed and within senua's head, like you said in the review. i also remember looking on YT the opening of the 2nd game, only to notice something was....off, upon giving it extra thought, it was the way tahe game starts, and is framed. cinematic black bars and an opening recap narrated created a strong sense of distance, as if disconnecting the player from senua's headspace, which is a very big shame, as that was the best part of the 1st game.

[@marioj6878]

love your videos. keep it up!

[@fish_bacon]

Beautiful. 10/10

[@lenaburch6566]

Super timely video since I just got a tattoo of Senua’s mirror lol. great work as always, very interested in your thoughts on the sequel!

[@jakebailey5834]

Loved this video.

[@astridgallagher6941]

new monty video :)

[@giampaolomannucci8281]

Sometimes a sequel's purpose is to help you appreciate the original better

[@alexwatts1064]

Senua's father's VA also plays Petrus in Greedfall, another roll he slays. Hope we get to hear him in GF2

[@matthewmcshane399]

Both hellblade games are amazing!!

[@MontyZander]

Sorry in advance Matthew, there's a good chance you won't vibe with my video on the sequel!

[@interestingusername306]

I love them both dearly for very different reasons. Senuas Sacrifice is incredible, touching, draining and so so creatively rich; Senuas Saga is absolutely gorgeous dumb viking horror action with a bit of The Descent as a side dish that, while extremely entertaining, infuriates me in how much more it could have been and how the mere act of play informs you on the corporate meddling behind the scenes, pushing what could have been another unique journey with a lot to say to become barely more than a tech demo for the publisher's hardware.

[@AmandaSmith-fz6ji]

NEW MONTY VID YAYY

[@i_fuze_hostages6]

This is my favorite game of all time and so far my favorite franchise ever

[@Xehanort10]

1:55 Yeah Hellblade 2 didn't have much to it beyond "Senua fights generic Viking raiders."

[@liamcoakley1822]

OH! NEW MONTY ZANDER TODAY?? You spoil me Monty, you spoil me!

[@RH1812]

I’m really interested to hear what you say about the sequel. Can’t wait

[@Sam_but_not_really]

another one of my favorite games. Thanks!

[@silverhumsedits2658]

Yo Monty, love u bro

[@MaRaMa-ARTZ]

Those voices were SO good sometimes when they got real breathy I could almost feel their warm breath in my head which would make me recoil and start telling them to stop and knock it off out loud right along with Senua. And I DEFINITIVELY argued and cursed back at her dad a lot! But also... with that growl... yes, talk to me more even if you're just talking shit. I thought it was an effect added to the dude but no, his voice is REALLY that coarse and rumbly! 😆 I've tried replaying the game without headphones, either cuz it's just casual or showing someone, but it always feels wrong and I always end up putting them on. The only other game I've felt the same way is Alan Wake 2 because of the sound design being so damn good. (and I'm a lore hunter)

[@ayonixanimations]

I'm pretty sure the original version of this video was how I found your cannel so this is like, hitting me.

[@ayonixanimations]

Oh my god the agony of that typo- I was running on zero sleep x-x

[@Zee-bo1jb]

Oh hell yes! Lets go!!!

[@mrfreddorenton]

As someone who hasn't studied Scots, Gaelic, Picts or Druids enough, I HAVE to hear you slipping in more references to Hadrian being a bad engineer

[@nekiart]

Incredible timing, I just finished this game couple of hours ago! 😂

[@DiamondBlade11]

I like this game a lot. It's an experience like no other - *especially* with headphones on - and was the first game I ever played with headphones. The story, atmosphere, and environment are all gripping. The puzzles are fun, and the set pieces are heart pumping. BUT... unfortunately, the combat being incredibly bare bones, while at the same time remaining so stale throughout the entire thing, never getting you any new combos, upgrades, or even meaningfully different enemies, holds the game back from being truly great. I have not played the second, as I don't have an xbox, and can't play on PC due to a physical disability.

[@elilass8410]

This game means the world to me. The sequel enraged me.

[@sambbarfuss6689]

Fun fact I did do the blindness challenge with my eyes closed (unless I got stuck on a wall then I would squint to see how to unstick myself lol)

[@joringedamke5597]

@MontyZander I think you'll enjoy Miracle of Sound's music. Please look him up.

[@mad8598]

Are you considering doing a Hellblade 2 video please?

[@patrikkarlsson9463]

Loved this game, but at this point I just hope that the lacklustre sequel didn't completely kill the franchise. The game wasn't bad, and graphically it was incredible, but it was definitely a step back in terms of impactful storytelling, which was what made the first game so good. If the first game had been like that, the franchise would have died right there and the game would been forgotten quickly. Kinda like a viking version of that x-box rome-themed third person action game that offered very little beyond being a showcase for the graphical capabilities of microsofts new machine

[@elilass8410]

Unfortunately the original dev team seem to have almost all left the studio. It's just a Microsoft propped zombie studio now

[@Echo_heat]

I know you’ve covered it on lore dump but it would be cool to see your take on a video essay about red dead redemption 2!

[@Echo_heat]

And maybe even god of war! But thanks for your amazing videos!

[@voyagerofdoom]

Good timing. Just wrapped the second game and man it just does not compare to the first.

[@marioj6878]

you need to a full review of spec ops the line next.

[@koketsok1513]

for some strange reason that repeatedly escapes me, whenever I come here I expect a American accented voice over,and I have Idea why despite watching alot of this channels essays probably the channel logo throwing me off

[@virtualmaster2083]

I get this strange sense Monty isn't too fond of Senua's Saga, could be looking too deep into it tho

[@neofromthewarnerbrothersic145]

I like your idea of just reading a chunk of patreon names each video... but tbh, it's still WAY too many lol. I'm all in favor of just ending this practice entirely. It's not sustainable. I do not give a single shit about having my name read by the creators I support. I would rather see them do what's best for the video and channel. Isn't that the point of supporting anyway? Or is it just so we can make them say silly tongue twisters and stuff?

[@sebastiansochanski]

👌

[@Higgo0202]

You should play Detroit become human. If you haven't already. Would love to hear your take on a game like that.

[@TheOnlyTaps]

🙏🏿🔥

[@zinv08]

Sad Cuddle Core couldn'😢 clutch it.

[@josecolon7267]

In my opinion: I was going to buy The Witcher 3 dlc, and got convicted to buy Hellblade instead by the Games Stop girl behind the counter (if she's reading this... ugh, No Words) worst mistake I've ever made. Played it for 45 minutes and all I got was anger and anxiety. I gave the copy I just bought to a friend, then I got guilt tripped by another friend to give it another chance... And I hate it, it looked cool, but the game is just... artsy and more concern about mood than to make a game. Then, you know what game I got recommended to discover to forget my anger about this shitty game?? Dark Souls. You think after trying and discovering Darksouls, then 2, 3 Bloodbourne, Sekiro and Elden Ring I would go back to hellblade... hell no. I rather watch the Hell out of this video and part 2 (cause I know Monty is playing part 2 soon) Im not playing this game again ;)

[@josecolon7267]

Wait... is not perma death if you die too much?! fuck this game!!! I payed $30 and gave this game away because of this stupid anxiety driven mechanic, and its not even true... wow... the divelpers of this game not only make me anxious, they made me feel stupid :(. Who the fuck is Ninja Theory?! From the buttom of my heart... get gud.

[@josecolon7267]

Well, I guess this game and how I disliked it got me to discover From Soft... so Thank you Ninja Theory (whoever you are) :) I love Elden Ring ;)