How Hellblade's Mechanics Tell Its Story

I try to avoid major spoilers here. Also, this game tackles some pretty heavy themes and subjects regarding mental health issues. Just a heads up.
Patreon - / writingongames
Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice could have presented itself as a fun action game where the character sees things and hears voices. To do so would be to rely on a surface level misunderstanding of the psychosis so central to the game's narrative. Instead, developer Ninja Theory went the other way, forcing you to work through mundane mechanics in order to convey a crucial but rarely talked about facet of Senua's condition; allowing Hellblade to go further than any other game in its representation of severe mental health issues. Its mechanics don't just get you thinking symbolically; they get you experiencing symptomatically.
---
Podcast (iTunes) - itunes.apple.c....
(RSS) - writingongamesc...
Intro Text Provided by Lashman - / robotbrush
---
The piece on Klaus Conrad I reference - www.ncbi.nlm.n...
---
Thank you so, so much for your continued support. You all mean the world to me.

[@Raycevick]

That combat sequence seen at 2:50 was one of the most emotionally intense I've played in a while. I felt myself gritting my teeth as enemies relentlessly attacked and I felt the need to just keep going, hitting harder and harder with each encounter. The music, lightning, sound-design, it was all beautifully executed there.

[@dandanakan7384]

Raycevick voohoooo

[@WritingOnGames]

For sure. As I talk about, it wasn't intense in that I felt like I was expressing myself through viscerally satisfying mechanics; I felt totally overwhelmed, trying my best not to give in. Without spoiling anything, the final fight had a very similar effect on me.

[@cobb2529]

I love how in the finale I just kept killing enemies until I got so bored I thought "Well I'll just die" and triggered the ending deep

[@Dean444ful]

Writing on Games *SPOILERS AHEAD FOR ANYONE WHO HASN'T FINISHED HB* I totally agree. That final fight blew my mind. Not because it was mechanically outstanding or anything but because of the message that it conveyed. After almost 15 minutes (or what seemed like 15 minutes) I finally got overwhelmed only to find out that all along I was meant to die. Usually I'm not a fan of games throwing unbeatable enemies at you but, done in this context, it perfectly reaffirmed the themes of the game.

[@medianvideos]

Raycevick yes, there was a section in the game (upon entering Hellheim) where I didn’t realise I had to complete a puzzle, and this screaming and red flashes kept killing her...and it caused me so much anxiety I didn’t play the game for months, until I finally gathered up enough courage to continue, and finally got to the end. A very emotional, exhausting experience of endurance.

[@truthfinderphd4269]

Games don't have to be fun. Just like movies and books don't have to be fun.

[@WritingOnGames]

Truthfinder PhD agreed!

[@risto4216]

hellblade isnt a game, it's an immersive and interactive experience, and man did i enjoy it, it felt like a dark adventure, and i was held in all the way to the end.

[@Filmsmith129]

@@WritingOnGames I disagree, but I think we're operating under different definitions of "fun." If fun means passive enjoyment of a thing, then of course all games don't have to be fun. However, if fun means engagement in all forms, engagement in terms of challenge, exploration, narrative, abnegation, etc., then yes, all games have to be fun. So do all movies and books.

[@yashkaushik6116]

out of all the hellblade reviews, you said the real truth in the first 2 minutes about hellblade.. Kudos, this is not a fun game, its a great game.. Saying that all games should be fun is like saying all Movies should be comedy .....

[@WritingOnGames]

That's a good way of putting it!

[@CrackBaby3]

Writing on Games you know, I have to disagree. I had an absolute blast with this game and, while incredibly simple, I thought the combat felt so nice and rewarding (I played it on hard). The dodging and parrying felt incredibly nice, considering the lack of depth within the combat. I also would like to point out that during my time with the game, there were only a few moments where I actually started to panic and get scared. What's pretty scary about it, though, is the fact the only an hour or two in I was already used to the voices, and at times I felt more uncomfortable trekking along without them than I did with them. All in all I was personally blown away and think it's absolutely a game that everyone interested in it should play at least once. It gives you a fantastic perspective of what mental illness can really feel like, and that's something rarely achieved in any medium.

[@yashkaushik6116]

again fun is subjective, some will have some will not, but hellblade should not be judged by this criteria... This all "video games are supposed to be fun first" ideology hurts the medium in a way that even after 30 years, there are people on this planet(many people) that cannot put video games under artistic entertainment medium like novels, movies etc... to them these are just games for kids to have fun... now those people's opinions do not really matter, but the problem still resides within the gaming industry itself that is trying to limit them to just be FUN, like how nintendo market games to be "if not fun, why bother?" Thats why Hellblade is more crucial to this industry than any other hack n slash game.. not because it is better than other hack n slah games but because it is redefining the scope of our medium...

[@TheEliteJohan]

Fun is just a bad term for it, of course games don't have to be "fun". They must be compelling, this is not the first game to be compelling but not fun. I would say Dark Souls isn't very fun sometimes, but it's still compelling because of the satisfaction involved in succeeding, Spec Ops: The Line and many other games are compelling and interesting because of the narrative, but not necessarily fun to play at all.

[@SandroAerogen]

Saying that all games should be fun is like saying that all music should be catchy or that all books should be entertaining.

[@ratlinggull2223]

A great scholar once said: Hellblade is my city.

[@archey656]

Something about hellblade that really resonated with me was the voices. Something about hearing them discourage and beat Senua down was really unnerving to me. I know what it's like to feel like there's a war inside your head of Just voices fighting over what you should say next, what you should do next, how you should react, what you should feel.... Who you are. I feel like hellblade was an amazing game for many reasons. But I've noticed that almost everyone who played this feels a connection to Senua because she has something very in common with them...

[@meris8486]

In this waking nightmare, where all your dreams come true You searched for control, a way to pull through When you were in love, you left him in tears To smother your Furies and banish your fears But in darkness they came Through storms and black seas, They raided these shores Do you still hear his screams? And now that you're home... He's so far away They've taken his soul To these gods you cannot pray They can break you, but not your promise Even death won't keep you apart Through his darkness you will find him, In your sword still beats a heart You fought for love unspoilt By your darkness within You fought for your dreams Now there's no way to win In the head of his corpse Lies the seat of his soul So you must carry his vessel to bring him back home

[@adamqadmon]

The game had such a deep impact on me that after it I had dreams as I was walking around as Senua and trying to find my way through hordes of monsters. I also remember waking up in the middle of the night and seeing runes vibrate everywhere. The game is deep, man. The initiation is real.

[@kimmirandaart9909]

SPOILERS?: Yeah, the compulsive symbol finding is supposed to be cumbersome, and one of Senua's alter voices directly says "What if this is a waste of time?" because she herself KNOWS it's something she doesn't want/need to be doing, but her disorder can't allow her not to. And the game displays that and makes sure the player knows how it feels too.

[@BlackSheepDream]

This game was the first time I really felt that the medium of games really explored a personal experience. The way the game has you feel the crippling mental illness Senua experiences was a feeling that was unnerving and tip-toed the line of terrifying.

[@WritingOnGames]

It felt like way more of a horror experience than I thought it would be, for sure. Thanks for watching!

[@lilLemonUwU]

Can't wait to have a PC capable of playing this. After my anxiety disorder surfaced a couple years back, I have a whole new appreciation for any struggle with mental illness, and a game that tries to accurately portray this struggle sounds like a must buy.

[@WritingOnGames]

G1LT I'll warn you, if you've experienced things like this before then Hellblade can be tough. I'm glad I played it though, if for no other reason than it's such an interesting experiment in representing these conditions through gameplay.

[@lilLemonUwU]

Writing on Games I'll definitely make sure I'm in a good place before I dive into the experience. By the way, thanks for all the content you create. I actually discovered your videos soon after my anxiety plunged me into depression. Luckily I got help and medication that helped me level out and get a grip on myself again (I no longer need the medication, and feel pretty lucky for it). Your Dark Souls video hooked me, and it's been awesome seeing a deep analysis of the things so many people take for granted or ignore in a medium that has shaped a lot of my life. Keep it up man, your perspective is something I hope catches on with more people, and shapes the industry for the better.

[@WritingOnGames]

Thank you so much for the kind words. It really means a lot. I'm glad you're feeling better.

[@robertleeluben]

GTX 1050 ti will run on almost any PC and give you 60 fps at 900p in this game, it's not as expensive as you may think to have a basic gaming pc. I have two friends who suffer from these kinds of issues and I know what they go through is rough, I hope you are ok.

[@TheCivildecay]

As someone with a anxiety disorder and experience with panic attacks I felt the "darkness/blindness trail "was almost too much for me.

[@thaliacalearete]

Well said! I think what even many positive reviews miss about Hellblade is that the puzzles themselves are intended to be superfluous -- the voices in Senua's head tell her at various points that the runes mean nothing, and that she's searching for meaning where there is none. If Senua were well she could probably just open the doors herself, but because we're experiencing this psychotic break alongside her, we have to ascribe meaning and function to what are ultimately the coincidental arrangments of shapes in the world. It was a brilliant way to connect gaming and psychosis in that both pursuits are often rooted in an intense and relentless search for hidden significance in the mundane.

[@boo24998]

it must have been a gamble for them to make such a game

[@WritingOnGames]

An Alt I read somewhere that they're remarkably close to breaking even already, which is great. The risk seems to be paying off for them.

[@foreignsgamingtech]

The truest of the reviews out there. Thank you.

[@WritingOnGames]

foreign's gaming tech thank you for watching! I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[@Maehedrose]

It's funny, I suffer from schizophrenia, bipolar and anxiety, and one of the things I was constantly pondering during the game was how exciting, strange and challenging Senua's delusions seem to us, the audience, whereas in my real life (and I expect the same for the character) this stuff becomes mundane. Yeah, I suffer from hallucinations and delusions of a vast variety but after awhile it just becomes "oh there's a monster on the roof preparing to eat those children? Ho-hum' - the delusions become such a constant part of who you are that while others might find them fascinating (though not most of the people I know, who don't even want to hear about it) many of us with mental illness see it as just another day. (sometimes horrible days full of pain and misery but that, too, is par for the course)

[@saxoman1]

Okay you sir have just gotten another subscriber. Holy Crap did you just NAIL this game and what it really means. You just crushed every other review on youtube in a mere 9:30 minutes while going deeper into the meaning behind this game then anyone of them. For that you have my sincerest gratitude (and a sub).

[@BigRojo]

Outstanding review, I'm in love with Senua!

[@grassninja]

How are we defining "fun" here? Is there a disconnect between "fun' and "thoroughly enjoyable" that I'm missing? Because, while I thoroughly enjoyed practically everything about this game, I see a lot of people saying the game wasn't "fun," and I'm curious as to what criteria we're all using to define this highly subjective, nebulous term.

[@WritingOnGames]

I was drawing upon the kind of visceral satisfaction, of catering to the player and placing them at the centre of an experience, that people usually take from action games. Not hugely specific, sure, but that was kinda the point. A lot of people have this vague notion that if a game isn't catering to them, that it doesn't work as a game (I just came across a comment on this video telling me to "play Superman 64" if I like games that "suck"). My point is that we *should* be more broad in our ability to take enjoyment from a game. As someone else pointed out in the comments, saying that all games need to be "fun" is the same as saying all films should be comedies. Some of my favourite art in other media is very specifically about making you as a reader feel insignificant, or culpable in some heinous act; some examples of this have made me feel physically ill.. The same is true for my favourite games (Mafia 2 and Spec Ops as exemplified in the video). I wouldn't go so far as to say that Hellblade is one of my favourite games, but you're right. Not being "fun" does not negate something being "enjoyable" or "valuable" and this video was attempting to bring light to that.

[@grassninja]

Thanks for taking the time to respond and clarify. Yeah, I was sort of confused as to some stances presented initially, in both the video and comment section. Most of the prior critique I have seen for Hellblade was that it was boring, which I can easily understand given the games pace and infrequent emphasis on action. Maybe I'm in the minority in finding the mechanics viscerally satisfying. Regardless it's always interesting to hear from another player's perspective. Cheers.

[@celinacelerysalt]

+WritingOnGames This is all just semantics though. Vague concepts like "visceral satisfaction" and "catering to the player" imply that there is only one player and only one way in which someone could react to a certain stimulus. I know you know this isn't true, but it is always important (especially when we are trying to go deep into these topics) to be specific. The abstracts must be abandoned by all who seek to be more scientific. For example, something like the indefinite concept of "peace" has no consistency and is only an amorphous collection of the beliefs that people have about it, but the individual experience of peace is as real as you or me. Tl:dr - Obviously all things that are made cater to someone, even if it's just on accident. That's what a "niche" or an "audience" is... Even if a creator tried to purposely make something that they hate and that they think no one could like, there will be someone, somewhere that actually finds it compelling and/or "viscerally satisfying."

[@Dean444ful]

Honestly I was one of the ones that was doubting the shit out of this game. The combat looked bare bones and although I knew they were trying to craft a psychological/cinematic experience I felt like it would just fall flat on its face. Lo and behold, I completely ate crow. Like you said, it's hard to say the game was "fun" but it was one of the best gaming experiences I've had. Yes, the combat was bare bones but it was clearly done that way to serve its themes and I wasn't really bored by it because by the middle/end of the game when you're encountering these waves and waves of enemies and you feel like you're getting overwhelmed (while simultaneously fearing the rot upon each death) it feels like an uphill battle which again ties into the themes of depression, psychosis, etc. Also, I gotta mention the fact that they used an actress instead of just a character they designed themselves. Usually I prefer devs to make their own characters because why limit yourself to actors when you can make your character look like anything? But with a cinematic experience like this, a real human face just completely sells it and it pulls you in even more. Props to Ninja Theory, they truly outdid themselves and I hope people give this game and company the support they deserve.

[@eiriseven]

Honestly, I was so inmersed into the story that I never found the game to be "boring" or "not fun", although I did feel the combat to be a somewhat of a blockage rathen than something I was looking forward to

[@jackofallgods7764]

I consider it fun. Something that keeps you entertained wanting to progress and left me hoping for more equals fun for the most part in my book

[@ODgoon]

Hamish is a Jake Pauler confirmed

[@WritingOnGames]

the greatest scholar of our time

[@WritingOnGames]

In all seriousness I kinda hate myself for including that but it was too good an opportunity to pass up

[@ODgoon]

Writing on Games it got a chuckle out of me

[@magentasound_]

Writing on Games I literally writhed where I lay when I heard that line xD

[@TheLastLineLive]

This was an excellent look at Hellblade. And this game is most certainly the most important game we have seen this year, it has explored themes that most games only have done so at a surface level, and has a really deep look. I actually want to play through it again, I know that I certainly will notice things I missed the 1st time around.

[@Firesteel]

Beautiful points about this game. I'm glad to see Ninja Theory's gamble has paid off and they should be rewarded for their efforts. I hope to see more from them (and you!).

[@WritingOnGames]

Firesteel Really happy you enjoyed it!

[@ah-hn7ts]

Yesss, ive been waiting for a hellblade video from you!

[@scrustle]

Fantastic video a lot of great points. Your points about the mundanity of the puzzles and how you're finding meaningless symbols reminds me of one thing that really stood out to me in the documentary that comes with the game. There's a point where they mention consulting with someone who suffers with psychosis, which manifests as searching for patterns. Likely the main source of inspiration for those puzzles. But the really interesting thing was that they said that when they showed him the game and how they tried to replicate his experiences, he said he didn't see any sign of psychosis in the game at all. Just seemed normal to him. I think that shows how well this game achieved its goal if they managed that. I do slightly disagree about the combat not being enjoyable though. I agree that it is kind of bare bones, and it does also contribute in to the whole concept of psychosis being mundane, but I thought it was pretty "fun" system. It flowed very well, and was satisfying. Quite restrictive, and perhaps lacking in some variety, but still very tense and exciting by itself. But as you said, turning it in to DMC would go against what the game was trying to be, and the tense nature of it is supposed to be somewhat artificial. But for me, it really drew me in to feeling the sense of danger that I was fighting for my life that Senua had.

[@WritingOnGames]

Scrustle yeah, that's the part of the documentary I perhaps found the most interesting. It's wild to me how they went so hard on the symbol recognition puzzles purely for the sake of representing heightened apophenia. I'd really recommend everyone watch it if they own the game (or just look it up on YT) - really helps contextualize what the game is trying to achieve. Also, yeah, what's been interesting to me is seeing how opinions differ on the combat. It really seems split down the middle; some viewing it as dull and repetitive (like myself) and others feeling like the simplicity gives way to more intense, no-bullshit encounters. I can see the logic in both sides, but for the sake of my reading I felt the former was more consistent. Thanks for watching!

[@readingtheleaves2433]

After watching this video, I switched over to watch another friend's playthrough of the game. I am floored by the mechanics of this game and I'm so acutely aware that I could never, ever play it for myself. I think I know a little too well the feeling of paranoia from the inside.

[@zennim125]

"games" as an experience must be more widely talked about i am totally with you on this, hellblade wasn't "fun" it was an experience, and a really strong one at that, i really felt desperate and in agony in some part without knowing if i was supposed to die or if i was failing senua is a great character and i loved getting to know her

[@yannguichaoua2046]

Is Everyday Bro with the Mental Health Issues Flow

[@casedistorted]

I am about halfway through Hellblade and I had to take a break before I could come back to it. I was enjoying my time with Hellblade, it wasn't super fun but I did enjoy the combat and the story and experiences, especially wearing headphones.

[@medianvideos]

Have been writing an essay on this game, and I gotta say, you nailed it. Amazing analysis of a fascinating game. Thank you!

[@mynameismatej]

Because the game as a whole was so traditionally unsatisfying, the ending provided a much bigger catharsis that it would, if the game as whole was fun, so fun and satisfaction definitely aren't the only important things in a game.

[@WritingOnGames]

I don't want to spoil anything in the comments, but I loved the ending. Played right into the themes of the seeming mundanity of mental illness I so loved about the gameplay. Didn't provide some "miracle moment".

[@NemoK]

I've completed this game four times so far, one playthrough of which was in vr. It's just so effective. I love it so much.

[@sorackamet5558]

I also like how the combat is only here because of Senua's warrior status. Every time her "darkness" begins to overwhelme her she drives it off by doing what she does best, fighting.

[@jedijay8218]

this game moved me as well.... Jung would be proud

[@Alecj95]

This video enlightened me so much on this game. You made appreciate this work of art alot more then i already did!

[@cameronfletcher5835]

I really like the idea of this game. The issues that it handles and what it means for the future of mid-tier games are really exciting to me. But I'm not mad about the aesthetic and if it's going to be a real slog to get enjoyment out of Hellblade I'm really not in a rush to buy the game. I haven't played yet so perhaps I would enjoy it more than it seems but the sense I'm getting from the coverage of Senuas' Sacrifice is that with its impressive look on a slim budget and its dark subject exploration, it is trying to make a statement first and be a game second. Perhaps that was the plan. That making a more straightforward, fun, accessible game would sully the spirit of this as a statement. A statement to other developers that lower budget titles can explore less marketable subject areas yet have similar production value to AAA games. But then I think that making that more straightforward game seems like it would have been more likely to succeed and prove this statement. That actually the shallowness of Hellblades mechanics may be the cautionary sign that mid-tier budgets do not, in fact, allow for similar production values to AAA. That a trade-off must be made in either visuals or mechanics. From this supposed perspective, I'd say that yours seems a generous interpretation of what I think could be just unfortunate happenstance in design. I really need to reinforce that I haven't played it yet and that my viewpoint is merely conjecturing about a game I was thoroughly interested in the development of but appears somewhat flat upon release. Regardless of my waning interest, I retain that what Hellblade could mean for mid-tier games more closely replicating the production values of AAA while also incorporating more diverse and niche visions from indie devs could be incredibly promising for the future. I think I will eventually pick Hellblade up, I wish the games' success. Either so it can now start its' mid-tier revolution that creates a game I'm more excited to actually play or at the very least so it won't be the only experiment to have a stab at triggering that revolution.

[@WritingOnGames]

It's interesting because I read somewhere today that Ninja Theory has stated that they only need to sell 300k copies to break even, which seems wild to me given how high the production values are. Plus they're the number one game in terms of digital sales on the PSN right now. I think if anything it's proven that not only should people take risks on less viscerally satisfying subject matter, but that it can also pay off.

[@angelpygs72]

Cameron Fletcher I loved it. Puzzles were fun, not super repetitive. The combat got annoying toward the end. One of the best I've played. Don't know why.

[@TheHamo1969]

I held off on this video before finishing Hellblade and you mirror everything I thought when I did finish it. Hellblade is an interesting game, one I did not expect to stick with me quite like it did. It will be remember for years to come and is exceptional in its message.

[@WritingOnGames]

DickoReview I'm happy I could effectively represent your experience here! I don't know if the game will make my GotY list (2017 has been REALLY great) but it's certainly a super important game.

[@Camurgladius]

My worry with games/media in general like this is mostly that some of the people who could best benefit from absorbing the message are exactly the same people who will refuse to play it, people who will say things like "I don't think a 8-hour game should be priced at $30" (not making that up) and simply dismiss it.

[@xeroeddie]

Great analysis! I found the combat strangely satisfying. Very basic for sure but the animations coupled with the sound design and satisfying parry mechanics made it quite enjoyable.

[@Alecj95]

Xero plus the subtle different moves and combos it doesnt say you can do but you can find by experimenting

[@remsorpax8727]

So I get your point that the abundance of finding shapes in the environment and the enemies appearing from nowhere reinforce the idea of her illness compelling her to pursue useless objectives (in our eyes) to continue on her journey, and that represents her drudgery dealing with her hardships. It's clear to the player because we're forced to perform these actions. However, I don't think they took advantage of the medium as much as they could, which unfortunately forces me to draw parallels to the medium of movies. I agree that they did execute their goal with some success, but just because this game did it, I don't think it did it extremely well.

[@WritingOnGames]

That point about movies is interesting - where does one draw the line in terms of taking control away from the player, etc. I haven't watched your video on it yet but I will soon and I'll be able to more fully respond to you then. Thanks for watching though!

[@godzilla4189]

Man, HellBlade and Nier Automata really are both the best examples of how games can push story in gaming.

[@Mapmaker39]

First, nice video I really like it. It seem to be a game that probably will not play right now, but later in life. Second, wait a minute, Spike Jonze...The Spike Jonze, Spike Jonze who worked on Her, Adaptation, Where the Wild Things, and Becoming John Malkovich? That Spike Jonze? Is he contributing to your Patreon? Or is it another Spike Jonze?

[@WritingOnGames]

Trystan McClellan ha, I imagine it's another Spike Jonze, but hey, weirder things have happened...

[@aperson9847]

i have to say, i really appreciate that you didn't find hellblade to be enjoyable but you still GET it. you don't just throw everything brilliant that this game did out the window because you found the puzzles "boring" or the combat "repetitive". the funny thing is that i agree with almost everything you said, EXCEPT for the fact that you don't /like/ hellblade as a game, where i love it. like you said, the mechanics are the way they are on purpose. with senua, you search desperately for meaning and create it where there is none, because you need that meaning to keep going, in a literal and metaphorical sense. you fight wave after wave after wave of disfigured assailants while teeth-gritted tension turns to exhaustion and you ask, as she does every day, "when will it stop?" everything she feels and experiences is palpable, because everything that happens in the game--every puzzle, every fight, every voice or visual distortion--is in the game to reinforce your immersion in senua's broken mind. you don't find that type of perfect cohesion in other games. it's utterly gripping, and for me it's an experience that i don't think i'll ever stop going back to.

[@____uncompetative]

Excellent analysis.

[@WritingOnGames]

Uncompetative Thank you!

[@pospa7855]

I don't think those rune puzzles work well to represent mental condition, where person sees patterns in common objects. From what I understand people with this condition see patterns effortlessly without searching for them. It's they're nature. In Hellblade, devs turned looking for patterns into challenge, a problem for Senua, which she has to overcome in order to progress forward. This gives seeing of patterns completely different meaning. Maybe I'm missing something, but it seems, Ninja Theory just used these puzzles because they kind of fit thematically into game about psychosis and can fill space between combat encounters while keeping the gameplay minimalistic.

[@Lokians]

Was a pretty good story, playing through was like playing through someones mind, and the combat was pretty fun, some of the parts were pretty freaky, where something happens you don't expect but adapt to to survive. Loved the progression of the story, and the tale it told, in it's own way, an experience. High ratings hope for more games that set standards and don't comply to meta instead give a fulfilling feeling like when you finish it. :D

[@RamHoot]

Yo some of your best pieces I think come when you try to ground your experience with and reception of games back into your own personal experiences. Really very 💋

[@WritingOnGames]

LambHoot RH appreciate ya Denee

[@Aiddon]

Man, realizing this game was made by Ninja Theory was about as jarring as seeing that movie Rampage made by Uwe Boll a few years back. Doesn't mean they're good artists (they aren't), but I guess even a hack has one decent story to tell.

[@clasifi1]

I actually had fun playing this game. That aside it was visually stunning and the story was gripping....Loved it. I've rarely been immersed in a game like this.

[@CoalFire]

This game was hard for me too, I used it to talk about my own mental health issues on my channel.

[@TristanPR77]

The irony is that Hellblade is one of my favorite games this year. It is a masterpiece for me. I am glad Ninja Theory dare to take the risks and give us something different from the old tire shooters.

[@MrAlious]

if its something ninja theory truly excels at it is character developement

[@gabepicsproductions]

Games don't need to be specifically fun. In one way or another they need to be engaging. Fun falls under the umbrella of engagement. A game focused on fun is more than likely not perpetually solely fun. It could be engaging throughout but fun might be swapped for tense or terrifying or calming and occupying.

[@adamkruschwitz7692]

Oh my gosh there's so much content!!! I haven't been able to finish this game yet, but I'm around 4 to 6 hours in. So far I totally agree, this game is such a huge risk, and whether or not it's profitable it worked extremely well.

[@WritingOnGames]

Adam Kruschwitz I don't think you'll be too far from the end; it's a short game, which is why it works. I couldn't handle being in Senua's world for any longer than I was. Thanks for watching!

[@boywithani]

RagnarRox has a great video on Silent Hill 4 about a similar topic where he discusses how horror ≠ fun. Anywhoot, another great video, dawg. Just wishlisted this game.

[@Koaldan86]

You absolutely and totally nailed it.

[@WritingOnGames]

Thank you!

[@Angel_Asphodel]

I haven't played the game yet and the only footage I have seen is from this video so I'm coming from a place on inexperience and I'm sure I can't see the entire picture. This being said however, I believe that gameplay can be gripping or engaging without being fun. A game using mundane systems that bore the player may get a point across, however I think that giving credit for that is disregarding the potential systems that would be engaging while still getting the feeling across. I would point to games like Limbo (though not about mental illness) for an engaging aesthetic and engaging gameplay that doesn't use "fun". Lack of diverse controls and clunky and slow movement emphasize the feel while the rest of the game is still engaging to play. You mentioned Dark Souls, and while I agree about your points about being able to look past the metaphors, I would also argue that the gameplay is very easily not fun but still engaging (possibly varying depending on build) and the challenge and atmosphere highlights the the subtler story. Despite having different ways of presenting their own stories, these games triumph in maintaining a great atmosphere while using mechanics and gamefeel that accentuates the story being told. If you take this philosophy to a game with a harder slant on storytelling, you can certainly design an incredibly captivating game that a player will feel emotionally while still being engaged and wanting more. I'm not saying make it "fun" because that is contradictory to the narrative, however engaging mechanics if done right could push the game from being an excellent metaphor to an excellent game with a heart wrenching metaphor on top. I enjoyed the video as always, but I believe disregarding potential game mechanics that could achieve similar narrative structure, while making the game even more gripping is not something to simply be written off.

[@nerfguy8312]

Hey Hamish, great vid, per usual. I'm thinking about writing a video essay, but have no idea how to research for it. Any tips?

[@WritingOnGames]

Thanks! I mean, how you research something is entirely dependent on what your video is about. Can't really offer much in the way of advice without knowing more, outside of consider and read about the context of what it is you're analysing.

[@HeavyEyed]

I fuckin love you Hambo

[@WritingOnGames]

Ur the best x

[@vilvero]

The battles felt to intense, hard, tedious and extremely engaging. I found myself often screaming at the screen. Maybe that’s what the game was designed for.

[@brockstar6213]

I loved this game, I enjoyed the combat even. I hope it's success garners another one that they can expand on.

[@Adnan-si9wq]

as a great scholar once said "It's everyday bro" wat

[@WritingOnGames]

dab on the haters

[@brandoyouth]

best review for this title.

[@mergevisual]

Great video! I feel the exact same way - the game impacted me in a huge way and I loved it, but I really don't want to play it again.

[@sammayes948]

I tried really hard to wait until I played this before i watched this, but my curiosity and impatience got the better of me.

[@WritingOnGames]

Sam Mayes I hope I didn't ruin your experience!

[@sammayes948]

Not at all, in fact it gave me som insight. So thank you!

[@stobie8128]

Favourite gaming KZbin channels: Slimkirby SomecallmeJohnny Super Bunnyhop Mark Brown Matthewmatosis TheGamingBrit Turbo Button Writing on Games

[@ImSidgr]

You should check out Errant Signal and KingK

[@stobie8128]

ImSidgr I watch KingK as well, he's great too. Not the biggest fan of Errant Signal myself. Joseph Anderson, thinreaper, Novacanoo and Retropolis Zone are all great as well for in depth game analysis.

[@WritingOnGames]

Liam Stobie happy to be included on that list!

[@HeloIV]

Liam Stobie nice list, I'd suggest to check the lorerunner out too. Great in-depth content

[@ImSidgr]

Liam Stobie I get the Errant Signal thing. Emcee Prophet on the other hand, is wonderful and I won't hear anything else. There also game soup and snow man. Not so much for design but history there is no better than Ahoy, I implore y'all to check him out. There is also the super obvious extra credits, I mean they are almost writing the "book" on game design. Hmm for long form Noah Caldwell-Gervais takes my heart. His wonderlust and excellent slow burning delivery made me tear up over the art of call of duty, this mans a legend. A newcomer that hit the scene recently is NakeyJakey his halo stuff is amazing. And his game that should bang series is a blast. I'll continue to ponder my 8 year KZbin lurking streak and come back with more love for my community! Edit - names

[@TheCivildecay]

I loved the combat in this game, instead of a powerfantasy you really felt like you were fighting for your life, and those enemies looked intimidating as hell. To me this game is really close to silent hill 2, which is also a game that is not FUN to play, but the story and setting will stay with me forever.

[@MrGodlyGameplay]

THIS MAN KNOWS!!

Instant cult classic. Technological achievement. Groundbreaking experience, unique, full of real challenges for the mature mind.

[@ragonfand4752]

i actually quite enjoyed hell-blades story however spec ops the line had a better way of making you question the character and what you saw an if it was was real or in the character's mind

[@nicudelpapa4056]

Thank you.

[@metal0n0v]

Well great. I am hearing voices... just like in Discord.

[@Marcu3s]

"Funny" thing is... the game doesn't really lie about the "progress being lost" when the Darkness reaches Senua's head. Because it does and then it is...:)

[@WritingOnGames]

Marek Homsi Andráši is that true? I honestly can't find any reliable information to confirm this. It'd be really interesting if it is!

[@angelpygs72]

Marek Homsi Andráši I died as much as I could. After about 30 deaths the plague reset down to her wrist.

[@py5835]

We need a vast revision of gaming genres. Hellblade may be a video game, but calling it a hack & slash action adventure is misleading. Heck perhaps calling it a game might be misleading for we usually associate something else with the term than what Hellblade is per se. The issue is, this game doesn't fall under any traditional category as its gameplay is actually not that important. As you said, this is not meant to be fun. There are quite a few other projects like that, Shadow of the Colossus for instance. I think this is the primary reason why Hellblade receives hate from some people - they expect it to be a traditional game, a DMC style hack & slash action also with cool puzzles and interesting story as a topping. Wrong. Hellblade needs to be called something else so it can be freed from distorted associations.

[@kiracodinson]

Honestly, played the game, beat it yesterday, droped head off, didn't get it. Enjoyed the ride.

[@ΒασιλεύςἈλέξιοςΚομνηνὸς]

Do you have a letsplay channel? Woudnt mind listening / watching you play some games unedited with just a ramble or whatever over top of it. If you dont have one, have you considered it?

[@WritingOnGames]

That will be coming much sooner than you think actually! Met a Patreon goal for it a while back, got majorly delayed due to life/work stuff/not wanting to half-ass it in any way, but now I have a lil bit more time I can fully dedicate myself to getting it right. Next week or two for sure!

[@ΒασιλεύςἈλέξιοςΚομνηνὸς]

Writing on Games Oh I'm sure you'll get it. Don't worry. Sounds good can't wait

[@barditheweird]

For me, though Hellblade was fun. Just different kind of fun. I guess isn't the right word to describe it, though. Enjoyable. Enjoyable in a way of the great horror. SImillarly to The Revenant, it's gripping.

[@Weighty68]

I need a better computer to finally be able to experience this excellence of a game

[@TheDakattack3000]

So Hamish how about that incredibly terrifying moment in the warrior trials that involves blindness and yeah that stuff that should be not spoiled and I know you were scared shit less too

[@WritingOnGames]

It was great in how tense it was! But then I reflected on it and realised "I basically just walked along a path occasionally diverging very slightly to avoid one or two enemies". It's wild how something so simple can keep you so on edge.

[@sirxmas]

Gotta strongly disagree with the notion that the game's mechanics are not "fun". The combat, while relatively simple, has a ton of work put into the presentation and there actually are combos and player expression possible, they're just never explained. I found the perspective puzzles honestly more interesting and engaging than the vast majority of "get item, use item" or "solve this completely irrelevant logic game" puzzles used in other games. And I don't think any of that lessened the game's impact.

[@Boganfilth]

All of the words spoken about how the game is "mundane" and "not satisfying" reflect every game that Ninja Theory create. None of them have satisfying combat or mechanically engaging gameplay. "It isn't trying to be fun," doesn't come across as a contrived effort to create a boring, tedious game - to me it was just like playing a Ninja Theory game. But oh no the story is about mental health! It's art! You can't say a game is shit when it's art because you wouldn't look clever to people and oh no, not you not clever! Oh no! In Ninja Theory's inability to design interesting puzzles, combat, platforming and whatever they've just gone and built up a wall of "art" around it instead. Thankfully, the game is mercifully short and if it hadn't had the ridiculous amount of perspective puzzles littered throughout it'd have been even shorter, and therefore better. Because so much of the game is spent trudging through the banality of another run around and until you see the exact angle you're supposed to look at something from, and none of that is actually engaging, that is just dead time and the product would have been far better off had it been excised and done away with entirely, with nothing to replace it, than left in. On the topic of Ninja Theory failing to cater to demand: They sure as hell showed no signs of catering to anyone during the DmC debacle where they mocked fans of the original titles and mocked the design of the original Dante for looking "gay" (yes, them interposing Dante onto broke back mountain was them calling him gay, so I guess that there is a latent degree of homophobia present at Ninja Theory?) and insisting that mechanics like "lock-on" were unnecessary, despite the inclusion of lock-on enabling the designers to assign more attacks to the limited controls, as well as enabling the player to have more control over where their attacks are directed. Ninja Theory don't cater to demand because they do not listen to feedback, which is why they've shown such little progression, and I doubt that they ever will.

[@onyxtay7246]

Well.. I suppose I'll have to get a new game.

[@Olphas]

Interesting. You make a good and sound argument here. While I was really impressed with how Senua's battle with herself is written, told and performed, the gameplay itself felt sooo sluggish and the battles outright annoying to me. So much so, that I really could not enjoy it. I wanted to love it for its narrative achievements, but I can't. I just wanted it to end. But you are right. This may well have been done intentionally. I would have argued that Hellblade would have been better off, if it would have been more like a "walking simulator" and at least left out the combat. But yeah, that probably would have been more enjoyable which kind of defeats what the game tries to achieve. I still don't really like the game but your analysis is excellent as always and at least make me rethink, why that is. And that's why I'm happy to support you.

[@WritingOnGames]

I can totally understand being turned off by the way the game actually controls. If you can, I'd recommend checking out the documentary they released with the game (it's called "Hellblade Feature" on the game's main menu). Really helped contextualise a lot of my thinking when I was playing the game, as well as solidifying my ideas for this piece. Thank you so much for your continued support!

[@astrojeet]

Great video, but I disagree completely about the combat. It's quite simplistic, but I found it immensely satisfying. Of course that isn't the theme of the game, so it doesn't matter.

[@joesandy3424]

Well, I'm gonna buy this game now just for the story. Tbh before this I thought this game was just a really pricey graphics test.

[@WritingOnGames]

AverageJoe yup! It certainly doesn't hurt that the game looks utterly incredible though!

[@zhnigo]

>"ninja theory is known for their bombastic hack and slash action" >shows DmC oof

[@HxH2011DRA]

This game seems like it would break me...

[@WritingOnGames]

It very nearly did that to me. I'd seriously recommend those that have a history with the subject matter take some time to consider if they can handle it. Thanks for watching!

[@paulblake7889]

I always start as Ryu when learning new mechanics in a SF game then move on. Often to my girl cammy

[@OSleeperTactical]

Where are you??

[@HeyzDexy]

Just me, or do her eyes look larger than average?

[@SoulGameStudio]

Producer: "Guys, we fucked up, we have a shitty combat system, our puzzle sucks, and we have one month left..." Intern: "Why not tell people you did it on purpose to share a message...?" Producer: "You're hired."

[@angelpygs72]

Soul Game combat was simple but extremely fun. Puzzles were really fun up until the bridge at the end.

[@picklepum_the_crow5001]

A simple combat system, but repetitive. You do the same, again and again and again. On the same enemies, again and again and again. And the puzzle s are the same again and again. - Oh wait! who cares since the game is about psychosis, did you heard: psychosis! This is a +5 in the score! - nonono: why not profiting of what the medium video game can offer to ally a good gameplay (even minimum) with a message.. like justifying the gameplay with the story..like Dark Souls did. - Again this annoying Dark Souls.. Since they even dare to justify the death in their games with the story and their world, we can't make crap games. - Too late : we have already the message, who care. - The Press: finally a game which dares to talk about psychosis , very mature message then 20/20. Facepalm.

[@leonthesleepy]

Man, when i first finished the game, i loved the experience but really disliked the environmental "Symbol puzzles". But after watching this video i have even more respect for the game!

[@hbasilanmnz6888]

so if a game wants you to feel like shit and for that throws a piece of shit at your face, will that be a successful game?

[@celinacelerysalt]

I mean probably, just look at how ridiculous modern art galleries are and how expensive most of the pieces can be when they took very little artistic or technical skill.

[@Roros5e]

How do I retweet on youtube.

[@WritingOnGames]

Smash that motherfuccin Twoot button

[@malukogamer1154]

WAY better than DMC this game made me see that team ninja can do a good job when they try ps; never played enslaved or heavenly sword

[@WritingOnGames]

Malukogamer115 depends what you mean by "better". I had waaay more fun with DmC but that game had NONE of the thematic weight this game does.

[@malukogamer1154]

yea the gameplay was good and level design but rest god..... anyway that just my opinion and i respect others

[@87agomes]

"They could have created an action game rife with gripping combat and player expression and the like; they have proved themselves capable of that in the past"... hum, no they didnt. Heavenly Sword and Enslaved combat was plain terrible and DmC's combat was only passable because it was the team at Capcom that helped them with it, and it still paled in comparison with DMC3/4's combat. Ninja Theory couldnt figure out good combat mechanics even if they were given to them.

[@jasonbenjamin7409]

So is the psychosis schizophrenia?

[@nomercy8989]

I actually enjoyed the combat and boss fights. But the rest was crap. I have no experience with mental illness so it fell completely flat for me.

[@WritingOnGames]

I don't feel like you need to have experienced mental illness to get a feeling of where this game is coming from. Plenty of people I know who have no experience with these conditions have been messaging me asking questions about elements of psychosis, trying to gain a better understanding of it and relating it to how the game made them feel. I really feel like this game does a great job of generating conversations around a widely misunderstood condition. To say that it's "crap" feels a little weird in that context but hey, you do you.

[@ivanhagstrom5601]

Not fun? Hellblade was awesome fun!!

[@RamHoot]

Camel Traffic