Ninja Theory revealed a cinematic reveal trailer for the upcoming Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 at the Xbox Showcase. The game is slated for release in 2024 and will be coming to Xbox Series S|X as well as PC.
The trailer looks unsettlingly beautiful, picking up from the end of the first installment in the series. We see the titular character trapped in a hellhole, seemingly haunted by the voices of the ones she lost and the ones who seem hellbent on entrapping her further in her descent into madness. While the Hellblade 2 trailer solely focuses on the internal struggle of Senua, it seemingly combines both cinematic and gameplay elements.
Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 is built in Unreal Engine 5, as disclosed from the previous short trailers and teasers launched by Ninja Theory. While that trailer does not offer any details about the gameplay or combat, it definitely hits the right notes with impressive and cutting-edge motion capture and facial animation.
The mental anguish and the battle of Senua with the voices in her head are reflected clearly, even in the cool, dark, and at times creepily shadowy environment of the cave she’s trapped in. There’s excellent detailing on the walls of the cave, twisting and turning based on her inner thoughts and doubts, urging her to plunge even further into the darkness.
The impeccable facial animation facilitated by Unreal Engine 5 was certainly the highlight of even the previously released trailers for Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2. By the looks of it, the developers seem to venture further in this aspect, and the game seems to be shaping out pretty brilliantly. The first installment of the series was also lauded for its engrossing storyline and the captivating performances that built sympathy in gamers’ minds for the troubled and murky characters.