It has not been a week since Hellblade 2 launched, and while early previews of the game were very positive, it seems the game has not particularly delivered in terms of gameplay. People around the world are finding the game’s mechanics quite boring.
Players are getting so bored that some have even dubbed the game a “walking simulator,” saying that the forward key is the core mechanic of the game. One streamer seemingly was falling asleep while playing, which many attribute to the lackluster gameplay.
Why it matters: Hellblade 2 was expected to be Xbox’s blockbuster title for this year, with high anticipation fueled by exciting early previews. However, it has turned out to be a bit disappointing due to its lack of content and short length.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7eRH7-5VGLs&ab_channel=NikTek
A Twitter user even mocked Phil Spencer, suggesting that his excitement for Hellblade 2 was because it helped him get a full night’s sleep.
Typically, from a game as short as Hellblade 2, one would expect it to be rich in content since developers have more opportunities to pack a lot into a short game. However, it seems they did not fully capitalize on this, making it feel “too much” like a movie.
Ninja Theory did aim for a highly cinematic experience, likening it to a high-quality indie movie. However, trading gameplay for cinematics was not the approach they should have aimed for the game.
Xbox might be disappointed with the game’s performance, as it was one of their major titles for this year. The game had a peak of just 3.8k players on Steam, which could be partly due to its availability on Xbox Game Pass, but it still doesn’t justify the low numbers for such a highly anticipated game.
Despite this, those who have played the game have praised its breathtaking visuals, setting a new benchmark for gaming in 2024, and it is considered the best-looking Unreal Engine 5 title to date. Additionally, the game’s narrative is another strong point that has been highlighted by many.
The game still has many positive features and is not entirely disappointing, but many feel that the developers should have focused more on the gameplay mechanics, as progressing through the game feels quite bland.
We hope that Ninja Theory can learn from this experience and apply the lessons to their next game. Although it is too early to talk about Ninja Theory’s next project, reports suggest that Xbox has already greenlit their next game, which is rumored to be Hellblade 3.
If this is true, we hope they implement new changes to improve the mechanics and provide a much more engaging gameplay experience in Hellblade 3.
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