Doubt and uncertainty are, I think, very difficult things to accurately portray in video games. We’re used to the idea that an encounter, a mission or a shot may not go our way but, in a medium that by design requires us to succeed, the idea that we may not be capable – that we may be innately destined for failure – is a difficult thing to convey. With Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice, developer Ninja Theory has managed it beautifully.
Hellblade: Senua’s SacrificeDeveloper: Ninja TheoryPublisher: Ninja TheoryPlatform: Reviewed on PS4Availability: Out now on PC and PS4
Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice follows warrior Senua as she embarks on a quest plucked straight out of legend; she’s on a journey to hell in order to save not just herself, but Dylian, her lover who died at the hands of the brutal Northmen while she was away. Though her quest sees her cross swords with gods and monsters, she’s far from the typical heroine – Senua is touched by ‘the darkness’, a crude yet effective label for psychosis. Senua is beset by persistent visual and auditory hallucinations, twisting her world into an unpredictable, dangerous and very cruel place.
As you journey through Hellblade, you almost always have a handful of voices (known as The Furies) whispering in your ear. These voices are Senua’s constant, critical observers, reflecting on her actions as well as her physical and mental state at any given time. Speaking to Senua, the Furies prompt and cajole; they question and doubt and needle and – just every so often – they encourage her. Sometimes they’re overbearing and unfair and to be perfectly honest they can be quite irritating, but such tension is welcome – the voices are there and you have no say in the matter, just like her psychosis itself. The Furies ensure that you’re constantly thinking about Senua’s emotional state and general wellbeing, making Hellblade a potent exercise in empathy. Backed up by some excellent environmental audio, it’s also a treat for the ears – if you can play Hellblade in surround sound, I urge you to do so.
The representations of Senua’s mental difficulties don’t stop with the whispering Furies, however – she is also touched by the dark rot, her right hand covered in creeping black tendrils. If you die, these tendrils get stronger, moving up along her arm. If the rot reaches her head, the fight against her deteriorating mental health is lost and the game is over. Not just that, in fact, but all your progress is lost – your save file will be deleted and you’ll have to start again.
It’s a harsh penalty and will no doubt prove divisive, but it plays an important role, emphasising how Senua’s mental state is at stake. Having something to lose makes the struggle feel real, creating a meaningful tension. It does help however, that the combat makes it difficult to die.