Despite strong reviews, Hellblade 2 is struggling on Steam
Despite strong reviews, Hellblade 2 is struggling on Steam
With some strong reviews and a Game Pass launch, the Steam release of Hellblade 2 doesn't look incredibly big over on Valve's platform.
I don’t get it. The original Hellblade was always a niche success, not exactly mainstream. It simply blew people’s mind about what an indie studio could deliver. I’d never expect a massive player base. Is this all because of Microsoft’s marketing?
It's yet another warning about selling out for some quick cash that will continue to be ignored by indie devs.
I played a couple hours last night on game pass. I have a 3060 ti and a real cruddy cpu (ryzen 5 2600)
The game is absolutely gorgeous and I was surprised how well it ran on my machine. It's a UE5 game though so obviously there were plenty of stutters. Definitely not the worst I've seen though. Much better than any frostbite game. So thats good. The audio design in headphones is also probably the best I've ever experienced in a game. Shit had me genuinely crawling in my skin when a random scary ass voice would start whispering at the back of my neck. Really cool stuff.
The gameplay though? Boring as fuck. I had assumed they would evolve the gameplay somewhat from the first game. I would have thought the devs would have realized that finding symbols hidden in a gray ass environment is about as engaging as a dollar store crossword book. But nope. It's pretty much exactly the same as the first game. I don't get it. Why devote so much money and resources into a game that just isn't engaging to play? Sure, it's gorgeous and sounds incredible. But if that's all your game has going for it just make a CGI TV show or something.
I never got the hype of the first game. Cool idea sounds and visuals, but the gameplay was trash. I felt burned paying for the first, no way I’m touching this one with real money. I’ll wait for a $5 sale maybe, but that’s it.
I bet a lot of people are in the same boat.
I thought the ambience of the first one was amazing, but that the gameplay was boring as shit.
Played a little bit of the first game and while aesthetically pleasing I couldn't get into the actual gameplay. I'd watch the fuck out of a Hellblade show, though.
That's kind of Ninja Theory's thing. Heavenly Sword was boring to play, but had an interesting premise. Enslaved was literally planned to be a movie and had the gameplay added on after that. The only game of theirs that I can think of that had good gameplay was DmC: Devil May Cry, and the story was absolute garbage. I don't know why anyone would pick up a game from them when their track record is so lopsided.
I mean it's on gamepass. Why would people buy it on steam?
And it probably has low replay value so makes even more sense to get gamepass for a month to play it
Because Microsoft hasn't yet captured 100% of the PC gaming demographic, thankfully.
Gamepass is not on Linux
I can't financially afford the flood of games releasing right now.
I mean who the fuck decided letterboxing the game would be a good idea?
Hellblade is in my opinion overrated. Sure great graphics, cool story but gameplay and controls were mid. Never finished it. I don’t have any interest in the second one.
I really wanted to like the first one but felt like the puzzles and movement were so tedious.
To be fair I generally play videogames stoned, which generally I always find enjoyable even on cerebral puzzle games like talos principle. in fact, I like being high cuz it makes it harder.
But senuas first game trying to walk around and match the pattern against the environment was absolutely miserable to do high, and I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have enjoyed it sober either.
I loved the combat, but that was so infrequent it didn't keep me engaged. Finally after dying and having to restart and do a puzzle section all over again I said fuck it and uninstalled.
I mean, it looks like a movie. I'll just watch someone play it.