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By now, whenever we think about realistic graphics, stunning landscapes, and top-notch motion capture, Ninja Theory pops into our minds. Since 2017, the studio has established itself as one of the best in bringing realistic-like graphics to games. Now, with Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2, the developers have pushed every graphical boundary, which shows in even the tiniest details of this adventure. But if you still don’t believe us, let us give you a glimpse at how stunning the graphics of Hellblade 2 are.
Photo Mode Lighting
Let me begin with what I think is one of the best graphical details in Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2, its photo mode, and, more specifically, its lighting options. Many games offer a photo mode with functions that range from goofy stickers to Hollywood-like image filters. However, Hellblade 2 leaves the ridiculous on the side and provides options that raise the realism even higher. One of my favorite things to use was in the lighting section, which allows you to create an artificial light you can control. A well-located light can give a scene a completely different meaning and shift from somber to horror or peaceful in the blink of an eye.
Sweat Drops
Recently, many studios have worked on making facial expressions and details more real-life-like. In Hellblade 2, Ninja Theory upped the game by bringing some of the most realistic sweat drop effects we’ve seen. In many sequences, especially after combat, Senua breaks a sweat. You can clearly see these drops as they shine and fall through Senua’s face. However, she isn’t the only one that benefits from this. Other companions have the same effects on their faces, which adds more immersion to every character that accompanies our hero.
Particle Effects in Combat
During some of the game’s first fight sequences, I thought about stopping for a while and taking a picture of Senua exchanging blows with a Draugr; it was my best idea or a fortuitous case of enabling photo mode at the right time. What I saw was the clash of Senua’s blade against that of her enemy and sparks flying in all directions contrasted by a dark background; it was the thing of movies, I tell you. While simple, the graphical details the developers put into Hellblade 2‘s combat make every fight seem as if it came from a live-action movie with a huge budget for VFX.
Realistic Water Effects
Water is something that always takes a lot of time for studios to get right. Fluids and behaviors aside, regarding its graphical fidelity, some border between being too cartoonish and too fake. On the other hand, we have Hellblade 2‘s water effects, which are the most realistic I’ve seen. Ever since the first sequence, water has been a prominent element throughout the game. Whether it is the crashing waves that send Senua to the shore or the swirl that occurs when entering the Hiddenfolk hideout, every water effect is as realistic as it can be.
Every Giant’s Details
I won’t spoil how many giants you’ll face in Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2, but there was one that caught my attention due to its skin details. See, this creature has spent a lot of time surrounded by water, and what happens when skin gets too wet? You’ve seen it, haven’t you? Our fingers and other parts start looking like raisins. Well, the developers emulated that effect on a giant, and it looks equal parts jaw-dropping and gruesome, but it is one detail that gives another layer of personality to the giant while enhancing its design.
Senua’s Injuries During Combat
Regardless of the difficulty, you’ll surely get hit by one or more enemies during a fight. While I already mentioned the particle effects, Senua’s body also reacts to the blows it receives. If you look at her right arm closely, you’ll see how it gets bloody the more you get hit. Furthermore, each time you slice an enemy, her body will get splattered with blood, adding to the realistic and gory combat the developers were aiming for.
Senua’s Scars
One thing that blew me away was the graphical details of Senua in Hellblade 2. Back in 2017, I felt the graphics were ahead of time. And now, I got the same feeling during every close-up I saw from Senua. In most scenes, the developers wanted us to take a close look at this Celtic warrior’s expressions. While, in part, it was to show off the flawless motion capture, you can also see the textures pop out in every scene. Some of the most prominent things you can see are Senua’s scars, and if you zoom in on them, you can see how these scars react to the lightning, weather effects, and many more things.
Real-Life-Like Textures
This might not seem like a tiny detail for some, but the fact that most graphics, or more specifically, textures of Hellblade 2, emulate real life is unbelievable. For example, the first village you visit after the storm subsides is accompanied by dilapidated buildings and dry grass. If you stop for a while and observe, you can see certain wooden details as clearly as if you were looking at a real-life branch. Delve deeper into any of the hand-crafted villages of Hellblade 2, and it’ll be hard to distinguish reality from fantasy. Furthermore, I never spotted so many repeated assets, making each location unique due to everything they contained.
Dense Fog Effects
Another thing that blew me away in certain scenes, especially those in lush forests or at the shore, was how dense the fog looked. Many might think this is an irrelevant detail, but think about it: how many games can make fog work without compromising performance? The fact that Hellblade 2 features these types of fog effects without causing stutter or, worse, being too dense that the lighting effects take a backseat is amazing. It enhances the Icelandic feel of each location and adds a splash of horror to certain encounters.
1. Iridescent Surfaces
Finally, you might not have noticed this if you breezed through certain puzzles, but Hellblade 2 has some fantastic iridescent effects. Whenever you see a rock with many shiny colors, that usually means you’re about to face one of the game’s brainteasers. What I loved about this detail is that you have shiny rocks instead of relying on invasive HUD elements or the classic yellow lines for climbing and interacting. It might sound simple, but it is extremely effective and unintrusive.
Undoubtedly, the graphics of Hellblade 2 are some of the best in recent years and should be a new standard for every game trying to emulate photorealistic looks. Another thing to keep in mind is that even on a Series S, you won’t have any performance issues. In all my playtime, I never suffered from stutter or visual glitches, so I don’t know what type of Nordic magic the developers at Ninja Theory pulled off, but it worked.
