The PlayStation 5 version ofSenua’s Saga: Hellblade 2is releasingon August 12, and the story behind one of its strongest elements is worth revisiting before its release. The game’s portrayal of lead character Senua’s experience with psychosis was shaped by real-life neuroscientists, making it terrifyingly authentic. The third-person action-adventure game sees players take on the role of the titular character, and in doing so, also experience a virtual simulation of what a person with psychosis might experience just living their day-to-day life.
Psychosis is broadly defined as a mental illness in which an individual cannot distinguish between what is real and what is imagined in their head. With millions of people affected by mental illness every day, developer Ninja Theory had to take great care in crafting agenuine portrayal of the disease.The team turned to real-life researchers and consultants diagnosed with psychosisto shape the game’s biggest defining feature.
How Experts Help Make Mental Health Depictions In Hellblade Real
An Honest & Thoughtful Portrayal
Hellblade 2does not shy awayfrom the darkness and loneliness of living with psychosis. Senua is raw and vulnerable. She experiences haunting hallucinations, hears voices that may or may not be real, and often struggles to discern friend from foe. At the same time, she is more than just her mental illness; she is strong, a powerful warrior, and is an overall determined and layered character, making her even more realistic.
That authenticity is what makesHellblade 2a powerful game, andthat level of realism would not have been achievable without expert knowledge of the subject. BeforeHellblade 2was originally released on PC and Xbox Series S/X,Xbox Wireposted a blog entry announcing that a conference had been filmed and posted on YouTube byNinja Theory, letting fans learn more about psychosis and how the team worked to make it happen.
Early in the documentary, we meet a person named Eddy, who suffers from psychosis, which he describes as"living in a different reality.“He notes that"living with psychosis is often dark and miserable"and explains that he hasheard the voices of God and Satan, and that he’s spoken with angels. While he thought he’d never overcome it, treatment and support have helped him.
Additionally, Ninja Theory sought the guidance of Paul Fletcher, Bernard Wolfe Professor of Health Neuroscience at the University of Cambridge and clinical doctor, who describes psychosis as not an official mental health diagnosis but as a"shift in one’s experience in reality.“He also describes that the person experiencing psychosis would not feel a general sense of paranoia, but a genuine belief that voice manifestations or other symptoms are real.
InHellblade 2, Senua is no longer a puppet of the voices, butsomeone who has realized how to navigate her reality. That arc of growth is also similar to people who have long experienced the effects of psychosis. Using all the resources at its disposal, Ninja Theory aimed for an authentic and often underrepresented character with a mental health problem that is more than their issues.
Hellblade 2 Boasts Some Of The Best Realism In Gaming
Realistic Character Behavior & More
Hellblade 2is not a happy game, but despite the bleak tone, there are scattered points of hope throughout. It’s representative of something thata lot of people experience every day, even if their own issues are not specifically about mental health. The sequel pivots away from Senua’s personal struggle towards how it affects those around her, and those relationships are complex, similar to real life.
Besides the accurate portrayal of mental health,Hellblade 2is one of the most visually striking and realistic games ever made. Mud, blood, and battle wounds scar Senua on her journey, and faces move and react with realistic expressions.Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2focused on hyperrealism, and in doing so, may have crafted one of the most honest games in recent memory.
