Hellblade II Enhanced Edition review live

A PS5 edition that shines with visuals and sound while the gameplay remains uneven and sparse.

Hellblade II Enhanced Edition Delivers Stunning Visuals

Senua's Saga Hellblade II Enhanced Edition on PS5 delivers a cinematic leap in visuals and sound, with Icelandic landscapes and a haunting score that set a new standard for the platform. Yet the core gameplay — puzzles, blocking, and a repetitive combat loop — remains rudimentary, and the six-hour runtime underscores a pacing issue.

The upgrade adds a 60fps Performance Mode, a developer commentary, and a brutal Dark Rot mode that wipes saves after multiple deaths, increasing tension. Despite the beauty, the game often feels more like a visual showcase than a playable loop, and the most memorable moments come from the audio design and performance of Melina Juergens as Senua.

The trade off here is clear: Ninja Theory earns a visual and sonic triumph while the gameplay struggles to keep up. That gap highlights a broader pattern where big-budget titles win attention for polish before strengthening their core loops. The Enhanced Edition underscores how hardware upgrades can redefine a title’s reception without fully delivering on its gameplay promises.

Looking ahead, the edition signals a path for high-end studios: let the atmosphere carry the experience while using optional modes to inject risk and tempo. The risk for players is paying a premium for a package that still feels unfinished at its heart, even as it offers memorable moments through sound, performance, and a compelling lead performance.

Highlights

The beauty of Hellblade II deserves a stronger game to ride it.