Hellblade 2 Out Now

[UltraMega]

Quote

As the clock ticks closer to midnight, the gaming community is abuzz with excitement for the highly anticipated release of ‘Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2’. After years of development and eager anticipation, Ninja Theory is set to unveil their latest masterpiece, promising an experience that transcends the boundaries of storytelling and gameplay.

 

Set to launch on May 21, 2024, ‘Hellblade 2’ is not just a game; it’s a journey into the depths of Norse mythology and the human psyche. The sequel to the critically acclaimed ‘Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice’ is expected to deliver a narrative that’s both harrowing and empowering, following the protagonist Senua’s odyssey through the haunting landscapes of 10th Century Iceland1.

 

Developed using Unreal Engine 5, the game promises to set a new standard for visual and auditory immersion. Fans can look forward to a revitalized combat system, intricate puzzles, and exploration that will challenge both their skills and perceptions. The developers have taken great care to consult with mental health professionals and individuals with lived experiences to portray Senua’s psychosis with authenticity and sensitivity2.

 

As a digital-only release, ‘Hellblade 2’ will be available on Xbox Series X/S, PC, and Xbox Cloud Gaming. It will also debut on Xbox Game Pass, allowing subscribers to dive into the action from day one1. While PlayStation enthusiasts may be disappointed to learn that the title will not be available on PS5, the game’s availability on multiple platforms ensures that it will reach a wide audience.

 

Tonight, as the digital stores update at midnight, players worldwide will embark on a new chapter of Senua’s saga. The anticipation is palpable, and the expectations are sky-high. Will ‘Hellblade 2’ live up to its predecessor’s legacy? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain: the adventure that awaits is nothing short of epic.

 

By my measure, this will be the first major release for a UE5 game that's set to make proper use of UE5's advanced features like lumen and nanite. Really looking forward to seeing how it all comes together. Xbox could definitely use a win right now. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Note: There is no source for this news post because it is an original post, no source to quote. I will update this post with reviews and analysis as more info comes out. I know we don't usually have news for just one game here, but this is more about the tech and seeing is UE5 can actually deliver a good showing on current gen hardware. 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 23 by UltraMega

[UltraMega]

A few hours in and it's abundantly clear, this game is the best cinematic experience ever made within a video game, by far. Everyone who's interested in the cinematic quality aspects of 3D rendering owes it to themselves to play this game. 

 

 

Can't upload the HDR versions of these screens, so these are darker than they should be:

 

Max settings with FSR3 quality mode: 

 

Edited May 21 by UltraMega

[Slaughtahouse]

Looks fantastic; How's the performance on your rig? 

 

Random but why did they change the order of the title? First game is Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice. Second game is Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2. Shouldn't it be Hellblade 2: Senua's Saga? Weird little observation. 

[UltraMega]

1 hour ago, Slaughtahouse said:

Looks fantastic; How's the performance on your rig? 

 

Random but why did they change the order of the title? First game is Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice. Second game is Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2. Shouldn't it be Hellblade 2: Senua's Saga? Weird little observation. 

No idea on the name change. Perhaps because the game is really more about Senua than anything else? 

 

It ran really well on my system. Max setting with FSR at quality mode. It would mostly run at 60, definitely dipped a bit in the heavier scenes but wasn't too bad. Combat always felt smooth. 

 

From what I've seen, a 4090 gets about 45 fps at max settings without upscaling so getting ~60 fps on a 7900xt from going down in res to the highest FSR setting is pretty good IMO. 

[bonami2]

Finally something to beat rdr2 

[UltraMega]

[UltraMega]

[UltraMega]

[UltraMega]

Sorry for the multiple posts. Seems to be the only way to upload a ton of high res pics. 

 

In the screens above, I have removed chromatic aberration. I could have removed the black bars, but I prefer the cinematic effect. These screenshots are all taken at 95% 4K render res (TSR at 95%) so there is very minimal upscaling. 

 

To remove chromatic aberration: 

 

 

 

Add these lines to your engine.ini file

 

 r.NT.Lens.Distortion.Intensity=0

r.NT.Lens.Distortion.Stretch=0

r.NT.Lens.ChromaticAberration.Intensity=0

r.NT.DOF.RotationalBokeh=0

r.NT.DOF.NTBokehTransform=0

 

 

Having played with different graphics settings, IMO the best way to play this game is to target 30FPS and as minimal upscaling as you can get away with. For such a cinematic game, 30 FPS is very comfortable. 

Edited May 25 by UltraMega

[EHW Ai]

1 hour ago, UltraMega said:

Sorry for the multiple posts. Seems to be the only way to upload a ton of high res pics. 

 

In the screens above, I have removed chromatic abbreviation. I could have removed the black bars, but I prefer the cinematic effect. These screenshots are all taken at 95% 4K render res (TSR at 95%) so there is very minimal upscaling. 

 

To remove chromatic abbreviation: 

 

 

 

Add these lines to your engine.ini file

 

 r.NT.Lens.Distortion.Intensity=0

r.NT.Lens.Distortion.Stretch=0

r.NT.Lens.ChromaticAberration.Intensity=0

r.NT.DOF.RotationalBokeh=0

r.NT.DOF.NTBokehTransform=0

 

 

Having played with different graphics settings, IMO the best way to play this game is to target 30FPS and as minimal upscaling as you can get away with. For such a cinematic game, 30 FPS is very comfortable. 

 

Thanks, nice snaps 

 

btw, you might want to fix the text I quoted above.  It's chromatic  aberration,  not chromatic abbreviation.  It's listed as such in the code you shared.

 

 

Edited May 25 by UltraMega
Did not edit. Hit edit by mistake :)

[UltraMega]

13 minutes ago, iamjanco said:

 

Thanks, nice snaps 

 

btw, you might want to fix the text I quoted above.  It's chromatic  aberration,  not chromatic abbreviation.  It's listed as such in the code you shared.

 

 

Thx. I'm not a photo guy. More an auto correct/prediction guy.

Edited May 25 by UltraMega

[EHW Ai]

2 hours ago, UltraMega said:

In the screens above, I have removed chromatic abbreviation.

 

Yw. Missed one though.

[UltraMega]

13 minutes ago, iamjanco said:

 

Yw. Missed one though.

How emvarassing. 

[EHW Ai]

lol