I have this great appreciation for pieces of media that contain stories or messages that can only be properly conveyed in that medium. There's a novel called House of Leaves that tells a story that can only be a novel. It can't be a movie or a tv show or anything other than a novel. In my Graphic Novel as Lit course we read a graduate thesis published into a graphic novel called "Unflattening" and in it, the author broke down the inner workings of a graphic novel all through pictures and minimal dialogue. He tells a story through the medium of a graphic novel that can only be a graphic novel.
My point being is this
Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice is the first game I've played that can only be a video game. A big claim, I know, yet I firmly believe it. A JRPG can be easily adapted into an anime series, The Last of Us and Uncharted have both been adapted to both great and less-than-stellar receptions, but they could be done.
If some producer or director tried to turn this into a movie it would lose so much of what makes this special. The uncomfortable feeling of playing this game. The 3D binaural audio that made me sick to my stomach, the uncomfortably close camera that puts the player into the heart and soul of Senua; that stellar ending sequence where the player has to keep fighting until they can no longer fight at all. Not to mention the other stellar sequences in this game like the blindness puzzle that scared the hell out of me. All of it can only be played. I'd reckon if you watched a playthrough you wouldn't be able to experience the struggle that the game makes the player feel.
The gameplay works in perfect parody with the narrative. each fight is a fight against Senua's inner demons. While not incredibly in depth or engaging the combat works to sell the insanely chaotic and frenetic state of Senua's psyche.
My ONLY gripe is that the game ends with the most cliché "See you in the next adventure" with the most unfitting needle drop. It left such a bad taste in my mouth that I couldn't give the game a 5/5
Also, I don't think I ever want to replay this. It was a worthwhile experience but it certainly was anything but fun. Like I said, this game made me sick to my stomach and stressed out. I do recommend it but probably a one and done experience.
My point being is this
Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice is the first game I've played that can only be a video game. A big claim, I know, yet I firmly believe it. A JRPG can be easily adapted into an anime series, The Last of Us and Uncharted have both been adapted to both great and less-than-stellar receptions, but they could be done.
If some producer or director tried to turn this into a movie it would lose so much of what makes this special. The uncomfortable feeling of playing this game. The 3D binaural audio that made me sick to my stomach, the uncomfortably close camera that puts the player into the heart and soul of Senua; that stellar ending sequence where the player has to keep fighting until they can no longer fight at all. Not to mention the other stellar sequences in this game like the blindness puzzle that scared the hell out of me. All of it can only be played. I'd reckon if you watched a playthrough you wouldn't be able to experience the struggle that the game makes the player feel.
The gameplay works in perfect parody with the narrative. each fight is a fight against Senua's inner demons. While not incredibly in depth or engaging the combat works to sell the insanely chaotic and frenetic state of Senua's psyche.
My ONLY gripe is that the game ends with the most cliché "See you in the next adventure" with the most unfitting needle drop. It left such a bad taste in my mouth that I couldn't give the game a 5/5
Also, I don't think I ever want to replay this. It was a worthwhile experience but it certainly was anything but fun. Like I said, this game made me sick to my stomach and stressed out. I do recommend it but probably a one and done experience.