Hellblade is by far one of the best depictions of psychosis and mental health in general. It doesn't glamorize or censor some of the most difficult aspects of Senua's condition, and doesn't end suggesting that she should be "cured" or "fixed".

However, the story seems to think itself a bit more profound than it actually is. I found myself disappointed at the ending, confused as to why the game was going with what I felt like was far too obvious and shallow of a message. The exploration of Senua's trauma through the artistic lens of the Norse underworld was far more interesting of a journey than the main narrative thread. I found myself looking up an explanation of the ending because I was sure I had missed something, but no, the message of "letting go of grief to heal and move forward" really is the culmination of the story.

Props must be given to the artistic team though, as the style and visual appeal of Hellblade is fantastic. The enemies, bosses, and environments take fabulous inspiration from both Norse and Celtic mythology and the hallucination visuals as well as the inclusion of a gang of voices help really involve the player in the feelings Senua experiences during the worst of her psychosis. The combat is fine, it serves its purpose but it's not necessarily a stand out or anything particularly unique. The enemies are pretty repetitive and the bosses are okay, but really the combat seems there just to be used as part of the metaphor.

I would recommend going into this game not with the intention of playing a fleshed out, gritty, combat-focused RPG but rather understanding that this is an art piece that won't take a lot of play to finish