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[Clear]

Hellblade got a lot of press because of the whole angle of it being an independently produced title with AAA production-values, but was sold at an indie-like midprice.

The same cachet isn't going to apply when ultimately its just a going to be another piece of GamePass content bankrolled by Microsoft.

To be honest it's got its work cut-out just matching up to 4 years worth of trailer hype for its graphics. I don't see it even spiking monthly subs in a meaningful way.

 

[Drell]

I propose that we replace the word "hyperbole" with "xbox"

 

[semiconscious]

Its value to Xbox, then, cannot be understated. The first game was praised for its visual detail, its incredible use of sound and, most importantly, its impressive writing and character development. As a game that dealt with mental health, and psychosis specifically, developer Ninja Theory put in its due diligence to make sure it presented Senua's condition as authentically and respectfully as possible, and the result was a truly unique game that, fittingly, lingered in the mind long after the credits rolled.

well, i can absolutely see this being true of a game like starfield. but the sequel to a somewhat successful 8 hour cult game released over 6 years ago? this's asking a lot of a relatively small-sized studio. i'm not saying that they can't, or won't, deliver (after avalanche software's huge hogwarts legacy success, i'm thinking anything's possible), but this whole 'its value to xbox' thing just seems, well, a little desperate? never mind putting a helluva lotta pressure on what's so far been a somewhat semi-consistent developer...

 

[adamsapple]

 

[mckmas8808]

It could be, sure but I don't think so, it's a niche title, like the equivalent of an art house movie.

It wasn't even PS4's best exclusive the year it came out.

 

[twilo99]

"CONSOLE EXCLUSIVE"

Windows plays day 1 as well

 

[mckmas8808]

one was backed by Sony and the other one was an experiment by an indie studio

Weird that's the one difference that matters to people. I'd say it's very clear that The Order 1886 was clearly a better game than hellblade. And to me is not even close.

 

[Men_in_Boxes]

This article is designed to get clicks.

XBoxs biggest exclusive is Blizzards survival game, no debate. Hellblade 2 is a flash in the pan.

 

[twilo99]

This article is designed to get clicks.

XBoxs biggest exclusive is Blizzards survival game, no debate. Hellblade 2 is a flash in the pan.

What survival game?

I feel like Stalker 2 would be more important.

That thing looks so moody .. looking forward to it

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

Weird that's the one difference that matters to people. I'd say it's very clear that The Order 1886 was clearly a better game than hellblade. And to me is not even close.

it was also a 6 Hours game at full price.

 

[Mr.Phoenix]

Here we go again...

 

[ByWatterson]

God *could* exist.

But the evidence is thin.

 

[Schmendrick]

Now that's an easy immediate ignore if I've ever seen one.

 

[Men_in_Boxes]

What survival game?

Project Odyssey. That game has Yamoto Cannon written all over it. Hopefully they reveal it next year. This story is for the sheep.

 

[coffinbirth]

And Halo Infinite before it.

And Quantum Break.

And Rise of the Tomb Raider.

And Titanfall.

All great games.

 

[Topher]

 

[mckmas8808]

it was also a 6 Hours game at full price.

Okay..... And Hellblade is a 7 hour game.

 

[coffinbirth]

Okay..... And Hellblade is a 7 hour game.

You're missing the full price part, apparently...somehow.

 

[adamsapple]

Okay..... And Hellblade is a 7 hour game.

at $29.99 ..

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

Okay..... And Hellblade is a 7 hour game.

Ninja Theory had a weird approach to the development of that game: "Achieving AAA production levels with a small budget" they were open about their process; making devlogs talking about the challenges that they were facing and what solutions they were implementing to keep costs down.

RAD was being hyped as the next Naughty Dogs.

 

[Kupfer]

My guess : it won't.
It will be mediocre with bulky gameplay but impressive tech.
Doesn't mean it will be a bad game. Ryse felt the same and I finished the campaign twice because I liked the story and cutscenes.
Hellblade 1 on the other hand was boring and inaccessible to me, I played until I reached the big bridge thing and then I'd already had enough of the game and never touched it again.

 

[HeWhoWalks]

I thought Starfield was.

Took the words right out of my mouth.

And this is why Xbox games are treated how they are when they release and don't live up to lofty expectations. Just let it launch and see what happens first.

 

[Danjin44]

With hyperbolic comments like this people will always set themselves up for disappointment even if the game ends being decent.

 

[Heisenberg007]

Okay this deserves a lot of memes

 

[Raonak]

fool me the 23rd time...

 

[Gavon West]

2024 Preview: Hellblade 2 could be Xbox’s most important exclusive | VGC

For Microsoft, all eyes (and ears) will be on Ninja Theory in 2024…

www.videogameschronicle.com

This is the most hyped game ever
The hype around Hellblade 2 is massive and growing

This is wack. Attempt to overhype just to dogpile it later for clicks.

 

[BiohazardX95]

nah, if the first hellblade was better then hellblade 2 would be more important, but it is just hyped because of the graphics and because now it is xbox exclusive.

 

[Gavon West]

don't cry about the Xbox Tax once the game comes out as a disappointment.

Wack.

No one is hyping it up but wack journalists. It is one the important exclusives for the platform though. I'll say it gets an 8.5 or 8. It'll be solid. Nothing more.

 

[mayham2199]

They need to nix the crappy puzzles, and overhaul combat to put the game on the map in the way they're expecting.

I was so shocked at how bad the combat was because ninja theory generally does a good job in that area to me anyways.

 

[Gavon West]

With hyperbolic comments like this people will always set themselves up for disappointment even if the game ends being decent.

That's the whole point or the article. Phil isn't saying it. No Xbox fans are hyping it up, just the article. They'll dogpile it and fill it with xbox doom and gloom articles after it's release.

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

Wack.

No one is hyping it up but wack journalists. It is one the important exclusives for the platform though. I'll say it gets an 8.5 or 8. It'll be solid. Nothing more.

I think more sensible Xboys are more reserved due to the lack of uninterrupted gameplay presentation. But i bet they hype in the Warrior's bubble is going to get higher once the game gets closer to release (which I wouldn't be surprised if the game gets delayed to early 2025).

 

[Crayon]

imperative that its exclusivity becomes as important to Xbox as its predecessor was to PlayStation.

 

[Taur007]

I remember when that studio, Ninja Theory, were considered as little geniuses, developing only hidden gems : Enslaved, Heavenly Sword, DmC.

Hellblade was their pinacle, an immersive journey into the mind of a mentally troubled warrior. Visually breathtaking, great narration and plot, outstanding sound design, nice combats. As it was a PS4 exclusive.

Than it became a Microsoft Studio, then Hellblade became an overpraised piece of trash.

So yeah, people laughing at Hellblade II is too be expected.

No, you people turning on this studio the second MS bought them was the only thing to be expected. You guys loved and admired the first one when it was a PS exclusive and this one will be better in every way, now somehow it's just a "piece of trash", but hey I'd hate to be a ps only gamer too knowing it all goes downhill after wolverine

 

[LordCBH]

The first hellblade had awful gameplay. If they want it to be big, then they NEED to get some actual good gameplay in the sequel.

 

[geary]

Pump the hype now, so it can get lots of clicks on release when trashing it or say ‘i said so’. Win-Win situation…modern journalism.

 

[sendit]

In the sense that it will show what the Series X and UE5 is capable of. Avowed will be the better Microsoft exclusive.

Avowed looks like a sub par gaming experience. I’d love to be proven wrong when it’s released.

 

[DryvBy]

Since the first game was pure trash and you only ever hear about the feels, I doubt this will rock the boat too.

 

[EDMIX]

smh....stop.

The first game was not some Earth shattering, KILLER APP type game. Fucking stop.

I don't get why people set themselves up for this shit. I think it will do fine, I'll be buying it myself on PC, but to say its "xbox's most important exclusive" is just a fucking WILD exaggeration.

1. Its not exclusive, I'm buying it and have no plans to ever own an XB (probably ever at this point)
2. Its importance was never on the level of an Uncharted or Last Of Us for anyone to be betting the fucking farm, going all in, HILL TO DIE ON type shit.

 

[James Sawyer Ford]

This is like A Plague Tale level of importance type of game

 

[twilo99]

Project Odyssey. That game has Yamoto Cannon written all over it. Hopefully they reveal it next year. This story is for the sheep.

Interesting.. another gaas

I like your confidence! I thought Blizzard are just another Ubisoft at this point

 

[Mister Wolf]

Avowed looks like a sub par gaming experience. I’d love to be proven wrong when it’s released.

Hellblade will barely be a game, and I doubt Ninja Theory even cares about it being fun.

 

[Fess]

Doubtful. To me it just seems like Microsoft is using Ninja Theory’s to see how far it’s possible to take realtime graphics and motion capture when money is no issue. NT will make one big game per generation at most.

 

[MarkMe2525]

This ain't that game

 

[Jesb]

This game is not something that’s gonna have mass appeal. So not sure how this is the most important exclusive. Starfield was way more important of a release than this one.

 

[Bogroll]

Not my cup of tea if it's anything like the first one. Sure I'll have a look at the graphics for 10 minutes but even what I've seen so far as not wowed me.

 

[Mr Reasonable]

Is it being hyped up?

Microsoft have shown a couple of trailers and...

Is that it being hyped up?

 

[RainblowDash]

Is this game really not out yet??

 

[Snake29]

7/10 importance.

 

[Ar¢tos]

it was also a 6 Hours game at full price.

The Order wasn't full price.
I paid 45€ for it on release day, and I remember articles saying that Sony changed the price before the release.

 

[LiquidJensen]