"A joyless slog of barely interactive entertainment and a muddled portrayal of mental illness," wrote one reviewer

Hellblade 2 Review Roundup: Here's What The Critics Think

"A joyless slog of barely interactive entertainment and a muddled portrayal of mental illness," wrote one reviewer

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Now Playing: Senua's Saga: Hellblade II - Official Launch Trailer (ft. 'Animal Soul' by AURORA)

Hellblade II is exclusive on console to Xbox Series X|S thanks to Microsoft owning developer Ninja Theory and the game franchise. The game is available now on Game Pass for Xbox and PC, or it can be purchased outright for $50 USD. While Microsoft is bringing some of its first-party games to rival platforms, like PlayStation 5, Hellblade II has not been confirmed for Sony's system.

You can see a sampling of the review scores for Hellblade II below. For more on the critical reaction to Hellblade II, head to GameSpot sister site Metacritic.

• Game: Senua's Saga: Hellblade II
• Platform: Xbox Series X|S, PC
• Developer: Ninja Theory
• Release Date: May 21
• Price: $50, also included with Game Pass.

GameSpot -- 6/10

"While few games can rival Hellblade 2's sound, graphic fidelity, and talent for rendering stunning vistas and characters so expressive you can tell when they're tensing their jaws, I couldn't help thinking how gorgeous the game would be if what was depicted was more varied. There are a few memorable set pieces I won't spoil, but even compared to its predecessor--which led players through tombs, razed towns, haunted woods, chamber halls, and let them face off against giants, a rotting boar, towering stag-headed monsters, and the god of illusions--there is surprisingly little variation in Hellblade 2's settings and monsters." -- Jessica Cogswell [Full review]

GamesRadar -- 5/5

"Haunting, confrontational, and deeply cathartic all at once, Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 is a stunning feat of video game art. Ninja Theory doesn't tiptoe around its heavy themes but welcomes them with well-honed empathy, tempered by an even keener creative edge this time around to deliver an unforgettable narrative adventure experience that's hard to watch, yet harder to turn away from." -- Jasmine Gould-Wilson [Full review]

Metro UK -- 5/10

"A joyless slog of barely interactive entertainment and a muddled portrayal of mental illness… that just so happens to have the best graphics ever on a video game console." -- no author byline provided [Full review]

Press Start Australia -- 9/10

"Senua's Saga: Hellblade II is the only first-party Xbox game this generation that has screamed, with any confidence, 'next-gen' to me. All at once it’s an audiovisual tour de force, a tremendous next chapter in Senua's battle that strikes many disparate moods, and although it doesn't take enormous swings to reinvent itself, its refinements make Saga a worthwhile successor to Senua's Sacrifice." -- Brodie Gibbons [Full review]

Game Informer -- 9/10

"Senua's Saga: Hellblade II's conclusion ends on another strong note, and despite my initial reservations about continuing Senua's story, I walked away happy to see her conquer new monsters, both literal and metaphorical. I'm pleased Ninja Theory avoided the temptation to blow up this formula into something far bigger than needed--this isn't Xbox's God of War; it's a better Hellblade. The first game is a famous example of not needing to be fun in the traditional sense to be engaging. This sequel sprinkles more broadly appealing thrills while retaining the thoughtful storytelling and artistry few triple-A games possess." -- Marcus Stewart [Full review]

IGN -- 8/10

"Senua's Saga: Hellblade II is another Viking-worthy feast for the senses that meets the high bar set by its predecessor, even if it never really manages to clear it." -- Tristan Ogilvie [Full review]

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This story originally appeared on: GameSpot - Author:UK GAG