It's a harrowing experience. And proof that video games are more than entertainment, more than hours upon hours of mindless gameplay.
From a replayability perspective, this game is short and nothing changes if you want to replay it. You just do it for the story. So I want to put this warning here about what this game is what is not. It got me thinking about gaming in general and why gaming is not only a way to waste to time but to experience something else the other medium are not as good for.
Back to the game. The mental struggle and the reality of Senua is superbly represented here. I've read people saying it doesn't make any sense and they were bored. And I think you have to start with the right expectations.
The graphics, the lighting especially, the sounds, the gameplay, all amazing.
The graphics and motion captures are the best at this moment in a game. It bring the character as close to you as possible, while avoiding the uncanny valley.
The sounds. I never thought I would say this about simple sounds in a game. They are such a big part of this experience. The game would not be the same without the auditory experience. The first hour of the game was full of atmosphere and extremely disturbing. I had to quit after one hour because the voices are so real and so exhaustive. I struggled with anxiety so I recognize the symptoms, though I didn't hear exactly voices, everyone is talking to the self more or less during the day. In extreme cases, it is very tiring. The game manages that in just one hour, while keeping the experience real, not annoying but draining.
The gameplay. The claustrophobia of fights, And how hard is to fight more than one opponent. And at the same time, it's fun. You can sense the force that goes into each blow, the struggle to stay alive with every breath. The fight is simple but it feels right.
There are puzzles here that make sense, not in your world, but in Senua's world. These are not puzzles just to proceed further, they are puzzles that delve into Senua's mind and after a while, you'll try to think logically about them. And that is amazing, because really they should not make sense. It made you feel Senua's reality is real. And it is. That's the whole point of the game.
Also, beautiful story, not only about mental illness, but about grief, love, stigma (more damaging than the simple mental illness), death, self-love, and how hard is to fight with your own mind. As hard as fighting dozens of murderous vikings and barely surviving.
"The hardest battles are fought in the mind."
