I would love to see a rise in "AA" games. Bigger budgets and bigger potential, but with the mindset and freedom of indie games. Great video, Raycevick!
I've been commenting on most Hellblade reviews, so I'll leave one here, too. I really loved Hellblade, and am on my second play-through to use headphones and get the secret ending. It's really such a magical game. I wasn't bothered by any of the puzzle sections, and the combat has surprising depth to it that basically no reviewers are talking about. I think the most important take away from Hellblade, though, is what it took to make it. In the Developer Diaries, Ninja Theory shows step-by-step how they created each of the tools in the game, the concept phase, how actors were chosen, music design, sound recording, and how they managed to create new innovative ways of graphical and system design to work within a budget. Like you said, they did a ton of things that an average indie dev wouldn't be able to do, but still couldn't do things a AAA budget could. It really is the middle ground. And for all those calling Nier and a bunch of other Japanese titles "mid-market games," just know that those are being sold at $60 price tags, which means they will be judged as AAA games because that's how they're being sold. Just because a studio is passionate about a game doesn't mean it's mid-market. A, AA, and AAA designate budget, team size, and sell price, not the level of commitment from the team. So don't insult Hellblade just because you like another unrelated game more. The reason Hellblade is so important is because of what the team managed to accomplish with their team (13 people at the beginning and 20 people by the end, their budget (between an indie and a AAA), and the time they spent (roughly two years). The fact that they managed to create a product like this with those limitations and sell it for $30 USD is fucking amazing. And, honestly, it shouldn't be groundbreaking, but it is because no one else is doing it. This needs to succeed to show the industry that it's possible and should be done. More games like this need to exist to create a healthier games market.
While it is a good game and the efforts on display, especially from a visual and sound perspective, are commendable and impressive but the gameplay and pacing aren't very good to me, but that's just my own opinion.
Finally, someone other than Bunnyhop addressing the middle market! I brought this up at an industry event and a bunch of professionals were acting as though this market never existed.
The middle market exists, it's just that people that make these videos ignore them when it's when it's not to their taste. People have listed many middle market games in the comments, only for others to try and make excuses for why they don't count.
SabreXT Exactly. When people say that the middle market is dead, its makes me scratch my head since you know, many of those type of games are coming out this year and the next so this "the middle market is dead" is just nonsense.
Spicy Puffin Funny enough many of those middle teir games came this year. One that was incredibly over looked and hasn't been getting nearly enough recognition is game called GET EVEN.
When I played the first time around, Hellblade's intro level had such dense atmosphere, I knew I was in for a trippy ride. This shit was damn amazing and it's portrayal of psychosis and how an affected person sees the world is truly something worth experiencing.
I enjoy these essay style videos focusing on video games, but I have to say that most of them feel homemade and informal in a way. Thats why I love this channel. The videos just feel so professional, and the topics brought up are always interesting.
Ninja Theory is one of the most underrated studios. Their games are highly acclaimed and high-quality but they still don't get much attention in the end and don't sell as well as you would think. Heavenly Sword and Enslaved are amazing games which feel different and unique. I hope with Hellblade they finally get the attention they deserve by proving that Indie games are able to compete with big Triple-A games.
Well they did rape Devil May Cry and it's insulting marketing campaign so I think it's just a mixed reception, you either hate or love Ninja Theory(I'm somewhere in the middle)
As someone who has suffered from mental disabilities in the past, I for one praise Hellblade. I usually don't like to talk about this in detail, but I shall do so since there's so much childish talk going on in other comments. Those who are saying Hellblade is a boring walking simulator... you're free to do so. There's nothing wrong with calling it that if that's what you see it as. No game is going to fit the tastes of everyone. Just like there are many people who hate call of duty, there are many people who would hate The Witcher 3. I myself look down on games like call of duty because I find war a vile, cruel and horrible thing in reality, so I fail to understand why anyone would want to simulate it in the world of video games. For myself, I have suffered from situations of severe depression, psychosis and hallucinations. I was trapped in a very dark place during my life, added to by the fact I lost several close loved ones. I got to the point where I was self harming, hearing voices and giving up on anything remotely good. I eventually got help, but medication I was put on didn't really do any wonders, and I began to hallucinate terrible things, such as my kitchen covered in blood splatters that crawled their ways across the ceiling and walls. Thankfully, I'm in a better position now, and am continuing to recover on a road that I'm ever getting better on. But with Hellblade, I praise it because... well, while it didn't portray what it was that I went through, it is still a very, very, very successful window into the world of those who suffer from mental problems. Psychosis is no joke. It can truly be hell for those who have it. It was for me... For anyone who even has a shred of imagination who thinks this game may be boring, just try it a little bit. Listen and see what it is the character Senua goes through... and then imagine yourself living with it. Day in... day out... No matter if you're awake or asleep... that anguish that weighs on you is always there. Even as you dream.
The first thing I thought of playing this game, was “is this actually what people have to handle every day, 24/7?” I was never able to comprehend how people that suffer through this deal with it. But this game gave me an idea of what people go through
First... :) happy you're making your way out of it. Also suffering from strong psychosis and this game portraied it so well - they found a way between how it really is to live with paranoia and how normal people would understand it (if they want to). In reality it's not like hearing voices (at least to me) but more like thoughts you know coming from someone else (in my case my brain says they come from god). But interpreting it as voices is ok to show others how it works. There were other games who tried this but they more felt like an offense. In hellblade on the other side it makes somehow a connection to the character :D what for others in this game may seem a bit disturbing i felt being normal. Shortly they announced a sequel and i can't wait to play it
@@xtracool12 :D yes. it is 24/7. But for someone who lives that way it's hard to imagine how people live being happy and so. It sometimes feels like "normal" people just don't see some things and that's good for them.
Befuzzled332 is it any good? My buddy was offloading humble bundle codes and gave me a copy of Freedom Force vs The Third Reich. Think its worth a play?
In such case u really should try Neir Automata. Neir shows how dedicated the development team are,from the flow of gameplay, the plot to the soundtrack. It's interesting level design and camera control give a spectacular gameplay. The narrative way and use of soundtracks deliver a fantastic story. Neir is not prefect but if u like games such as spec ops or hellblade that put the player in very strong emotion, u should really try Neir.
I'm with you there. Nier: Automata has managed to stay locked as my favorite game of 2017, despite a shitty pc port and Square's business practices with the small team. No other game I've played since has been able to match gameplay with narrative and presentation quite like this.
I disagree, the gameplay, the story, and the damn ending was more of an weird and experimental yet ended up as a "you tried" gimmick than anything, not as mind blowing as you think it is. I want blind anime fanboys to stop sucking Yoko Taro's cock and just play Talos Principle if you want some real philosophical story without sounding pretentious and self-indulgent.
The video was about pushing the middle market, not any of the things you mentioned. He only talks about the strong points in Hellblade to deliver the message that good things can come from said middle market. Nier Automata has no relevance to that.
I'd get Nier, Wolfenstein 2, and The Evil Within 2 over pretty much any other lame AAA half arsed campaigns and multiplayers from EA, Ubisoft, and Activision. It's funny that a remaster of a great PS1 trilogy is one of the best selling games of the year...
Nice use of DmC music on the intro. "Lilith's Theme" is used so perfectly in that club environment and the sound design of Ninja Theory games is always on point. Hellblade uses "Passarella Death Squad - Just Like Sleep" during its finale and it is beautifully woven in.
As a Neuropsychology student I have to commend the team for its striking accuracy portraying how Psychosis and Schizophrenia influences human cognitive functions. The reason why so many of them act the way they do is because they are hearing all of these voices in their head that never go away and this confuses and torments the poor individuals to a point where they are no longer able to recognize what is actually real and what is a hallucination.
I found out about Hellblade two weeks ago, and it is now one of my favourite games I've ever played. It's simply amazing and different from the standard gaming experience, I fucking loved it.
You, mister, mentioning all those great games in the the beginning reminded everyone the reasons why there are a lot jaded gamers. Games nowadays are great, but there isn't(or wasn't for some time)enough market for lesser developers to win us over with something truly inspired. It's coming back finally.
Everyone hating on Hellblade should just play it. It is NOT your average game, it is a work of art and in some forms education, dabbling in a topic (mental illness/issues) that is rarely spoken about. A story driven journey about a young woman struggling through her life due to her upbringing, society and religion. You travel through a strange world with many twists and turns, you'll see and hear things you might not relate to or maybe not even understand. In the end it is a beautiful lesson about how the way we grow up, behave and live our lifes affects not only ourself, but how we look at the world and certain subjects. I cannot recommend this game enough!! It might not be for everyone, but if you decide not to try it you will be missing out. To whomever made it this far, have a good day Sir/Madam!
This game is insane. As a man with some mental issues, I can relate to some of it's topics. I also totally loce how they didn't give any tutorials or tips - completed it and only afterwards found out that you can parry or crush through shields.
Its really nice to have a reviewer on RUclips who actually talks about the game, and who doesn't just tell us why we SHOULDN'T get it. I always look forward to your uploads and am never disappointed in the quality. Thanks for another great upload.
But I think it's a true one. Don't get me wrong, Neir: Automata, Breath of the Wild, Persona 5, etc are all important games, not to mention fantastic ones, but they fall into the current AAA trend of big, long, epic "experiences" with a $60 price tag. Hellblade is important because it represents what an experienced studio with AAA experience can do with a minimal budget and complete creative control over their project.
Alden Raymond not really,in Japan there's almost no difference between AAA or Mid budget,they all gonna be around 60 full price in the price tag,that just how system work out there,believe or not most people in Japan never heard of AAA or indie,because out there games are equal
Alden Raymond ugh...you mean AAA take too many hours to beat the game? Most problem are because if you looking at JRPG or openworld,those games gonna take some time,and Western AAA are known for openworld,RE7 are short and replay value are quite low is one of the reason no one playing anymore,NieR Automata do take sometime to get all the ending but its not that hard,most people finish in 48 hours its actually quite low for an openworld games,tbh most Japanese games don't level their games as AAA or not,the only few company said their games are AAA are the one mainly trying to grab Western money,like darksouls or MGS Survive,Final Fantasy
I realize that I only used Japanese games in my initial statement and that's where I think the confusion is coming from. I didn't mean to say anything about the difference between Japanese and Western AAA games. It was more that of the games that came out in 2017 that were big and long and time-consuming (in the best ways, of course), the first ones to come to mind happened to be the Japanese ones. But Horizon: Zero Dawn falls into the same category I was talking about. And, to go back a couple years, so does The Witcher 3. No, what I'm trying to say is that while I love a deep love and appreciation for Neir: Automata and Horizon: Zero Dawn and Persona 5 and all these big games that have come out in the last couple years that are really, really spectacular, there's something to be said for a game that does exactly what it means to do within a day or two of playing. Neir wouldn't have worked as well as it had if it had been a 10 hour game. Same with The Witcher 3. Same with Persona 5. Same with Horizon: Zero Dawn. But Hellblade works near-perfectly within its small runtime and arguably would have suffered if Ninja Theory had chosen to drag out its runtime by adding another 6-8 hours of random stuff to do. Again, I'm not talking about Japanese vs. Western AAA games; I'm just talking about big games in general, regardless of country of origin.
Raycevick, you don't know how much MORE respect I have for you. I'm so happy to see this video. I also just realized, thanks to this video, why 2008 seems like such a big year for gaming when I think about it.
Dude... man... I'm really glad I stumbled onto this channel. While I'm now a computer engineer, this reminds me of why I began my path from the dreams of making videogames , back then I understood the massive power this medium has. Thanks for reminding me its not all CODs and copies.
Judging by the comments, a fair criticism to your video is that you weren't clear enough. People didn't get that the importance of this game doesn't quite rest within itself but on the big push it gives to the middle market. They also didn't get that this game is the kind to deliver an experience, more in the vein of adventure games than character action. I get that you don't cater your videos specifically to the lowest common intelectual denominator, teenagers and people who for all intents and purposes think like them, but consider trying to be more direct in the points you deliver. If you manage to educate even one of those animals, you'd be doing humanity a favor.
While i agree with your comment the superiority complex vibes that gives me your "educate those animals" is insanily high, close to the "2deep4u" users of 4chan. Go fuck yourself
I'm not sure how much more direct he could've been. I paid attention to what he was saying during the video's runtime and never wondered what he was on about. If people jumped to conclusions and misinterpreted the point or focus of the vid there's only so much responsibility he should have to shoulder for it. But thanks for keeping an open mind and contributing to a civil discussion, most of RUclips can't be bothered.
ColtSteele Consider that a large portion of the video is a review of the game; he should have stuck to the main point. He did try to make it clear, but there would be less misunderstandings if the video was more focused than it is.
"Hundreds of thousands" Very exaggerated. On steam alone, both Skyrim and SSE didn't even break 25k and being on PC, this is where the highest population is found. I genuinely doubt with the combined numbers of Skyrim and SSE across all platforms, that it would not even come close to breaking 100k, especially on a day to day basis.
Paragon None of your damned business okay 25k in what period of time I mean skyrim was a really popular games so its numbers were high so when your saying 25/100k are you referring today or all time ?
+Paragon and those 15-25k people on pc are not the same people playing all day long ffs.... And there are CERTAINLY more people playing it on consoles than on pc, just like the vast majority of triple A titles like CoD, Battlefield, GTA, etc, but those numbers aren't tracked.
This video was extremely informative, and kept me hooked until the very end! Well done, and great job on getting people thinking about the gaming industry today!
I mean Nier Automata is also not triple A and in my opinion has a lot more going for it than Hellblade but Platinum are usually (not always) good at making games with low to average budgets
But it's a Square Enix distributed game. Which is a triple A studio. I think if Platinum games released it themselves like Ninja Theory did than it would be right, but they had Square Enix behind them.
Doesn't matter, it's asking me to pay the full price, thereby I am going judge it like any other AAA game out there. If I was to make a shitty indie platformer and ask 60 bucks for it, would you defend my game by saying "Yea it's asking for 60 dollars but its from an indie developer so its really an indie title." ?
Okay I see what you're getting at, judging whether the game is worth the price by looking at its asking price. I thought you were making the argument that Nier was not a middle market game because of how much it costs but I see that's not what you are talking about. Never mind I see your point and that is totally what everyone should do, I just misunderstood what you were saying.
Did Alex Garland write the script or write the general story beats or did he just direct the cutscenes?, it would still be the worst thing he's ever worked on either way
This may be the most important video on youtube. I didn't realize the financial crash in 08 hurt the gaming industry so much but it makes a lot of sense.
I skipped the spoiler part of this video, bought the game and started it at 1am. I couldn't put it down and finished it around 9. Thank you Raycevick, this game was a trip and a half and I'm so glad I went in blind.
For me, personally, I'm a big fan of short yet sweet titles. Games like Portal, Bastion, Limbo, Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon . . . A lot of big AAA games nowadays feel like you're entering into this big, committed relationship and want you to have this long, epic "experience" and more often than not, I come away feeling exhausted and burnt out. Not to say games like these were bad--I happened to love Neir: Automata and Horizon: Zero Dawn and Persona 5--but there's something to be said for games that succeed in everything they try to do (and do it well, no less) in only a few hours.
We need the middle market back, badly. Some of the best games of my life came from that stuff, he already mentioned a few. Timesplitters, come back to me. We need more creativity, variety and passion in the industry right now more than anything.
What if I disliked every game Ninja Theory put out before and I'm not giving them another shot? Am I killing the middle market? You yourself said the middle market was coming back with a corresponding list of games, so this game's success shouldn't be too relevant. But it's the mental illness but right? That's what makes it important. I guess so but I feel that kind of stuff has already been covered in many indie games. So what I get here is that Hellblade, because of its budget bracket and character with psychosis, is the most important game of the year despite other games covering those grounds.
Welp, after that one Q&A where you said you liked industrial, and now this video features some Combi at the end, pretty sure our music tastes align pretty well here.
As someone with Major Depressive Disorder, I'm glad that this game tackles mental illness as well as it does. Looks very interesting, indeed. Might pick this up. Thanks Raycevick
@Raed 928 You are obviously not familiar with the hormonal imbalances that depression causes and how those impact the body. Not to mention the fact that SSRI's usually add to the problem rather than solving it. I know, psychopathology is not a field for everybody to completely understand, but you would benefit a lot from some actual research.
For me this game was incredible, the dev diaries really show the lengths they went to in order to get the portrayal of psychosis and while I can never understand how hard it must be to live with I have the barest grasp on it because of hellblade
I don't know how it's taken so long for RUclips to recommend your channel to me, over the x-millionth cat video, yet here we are. Either way, really great work. Have a new sub! :D
"some managed to survive" you showed irrational games while saying that but they shut down after bioshock infinite. True, Ghost Story Games was formed from their ashes but still. (I'm really excited for what ever they're making, maybe a new bioshock?)
People confuses "most important game" with "best game", I really don't get the hate on this game. I'm NOT the criticism this game received is wrong, not at all, but the way some people talks about it is just weird. Like somehow if you don't like something nobody else can. I think that for a game like this, you either love it or don't. Some people can't stand others loving or thinking highly of something they don't care about, or even hate. It's a 30$ low budget indie game that was made as a testament that even a small studio of 20 people can make an AAA looking game. It's a warning to those big companies that made AAA games with way more money and people than this, and still manages to somehow make awful uninspired games. Even if you think it's boring or pretentious (given it's artistic direction and themes), even if you don't like the setting or the gameplay or the story and the characters, you can't deny the importance that this game has. I saw many comments mentioning other great games that came out this year, and I'd like to talk about two of them in particular. Persona 5, I love you, you're an AWESOME game that explodes with artistic creativity from it's visuals to it's music, and I could say that you're are "important" as in "very good" and it's important for the industry, as.. you know.. any great game? But looking at what's the game and its elements, it doesn't have anything "important", it's story is good, but nothing new or groundbreaking, setting, characters and gameplay are all things we've seen before, I'm not saying the game is worth less because of that, it's just not important relatively to what this video is about. Nier: Automata, you made me cry, so you're important TO ME. And many others. Some of the stuff you do are original and innovative and the story told, especially for its themes, it's deep and "amazing" can't begin to describe it. However it's still not the same "important" that this video talks about. Talking back at what I said about what Hellblade meant for the medium, it's also important for its main theme, psychosis. It's a real issue and it's good this game talks about it. Persona 5 deals with some real world issue, but they're not its main theme, Nier makes a big deal about existentialism and the meaning of life, but keeps it very cryptic and it doesn't feel like its story was made with "awareness" in mind. Hellblade is one of my favourite games I played this year, you don't have to like it, but not recognizing its importance to the industry is just objectively wrong.
The "importance" talked about in the video is not something Hellblade can really claim though. The video talks about the revival of the middle market, but the middle market has been "revived" for years now. But for reasons I can only speculate, those games are ignored. Nier and Persona keep getting brought up because they are popular, successful, middle market games that Hellblade is praised for being. Other's bring more examples, but those are handwaved too.
Nier and Persona are big budget 60$ AAA games published by two major publishers and are both part of series that have been going on for over a decade. Neither are very good examples of the middle market.
Freedom Fighters was full priced and publushed by EA. So was Battlefield and Dead Space. Hitman was full price and published by Eidos, and so on, and so forth. By your own logic, the middle market that Hellblade revived never actually existed in the first place. But providing specific examples isn't the point. The point is, Hellblade is nothing special. There are lots of games in recent years with medium budgets that were successful. But for whatever reason, people (such as yourself) are trying to hand wave them as not counting.
Not bashing the game at all, I'm just saying that is seems almost everyone is talking about how underrated this game is and how everyone needs to play it
Wtf? I'm scrolling through the comments and constantly reading hate for Hellblade?! Have you played the game? Have you looked at the price tag? Have you looked at it's budget? Saying Hellblade sucks and that Nier Automata is better totally misses the point of the video! One of these games is a big AAA JRPG, the other is an indipendent low budget game. And while Hellblade may not be your cup of tea and isn't perfect, it's still good, unique and comes incredibly close to delivering a full Triple A experience. I love how streamlined the game is. It's not loaded with bullshit like unlockables, collectibles, etc. Hellblade is important because it shows that there is another way to develop games. A way that allows for creative freedom and producing for a niche audience without having to worry about selling millions of copies to get a return on investment. The game doesn't need to appeal to everyone. Around 250k sales with half the price tag of a regular game are enough to make profit. To me that's a huge deal for us gamers and studios alike and the reason why it's the most important game of 2017
To be fair, NieR wasn't really a AAA game, it's a game that got the AAA makeover without the benefits of a "main stream" publisher like Activision and EA, at least that's the way I see it. The NieR/Drakengaurd fandom was pretty fricken small before Automata and the game itself was nowhere "NieR" (god I'm good at puns) anyone's radar even if it was being published by a known studio. The game came pretty much out of nowhere for anyone who wasn't already a NieR/Drakengaurd fan and the game turned out to be really fucking good. That being said though Hellblade is an important game because, like you said, "it shows that there is another way to develop games". The visuals are fabulous, the sound is great, and the voice work is fantastic, but there's also another side of this discussion that I would like your input on, should we really be naming things "the best [insert thing here] game of [insert timeframe]". The way I see it these labels only encourage arguments more then actual critical discussions and heated comments, like the way yours starts off, only seems to add fire to the flames. I could be wrong and I'd like to here your thoughts as well if you or anyone else manages to read this all the way through.
I have been binge watching your channel the past few days and with how well constructed, written and delivered you content is, I sure won't complain on the gaps between your videos. If that's the price for your type and style of work, I'll wait.. Not happily, but patiently, for it will be worth it in the end. I only finished Hellblade a few months ago and even though I was late to the party, I enjoyed every moment and I'm looking forward to see how Hellblade 2 turns out and if it can carry on forward. Hellblade is the only game that I could/would be truly bothered to want to use Photo mode and also be quite satisfied with the results. I have tried on some other games in the past but as I'm no way even remotely close to being a photographer (Not even a terrible and/or a useless one at that) with understanding angles, backdrops, lighting and all the other technical jargong that might be used, I quickly and firmly decided to stop trying. I'm not saying that Hellblade has changed my mind with photos but just as an example in praising Hellblade, in your video at 10:35 is a cutscene during the boss fight against Valravn and out of curiosity I decided to test out Photo Mode and the visual that I was presented had me choke on my coffee. The visual of Valravn picking at Senua's body like a giant black Raven picks on a corpse on a battlefield was mesmerizing.
Occasionally my screen goes black and computer sounds stutter so I have to restart. Your video audio continued for the last few minutes at the end of the video no problem. Your words have power! You have great videos and I turned on notifications as soon as my PC restarted :P
Just wanted to say, I've liked you videos from day 1. You make some really valid points. It's clear that you put a lot of thought and effort into analyzing these games and making your videos, and I highly respect that. Kudos to you, my friend.
On a related note, I think it would be really cool if you did a video comparing the original halo games and destiny, and seeing how bungie has changed. Just a suggestion :)
I feel like every reviewer hates tutorials in games. I just don't understand all the negativity surrounding tutorials now, before everyone decides to teach me why tutorials are 'bad' let me say a few things first. Here's the thing, I understand some games do best without having prompts pop up on your screen and just do best by throwing your player into the thick of it and just learning how to play the game, Hellblade is a good example of this and how not to break the immersion without having anything unnecessary on your screen, it fits the game and gives more emphasis on the immersion and keeps you invested. But, on the other hand tutorials are not a bad things, I feel like a lot games are best with tutorials, takes games like For Honor and Bioshock, even though one is a FPS it still has other gimmicks/mechanics you need to know how to use(like the weapon wheel)if you want to get through the game, if the player can't figure it out themselves and get frustrated with the game they won't play it and maybe even return it because the devs never ended up teaching the player what to do and even with experimentation they couldn't do it, it leads to a un-fun and aggravating gaming experience. Especially in a game like For Honor that would've pissed you the fuck off if you could never figure how to block or use your special abilities. So in my opinion tutorials are not a bad thing, some games do best without giving tutorials and are more fitted for it such as the horror genre, games like Dead Space and Hellblade. It's just a matter of what type of atmosphere and immersion you want your game to have and see what is the best route to take incorporating a tutorial. But that's just my opinion on the subject of tutorials.
I've done a video on tutorials years ago. I think your comment is spot on, it's all a matter of the experience at hand. Though I would argue that Multiplayer should always have a tutorial, but make it optional. I distinctly remember wanting to get into Battleborn recently but was forced through two matches worth of tutorials for a game that really wasn't complex enough to justify it. Gigangtic has a similar problem, and were I not playing with a friend with time to kill, I probably would've given up on it too, which would've sucked because Gigantic is a pretty kick ass game. They're a complex and difficult part of making video games, just like everything else in the artform.
I appreciate the hard work and business model of Hellblade. I really do. However this doesn't mean people should buy it in droves, just because the devs have been passionate. I uninstalled it a few hours in, due to a serious disconnect. It's a borderline walking simulator, and I found having to walk/run slowly more often than not, extremely frustrating. So much of the experience is in its presentation, and not gameplay. Imo Something like Bioshock is 1 million times more immersive than this will ever be. Even with its faults. The funny thing is; it's design decisions like this that are also a blight on the industry. One and done, hand holding/walking slowly, NO REPLAY VALUE. Even TLOU was only good to me, when it allowed you to play the bloody game.
SithisHimself I respectfully disagree, I was profoundly disturbed by this game and it made a lasting impact on me. I enjoyed BioShock in a different way. Does not have to be either or....
Because of the way how the game is made and what the theme is, causes some of the more extreme hit or miss experiences for gamers. Personally I enjoyed it, But I can understand why someone couldn't. I personally think we should aplaud the extreme reactions this game causes (ironically).
The most important game of the year is a game we'll all have forgotten about in a few months. Yes, Senua is beautifully animated and the actress did a superb job with the role, but moving a character into a highlighted area and then adjusting the camera until two shapes on the screen line up is not my idea of a good time. The combat fairs a little better, but you'll have seen everything it has to offer by the third hour -- and it never changes from then until the end. I completed the game and thought it was fine - not great - but fine. They priced it right and the story is interesting enough that I wanted to keep playing, but the "puzzle" sections are so mundane and so detrimental to the pacing that I simply have no desire to ever touch it again.
Raycevick, I really appreaciate your analysis of games. Found your channel in 2018 and been watching a lot of your stuff. Happy to find this gem here and happy to share the same opinion with you. Hellblade was one of the best gaming experiences I ever had!
"The Experience" the kind of game that you play once and think it is great... and then you notice the rough edges on a second playthrough. Buying games like this is like buying a movie... it is allways best to just Rent it.
What an amazing game Hellblade is. An instant classic, i did not play anything this good in years. Masterpiece. Niert Automata i loved, but this is something else.
While it is a good game and the efforts on display, especially from a visual and sound perspective, are commendable and impressive it's not a masterpiece to me. The gameplay and pacing aren't good and it hinders the game by a lot, but that's just my own opinion.
The craziest thing is I clicked on this video on a whim and I've never even heard of this game. Can't wait to give it a go/seems like it's right up my alley~
I like Ninja Theory pretty much and Enslaved is a masterpeace. But I think the hype around Hellblade is too big. It looks very good like a true AAA game. But that's it. From the mental point of view....the wholle game is just a constant playlist of ASMR clips, and the game itself is very boring. I wouldn't call it the most important game of 2017
No. Also other games have gone for AA 30-40$ pricing before (and after) this game. It's only because the devs for Hellblade have talked about this AA middle ground thing that you (while the other games didn't) that you connect this as something unique or important. For example, Ratchet & Clank (2016) was a smaller non-full priced title that still was of high quality. Everybody's Golf (2017) and Knack 2 (2017) are two other titles that are priced at 30-40$. Shadow Warrior 1 and 2 are in the same camp. New IPs? Lawbreakers, I am Setsuna, Lost Sphear, Absolver, etc. are other random examples. So no, this game is not the most important game of 2017.
Prior to seeing this video I had seen literally nothing of it outside of the occasional tweet. This video was all it took for me to buy the game immediately. Just finished it and I can definitively say that this is one of -- if not the -- best game I've played this year. Absolutely brilliant, can't thank you enough for the recommendation.
This comment section, show us how the actual auto-proclaimed "gamer" is becoming his own destruction. I remember when a bad game it was one because it was barely unplayable, but now just because it has a developer name, a publisher name, it dont follow the hype, dont like a part of the storyline/gameplay, or just they hear it from a YT/Twitter person with millions of follower, the videogame now its a bad game. Its really sad.
Honestly, I feel Nier Automata has held a bigger impact to me than anything else I've played so far this year. I know thats sorta following the pack with that, but I feel that its at least a game that has the atmosphere, quality, gameplay, and visual fidelity and design aspects to really go beyond this. Give it a shot, its worth it.
Thank you very much for the spoiler alert :) Since I've seen a short gameplay on another channel I've been trying to get as little information about the game as possible, so I can enjoy it to the fullest, when I play it sometime in future. To me it seemed like the Hellblade is in an entirely different league from many other games, with its immersiveness, depth, story telling and artistic nature with beautiful visuals; in a way similar to Ori and the Blind Forest.
One of my fav games for sure. People who whine here are an excellent example of the reduction in attention span over time. Oh noes, I don't fight, but have to solve a weird puzzle instead for a few minutes? The horror!
I understand it's cool what they're doing with trying to bring back the middle-market game, but personally I'm just not interested in the game. Not because I think it's bad or boring, it just doesn't look like something I'd enjoy.
I would love to see a rise in "AA" games. Bigger budgets and bigger potential, but with the mindset and freedom of indie games. Great video, Raycevick!
to much freedom with a big budget can turn into a Diaster
@@snakekingblues3017 bigger budget but not AAA budget
@SEVENSAMURAI i doubt portal, csgo and such are "AAA" games...
I hear just like sleep playing in the background and got shivers
@@rogoznicafc9672 Every Valve game is big budget AAA game. Half Life Alyx is the only AAA game in VR space. Valve delivers both quality and quantity.
"The cancelled battlefront 3" Ah it still hurts.
I know your pain brother
Indeed.
Now, more than ever. :(
💀
Great video! Thanks for helping me on mine!
I can listen him explaining how to make popcorn for an hour.
Now there's an idea...
R /\ D Wow you must be a very interesting person.
Trick question. The new HD remaster of Pong for the Atari 26,000. It has 3 achievements and the ability to make your paddle clementine colored.
I've been commenting on most Hellblade reviews, so I'll leave one here, too. I really loved Hellblade, and am on my second play-through to use headphones and get the secret ending. It's really such a magical game. I wasn't bothered by any of the puzzle sections, and the combat has surprising depth to it that basically no reviewers are talking about. I think the most important take away from Hellblade, though, is what it took to make it. In the Developer Diaries, Ninja Theory shows step-by-step how they created each of the tools in the game, the concept phase, how actors were chosen, music design, sound recording, and how they managed to create new innovative ways of graphical and system design to work within a budget. Like you said, they did a ton of things that an average indie dev wouldn't be able to do, but still couldn't do things a AAA budget could. It really is the middle ground. And for all those calling Nier and a bunch of other Japanese titles "mid-market games," just know that those are being sold at $60 price tags, which means they will be judged as AAA games because that's how they're being sold. Just because a studio is passionate about a game doesn't mean it's mid-market. A, AA, and AAA designate budget, team size, and sell price, not the level of commitment from the team. So don't insult Hellblade just because you like another unrelated game more.
The reason Hellblade is so important is because of what the team managed to accomplish with their team (13 people at the beginning and 20 people by the end, their budget (between an indie and a AAA), and the time they spent (roughly two years). The fact that they managed to create a product like this with those limitations and sell it for $30 USD is fucking amazing. And, honestly, it shouldn't be groundbreaking, but it is because no one else is doing it. This needs to succeed to show the industry that it's possible and should be done. More games like this need to exist to create a healthier games market.
While it is a good game and the efforts on display, especially from a visual and sound perspective, are commendable and impressive but the gameplay and pacing aren't very good to me, but that's just my own opinion.
How do you get the secret ending?
@@galileu9 Collect all 44 of the lorestones.
@@crvnmrhd Is really a secret ending or an extra cutscene near the end?
ThatGuyYouKnow same here man. I got so bored a couple of times playing this game. I finally gave up after surtur
Finally, someone other than Bunnyhop addressing the middle market! I brought this up at an industry event and a bunch of professionals were acting as though this market never existed.
The middle market exists, it's just that people that make these videos ignore them when it's when it's not to their taste. People have listed many middle market games in the comments, only for others to try and make excuses for why they don't count.
SabreXT Exactly. When people say that the middle market is dead, its makes me scratch my head since you know, many of those type of games are coming out this year and the next so this "the middle market is dead" is just nonsense.
Spicy Puffin Funny enough many of those middle teir games came this year. One that was incredibly over looked and hasn't been getting nearly enough recognition is game called GET EVEN.
Really? at an industry event? Jesus christ, who were these idiots?
+Supreme Buffalo Ironically, Casual Connect USA
When I played the first time around, Hellblade's intro level had such dense atmosphere, I knew I was in for a trippy ride. This shit was damn amazing and it's portrayal of psychosis and how an affected person sees the world is truly something worth experiencing.
I enjoy these essay style videos focusing on video games, but I have to say that most of them feel homemade and informal in a way. Thats why I love this channel. The videos just feel so professional, and the topics brought up are always interesting.
holy shit this video fucking hurt to watch.. so many good developers snuffed out before they could make it
2:54 "and if i keep going we'll be here all day" well keep going then. saw alot of great games that i havent heard of before.
:D heard the name of a game that i didn't hear for ages...legacy of kain. OMG: i so loved this game
Yeah same
I always felt like we’re meant to be one of the voices in Senua’s head, just like the others. We’re just the one she listens to.
Ninja Theory is one of the most underrated studios. Their games are highly acclaimed and high-quality but they still don't get much attention in the end and don't sell as well as you would think. Heavenly Sword and Enslaved are amazing games which feel different and unique. I hope with Hellblade they finally get the attention they deserve by proving that Indie games are able to compete with big Triple-A games.
Well they did rape Devil May Cry and it's insulting marketing campaign so I think it's just a mixed reception, you either hate or love Ninja Theory(I'm somewhere in the middle)
I didn't like Enslaved and I hated DmC but I do respect them trying to revive the AA game
ninja theory have literally never made a good game
keep those worthless hot take opinions coming
Lord Blue Balls idk, i fucking loved DMC, it was my first dmc game that i finished. i tried playing dmc4, it was way too frustrating
As someone who has suffered from mental disabilities in the past, I for one praise Hellblade.
I usually don't like to talk about this in detail, but I shall do so since there's so much childish talk going on in other comments.
Those who are saying Hellblade is a boring walking simulator... you're free to do so. There's nothing wrong with calling it that if that's what you see it as. No game is going to fit the tastes of everyone. Just like there are many people who hate call of duty, there are many people who would hate The Witcher 3. I myself look down on games like call of duty because I find war a vile, cruel and horrible thing in reality, so I fail to understand why anyone would want to simulate it in the world of video games.
For myself, I have suffered from situations of severe depression, psychosis and hallucinations. I was trapped in a very dark place during my life, added to by the fact I lost several close loved ones. I got to the point where I was self harming, hearing voices and giving up on anything remotely good. I eventually got help, but medication I was put on didn't really do any wonders, and I began to hallucinate terrible things, such as my kitchen covered in blood splatters that crawled their ways across the ceiling and walls.
Thankfully, I'm in a better position now, and am continuing to recover on a road that I'm ever getting better on. But with Hellblade, I praise it because... well, while it didn't portray what it was that I went through, it is still a very, very, very successful window into the world of those who suffer from mental problems. Psychosis is no joke. It can truly be hell for those who have it. It was for me...
For anyone who even has a shred of imagination who thinks this game may be boring, just try it a little bit. Listen and see what it is the character Senua goes through... and then imagine yourself living with it. Day in... day out... No matter if you're awake or asleep... that anguish that weighs on you is always there. Even as you dream.
Thank you for sharing your experience. You must be extremely strong to have overcome this. I admire you.
The first thing I thought of playing this game, was “is this actually what people have to handle every day, 24/7?”
I was never able to comprehend how people that suffer through this deal with it. But this game gave me an idea of what people go through
First... :) happy you're making your way out of it. Also suffering from strong psychosis and this game portraied it so well - they found a way between how it really is to live with paranoia and how normal people would understand it (if they want to). In reality it's not like hearing voices (at least to me) but more like thoughts you know coming from someone else (in my case my brain says they come from god). But interpreting it as voices is ok to show others how it works. There were other games who tried this but they more felt like an offense.
In hellblade on the other side it makes somehow a connection to the character :D what for others in this game may seem a bit disturbing i felt being normal. Shortly they announced a sequel and i can't wait to play it
@@xtracool12 :D yes. it is 24/7. But for someone who lives that way it's hard to imagine how people live being happy and so. It sometimes feels like "normal" people just don't see some things and that's good for them.
Raycevick: Spoilers will begin in 3... 2... 1...
Me: *losing my shit trying to find the yt tab between 50 other tabs*
I miss freedom fighters
Befuzzled332 is it any good? My buddy was offloading humble bundle codes and gave me a copy of Freedom Force vs The Third Reich. Think its worth a play?
The Burger Man freedom fighters is not freedom forces
The Burger Man gameplay it probably hasn't aged well honestly but for the time it was a lot of fun.
Me too, man... wish the IO get their shit together and re-release it on GoG and else.
That game was great. It still deserves a sequel. Would buy it over another Hitman or Kane & Lynch game.
May Ensemble Studios rest peacefully, too many of my hours where spend playing Age of empires 2/3 and Age of Mythology.
In such case u really should try Neir Automata.
Neir shows how dedicated the development team are,from the flow of gameplay, the plot to the soundtrack. It's interesting level design and camera control give a spectacular gameplay. The narrative way and use of soundtracks deliver a fantastic story.
Neir is not prefect but if u like games such as spec ops or hellblade that put the player in very strong emotion, u should really try Neir.
I'm with you there. Nier: Automata has managed to stay locked as my favorite game of 2017, despite a shitty pc port and Square's business practices with the small team. No other game I've played since has been able to match gameplay with narrative and presentation quite like this.
I disagree, the gameplay, the story, and the damn ending was more of an weird and experimental yet ended up as a "you tried" gimmick than anything, not as mind blowing as you think it is. I want blind anime fanboys to stop sucking Yoko Taro's cock and just play Talos Principle if you want some real philosophical story without sounding pretentious and self-indulgent.
The video was about pushing the middle market, not any of the things you mentioned. He only talks about the strong points in Hellblade to deliver the message that good things can come from said middle market. Nier Automata has no relevance to that.
I'd get Nier, Wolfenstein 2, and The Evil Within 2 over pretty much any other lame AAA half arsed campaigns and multiplayers from EA, Ubisoft, and Activision. It's funny that a remaster of a great PS1 trilogy is one of the best selling games of the year...
Yeah if my pc port would fucking work I'd love to play it.
Raycevick just verbally destroy me already
Your name destroyed me XD.
Nice use of DmC music on the intro. "Lilith's Theme" is used so perfectly in that club environment and the sound design of Ninja Theory games is always on point.
Hellblade uses "Passarella Death Squad - Just Like Sleep" during its finale and it is beautifully woven in.
Man I missed the fun coop rounds playing Kung Fu Chaos
THE childhood game
As a Neuropsychology student I have to commend the team for its striking accuracy portraying how Psychosis and Schizophrenia influences human cognitive functions. The reason why so many of them act the way they do is because they are hearing all of these voices in their head that never go away and this confuses and torments the poor individuals to a point where they are no longer able to recognize what is actually real and what is a hallucination.
Good documentary to start off a good Sunday
Have a great day everyone!
YOU! Sir! You made me buy this game and i freaking love it. Thank you for letting me know.
I miss evolution...knowing there will be no more drive club depresses me
It looks like you've reached that point in RUclips Raycevick. Congrats.
I found out about Hellblade two weeks ago, and it is now one of my favourite games I've ever played. It's simply amazing and different from the standard gaming experience, I fucking loved it.
the finale had me in bits, so good
You, mister, mentioning all those great games in the the beginning reminded everyone the reasons why there are a lot jaded gamers. Games nowadays are great, but there isn't(or wasn't for some time)enough market for lesser developers to win us over with something truly inspired. It's coming back finally.
“The team who made this switcher, went on to make: THE Switcher”
Everyone hating on Hellblade should just play it.
It is NOT your average game, it is a work of art and in some forms education, dabbling in a topic (mental illness/issues) that is rarely spoken about. A story driven journey about a young woman struggling through her life due to her upbringing, society and religion. You travel through a strange world with many twists and turns, you'll see and hear things you might not relate to or maybe not even understand.
In the end it is a beautiful lesson about how the way we grow up, behave and live our lifes affects not only ourself, but how we look at the world and certain subjects.
I cannot recommend this game enough!! It might not be for everyone, but if you decide not to try it you will be missing out.
To whomever made it this far,
have a good day Sir/Madam!
Kat's Theme from DmC, by Noisia! 🖤
Followed up by Mundu's Theme
This game is insane. As a man with some mental issues, I can relate to some of it's topics.
I also totally loce how they didn't give any tutorials or tips - completed it and only afterwards found out that you can parry or crush through shields.
Its really nice to have a reviewer on RUclips who actually talks about the game, and who doesn't just tell us why we SHOULDN'T get it. I always look forward to your uploads and am never disappointed in the quality. Thanks for another great upload.
I would love a 5 years(ish) later video on this game.
That's a pretty bold statement.
But I think it's a true one. Don't get me wrong, Neir: Automata, Breath of the Wild, Persona 5, etc are all important games, not to mention fantastic ones, but they fall into the current AAA trend of big, long, epic "experiences" with a $60 price tag.
Hellblade is important because it represents what an experienced studio with AAA experience can do with a minimal budget and complete creative control over their project.
Minimal budget spent on all the wrong things, all looks with little substances.
Alden Raymond not really,in Japan there's almost no difference between AAA or Mid budget,they all gonna be around 60 full price in the price tag,that just how system work out there,believe or not most people in Japan never heard of AAA or indie,because out there games are equal
Alden Raymond ugh...you mean AAA take too many hours to beat the game? Most problem are because if you looking at JRPG or openworld,those games gonna take some time,and Western AAA are known for openworld,RE7 are short and replay value are quite low is one of the reason no one playing anymore,NieR Automata do take sometime to get all the ending but its not that hard,most people finish in 48 hours its actually quite low for an openworld games,tbh most Japanese games don't level their games as AAA or not,the only few company said their games are AAA are the one mainly trying to grab Western money,like darksouls or MGS Survive,Final Fantasy
I realize that I only used Japanese games in my initial statement and that's where I think the confusion is coming from. I didn't mean to say anything about the difference between Japanese and Western AAA games. It was more that of the games that came out in 2017 that were big and long and time-consuming (in the best ways, of course), the first ones to come to mind happened to be the Japanese ones. But Horizon: Zero Dawn falls into the same category I was talking about. And, to go back a couple years, so does The Witcher 3.
No, what I'm trying to say is that while I love a deep love and appreciation for Neir: Automata and Horizon: Zero Dawn and Persona 5 and all these big games that have come out in the last couple years that are really, really spectacular, there's something to be said for a game that does exactly what it means to do within a day or two of playing.
Neir wouldn't have worked as well as it had if it had been a 10 hour game. Same with The Witcher 3. Same with Persona 5. Same with Horizon: Zero Dawn. But Hellblade works near-perfectly within its small runtime and arguably would have suffered if Ninja Theory had chosen to drag out its runtime by adding another 6-8 hours of random stuff to do.
Again, I'm not talking about Japanese vs. Western AAA games; I'm just talking about big games in general, regardless of country of origin.
Raycevick, you don't know how much MORE respect I have for you. I'm so happy to see this video. I also just realized, thanks to this video, why 2008 seems like such a big year for gaming when I think about it.
"You don't know many games by name"
Raycevick - "Hold my beer."
Dude... man... I'm really glad I stumbled onto this channel. While I'm now a computer engineer, this reminds me of why I began my path from the dreams of making videogames , back then I understood the massive power this medium has. Thanks for reminding me its not all CODs and copies.
Judging by the comments, a fair criticism to your video is that you weren't clear enough. People didn't get that the importance of this game doesn't quite rest within itself but on the big push it gives to the middle market. They also didn't get that this game is the kind to deliver an experience, more in the vein of adventure games than character action. I get that you don't cater your videos specifically to the lowest common intelectual denominator, teenagers and people who for all intents and purposes think like them, but consider trying to be more direct in the points you deliver. If you manage to educate even one of those animals, you'd be doing humanity a favor.
It's unfair to rip on the commenters who didn't get it when the video itself lacked focus.
Lyaksandra B It's people like you, that give me faith, that not everyone on the internet is a blundering idiot. Thank you for existing. :)
While i agree with your comment the superiority complex vibes that gives me your "educate those animals" is insanily high, close to the "2deep4u" users of 4chan. Go fuck yourself
I'm not sure how much more direct he could've been. I paid attention to what he was saying during the video's runtime and never wondered what he was on about. If people jumped to conclusions and misinterpreted the point or focus of the vid there's only so much responsibility he should have to shoulder for it. But thanks for keeping an open mind and contributing to a civil discussion, most of RUclips can't be bothered.
ColtSteele
Consider that a large portion of the video is a review of the game; he should have stuck to the main point. He did try to make it clear, but there would be less misunderstandings if the video was more focused than it is.
I'm glad you mentioned Neverwinter Nights in the beginning, I loved those games so much. Hopefully some day you do videos on them.
Yeeeh, Skyrim, I love that game. But why do you think it's still relevant in 2017?
Btw you should definitely try out Hollow Knight.
My life is complete now.
It's relevant because it's still one of the most popular games in the world 6 years later, and hundreds of thousands of people play it every day.
"Hundreds of thousands"
Very exaggerated.
On steam alone, both Skyrim and SSE didn't even break 25k and being on PC, this is where the highest population is found.
I genuinely doubt with the combined numbers of Skyrim and SSE across all platforms, that it would not even come close to breaking 100k, especially on a day to day basis.
Paragon None of your damned business okay 25k in what period of time I mean skyrim was a really popular games
so its numbers were high so when your saying 25/100k are you referring today or all time ?
+Paragon and those 15-25k people on pc are not the same people playing all day long ffs.... And there are CERTAINLY more people playing it on consoles than on pc, just like the vast majority of triple A titles like CoD, Battlefield, GTA, etc, but those numbers aren't tracked.
This video was extremely informative, and kept me hooked until the very end! Well done, and great job on getting people thinking about the gaming industry today!
I mean Nier Automata is also not triple A and in my opinion has a lot more going for it than Hellblade but Platinum are usually (not always) good at making games with low to average budgets
If a game is 60 dollars, it should be judged as a AAA product, since it's asking the consumer to pay a full price for it.
But it's a Square Enix distributed game. Which is a triple A studio. I think if Platinum games released it themselves like Ninja Theory did than it would be right, but they had Square Enix behind them.
That's not what AAA means though... Triple A is related to the budget of the game in its development and marketing not how much the game costs to buy.
Doesn't matter, it's asking me to pay the full price, thereby I am going judge it like any other AAA game out there. If I was to make a shitty indie platformer and ask 60 bucks for it, would you defend my game by saying "Yea it's asking for 60 dollars but its from an indie developer so its really an indie title." ?
Okay I see what you're getting at, judging whether the game is worth the price by looking at its asking price. I thought you were making the argument that Nier was not a middle market game because of how much it costs but I see that's not what you are talking about. Never mind I see your point and that is totally what everyone should do, I just misunderstood what you were saying.
I skiped the spoiler part because i haven't finished it yet, BUT i agree 100% with everything you have said
Raycevick. Great video.
I love Hellblade. Never heard about it until the day it came out. Bought it immediately. No regrets.
your video is sonically gentle, clean, and consisting.
Did Alex Garland write the script or write the general story beats or did he just direct the cutscenes?, it would still be the worst thing he's ever worked on either way
For what?
If you're talking about Hellblade, it's probably the best story he's ever worked on
This may be the most important video on youtube. I didn't realize the financial crash in 08 hurt the gaming industry so much but it makes a lot of sense.
Shit was boring/repetitive. Walking Simulator 2017. Studio did a good job with the subject
I skipped the spoiler part of this video, bought the game and started it at 1am. I couldn't put it down and finished it around 9. Thank you Raycevick, this game was a trip and a half and I'm so glad I went in blind.
For me, personally, I'm a big fan of short yet sweet titles. Games like Portal, Bastion, Limbo, Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon . . . A lot of big AAA games nowadays feel like you're entering into this big, committed relationship and want you to have this long, epic "experience" and more often than not, I come away feeling exhausted and burnt out. Not to say games like these were bad--I happened to love Neir: Automata and Horizon: Zero Dawn and Persona 5--but there's something to be said for games that succeed in everything they try to do (and do it well, no less) in only a few hours.
We need the middle market back, badly. Some of the best games of my life came from that stuff, he already mentioned a few. Timesplitters, come back to me.
We need more creativity, variety and passion in the industry right now more than anything.
What if I disliked every game Ninja Theory put out before and I'm not giving them another shot? Am I killing the middle market? You yourself said the middle market was coming back with a corresponding list of games, so this game's success shouldn't be too relevant. But it's the mental illness but right? That's what makes it important. I guess so but I feel that kind of stuff has already been covered in many indie games. So what I get here is that Hellblade, because of its budget bracket and character with psychosis, is the most important game of the year despite other games covering those grounds.
Welp, after that one Q&A where you said you liked industrial, and now this video features some Combi at the end, pretty sure our music tastes align pretty well here.
As someone with Major Depressive Disorder, I'm glad that this game tackles mental illness as well as it does. Looks very interesting, indeed. Might pick this up. Thanks Raycevick
It's utterly incredible. I'd pay 3x what they asked for another experience like this. Don't tell them that though ;-)
As someone with Major Depressive Disorder, I'm not glad at all. :(
I laughed too hard at this. Sorry
No need to be sorry for laughing at a joke fam.
@Raed 928 You are obviously not familiar with the hormonal imbalances that depression causes and how those impact the body. Not to mention the fact that SSRI's usually add to the problem rather than solving it. I know, psychopathology is not a field for everybody to completely understand, but you would benefit a lot from some actual research.
For me this game was incredible, the dev diaries really show the lengths they went to in order to get the portrayal of psychosis and while I can never understand how hard it must be to live with I have the barest grasp on it because of hellblade
>XIII
>Legacy of Kain
>Neverwinter Nights
I cri evrytiem.
😭😭😭😭
I don't know how it's taken so long for RUclips to recommend your channel to me, over the x-millionth cat video, yet here we are.
Either way, really great work. Have a new sub! :D
"some managed to survive" you showed irrational games while saying that but they shut down after bioshock infinite. True, Ghost Story Games was formed from their ashes but still. (I'm really excited for what ever they're making, maybe a new bioshock?)
I love your style and content, man. I hope you keep doing this for quite some time.
People confuses "most important game" with "best game", I really don't get the hate on this game. I'm NOT the criticism this game received is wrong, not at all, but the way some people talks about it is just weird. Like somehow if you don't like something nobody else can.
I think that for a game like this, you either love it or don't. Some people can't stand others loving or thinking highly of something they don't care about, or even hate.
It's a 30$ low budget indie game that was made as a testament that even a small studio of 20 people can make an AAA looking game. It's a warning to those big companies that made AAA games with way more money and people than this, and still manages to somehow make awful uninspired games.
Even if you think it's boring or pretentious (given it's artistic direction and themes), even if you don't like the setting or the gameplay or the story and the characters, you can't deny the importance that this game has.
I saw many comments mentioning other great games that came out this year, and I'd like to talk about two of them in particular.
Persona 5, I love you, you're an AWESOME game that explodes with artistic creativity from it's visuals to it's music, and I could say that you're are "important" as in "very good" and it's important for the industry, as.. you know.. any great game? But looking at what's the game and its elements, it doesn't have anything "important", it's story is good, but nothing new or groundbreaking, setting, characters and gameplay are all things we've seen before, I'm not saying the game is worth less because of that, it's just not important relatively to what this video is about.
Nier: Automata, you made me cry, so you're important TO ME. And many others. Some of the stuff you do are original and innovative and the story told, especially for its themes, it's deep and "amazing" can't begin to describe it. However it's still not the same "important" that this video talks about.
Talking back at what I said about what Hellblade meant for the medium, it's also important for its main theme, psychosis. It's a real issue and it's good this game talks about it. Persona 5 deals with some real world issue, but they're not its main theme, Nier makes a big deal about existentialism and the meaning of life, but keeps it very cryptic and it doesn't feel like its story was made with "awareness" in mind.
Hellblade is one of my favourite games I played this year, you don't have to like it, but not recognizing its importance to the industry is just objectively wrong.
The "importance" talked about in the video is not something Hellblade can really claim though. The video talks about the revival of the middle market, but the middle market has been "revived" for years now. But for reasons I can only speculate, those games are ignored. Nier and Persona keep getting brought up because they are popular, successful, middle market games that Hellblade is praised for being. Other's bring more examples, but those are handwaved too.
Nier and Persona are big budget 60$ AAA games published by two major publishers and are both part of series that have been going on for over a decade. Neither are very good examples of the middle market.
Freedom Fighters was full priced and publushed by EA. So was Battlefield and Dead Space. Hitman was full price and published by Eidos, and so on, and so forth. By your own logic, the middle market that Hellblade revived never actually existed in the first place.
But providing specific examples isn't the point. The point is, Hellblade is nothing special. There are lots of games in recent years with medium budgets that were successful. But for whatever reason, people (such as yourself) are trying to hand wave them as not counting.
No, they aren't.
Atlus and platinum, as well as Yoko Taro, are A A at best in terms of budget.
FenriS Trash
Dang dude. This is one of your best videos ever.
I support this, best underrated game 2k17
But is it still and "underrated" game if literally everyone keeps talking about how "underrated" it is? *Hmmmmm*
Not bashing the game at all, I'm just saying that is seems almost everyone is talking about how underrated this game is and how everyone needs to play it
This is my favorite video of yours, the choice of music is superb and the way you end the video with the imp is excellent.
Raycevick, keep up the good work. Once you get past puberty, you'll sound just like Steve Blum.
I can dream! I can dream...
Anoop Rajeevan not everyone who goes through puberty has a deep voice. For all we know he could sound like Dee Bradley Baker, I dunno.
This game went completely under my radar. Thank you for showcasing it.
Wtf? I'm scrolling through the comments and constantly reading hate for Hellblade?!
Have you played the game? Have you looked at the price tag? Have you looked at it's budget?
Saying Hellblade sucks and that Nier Automata is better totally misses the point of the video! One of these games is a big AAA JRPG, the other is an indipendent low budget game. And while Hellblade may not be your cup of tea and isn't perfect, it's still good, unique and comes incredibly close to delivering a full Triple A experience. I love how streamlined the game is. It's not loaded with bullshit like unlockables, collectibles, etc.
Hellblade is important because it shows that there is another way to develop games. A way that allows for creative freedom and producing for a niche audience without having to worry about selling millions of copies to get a return on investment.
The game doesn't need to appeal to everyone. Around 250k sales with half the price tag of a regular game are enough to make profit. To me that's a huge deal for us gamers and studios alike and the reason why it's the most important game of 2017
To be fair, NieR wasn't really a AAA game, it's a game that got the AAA makeover without the benefits of a "main stream" publisher like Activision and EA, at least that's the way I see it. The NieR/Drakengaurd fandom was pretty fricken small before Automata and the game itself was nowhere "NieR" (god I'm good at puns) anyone's radar even if it was being published by a known studio. The game came pretty much out of nowhere for anyone who wasn't already a NieR/Drakengaurd fan and the game turned out to be really fucking good.
That being said though Hellblade is an important game because, like you said, "it shows that there is another way to develop games". The visuals are fabulous, the sound is great, and the voice work is fantastic, but there's also another side of this discussion that I would like your input on, should we really be naming things "the best [insert thing here] game of [insert timeframe]". The way I see it these labels only encourage arguments more then actual critical discussions and heated comments, like the way yours starts off, only seems to add fire to the flames. I could be wrong and I'd like to here your thoughts as well if you or anyone else manages to read this all the way through.
I have been binge watching your channel the past few days and with how well constructed, written and delivered you content is, I sure won't complain on the gaps between your videos.
If that's the price for your type and style of work, I'll wait.. Not happily, but patiently, for it will be worth it in the end.
I only finished Hellblade a few months ago and even though I was late to the party, I enjoyed every moment and I'm looking forward to see how Hellblade 2 turns out and if it can carry on forward.
Hellblade is the only game that I could/would be truly bothered to want to use Photo mode and also be quite satisfied with the results.
I have tried on some other games in the past but as I'm no way even remotely close to being a photographer (Not even a terrible and/or a useless one at that) with understanding angles, backdrops, lighting and all the other technical jargong that might be used, I quickly and firmly decided to stop trying.
I'm not saying that Hellblade has changed my mind with photos but just as an example in praising Hellblade, in your video at 10:35 is a cutscene during the boss fight against Valravn and out of curiosity I decided to test out Photo Mode and the visual that I was presented had me choke on my coffee.
The visual of Valravn picking at Senua's body like a giant black Raven picks on a corpse on a battlefield was mesmerizing.
Dude this comment section though.
This game made me cry a few too many times, it was so amazing
Let's revive Half Life or Half Life 2 Deathmatch
Bobbybrine don't forget battlefront 2 2005, let's revive that multiplayer too
Occasionally my screen goes black and computer sounds stutter so I have to restart. Your video audio continued for the last few minutes at the end of the video no problem.
Your words have power! You have great videos and I turned on notifications as soon as my PC restarted :P
+Raycevick
So did anyone translate what is written on the sword?
Just wanted to say, I've liked you videos from day 1. You make some really valid points. It's clear that you put a lot of thought and effort into analyzing these games and making your videos, and I highly respect that. Kudos to you, my friend.
On a related note, I think it would be really cool if you did a video comparing the original halo games and destiny, and seeing how bungie has changed. Just a suggestion :)
I feel like every reviewer hates tutorials in games. I just don't understand all the negativity surrounding tutorials now, before everyone decides to teach me why tutorials are 'bad' let me say a few things first. Here's the thing, I understand some games do best without having prompts pop up on your screen and just do best by throwing your player into the thick of it and just learning how to play the game, Hellblade is a good example of this and how not to break the immersion without having anything unnecessary on your screen, it fits the game and gives more emphasis on the immersion and keeps you invested. But, on the other hand tutorials are not a bad things, I feel like a lot games are best with tutorials, takes games like For Honor and Bioshock, even though one is a FPS it still has other gimmicks/mechanics you need to know how to use(like the weapon wheel)if you want to get through the game, if the player can't figure it out themselves and get frustrated with the game they won't play it and maybe even return it because the devs never ended up teaching the player what to do and even with experimentation they couldn't do it, it leads to a un-fun and aggravating gaming experience. Especially in a game like For Honor that would've pissed you the fuck off if you could never figure how to block or use your special abilities. So in my opinion tutorials are not a bad thing, some games do best without giving tutorials and are more fitted for it such as the horror genre, games like Dead Space and Hellblade. It's just a matter of what type of atmosphere and immersion you want your game to have and see what is the best route to take incorporating a tutorial. But that's just my opinion on the subject of tutorials.
I've done a video on tutorials years ago. I think your comment is spot on, it's all a matter of the experience at hand. Though I would argue that Multiplayer should always have a tutorial, but make it optional. I distinctly remember wanting to get into Battleborn recently but was forced through two matches worth of tutorials for a game that really wasn't complex enough to justify it. Gigangtic has a similar problem, and were I not playing with a friend with time to kill, I probably would've given up on it too, which would've sucked because Gigantic is a pretty kick ass game. They're a complex and difficult part of making video games, just like everything else in the artform.
I literally love every single one of your videos. They are literally my aesthetic and I can't get over them.
Literally?
I appreciate the hard work and business model of Hellblade. I really do. However this doesn't mean people should buy it in droves, just because the devs have been passionate. I uninstalled it a few hours in, due to a serious disconnect. It's a borderline walking simulator, and I found having to walk/run slowly more often than not, extremely frustrating. So much of the experience is in its presentation, and not gameplay. Imo
Something like Bioshock is 1 million times more immersive than this will ever be. Even with its faults. The funny thing is; it's design decisions like this that are also a blight on the industry. One and done, hand holding/walking slowly, NO REPLAY VALUE. Even TLOU was only good to me, when it allowed you to play the bloody game.
SithisHimself I respectfully disagree, I was profoundly disturbed by this game and it made a lasting impact on me. I enjoyed BioShock in a different way. Does not have to be either or....
Because of the way how the game is made and what the theme is, causes some of the more extreme hit or miss experiences for gamers. Personally I enjoyed it, But I can understand why someone couldn't. I personally think we should aplaud the extreme reactions this game causes (ironically).
RAYCEVICK I FUCKING MISSED YOU BROOOOOO
Ray, maybe you could change the title to "A Very Important Game for 2017". Equally intriguing, much more elegant ^^
AMAZING vid. I fell in love with this game. Ninja Theory had me here.
The most important game of the year is a game we'll all have forgotten about in a few months. Yes, Senua is beautifully animated and the actress did a superb job with the role, but moving a character into a highlighted area and then adjusting the camera until two shapes on the screen line up is not my idea of a good time. The combat fairs a little better, but you'll have seen everything it has to offer by the third hour -- and it never changes from then until the end.
I completed the game and thought it was fine - not great - but fine. They priced it right and the story is interesting enough that I wanted to keep playing, but the "puzzle" sections are so mundane and so detrimental to the pacing that I simply have no desire to ever touch it again.
Raycevick, I really appreaciate your analysis of games. Found your channel in 2018 and been watching a lot of your stuff. Happy to find this gem here and happy to share the same opinion with you. Hellblade was one of the best gaming experiences I ever had!
I'm so glad you included XIII and Aggressive Inline and Jet Set Radio. 3 of my most favorite games in the world
"The Experience"
the kind of game that you play once and think it is great... and then you notice the rough edges on a second playthrough.
Buying games like this is like buying a movie... it is allways best to just Rent it.
Absolutely love the conclusion, studios making game for the love of their work is so rare recently.
I miss pre-ea pandemic. sigh
I don't think I actually ever skipped a spoilers section until this video.
What an amazing game Hellblade is. An instant classic, i did not play anything this good in years.
Masterpiece.
Niert Automata i loved, but this is something else.
While it is a good game and the efforts on display, especially from a visual and sound perspective, are commendable and impressive it's not a masterpiece to me. The gameplay and pacing aren't good and it hinders the game by a lot, but that's just my own opinion.
The craziest thing is I clicked on this video on a whim and I've never even heard of this game. Can't wait to give it a go/seems like it's right up my alley~
I like Ninja Theory pretty much and Enslaved is a masterpeace. But I think the hype around Hellblade is too big. It looks very good like a true AAA game. But that's it. From the mental point of view....the wholle game is just a constant playlist of ASMR clips, and the game itself is very boring. I wouldn't call it the most important game of 2017
i just watched the first 40 seconds and i really apperciate the effort u put in this video
No.
Also other games have gone for AA 30-40$ pricing before (and after) this game. It's only because the devs for Hellblade have talked about this AA middle ground thing that you (while the other games didn't) that you connect this as something unique or important.
For example, Ratchet & Clank (2016) was a smaller non-full priced title that still was of high quality. Everybody's Golf (2017) and Knack 2 (2017) are two other titles that are priced at 30-40$. Shadow Warrior 1 and 2 are in the same camp.
New IPs? Lawbreakers, I am Setsuna, Lost Sphear, Absolver, etc. are other random examples.
So no, this game is not the most important game of 2017.
Prior to seeing this video I had seen literally nothing of it outside of the occasional tweet. This video was all it took for me to buy the game immediately. Just finished it and I can definitively say that this is one of -- if not the -- best game I've played this year. Absolutely brilliant, can't thank you enough for the recommendation.
This comment section, show us how the actual auto-proclaimed "gamer" is becoming his own destruction. I remember when a bad game it was one because it was barely unplayable, but now just because it has a developer name, a publisher name, it dont follow the hype, dont like a part of the storyline/gameplay, or just they hear it from a YT/Twitter person with millions of follower, the videogame now its a bad game. Its really sad.
Luis Morales would you play a game made by the man who had previously assaulted you ?
I just discovered your channel, I'm sad I haven't come across it sooner, you just won a subscriber.
Honestly, I feel Nier Automata has held a bigger impact to me than anything else I've played so far this year. I know thats sorta following the pack with that, but I feel that its at least a game that has the atmosphere, quality, gameplay, and visual fidelity and design aspects to really go beyond this.
Give it a shot, its worth it.
Thank you very much for the spoiler alert :) Since I've seen a short gameplay on another channel I've been trying to get as little information about the game as possible, so I can enjoy it to the fullest, when I play it sometime in future. To me it seemed like the Hellblade is in an entirely different league from many other games, with its immersiveness, depth, story telling and artistic nature with beautiful visuals; in a way similar to Ori and the Blind Forest.
One of my fav games for sure. People who whine here are an excellent example of the reduction in attention span over time. Oh noes, I don't fight, but have to solve a weird puzzle instead for a few minutes? The horror!
Well done. Great video.
I understand it's cool what they're doing with trying to bring back the middle-market game, but personally I'm just not interested in the game. Not because I think it's bad or boring, it just doesn't look like something I'd enjoy.