<s>
Hellblade	B-Application
:	I-Application
Senua	I-Application
's	I-Application
Sacrifice	I-Application
is	O
a	O
2017	O
action-adventure	O
game	O
developed	O
and	O
published	O
by	O
the	O
British	O
video	O
game	O
development	O
studio	O
Ninja	O
Theory	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Set	O
in	O
a	O
dark	O
fantasy	O
world	O
inspired	O
by	O
Norse	O
mythology	O
and	O
Celtic	B-Algorithm
culture	I-Algorithm
,	O
the	O
game	O
follows	O
Senua	O
,	O
a	O
Pict	B-Language
warrior	O
who	O
must	O
make	O
her	O
way	O
to	O
Helheim	O
by	O
defeating	O
otherworldly	O
entities	O
and	O
facing	O
their	O
challenges	O
,	O
in	O
order	O
to	O
rescue	O
the	O
soul	O
of	O
her	O
dead	O
lover	O
from	O
the	O
goddess	O
Hela	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
released	O
worldwide	O
for	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
,	O
and	O
Windows	O
in	O
August	O
2017	O
,	O
Xbox	B-Device
One	I-Device
in	O
April	O
2018	O
,	O
Nintendo	B-Application
Switch	I-Application
in	O
April	O
2019	O
,	O
and	O
Xbox	B-Device
Series	I-Device
X	I-Device
and	I-Device
Series	I-Device
S	I-Device
in	O
August	O
2021	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Hellblade	B-Application
features	O
support	O
for	O
virtual	B-Application
reality	I-Application
,	O
which	O
was	O
added	O
in	O
a	O
2018	O
update	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Self-described	O
as	O
an	O
"	O
independent	O
AAA	O
game	O
"	O
,	O
Hellblade	B-Application
was	O
created	O
by	O
a	O
team	O
of	O
approximately	O
twenty	O
developers	O
led	O
by	O
writer	O
and	O
director	O
Tameem	O
Antoniades	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Voice	O
acting	O
is	O
an	O
integral	O
part	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
while	O
its	O
cutscenes	O
combine	O
motion	B-Application
capture	I-Application
by	O
Melina	O
Juergens	O
,	O
and	O
live	O
action	O
performances	O
by	O
other	O
actors	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
's	O
narrative	O
serves	O
as	O
a	O
metaphor	O
for	O
the	O
character	O
's	O
struggle	O
with	O
psychosis	B-Application
,	O
as	O
Senua	O
,	O
who	O
suffers	O
from	O
the	O
condition	O
but	O
believes	O
it	O
to	O
be	O
a	O
curse	B-Application
,	O
is	O
haunted	O
by	O
an	O
entity	O
known	O
as	O
the	O
"	O
Darkness	O
"	O
,	O
voices	O
in	O
her	O
head	O
known	O
as	O
"	O
Furies	O
"	O
,	O
and	O
memories	O
from	O
her	O
past	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
To	O
properly	O
represent	O
psychosis	B-Application
,	O
developers	O
worked	O
closely	O
with	O
neuroscientists	O
,	O
mental	O
health	O
specialists	O
,	O
and	O
people	O
living	O
with	O
the	O
condition	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Hellblade	B-Application
was	O
a	O
commercial	O
success	O
and	O
was	O
well-received	O
by	O
critics	O
,	O
who	O
praised	O
it	O
as	O
a	O
work	O
of	O
art	O
and	O
applauded	O
its	O
uncommon	O
choice	O
of	O
revolving	O
around	O
psychosis	B-Application
,	O
the	O
quality	O
and	O
uniqueness	O
of	O
its	O
approach	O
of	O
the	O
condition	O
,	O
and	O
its	O
story	O
and	O
main	O
character	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
sequel	O
,	O
Senua	O
's	O
Saga	O
:	O
Hellblade	B-Application
II	O
,	O
was	O
announced	O
at	O
The	O
Game	O
Awards	O
2019	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Hellblade	B-Application
:	I-Application
Senua	I-Application
's	I-Application
Sacrifice	I-Application
is	O
divided	O
into	O
two	O
types	O
of	O
gameplay	O
:	O
the	O
first	O
allows	O
Senua	O
to	O
walk	O
freely	O
and	O
interact	O
with	O
her	O
surroundings	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
addition	O
,	O
Hellblade	B-Application
features	O
fights	O
against	O
malformed	O
representations	O
of	O
Norsemen	O
who	O
block	O
her	O
progression	O
,	O
including	O
occasional	O
bosses	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Hellblade	B-Application
does	O
not	O
feature	O
any	O
heads-up	O
display	O
or	O
tutorials	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Set	O
in	O
the	O
late	O
VIII	O
century	O
,	O
the	O
game	O
starts	O
with	O
Senua	O
(	O
Melina	O
Juergens	O
)	O
,	O
a	O
Pict	B-Language
warrior	O
from	O
Orkney	O
arriving	O
at	O
the	O
border	O
of	O
Helheim	O
in	O
a	O
quest	O
to	O
save	O
the	O
soul	O
of	O
her	O
dead	O
lover	O
,	O
Dillion	O
(	O
Oliver	O
Walker	O
)	O
,	O
from	O
the	O
goddess	O
Hela	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Senua	O
believes	O
she	O
suffers	O
from	O
a	O
curse	B-Application
that	O
causes	O
her	O
to	O
hear	O
the	O
voices	O
of	O
spirits	O
,	O
referred	O
to	O
as	O
"	O
Furies	O
"	O
,	O
in	O
her	O
head	O
,	O
the	O
most	O
notable	O
of	O
which	O
is	O
the	O
Narrator	O
(	O
Chipo	O
Chung	O
)	O
,	O
who	O
is	O
aware	O
of	O
the	O
player	O
's	O
presence	O
and	O
often	O
breaks	O
the	O
fourth	O
wall	O
by	O
talking	O
to	O
them	O
directly	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
She	O
is	O
followed	O
by	O
the	O
Darkness	O
(	O
Steven	O
Hartley	O
)	O
,	O
a	O
dark	O
entity	O
at	O
the	O
core	O
of	O
the	O
curse	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
She	O
carries	O
Dillion	O
's	O
severed	O
head	O
to	O
use	O
it	O
as	O
a	O
vessel	O
for	O
his	O
soul	O
and	O
is	O
guided	O
by	O
her	O
memories	O
of	O
the	O
stories	O
of	O
Druth	O
(	O
Nicholas	O
Boulton	O
)	O
,	O
a	O
former	O
slave	O
of	O
the	O
Norsemen	O
well-versed	O
in	O
their	O
legends	O
,	O
now	O
deceased	O
,	O
who	O
became	O
her	O
friend	O
and	O
mentor	O
during	O
a	O
year-long	O
self-imposed	O
exile	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
the	O
game	O
progresses	O
,	O
Senua	O
's	O
backstory	O
is	O
unveiled	O
in	O
nonlinear	O
order	O
through	O
her	O
hallucinations	O
,	O
revealing	O
that	O
her	O
mother	O
,	O
the	O
healer	O
Galena	O
(	O
Ellie	O
Piercy	O
)	O
,	O
suffered	O
the	O
same	O
curse	B-Application
she	O
did	O
but	O
thought	O
of	O
it	O
as	O
a	O
gift	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
Senua	O
's	O
devoutly	B-Application
religious	I-Application
father	O
,	O
Zynbel	O
(	O
also	O
performed	O
by	O
Hartley	O
)	O
,	O
thought	O
otherwise	O
and	O
burned	O
Galena	O
alive	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Senua	O
witnessed	O
the	O
event	O
when	O
she	O
was	O
just	O
five	O
years	O
old	O
,	O
which	O
caused	O
her	O
psychosis	B-Application
to	O
worsen	O
significantly	O
and	O
caused	O
her	O
to	O
block	O
out	O
the	O
memory	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
after	O
a	O
plague	O
killed	O
many	O
in	O
Dillion	O
's	O
village	O
,	O
Senua	O
,	O
believing	O
the	O
fault	O
to	O
be	O
hers	O
,	O
left	O
in	O
exile	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Having	O
accepted	O
that	O
it	O
was	O
never	O
possible	O
to	O
bring	O
her	O
lover	O
back	O
and	O
that	O
she	O
is	O
not	O
responsible	O
for	O
his	O
death	O
or	O
anyone	O
else	O
's	O
,	O
Senua	O
finally	O
banishes	O
the	O
Darkness	O
from	O
her	O
soul	O
and	O
accepts	O
the	O
Furies	O
not	O
as	O
a	O
curse	B-Application
,	O
but	O
as	O
a	O
part	O
of	O
who	O
she	O
is	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Hellblade	B-Application
was	O
announced	O
for	O
the	B-Operating_System
PlayStation	I-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
at	O
Sony	O
's	O
Gamescom	O
media	O
briefing	O
on	O
August	O
12	O
,	O
2014	O
,	O
where	O
a	O
trailer	O
was	O
shown	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Hugues	O
Giboire	O
,	O
art	O
director	O
of	O
the	O
previous	O
Ninja	O
Theory	O
game	O
Heavenly	B-Application
Sword	I-Application
,	O
rejoined	O
the	O
studio	O
to	O
work	O
on	O
the	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Hellblade	B-Application
:	O
Senua	O
's	O
Psychosis	B-Application
,	O
a	O
short	O
documentary	O
film	O
included	O
with	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
details	O
the	O
concept	O
behind	O
its	O
story	O
and	O
inspirations	O
,	O
notably	O
the	O
team	O
's	O
study	O
of	O
mental	O
illness	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Doing	O
research	O
to	O
find	O
the	O
right	O
angle	O
for	O
the	O
character	O
,	O
the	O
team	O
realized	O
that	O
despite	O
the	O
Roman	O
Empire	O
being	O
able	O
to	O
conquer	O
nearly	O
all	O
of	O
Europe	O
,	O
they	O
were	O
unable	O
to	O
conquer	O
a	O
group	O
of	O
Celts	B-Algorithm
,	O
known	O
as	O
the	O
Picts	B-Language
,	O
in	O
the	O
northern	O
reaches	O
of	O
Great	O
Britain	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Towards	O
the	O
end	O
of	O
the	O
8th	O
century	O
,	O
the	O
first	O
Vikings	B-Application
arrived	O
in	O
the	O
lands	O
of	O
the	O
Picts	B-Language
,	O
more	O
specifically	O
the	O
islands	O
of	O
Orkney	O
,	O
and	O
replaced	O
them	O
as	O
the	O
main	O
population	O
of	O
the	O
land	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
According	O
to	O
Antoniades	O
,	O
the	O
team	O
,	O
researching	O
Celtic	B-Algorithm
culture	I-Algorithm
and	O
the	O
Celts	B-Algorithm
 '	O
views	O
on	O
mental	O
disorder	O
,	O
found	O
out	O
that	O
they	O
used	O
the	O
term	O
"	O
gelt	O
"	O
for	O
a	O
person	O
who	O
had	O
been	O
driven	O
mad	O
by	O
a	O
curse	B-Application
,	O
grief	O
,	O
or	O
the	O
trauma	O
of	O
a	O
battle	O
,	O
and	O
that	O
the	O
gelt	O
would	O
take	O
to	O
a	O
life	O
in	O
the	O
woods	O
in	O
search	O
of	O
penance	O
,	O
punishment	O
and	O
purgatory	O
;	O
the	O
team	O
decided	O
to	O
make	O
Senua	O
a	O
gelt	O
,	O
who	O
had	O
left	O
her	O
home	O
in	O
exile	B-Application
for	O
those	O
reasons	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
character	O
of	O
Druth	O
was	O
based	O
on	O
both	O
a	O
real	O
Irish	O
Celt	B-Algorithm
named	O
Findan	O
who	O
was	O
enslaved	O
by	O
the	O
Norsemen	O
in	O
the	O
8th	O
century	O
,	O
but	O
eventually	O
escaped	O
and	O
became	O
a	O
monk	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
Celtic	O
tale	O
of	O
"	O
a	O
mad	O
sinner	O
who	O
flees	O
battle	O
into	O
exile	B-Application
and	O
takes	O
on	O
a	O
beastly	O
nature	O
,	O
growing	O
feathers	O
on	O
his	O
body	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
character	O
was	O
given	O
a	O
backstory	O
similar	O
to	O
Findan	O
's	O
,	O
a	O
cloak	O
featuring	O
feathers	O
,	O
and	O
was	O
named	O
after	O
another	O
word	O
used	O
by	O
the	O
Celts	B-Algorithm
to	O
describe	O
the	O
mental	O
disorder	O
,	O
"	O
druth	O
"	O
,	O
meaning	O
"	O
fool	O
"	O
or	O
"	O
one	O
who	O
utters	O
the	O
words	O
of	O
gods	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Antoniades	O
and	O
his	O
team	O
initially	O
conceptualized	O
Hellblade	B-Application
:	I-Application
Senua	I-Application
's	I-Application
Sacrifice	I-Application
as	O
"	O
a	O
compelling	O
,	O
adult	O
,	O
fantasy	O
game	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
the	O
team	O
came	O
to	O
see	O
it	O
as	O
an	O
opportunity	O
to	O
raise	O
awareness	O
on	O
psychosis	B-Application
;	O
regarding	O
the	O
team	O
's	O
interest	O
with	O
the	O
condition	O
,	O
Antoniades	O
stated	O
"	O
It	O
is	O
easy	O
to	O
see	O
the	O
pain	O
and	O
suffering	O
caused	O
by	O
physical	O
diseases	O
or	O
physical	O
trauma	O
,	O
it	O
is	O
not	O
so	O
easy	O
to	O
see	O
the	O
mental	O
suffering	O
or	O
trauma	O
or	O
severe	O
mental	O
illness	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
 [ ... ] 	O
There	O
are	O
many	O
things	O
that	O
happen	O
in	O
the	O
world	O
of	O
Hellblade	B-Application
that	O
make	O
perfect	O
sense	O
within	O
the	O
context	O
of	O
Senua	O
's	O
mind	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
To	O
portray	O
psychosis	B-Application
properly	O
,	O
Ninja	O
Theory	O
"	O
consulted	O
world-leading	O
neuroscientists	O
and	O
non-profit	O
organizations	O
like	O
Wellcome	O
Trust	O
to	O
properly	O
capture	O
the	O
experience	O
of	O
psychosis	B-Application
and	O
its	O
devastating	O
effects	O
on	O
the	O
human	O
mind	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Senua	O
's	O
voice	O
acting	O
and	O
motion	B-Application
capturing	I-Application
were	O
performed	O
by	O
German	O
freelance	O
photographer	O
and	O
video	O
editor	O
Melina	O
Juergens	O
,	O
who	O
had	O
not	O
done	O
either	O
of	O
those	O
things	O
prior	O
to	O
Hellblade	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
She	O
was	O
used	O
by	O
the	O
team	O
as	O
a	O
stand-in	O
for	O
Senua	O
for	O
several	O
months	O
while	O
they	O
perfected	O
their	O
motion	B-Application
capture	I-Application
techniques	O
,	O
and	O
they	O
eventually	O
came	O
to	O
the	O
conclusion	O
that	O
she	O
could	O
play	O
the	O
character	O
in	O
the	O
finalized	O
game	O
to	O
save	O
the	O
cost	O
of	O
hiring	O
a	O
professional	O
actress	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
All	O
cutscenes	O
feature	O
Juergens	O
 '	O
vocal	O
performance	O
as	O
she	O
recorded	O
it	O
during	O
the	O
filming	O
of	O
her	O
physical	O
performance	O
with	O
a	O
motion	B-Application
capture	I-Application
suit	O
and	O
markers	O
,	O
rather	O
than	O
before	O
or	O
afterward	O
during	O
a	O
voice	O
acting	O
session	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Operating	O
on	O
a	O
much	O
smaller	O
budget	O
with	O
Hellblade	B-Application
:	I-Application
Senua	I-Application
's	I-Application
Sacrifice	I-Application
than	O
their	O
previous	O
games	O
,	O
Ninja	O
Theory	O
went	O
out	O
of	O
their	O
usual	O
ways	O
to	O
film	O
the	O
cutscenes	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Instead	O
of	O
going	O
to	O
bigger	O
studios	O
and	O
having	O
a	O
team	O
of	O
approximately	O
20	O
people	O
film	O
several	O
actors	O
together	O
,	O
as	O
they	O
did	O
in	O
the	O
past	O
,	O
they	O
filmed	O
only	O
Juergens	O
in	O
a	O
small	O
space	O
,	O
with	O
only	O
three	O
other	O
people	O
needed	O
on	O
set	O
:	O
Antoniades	O
directing	O
and	O
filming	O
,	O
one	O
person	O
to	O
look	O
after	O
the	O
audio	O
,	O
and	O
one	O
person	O
to	O
look	O
after	O
the	O
motion	B-Application
capture	I-Application
process	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
To	O
save	O
more	O
money	O
,	O
the	O
team	O
used	O
equipment	O
described	O
by	O
Antoniades	O
as	O
"	O
fairly	O
cheap	O
"	O
,	O
including	O
material	O
bought	O
at	O
a	O
low	O
price	O
at	O
IKEA	O
and	O
on	O
Amazon	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
a	O
further	O
cost-saving	O
measure	O
,	O
they	O
used	O
their	O
own	O
boardroom	O
for	O
the	O
motion	B-Application
capture	I-Application
scenes	O
,	O
rather	O
than	O
using	O
external	O
motion	B-Application
capture	I-Application
studio	O
spaces	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Hellblade	B-Application
was	O
released	O
for	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
,	O
and	O
Windows	O
via	O
digital	O
channels	O
on	O
August	O
8	O
,	O
2017	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Following	O
the	O
period	O
of	O
timed	O
console	O
exclusivity	O
for	O
the	B-Operating_System
PlayStation	I-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
,	O
a	O
version	O
for	O
the	B-Device
Xbox	I-Device
One	I-Device
,	O
with	O
enhanced	O
graphical	O
support	O
on	O
the	B-Device
Xbox	I-Device
One	I-Device
X	O
,	O
was	O
released	O
on	O
April	O
11	O
,	O
2018	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
July	O
31	O
,	O
2018	O
,	O
an	O
update	O
added	O
full	O
virtual	B-Application
reality	I-Application
support	O
via	O
the	O
HTC	O
Vive	O
and	O
Oculus	B-Device
Rift	I-Device
headsets	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
February	O
13	O
,	O
2019	O
,	O
the	O
game	O
was	O
announced	O
for	O
Nintendo	B-Application
Switch	I-Application
later	O
in	O
Spring	O
of	O
the	O
same	O
year	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
While	O
the	O
game	O
was	O
playable	O
through	O
backwards	O
compatibility	O
on	O
the	O
Xbox	B-Device
Series	I-Device
X	I-Device
and	I-Device
Series	I-Device
S	I-Device
,	O
an	O
enhanced	O
version	O
with	O
improved	O
visuals	O
and	O
ray	B-Algorithm
tracing	I-Algorithm
support	O
was	O
released	O
through	O
a	O
free	O
optimization	O
patch	O
on	O
August	O
9	O
,	O
2021	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
received	O
"	O
generally	O
favorable	O
reviews	O
"	O
,	O
according	O
to	O
review	B-Application
aggregator	I-Application
Metacritic	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Its	O
choice	O
to	O
depict	O
and	O
revolve	O
around	O
psychosis	B-Application
was	O
applauded	O
as	O
a	O
unique	O
and	O
interesting	O
choice	O
,	O
as	O
was	O
the	O
execution	O
of	O
those	O
themes	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
idea	O
of	O
blending	O
its	O
approach	O
with	O
Norse	O
mythology	O
and	O
the	O
grief-ridden	O
journey	O
of	O
Senua	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
added	O
"	O
As	O
impressive	O
as	O
 [ Hellblades ] 	O
story	O
is	O
,	O
Ninja	O
Theory	O
's	O
smart	O
design	O
reinforces	O
the	O
sensory	O
nature	O
of	O
the	O
harrowing	O
tale	O
through	O
subtle	O
and	O
intuitive	O
mechanics	O
 [ ... ] 	O
Its	O
incredibly	O
smart	O
use	O
of	O
audio	O
and	O
visual	O
distortion	O
and	O
trickery	O
to	O
convey	O
the	O
frightening	O
effects	O
of	O
psychosis	B-Application
,	O
hallucinations	O
,	O
and	O
delusion	O
,	O
are	O
married	O
with	O
the	O
gameplay	O
elements	O
for	O
an	O
experience	O
that	O
rarely	O
ever	O
grapples	O
over	O
whether	O
it	O
's	O
a	O
game	O
or	O
a	O
story	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
a	O
positive	O
review	O
,	O
Leif	O
Johnson	O
of	O
PC	O
Gamer	O
praised	O
Hellblade	B-Application
:	I-Application
Senua	I-Application
's	I-Application
Sacrifice	I-Application
for	O
its	O
themes	O
,	O
presentation	O
and	O
story	O
,	O
but	O
complained	O
that	O
the	O
"	O
inspiration	O
does	O
n't	O
carry	O
over	O
to	O
the	O
actual	O
fights	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Several	O
reviewers	O
were	O
less	O
enthusiastic	O
,	O
with	O
most	O
criticism	O
directed	O
at	O
the	O
gameplay	O
,	O
fights	O
and	O
puzzles	O
;	O
however	O
,	O
most	O
of	O
them	O
still	O
praised	O
Hellblade	B-Application
as	O
a	O
work	O
of	O
art	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Among	O
them	O
was	O
Game	O
Informers	O
Joe	O
Juba	O
,	O
who	O
found	O
Hellblade	B-Application
to	O
be	O
"	O
undeniably	O
memorable	O
,	O
telling	O
a	O
compelling	O
tale	O
that	O
explores	O
subject	O
matter	O
many	O
consider	O
taboo	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Unaware	O
of	O
the	O
fake	O
nature	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
supposed	O
permadeath	B-Application
,	O
he	O
complained	O
that	O
it	O
was	O
too	O
unclear	O
how	O
close	O
to	O
a	O
permanent	O
game	O
over	O
he	O
was	O
,	O
and	O
felt	O
the	O
sense	O
that	O
he	O
was	O
in	O
"	O
frustrating	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
received	O
nominations	O
for	O
"	O
Best	O
PC	O
Game	O
"	O
,	O
"	O
Best	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
Game	O
"	O
,	O
"	O
Best	O
Action-Adventure	O
Game	O
"	O
,	O
"	O
Best	O
Graphics	O
"	O
,	O
"	O
Best	O
Story	O
"	O
,	O
and	O
"	O
Most	O
Innovative	O
"	O
(	O
the	O
latter	O
for	O
which	O
it	O
became	O
a	O
runner-up	O
)	O
at	O
IGNs	O
Best	O
of	O
2017	O
Awards	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Game	O
Informer	O
has	O
listed	O
Hellblade	B-Application
:	I-Application
Senua	I-Application
's	I-Application
Sacrifice	I-Application
among	O
best	O
games	O
released	O
throughout	O
the	B-Application
eighth	I-Application
video	I-Application
game	I-Application
generation	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
's	O
depiction	O
of	O
psychosis	B-Application
was	O
applauded	O
,	O
and	O
often	O
described	O
as	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
greatest	O
quality	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Several	O
media	O
outlets	O
and	O
reviewers	O
analyzed	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
depiction	O
of	O
psychosis	B-Application
in	O
more	O
detail	O
:	O
it	O
was	O
noted	O
that	O
all	O
parts	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
including	O
the	O
fights	O
and	O
puzzles	O
,	O
were	O
made	O
to	O
further	O
the	O
depiction	O
of	O
Senua	O
's	O
psychosis	B-Application
and	O
revolved	O
around	O
her	O
condition	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Paul	O
Fletcher	O
,	O
a	O
neuroscientist	O
and	O
psychosis	B-Application
expert	O
at	O
the	O
University	O
of	O
Cambridge	O
who	O
worked	O
on	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
said	O
that	O
"	O
It	O
's	O
been	O
exciting	O
to	O
see	O
Senua	O
received	O
so	O
positively	O
by	O
those	O
who	O
have	O
lived	O
with	O
experiences	O
of	O
psychosis.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
Michael	O
Briers	O
of	O
PlayStationLifeStyle	O
,	O
stated	O
that	O
"	O
by	O
working	O
closely	O
with	O
neuroscientists	O
and	O
those	O
unfortunate	O
few	O
who	O
have	O
been	O
diagnosed	O
as	O
psychotic	O
,	O
Hellblade	B-Application
carefully	O
avoids	O
those	O
cheap	O
,	O
half-assed	O
tropes	O
that	O
render	O
a	O
character	O
insane	O
and	O
,	O
therefore	O
,	O
woefully	O
one-dimensional	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Leif	O
Johnson	O
of	O
PC	O
Gamer	O
praised	O
the	O
gripping	O
depiction	O
of	O
a	O
character	O
suffering	O
from	O
psychosis	B-Application
,	O
stating	O
"	O
Ninja	O
Theory	O
uses	O
haunted	O
eyes	O
to	O
full	O
effect	O
in	O
long	O
,	O
moody	O
closeups	O
peppering	O
the	O
narrative	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Alice	O
Bell	O
of	O
VideoGamer.com	O
noted	O
that	O
although	O
Senua	O
's	O
psychosis	B-Application
is	O
a	O
cause	O
of	O
tragedy	O
in	O
her	O
life	O
,	O
the	O
game	O
also	O
depicted	O
her	O
condition	O
as	O
something	O
that	O
can	O
bring	O
her	O
contentment	O
,	O
stating	O
that	O
her	O
hallucinations	O
are	O
sometimes	O
"	O
actually	O
lovely	O
too	O
,	O
reflecting	O
that	O
psychosis	B-Application
can	O
manifest	O
as	O
color	O
and	O
beauty.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
Great	O
care	O
has	O
been	O
taken	O
,	O
with	O
input	O
every	O
step	O
of	O
the	O
way	O
from	O
psychologists	O
and	O
people	O
who	O
have	O
experienced	O
psychosis	B-Application
,	O
to	O
give	O
as	O
faithful	O
a	O
representation	O
of	O
it	O
as	O
possible	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Shoemaker	O
stated	O
"	O
Hellblades	B-Application
single	O
most	O
powerful	O
trick	O
is	O
a	O
near-constant	O
stream	O
of	O
voices	O
in	O
Senua	O
's	O
head	O
,	O
recorded	O
with	O
a	O
spatial	O
audio	O
technique	O
so	O
they	O
feel	O
like	O
they	O
're	O
all	O
around	O
you	O
,	O
nagging	O
at	O
you	O
,	O
undermining	O
your	O
decisions	O
and	O
your	O
confidence	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Hellblades	B-Application
robust	O
bag	O
of	O
psychological	O
tricks	O
and	O
the	O
sheer	O
fact	O
of	O
Senua	O
's	O
distressing	O
reality	O
result	O
in	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
uncommon	O
ability	O
to	O
capture	O
the	O
feelings	O
of	O
worthlessness	O
,	O
lack	O
of	O
control	O
,	O
of	O
being	O
misunderstood	O
and	O
shunned	O
,	O
the	O
strange	O
mix	O
of	O
hope	O
and	O
despair	O
that	O
can	O
accompany	O
a	O
debilitating	O
mental	O
illness.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
an	O
article	O
he	O
published	O
to	O
criticize	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
Mic	O
gaming	O
editor	O
Jason	O
Faulkner	O
,	O
who	O
had	O
experience	O
working	O
with	O
the	O
mentally	O
ill	O
,	O
praised	O
Senua	O
's	O
character	O
,	O
but	O
was	O
highly	O
critical	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
stating	O
that	O
it	O
should	O
have	O
focused	O
on	O
helping	O
people	O
to	O
truly	O
understand	O
psychosis	B-Application
,	O
and	O
have	O
the	O
condition	O
be	O
"	O
focal	O
and	O
explicit	O
"	O
,	O
instead	O
of	O
representing	O
it	O
metaphorically	O
:	O
"	O
If	O
you	O
go	O
into	O
the	O
game	O
without	O
any	O
background	O
information	O
,	O
you	O
might	O
assume	O
that	O
Senua	O
is	O
living	O
with	O
delusions	O
and	O
Norse	O
mythology-inspired	O
hallucinations	O
—	O
or	O
you	O
might	O
think	O
that	O
she	O
's	O
being	O
haunted	O
by	O
demons	O
and	O
ghosts	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Edge	O
deplored	O
that	O
Senua	O
's	O
psychosis	B-Application
was	O
depicted	O
as	O
"	O
something	O
of	O
an	O
asset	O
:	O
a	O
helpful	O
superpower	O
that	O
can	O
give	O
you	O
the	O
strength	O
to	O
soldier	O
on	O
through	O
the	O
darkness	O
,	O
so	O
long	O
as	O
you	O
can	O
put	O
up	O
with	O
the	O
odd	O
breakdown	O
here	O
and	O
there.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
Early	O
in	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
after	O
Senua	O
's	O
hand	O
starts	O
to	O
rot	O
because	O
she	O
got	O
"	O
tainted	O
"	O
,	O
the	O
Darkness	O
tells	O
her	O
that	O
every	O
time	O
she	O
"	O
dies	O
"	O
(	O
every	O
death	O
turns	O
out	O
to	O
be	O
a	O
vision	O
of	O
a	O
possible	O
future	O
)	O
,	O
the	O
rot	O
will	O
spread	O
further	O
up	O
,	O
until	O
it	O
reaches	O
her	O
head	O
and	O
consumes	O
her	O
soul	O
;	O
the	O
game	O
implies	O
that	O
,	O
if	O
this	O
happens	O
,	O
it	O
will	O
result	O
in	O
a	O
permadeath	B-Application
,	O
as	O
the	O
player	O
's	O
save	O
would	O
be	O
deleted	O
,	O
and	O
all	O
game	O
progress	O
until	O
then	O
would	O
be	O
erased	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Antoniades	O
said	O
that	O
the	O
permadeath	B-Application
mechanic	O
was	O
a	O
bluff	O
:	O
while	O
the	O
rot	O
will	O
spread	O
on	O
Senua	O
's	O
body	O
over	O
repeated	O
deaths	O
,	O
it	O
will	O
never	O
fully	O
reach	O
her	O
head	O
;	O
the	O
wording	O
they	O
chose	O
to	O
describe	O
this	O
was	O
meant	O
to	O
convey	O
part	O
of	O
the	O
fear	O
associated	O
with	O
mental	O
illness	O
and	O
psychosis	B-Application
directly	O
to	O
the	O
player	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Antoniades	O
said	O
"	O
We	O
were	O
looking	O
for	O
ideas	O
of	O
how	O
you	O
introduce	O
fear	O
,	O
and	O
one	O
of	O
those	O
ideas	O
was	O
the	O
permadeath	B-Application
mechanic	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
considered	O
that	O
they	O
believed	O
that	O
players	O
and	O
critics	O
have	O
mistaken	O
their	O
wording	O
on	O
the	O
permadeath	B-Application
mechanic	O
when	O
the	O
game	O
was	O
released	O
,	O
which	O
created	O
a	O
"	O
blowout	O
"	O
,	O
but	O
he	O
defended	O
their	O
use	O
of	O
the	O
wording	O
as	O
"	O
it	O
's	O
your	O
interpretation	O
as	O
a	O
player	O
that	O
taints	O
the	O
meaning	O
behind	O
it	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Dread	O
,	O
anxiety	O
and	O
death	O
are	O
all	O
themes	O
Hellblade	B-Application
revolves	O
around	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
While	O
only	O
released	O
in	O
digital	O
form	O
,	O
Hellblade	B-Application
:	I-Application
Senua	I-Application
's	I-Application
Sacrifice	I-Application
was	O
a	O
commercial	O
success	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
the	O
best	O
selling	O
game	O
on	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
Store	O
in	O
Europe	O
for	O
the	O
month	O
of	O
its	O
release	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
PC	O
Gamer	O
stated	O
about	O
Hellblades	B-Application
success	O
that	O
"	O
the	O
news	O
can	O
only	O
be	O
positive	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Perhaps	O
if	O
other	O
developers	O
see	O
an	O
experimental	O
game	O
like	O
Hellblade	B-Application
finding	O
commercial	O
success	O
then	O
they	O
'll	O
be	O
more	O
likely	O
to	O
take	O
risks	O
on	O
their	O
own	O
titles	O
—	O
and	O
that	O
,	O
ultimately	O
,	O
will	O
lead	O
to	O
more	O
interesting	O
games	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
To	O
celebrate	O
World	O
Mental	O
Health	O
Day	O
on	O
October	O
10	O
,	O
2017	O
,	O
Ninja	O
Theory	O
donated	O
all	O
profit	O
made	O
from	O
the	O
sales	O
of	O
Hellblade	B-Application
on	O
that	O
day	O
to	O
Rethink	O
Mental	O
Illness	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
addition	O
to	O
the	O
awards	O
received	O
by	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
the	O
team	O
of	O
Hellblade	B-Application
,	O
including	O
Antoniades	O
and	O
Juergens	O
,	O
won	O
the	O
award	O
for	O
Best	O
Real-Time	O
Graphics	O
&	O
Interactivity	O
at	O
SIGGRAPH	O
in	O
2016	O
,	O
for	O
a	O
showcase	O
demonstration	O
of	O
a	O
technique	O
they	O
called	O
"	O
Realtime	O
Cinematography	O
"	O
,	O
during	O
which	O
they	O
performed	O
and	O
filmed	O
live	O
a	O
scene	O
from	O
Hellblade	B-Application
,	O
which	O
was	O
"	O
shot	O
,	O
captured	O
and	O
edited	O
to	O
final	O
quality	O
in	O
minutes	O
,	O
a	O
process	O
that	O
would	O
normally	O
take	O
weeks	O
or	O
months	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Senua	O
's	O
Saga	O
:	O
Hellblade	B-Application
II	O
was	O
announced	O
during	O
The	O
Game	O
Awards	O
2019	O
,	O
with	O
plans	O
for	O
release	O
on	O
Windows	O
and	O
Xbox	B-Device
Series	I-Device
X/S	I-Device
.	O
</s>
