Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice Review: 3 Ups & 2 Downs

2. A "Hero's Journey" With A Twist

The story is presumably simple - a woman warrior arrives to Norse hell (Helheim) to save her lover's soul - but it becomes more complex and layered as the player progresses.

In a way, it is reminiscent of Apocalypto, where the stronger, more organized Mayas plundered a village of a more primitive tribe and sacrificed its members for their gods.

In Hellblade, Senua, originally a Celtic goddess outside the game, "invades" Norse mythical lands in order to restore normality.

For the story to be truly understood and appreciated, it's necessary to watch the 24-minute documentary attached to the game. Even though it's advised to watch it AFTER completing, as it contains spoilers, only after watching it do the characters/images that appear become clear.

While it can be argued that all of these aspects should be more stressed and explained in the actual game, there's no denying the depth of the story.